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Gray Nelson

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New Zealand public servant and diplomat (1927–2022)

Gray NelsonQSO
BornGraydon Brian Nelson
(1927-05-08)8 May 1927
Died29 November 2022(2022-11-29) (aged 95)
Occupations
  • Public servant
  • diplomat
Spouse Mary Butler O’Connell ​ ​(m. 1956; died 2005)​
Children3

Graydon Brian Nelson QSO (8 May 1927 – 29 November 2022) was a New Zealand public servant and diplomat.

Early life and family

Nelson spent his childhood in Taranaki, then the Auckland suburb of Epsom, and was educated at St Peter's College where he was a foundation pupil in 1939.

In 1956, Nelson married Mary Butler O’Connell, and the couple had three children.

Career

Nelson began working in the Department of Lands and Survey in 1952 and later at Parliament, and was private secretary to five New Zealand prime ministers: Keith Holyoake, Jack Marshall, Norman Kirk, Bill Rowling, and Robert Muldoon. He also held the diplomatic position of counsellor at the New Zealand High Commission to the United Kingdom between 1978 and 1981. He was senior representative and life member of the Government Superannuitants Association and also a life member of Bellamy's.

In retirement, Nelson lived in Greytown. He died on 29 November 2022, aged 95, having been predeceased by his wife in 2005.

Honours

In 1977, Nelson was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. In the 1987 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.

References

  1. Gray Nelson, "Memories of my Catholic Education", Tui Motu: InterIslands Issue 263, September 2021, p. 21.
  2. ^ "Graydon Nelson obituary". Dominion Post. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ^ Grant, David (2014), The Mighty Totara: The Life and Times of Norman Kirk, Auckland, NZ: Random House, p. 227, ISBN 978-1-77553-579-9
  4. Farmer, Don (27 February 2015). "Dame Thea: Good friend who liked a chat". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  5. ^ R.D. Muldoon, Muldooon, A H & A W Reed, Wellington, 1977, p. 142.
  6. "In memory of Mary Butler Nelson". Tributes Online. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  7. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). "Recipients of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal 1977: nominal roll of New Zealand recipients including Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau". Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 431. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  8. "No. 50766". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1986. p. 34.


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