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Francis Edward Watson

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Description: Mr F. E. Watson had an Anglo-Indian boyhood, being the son of Rev. Thomas Watson a senior chaplain at the Bombay Garrison. Francis emigrated to New Zealand in 1876 and served as a teacher in Wanganui until 1879 when he became Headmaster of the Central and Campbell Street Schools. He remained principal for almost four decades. As well as dominating early Palmerston North education, he was a leading sportsman of the town. Francis' activities included founding or co-founding the Manawatu Cricket Association, Palmerston North Tennis Club, the Racing Association and the Shooting and Fishing Societies. He was the founder and first President of the Art Society and a pillar of the Wanganui Philharmonic and Palmerston North Choral Societies. The N. Z. Cattle Breeders Association and the Local Dog Breeding Society were his creations and he was one of the pioneers of the A and P Association. For decades, Francis was a church warden and choir-master at All Saints. In 1918, Mr Watson retired and settled in Te Puke with his wife Agatha (nee Gower, of Wanganui). He died 27 October 1930, leaving behind his wife, two sons (G. F. D. and A. H. Watson), two daughters (Mrs A. N. Gibbons and Miss Winifred Watson) and six grandchildren and great-grandchildren.