FROM NAZI GERMANY TO NEW ZEALAND: The Remarkable Journey of Michael Spiro (OC 1947)

When Emeritus Professor Michael Spiro (Dux 1946) passed away in London at the age of 96 in October, he left behind not only an extraordinary academic legacy but a story of resilience and foresight that began in Nazi Germany. In 2008, Michael gifted $1.2 million to St Andrew’s College, writing that his gratitude stemmed from “the inspiring role the school played in my education, and the willingness and tolerance of its staff and students in accepting me as an equal, as a Jewish refugee.”

A Childhood Overshadowed by Fear

Michael was born in Chemnitz, Germany, in 1929 to Sally and Nina Spiro. His family was liberal Jewish, observing holy days but not strictly kosher. Sally owned a successful sock factory, part of Chemnitz’s thriving textile industry until the rise of Nazism shattered their world. “Gradually, as the Nazi influence became stronger, I learnt to be very careful,” Michael recalled. “It was a habit I never shook.”

By 1933, Nazi persecution of Jewish businesses was rampant. Sachsenburg, one of the first concentration camps, opened near Chemnitz, and Michael’s childhood became shadowed by fear. He was the only Jewish child in his primary school class and vividly remembered replying to a classmate’s taunt, “Hitler says Jews are stupid,” with “You are the stupid ones.” His parents were horrified. “You must not say such things. It is dangerous,” they warned.

As anti-Jewish laws tightened, Michael’s life shrank. He was barred from school ceremonies, expelled at age six under the Law Against Overcrowding in Schools, and taught English at home by a Quaker woman. His parents, desperate to emigrate, faced constant fear. At one stage, they received a blackmail threat that Michael would be kidnapped unless they paid a sum of money. Sally took the risk of informing the local police and refused to pay. To protect his son, he bought Michael an Airedale terrier. “I thought it was a pet, but later realised the dog served another purpose,” Michael said. His mother also followed him at a distance when he walked to and from school.

Escape from Germany

It was very fortuitous that the Spiro family left Chemnitz in May 1938. On November 9 and 10 of that year, during the infamous Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass), Nazi leaders unleashed a nationwide anti-Jewish riot. Jewish-owned businesses and homes were vandalised, and more than 1400 synagogues were torched and destroyed, including the Chemnitz Synagogue. Rioters humiliated, assaulted, and killed Jewish citizens. All male Jews in Chemnitz were then arrested and sent temporarily to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. From the end of 1941, all remaining Jews were deported to the East. There are no records of what happened to them.

The Spiro family’s departure was fraught. At Berlin airport, Nina’s jewellery was confiscated during humiliating body searches. Allowed only 10 marks each, they flew to England, where money was tight and Sally sought work. Foreseeing war, he applied for visas to New Zealand and Australia. “Had it not been for his foresight and determination, we might never have escaped the Nazi regime and found a safe haven in New Zealand,” Michael later wrote.

In late 1938, the family sailed on the RMS Empress of Britain, arriving in Auckland before settling in Christchurch, where Sally joined Lane Walker Rudkin. Michael, then nine, quickly adapted. He learned English, studied hard, and remembered his father’s advice: “You will only get chosen if you are better than the others.” It was advice he took to heart.

A New Life in Christchurch

Settling in Christchurch, Michael quickly adapted to his new surroundings. He learned English, studied hard, and remembered his father’s advice: “You will only get chosen if you are better than the others.” It was advice he took to heart.

Michael recalled playing in what he thought was a stream outside their Fendalton home, only to be scolded when told it was actually the gutter, a small but vivid memory of those early days in New Zealand.

At Fendalton Open Air School, his talent was evident early. In Standard 5 (Year 7), his teacher, Mr Bowden, arranged students in rows according to academic results. Michael was always in the front row. Each Friday, the class sat arithmetic tests and took their scores home. Michael consistently achieved 10 out of 10, occasionally 9 out of 10. On those rare occasions, his father expressed disappointment, reinforcing Michael’s drive for excellence. In 1942, he was named Dux of Fendalton Open Air School.

His achievements earned him two scholarships to St Andrew’s College, where he continued to shine. Michael won multiple prizes for general excellence, Languages, and Science, and in 1946 he became Dux of the College. His academic brilliance earned him a University Junior Scholarship and later a scholarship to the University of Canterbury.

