1.1a.1 Hughie Trevor WENHAM Dr 
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| Birth |
31 Dec 1923, Featherston |
| Death |
12 May 1982, Palmerston North, NZ |
| Burial |
15 May 1982, Cremated, Palmerston North |
RN 13 Education: Levin District High School. Went to Horowhenua College when it opened in 1940. Was the first Head Prefect. Attended Wellington Teacher's Training College but did not complete the training. Instead, attended Wellington, Christchurch Universities. Had a MSc degree with 1st Class Honours. Spent 1 year at Wisconson Univeristy to finish his Doctorate. Became a lecturer in Plant Pathology at Massey University until his death. Called up during WW2 and spent some time at the Auckland Island, south of NZ. It was believed that German Raiders were refuelling in that area and a smll group were on the island with the task of using a radio to call in help if that was so. No ships were ever seen. Was given the job because of his interest in birds and being know by Dr Falla who was the head of the Dominion Museum. He recorded this time in a small diary which is still kept by me. He is also mentioned in a book called Islands of Despair by Allan W Eden (Pub. Andrew Melrose 1955) Hugh was always called Tubby, (for obvious reasons) and he is mentioned in the book together with a photo of the party.
Report in Newspaper June 7 1982
Dr Wenham, Massey Horticulturist, Mourned
'Popular Plant Pathologist and Sheepbreeder dies.
"The majority of practicing plant pathologists in New Zealand at the present time were trained by Dr Wenham," according to Professor Ian L Campbell of the Vice-Chancellor's Office at Massey Univerity. "He was especially good at relating theory to practical situations, and was held in high esteem by his students."
Dr Hugh Trevor Wenham died recently in hospital in Palmerston North after a long illness. (only about 3 months - Ian) He had been associated with Massey since 1950, when he was appointed to a lectureship in microbiology (having lectured in the same subject at Lincoln College.) He was appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Horticulture and Plant Health in 1958.
Born in Featherston in 1923 and educated in Levin, he obtained a B.Sc in Botany from Victoria Univeristy, an M.Sc from Canterbury, obtained teaching qualifications from Wellington Teachers Training College, an MS from the Univeristy of Winsconsin (USA), and completed his Ph.D at Massey in 1967. He was unmarried.
Professor Ken S Milne, Head of the Department of Horticulture and Plant Health, presented the Eulogy at a service in Palmersont North on 15 May. He said, "My association with Hugh goes back to 1960 when I was first on the receiving end of his enthusiastic teaching. He expected the same degree of application and determination from his students that he applied to teaching, the share market, a game of squash or bowls, or the production of the ultimate 'spud' crop. For almsot 20 years he had the sole responsibility for teaching plant pathology courses, ranging from undergraduate diploma courses to post-graduate degrees. A daunting task indeed!"
Dr Wenham also gained recogintion as an outstanding Coopworth Stud breeder, obtaining top price for a ram at a North Island Coopworth Fair at Feilding. His colleagues frequently remarked upon his sense of humour, but always came back to his contribution to science in the study of seed-borne diseases, and his special abilities in teaching. Many at Massey and across New Zealand will be saddened by his death."
Copy of newspaper report following the death of Hugh Wenham, eldest son of Herbert and Mavis Wenham, Levin. It was printed in many newspapers, this copy from the Wairarapa Times Age.
PLANT MAN DIES AT 58
A senior lecturer at Massey University's Horticulture and Plant Health department since 1958 died in Palmerston North last week.
Dr Hugh Trevor Wenham, 58, died in hospital after a long illness (in fact, it was only after a period of 3 months approximately.)
Dr Wenham was born in Featherston in 1923 and was educated in Levin. he went to Wellington Teachers' College and received his teaching certificate in 1944. A Bachelor of Science in Botany was interrupted by overseas army service in the Auckland Islands. During his service he assisted in a survey of fauna and flora on the islands.
After doing a masterate study in botany in Christchurch, Dr Wenham became a part-time lecturer in microbiology at Lincoln College and in 1950 was appointed a lecturer at Massey College.
A colleague at the university, Dr Ken Milne, said Dr Wenham's appointment had marked the beginning of an era of teaching applied mycology and plant pathology. Many practising plant pathologists received their postgraduate training from Dr Wenham, he said.
"He was a demanding graduate supervisor, especially when it came to writing up the research. Few supervisors put more time into assisting graduate students develop critical writing skills than he did."
Dr Milne said he finished his Ph.D studies in 1967.
"Foiled in his earlier endeavours to obtain a Ph.D at the University of Wisconsin in 1955, he settled for an MS and it was back to NZ as the one man band to continue teaching plant pathology. For nearly 20 years he had the sole responsibility for teaching plant pathology courses, ranging from undergraduate diplomas to post-graduate degrees," Dr Milne said.
Dr Wenham had considerable success in breeding Coopworths at his farm in Te Matai Road and was given top price for a ram at a North Island Coopworth Fair in Feilding.
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