Lancelot Bavin

Lance Bavin
Born	18 August 1881 Wellington, New Zealand
Died	4 January 1956(1956-01-04) (aged 74) Sydney Australia
Nationality	Australian
Education	Auckland Grammar School Newington College
Occupation	Founder & Headmaster Chatswood Preparatory School Headmaster & Co-Headmaster Mowbray House School
Spouse(s)	Ida Bavin
Children	2 Sons, 2 Daughters
Parents	Emma (née Buddle) and The Rev. Rainsford Bavin

Lancelot Bavin (18 August 1881 – 4 January 1956) was a New Zealand-born Australian educator who was the Founder and Headmaster of Chatswood Preparatory School and Headmaster and Co-Headmaster of Mowbray House School. He was the preparatory school headmaster of lawyer and company director Sir Norman Cowper CBE,^[1] poet Kenneth Slessor OBE^[2] and Prime Minister The Hon. Gough Whitlam AC QC.^[3]

Family

Lance Bavin was born in Wellington, New Zealand,^[4] the youngest son, and eighth child of nine, to the Rev. Rainsford Bavin, a Methodist minister from Lincolnshire, England, and his New Zealand-born wife Emma, née Buddle. His siblings were: Edna (Mrs Charles Lack); Jessie (Mrs Ambrose Fletcher); Sir Thomas Bavin; Gertrude (Mrs William Parker); Major Cyril Bavin OBE; Horace Bavin; Florence Bavin (Mrs Ernest Warren); and Dora Bavin (Mrs Leslie Allen).^[5]

Education

He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Newington College^[6] after his father's move to Sydney, Australia, in 1889.

Chatswood Preparatory School

In 1906 Bavin founded the Chatswood Preparatory School.^[7] He initially ran the school with his wife, Ida, and his mother, Emma (1845–1931).^[8] The main building was constructed for the opening of the school in 1906 and is now heritage listed.^[9]

Mowbray House School

In 1914 Sandy Phillips, until then a master at Sydney Grammar School, became co-headmaster with Bavin and Chatswood Prep became known as Mowbray House School. Bavin and Phillips had been students together at Newington College. Phillips remained at Mowbray House until his return to Sydney Grammar in 1924, where he ultimately became Headmaster.^[10] Bavin continued as Headmaster of Mowbray House until the school closed in 1954 due to his ill-health.

Local government

Bavin served as an alderman and Mayor of Willoughby Council.

References