Eminent surgeon's grandson at opening

NATURAL SELECTION: Chris Moller (left), Nathan Guy and Ian Harrison cut the ribbon at the opening of Wanganui Collegiate's new science block yesterday. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 161015WCSMCOLLEGIATE3

The Sir Harold Gillies Science block at Wanganui Collegiate was officially opened yesterday with ribbon-cutting duties shared by Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy, principal Chris Moller and Sir Harold Gillies' grandson, Dr Ian Harrison.

Wanganui Collegiate old boy Sir Harold Gillies was a boarder at the school from 1892 and excelled in many areas including cricket and golf but his aptitude for science would lead him to Cambridge University School of Medicine in England.

Sir Harold became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and served in France and Belgium during World War I, where he would repair the broken face of a soldier for the first time and went on to become known as the "father of plastic surgery".

Wanganui Collegiate principal Chris Moller said it "seemed only fitting" to name the science block after the eminent surgeon, and the school contacted Sir Harold Gillies' family, who were happy to accept the honour.

Sir Harold's grandson, Dr Ian Harrison, and his wife Christine paid a visit from the UK for the occasion and Dr Harrison said he was 10 years old when his grandfather died in 1960.

"I remember having Christmas dinner with him and he would pretend that he was choking on the pudding and would then 'cough up' half-crowns and present one to each of his grandchildren," he said.

The science block, which was first built in 1969, required earthquake strengthening and the school took the opportunity to modernise the facilities. Local firm W&W Construction completed the strengthening work and more than 90 per cent of the work had been done by other Wanganui contractors and subcontractors - BSM Group Architects, BPL Group Engineering, and Saunders Stevenson quantity surveyors and project managers.

Mr Moller said it reflected the school's policy of employing local business where possible and the work was funded by parent-paid attendance dues, which were part of the school's integration agreement and not part of the ministry grant.

The work started in December last year. The refurbished building now has "top-of-the-line" laboratory classrooms, a secure chemicals store room and an external dangerous-goods store.