A Distinguished Career Abroad

Michael never returned to live in New Zealand. After Oxford, he undertook postdoctoral research in Toronto, lectured in Australia, and in 1960 joined Imperial College London, where he remained for the rest of his career. His research and teaching in chemistry earned him international recognition. Yet, despite his success, Michael admitted in 2018: “I still feel like a refugee. London is an interesting city; if you came from somewhere else, so did a lot of other people.”

Both of Michael’s parents passed away while he was overseas, Nina in 1955 and Sally in 1959. They are buried in Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch. Michael never forgot the sacrifices they made to secure his future.

Legacy of Gratitude

Michael’s gift to St Andrew’s in 2008 was a testament to the school that welcomed a frightened boy from Chemnitz and gave him the chance to thrive. His story reminds us that courage and kindness can change lives and that education, in the right environment, can transform fear into brilliance.

“Had it not been for his foresight and determination, we might never have escaped.” Those words echo through Michael Spiro’s life, a life that began in peril and ended in profound achievement.

With thanks to St Andrew’s College Archivist, Pip Dinsenbacher, for providing the historical material.

1 & 2. Chemnitz Synagogue, before and after Kristallnacht 3. Emeritus Professor Michael Spiro 4. Sally and Nina's headstone, Linwood Cemetery

FOUR GENERATIONS, ONE JERSEY: The Bates Connection

What does it take to create a rugby legacy that spans over 100 years? For the Bates family, it has been a mix of talent, determination, and a deep connection to St Andrew’s College.

When Tom Bates shared that four generations of his family have played rugby for the College, it was clear this was a story worth telling. While we know the Bates family is not the only one with a proud multi-generational tradition at St Andrew’s, this feature offers a glimpse into their unique journey.

It all began with Neil Bates (OC 1926), who played in the 1st XV from his third form in 1922 to 1925, serving as Vice-Captain and School Prefect. His leadership and passion for the game set the foundation for a tradition that would endure for decades.

Neil’s sons continued the legacy. David (OC 1953) and Tom (OC 1954) both represented the College with distinction. David played in the 1st XV in 1951. This team had a most successful season, winning the Secondary Schools Championship. Brother Tom made the 1st XV in 1954 and was also a Prefect. The Collegian says although he was lacking in weight, he was invaluable to the side and gave himself unstintingly for his team. Tom’s contribution to the College extended beyond the rugby field. He served on the Board of Governors from 1981–1990 and was the nephew of the fourth Rector, Les Stewart, further strengthening the family’s ties to St Andrew’s.

The third generation brought even more success. Tom’s sons Duncan (OC 1979), Matthew (OC 1983), and Andrew (OC 1988) were also to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. Duncan captained the 1st XV in 1979, a team that would be known as one of the College’s most successful. It became only the fourth team from the College to win the Christchurch Inter-Secondary Schools Championship. Duncan also represented Canterbury at U18 level. Father Tom even built a mobile scrum machine for the team, showing that innovation and support were part of the Bates family tradition. Matthew played in the 2nd XV in his final year in Form 6.

Andrew’s rugby journey was also exceptional. He won the Old Boys Cup in Form 3 for Most Outstanding U14 player, represented Canterbury at multiple age levels, and was selected for New Zealand U16 and U17 squads. His 1st XV team in 1986 was also unbeaten in traditional fixtures and they too, won the Christchurch Interschool Championship. This was backed up again in 1987; a feat previously achieved 50 years earlier by the 1936 and 1937 teams. Andrew was a Prefect in 1988 and represented Canterbury U18 before an ankle injury ended his school rugby career.

The story did not stop there. In the College’s Centennial year, Duncan’s son Henry (OC 2017) became the fourth generation to wear the 1st XV jersey. Henry, also a College Prefect, played representative rugby for Canterbury and joined the 1st XV in 2017 as Vice Captain, continuing the family tradition in style.

Across four generations, the Bates family has given more than skill to St Andrew’s rugby. They have given leadership, innovation, and a sense of continuity that connects past and present. Their story is not just about rugby. It is about family, tradition, and the enduring spirit of St Andrew’s College.

1. 1986 1st XV 2. Neil Bates 3. Duncan, Henry and Tom Bates

HONOURING OUR FALLEN: An Old Collegians Tour to Italy in 2027

In early 2016, I began thinking about how we could mark the College’s centenary in a way that truly mattered. Each week in chapel, the names of Old Collegians who had fallen in war were read aloud. I realised that, beyond those names, we knew very little about who they were or what they had done. When I asked around, most people knew the names were recorded in a book at the back of the Centennial Chapel, but that was about it. They were servicemen, mainly from the Second World War, but their stories were silent.

