Co-founder and First Secretary of Lindisfarne College (1951-1966)

Born in Stratford and educated at Stratford District High School, Mr Robert Douglas Brown qualified as an Accountant in 1911 and moved to Hastings in 1912.

He served as an Infantryman in WW1 on the Western Front and was promoted to Sergeant, member of the Occupation Force in Cologne, Germany. Mr R.D. Brown met his future wife, Margaret Thomsen, who was a nursing sister with the NZ Division while away serving overseas.

On returning home, he formed his own accounting firm R D Brown, renamed Brown Webb and Co in 1947. Mr R.D Brown was Mayor of Hastings from 1947 to 1953.

In 1951, he was one of the co-founders of Lindisfarne College, having seen the Herrick Homestead as an ideal site for a boys’ boarding school. He helped raised the funds required to purchase the property and faithfully served the College until his death.

For more photos click here https://www.sporty.co.nz/lindisfarne/gallery