Pat Chamberlain's (Staff 1974 - 2005) legacy lies not in grand gestures, but in the countless students he guided, the colleagues he supported, the house he nurtured, and the steady example he set over more than three decades of service at St Paul's Collegiate School.

Raised and educated in South Africa, Pat completed a degree in mathematics and statistics before travelling to England to gain his teaching qualification at Cambridge University. It was during this time that a quiet sense of adventure, which would shape much of his life, became evident. In 1973, he met Barbara by chance on a skiing holiday in Austria, a meeting that famously involved a misplaced pair of sunglasses, a detail still cheerfully disputed years later. Within months, Pat proposed and invited Barbara to join him on his planned move to New Zealand. They married that December and arrived in Hamilton in February 1974, newlyweds, knowing no one, but full of optimism.

Soon after their arrival, Pat began what would become a 32-year teaching career at St Paul’s, including 25 years as Head of Mathematics. Appointed to the role in 1978, he led a department that became an important contributor to the school’s academic advancement. In 1990, he also guided the department through its first formal appraisal, helping establish clear aims and full schemes of work that strengthened the department and supported future Education Review Office reviews.

In 1979, Pat became Housemaster of Hamilton House, a role he held until 1990, having already stepped in several times for other housemasters when needed. He guided the house through a period of growth and challenge, when facilities were stretched and increasing numbers placed pressure on available space. Boys spoke warmly of his “obvious caring manner and calm, logical approach to all situations, and his thorough commitment to the house.”

Pat’s contribution beyond the classroom was wide-ranging. He coached and supported tennis, hockey, cricket, shooting, softball, chess and the Five Star athletics scheme, and played a significant role in the development of tennis at the school during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His enthusiasm and steady encouragement were instrumental in lifting both participation and performance.

Throughout these years, Barbara proved a steadfast partner and a valued contributor to the school community, stepping in at the library and in classrooms when needed, and later serving as a highly regarded teacher at Puketaha School, eventually becoming Associate Principal. Together, Pat and Barbara built a life centred on service, friendship and community. They raised two children (Kathryn and David) and formed deep connections within Hamilton.

Pat formally retired in 2001, though his loyalty to St Paul’s was such that he returned to assist part-time in 2002. In later years, Pat and Barbara moved to Auckland to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren, embracing this new chapter with the same calm acceptance and warmth that characterised Pat throughout his life. 

Pat's funeral is on Thursday (22 January), 11:00 am at Davis Funeral Home, 400 Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland. We are thinking of Barbara, Kathryn and David as they navigate this hard time ahead.