Joyce Nona Fairgray (nee Pegler)

Joyce Pegler was born in Pukekohe on 6 March 1934.  She attended Paerata Primary School, and Pukekohe High School from 1947 – 1949, before joining Otahuhu College in the Lower Sixth (6B) in 1950, followed by a year in the Upper Sixth (6A).

She was in Massey House, and played 1^st XI hockey; after winning the Auckland final of the Overseas League Speech Contest, she represented Auckland in the final in Wellington.  In the school’s first Gilbert and Sullivan operas she played Fleta in Iolanthe and Pitti Sing in The Mikado.   She became a prefect near the end of 6B, and was Head Girl in 1951.  She was also Girl Dux.

A Post-Primary Teaching Bursary enabled her to attend Auckland University College, graduating B A after three years with Stage Three English and Latin. The following year she graduated M A   with Second Class Honours in English.

During the one year graduate teaching course in 1956 she spent one of the “teaching sections” at Otahuhu College, and took up an assistant teacher’s position the next year.  Classes were all in the General course, in English and Latin. David Lange was a fondly remembered pupil. She was coach of the girls’ 1^st hockey XI.  At the end of 1958 she married Mervyn Fairgray, teacher at Auckland Grammar School, and everyone, including Joyce, had to adjust to the change from Miss Pegler to Mrs Fairgray.

They bought a home in One Tree Hill where they lived for 33 Years. Two years after marriage she resigned and in 1961 had a daughter.  In subsequent years three sons were born, though sadly Mark the youngest, died aged nine.

Though not teaching for thirteen years, Joyce was still very much involved in education, now at the pre-school level, working as Playcentre supervisor and liaison officer.  She did committee work for the Parent Teacher Association at Oranga Primary School.

Joyce took a position at Penrose High School in 1974, teaching English and Classical Studies, with promotion in 1980 to a Position of Responsibility in the English Department. She was there nine years.

Following the death of her loved former teacher and friend, Miss L G Housby, Joyce returned to Otahuhu College in 1983 as senior woman teacher and Director of Guidance.  She also took some classes in English, Latin and Classical Studies.

Retirement began at the end of 1988. Joyce and Merv now live in Devonport as third generation family of the villa Mervyn’s grandparents moved into 1896, and Joyce has been able to devote time to researching and writing family and local history.  Contact with the school continued for some years through day relief teaching, organising the school archives, and writing the 1991 Diamond Jubilee book.

Her educational level is now at what is known as the “Third Age” with various leadership roles in Devonport U3A.

The three children Janet, Roger and Kenneth all live in Auckland. Oldest grandchild, Daniel, also died at nine.  Katy is an Early Childhood Teacher.  Jesse is at Avondale College.  Luca started school this year and Emilia is a pre-schooler.