Some schools are built with bricks and timber. Others are built with people. St Paul’s Collegiate School is both.

When the school gates first opened in 1959, Rosemary Coles stood among the crowd as a teenager, watching the start of something her father had helped bring into being. Her father, Eric Clayton-Greene OBE, was one of nine founders and community leaders who established the Waikato Anglican College Trust and laid the foundations for what would become St Paul’s.

Rosemary remembers the excitement of the School’s Dedication and the quiet pride of seeing a school take its first steps, knowing her father had helped shape its beginnings. She also remembers riding her pony to the Light Horse Club opposite the school gates on Hukanui Road – a time when neighbouring farms stretched out in green fields and St Paul’s was in the heart of the countryside. 

During those early years of the school, Rosemary was away at boarding school, as St Paul’s was an all-boys school. Eric’s presence within the school community was deeply felt. The strong ethical values he held – integrity, service, and care for others – became woven into the traditions, culture, and character of the school. 

As the Board’s solicitor, Eric attended early trustees’ meetings and was responsible for managing the many legal matters involved in purchasing the Great Oaks property and laying the foundations for the school. His close connection with the Anglican Church and his sound legal advice were of great service during the formative years, particularly at a time when the venture relied heavily on faith, goodwill and careful stewardship. Alongside his professional contribution, Eric was also practically involved, taking part in working bees as the school site was prepared ahead of its opening. 

When the time came, Rosemary and her husband Basil did not hesitate to send their son, Peter Coles (School 1969-1971), to St Paul’s. Their daughters, Katherine and Penny, attended Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. The family’s connection now spans four generations. Katherine and her husband Nick have two sons, Hamish Riley (Sargood 2020–2023) and Lachlan (Lachie) Riley, who have both attended St Paul’s. Lachie is currently a Year 12 Sargood boarder, while Hamish is now shepherding at Haldon Station in the Mackenzie Country. 

These boys have had an amazing opportunity to walk the same paths their great-grandfather did, fulfilling his vision. They’ve been able to attend classes in the very Quad area where their great-grandfather stood during the school’s planning process. 

“It’s very special knowing my great-grandfather was a founder, my uncle was a Collegian, and now my brother and I have been able to attend St Paul’s as Sargood boarders,” Lachie says.

“I’m really enjoying the Sargood refurbishment and realise our comforts are a world away from what it would have been like in the 1960s.”

While the campus has evolved, now welcoming girls from Years 9 to 13, and the area outside the school gates has changed dramatically, the heart of St Paul’s continues to provide an education aligned with the vision of the founders. 

To recognise the tradition of multi-generational families, St Paul’s Collegians hosts a roast dinner, bringing together more than 100 members of the school who are multi-generational. The students are given a legacy badge to wear on their blazer to identify their heritage. 

This event has been created to give generations of St Paul’s families the opportunity to come together, share stories, and reflect on the experiences that connect them across time.