Alexander Turnbull – a sporting life

Gavin Pascoe is a Librarian and founder of the Wellington Classic Yacht Trust. His topic was “Alexander Turnbull – a sporting life”. Gavin described Alex Turnbull arriving back in New Zealand in 1892 as a young mercantile gentleman. One of the first things he did, as was the custom, was to organise his sporting and club interests. For Turnbull, this took the shape of yachting. He brought to yachting the same total involvement – to the point of obsession – as he did his book collecting. Turnbull helped shape the sport from its earliest days, and the foundations he laid with others fostered the culture of excellence New Zealand has today. He was a member and administrator for four boating clubs (founder of two of these), and owned three racing vessels between 1893-1908. The only place you will see Turnbull enjoying himself is when boating, and it is through the sport that we can glimpse the reputedly short-tempered, private man as a person engaged, adventurous, and laughing.