BY ROBYN PARKES
Walter Ladley was born in Richmond in 1845, the eldest child of James Ladley who arrived in Nelson in 1843 on board the ‘Martha Ridgeway’.
Perhaps destined from birth to become a teacher, Walter excelled at school and in 1857 became a boarder at Nelson College for Boys.
In December 1858 he was recognized with ‘distinction’ in industry, good conduct and talent. At the tender age of 18 years Walter was appointed the sole teacher of 88 Valley school.
From these early years his proficiency as a teacher and master grew and he held multiple positions over the following years. By 1874 he was the master of Waimea West Village school, four years later master of Upper Wakefield school and in August of 1882 was promoted as master of Lower Wakefield Boys school. With a reputation as being an extremely capable, dedicated and respected teacher, Mr W. Hodgson requested that Walter support him by acting as assistant examiner of the West Coast and Takaka schools for a period of six weeks.
A complete fiasco occurred in mid-1893 when the Education Board requested that Walter be transferred to Bridge Street school in the position as headmaster, which he accepted. The Towns School Committee did not approve of the transfer, believing it should have been advertised giving all teachers a chance for a very coveted position, but the Board ignored their concerns.
On arriving at the school for his first day, Walter found the door locked. He asked for the key but was refused. What followed was a series of meetings between the two opposing sides with legal opinions sought by each party. In September, after some very heated discussion it was agreed that the appointment of Walter to the Bridge Street school would be cancelled. With the head teacher position still open at his previous school, Walter was reappointed to Lower Wakefield School.
In May 1894 Walter was appointed as the permanent Assistant Inspector at a salary of £250 per annum and £100 travelling expenses.
In his duties he examined schools not only in Nelson but in Golden Bay and on the West Coast.
Walter, from time-to-time, experienced bouts of ill health and in July 1900 he was granted two months leave of absence on full pay to allow him to recover from yet another bout.
He returned to work around November but within seven months was again unwell. The Education Board responded by restricting Walter to desk work for six months, which after this time he would be reinstated as Inspector providing he was well enough to do so. Sadly, his health continued to deteriorate, and he was forced to resign late January 1902 bringing his career to a close after 40 years of service as teacher, master and inspector.
Walter died on the 10 September 1904, aged just 58 years, and was buried in Wakapuaka cemetery. As a mark of respect the flags at schools in the city and at many of the country school were flown at half mast in memory of a great gentleman.