That silence stirred something in me. I wanted to know more. I wanted us to honour them properly. So, in 2017, we set out to visit as many of their graves as we could. Twenty-six students and four staff joined me on that journey. Each person researched an Old Collegian, learned their story, and shared it at the very place where that life ended. From the D-Day beaches in Normandy to the slopes of Mt Etna, we placed poppies, played the pipes, and spoke their names aloud. Rick Harvie (OC 1989) helped us capture it all on film with a voiceover by Cameron Pickering (OC 1997). It was a pilgrimage I will never forget.

As the College approaches its 110th anniversary in 2027, it feels fitting to once again honour our fallen Old Collegians by creating an opportunity to visit their resting places. One name stands out: E.B. “Scotch” Patterson. He served in Italy during the war and came home safely, but his story did not end there. He earned a university degree in his eighties, busked on Waiheke Island in his nineties, and wrote a book about his wartime experiences called Cassino to Trieste. Scotch was a boarder, a Prefect, and Pipe Major in 1929. He wrote that his school days at St Andrew’s were the happiest of his life.

His courage was extraordinary. Near Forlì in 1944, Scotch earned the Military Cross for bravery. In April 2027, a group of Old Collegians will follow in his footsteps, guided by his book, tracing the route from the Bay of Naples to Trieste. Along the way, we will visit Commonwealth War Graves, pay respects to fallen Collegians, and experience the Italy Scotch knew, its history, its food, and its culture.

There will be moments of reflection at Monte Cassino where four Old Collegians are remembered, an ANZAC Day service in Rome, and a final dinner in Trieste echoing the celebration Scotch described in his memoir. There will also be lots of moments of fun with boat trips on the Amalfi Coast, walking the Appian Way, exploring Ravenna and Venice, and sharing long Italian lunches with friends old and new.

I have called this journey Il Rumore di Passi, which means The Sound of Footsteps. It is about walking where others walked, remembering what they gave, and celebrating the life and spirit of St Andrew’s College across 110 years. For me, it is not just a tour. It is a way to honour those who came before us and to keep their stories alive.

Ian “Morrie” Morrison
Staff Member 2012–2024 | Tour Organiser and Leader

For more information about this tour, contact Morrie at imo@stac.school.nz or 021 184 9230

1. Catania War Cemetary, Sicily 2. Louis Newman (OC 2018), Monte Cassino 3. Morrie Morrison

VISITING OLD COLLEGIANS

It is always lovely getting Old Collegians who pop in to say hi and I love showing them around the Campus. For many, there are so many changes, but still so many things that feel familiar.

This term it was wonderful to meet Bruce Sutherland (OC 1963) who dropped in for a visit while he was visiting Christchurch from the North Island. Bruce shared that while at the College, water polo was his sport of choice. He represented Canterbury and his team won the National Championships in 1963. He was one of 4 in the team that was selected for NZ. He also captained the NZ Masters Water Polo Team some years later.

Fraser Galloway (OC 1967), son of Rector Ian Galloway (1962–1982) and brother of Euan (OC 1964) and Craig (OC 1970) also came back to the College for a quick visit. Fraser has recently returned to New Zealand after many years based in Spain. Interestingly, Fraser also represented New Zealand in volleyball between 1974–1976! He received the Volleyball New Zealand Service Award in1999 and even has a tournament named after him!

Being Yee Ting (OC 1980) joined the College from Kiribati in 1979 for his final two years of schooling and has many fond memories of his time as a boarder here. He was especially delighted to see Strowan House still standing strong, despite all the changes since the 2011 earthquake. Being now works as a Fisheries Advisor for the Government of Nauru, and we were delighted he came back to visit his old school whilst visiting Christchurch for a conference.

World Rowing Champion Ben Taylor (OC 2017) returned to the College recently to talk to our rowing students. Ben shared how his disappointment in missing the Pairs selection to compete at the last Olympics motivated him to return to rowing and have his best season yet winning the Men’s Pair by a significant margin at the recent World Rowing Championships. Ben started his rowing in 2013 alongside 10 others who became great friends and went on to win the Springbok Four and Maadi Cup in their final year in 2017.

1. Bruce Sutherland 2. Fraser Galloway 3. Being Yee Ting 4. Ben Taylor and StAC Rowers