Oswald Denison

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Oswald Denison
Personal information
Birth nameOswald William Denison
Born(1905-06-29)29 June 1905
Auckland, New Zealand
Died15 November 1990 (1990-11-16) (aged 85)
Houhora, New Zealand
Weight76 kg (168 lb)[1]
Spouse
Nellie Bristow
(m. 1932; died 1987)
RelativeWalter Denison (father)
Sport
SportRowing
ClubWaitemata Rowing Club
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
Men's rowing
British Empire Games
Bronze medal – third place 1938 Sydney Eight

Oswald William Denison (29 June 1905 – 15 November 1990) was a New Zealand rower who won a bronze medal at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Early life and family[edit]

Born in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby on 29 June 1905, Denison was the son of Walter Denison, a jeweller, and his wife Frances Denison (née Mitcham).[2][3] He married Nellie Bristow on 5 October 1932 at the Grange Road Baptist Church in Mount Eden,[4] and they went on to have five children.[5]

Rowing[edit]

A member of the Waitemata Rowing Club, Denison was the stroke of the Auckland eight that finished third at the interprovincial eights championship in March 1937.[6][7]

In May 1937, Denison was named as an emergency for the rowing squad to represent New Zealand at the 1938 British Empire Games,[8] but was later confirmed as a member of the New Zealand eight.[9] At the games, he rowed in the two seat, and won a bronze medal, with the New Zealand eight finishing in third, two lengths behind the second-placed Australian crew.[1][10]

Competing at the same games, his father, Walter Denison, won a gold medal for New Zealand in lawn bowls men's pairs.

Later life and death[edit]

Denison died on 15 November 1990 at Houhora, and his ashes were buried at North Shore Memorial Park, Auckland.[5][11][12] He had been predeceased by his wife in 1987.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "England too good". Auckland Star. 10 February 1938. p. 24. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Birth search: registration number 1905/16866". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Births". Auckland Star. 12 July 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Marriages". New Zealand Herald. 19 November 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Oswald William Denison". BillionGraves. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Inter-provincial rowing contest at Wellington". New Zealand Herald. 24 March 1937. p. 22. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  7. ^ "By half a canvas". Evening Post. 27 March 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Rowers to represent N.Z. at Empire Games". Northern Advocate. 12 May 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Empire Games team". Evening Post. 11 August 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Oswald Denison". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Oswald William Denison". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Burial record for Oswald William Denison". Auckland Council. Retrieved 8 May 2018.