Muriel Bessie (Gaisford) Fullerton-Smith MBE (1907 - 2008)

Born 3 Apr 1907 in Dannevirke, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of Roden Surtees Fullerton-Smith — married 1935 in Marton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Died 29 Jul 2008 at age 101 in Marton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Biography

Muriel was born in 1907. She passed away in 2008.

Long-time Marton resident Bessie Fullerton-Smith (nee Gaisford) died last Tuesday at her Marton home, aged 101. Her funeral service was yesterday at St Stephen's Anglican Church.

Mrs Fullerton-Smith was considered to be one of New Zealand's sporting greats, winner of numerous golf tournaments in New Zealand and overseas.

She was introduced to golfing while a student at Nga Tawa in 1920, and started golf lessons with women's champion Ani Beavan. She also played tennis and netball and was later involved with the Rangitikei Hunt. At 20, Miss Gaisford won her first senior women's championship on the Tutaenui course. Over the next 35 years she took 21 senior championships at the Marton Golf Club. In the 1930s she became New Zealand's champion woman golfer. She went to England on a team trip in 1934. Upon her return, she won the New Zealand Championships.

In 1935, she married Rod Fullerton-Smith and the couple went farming in Hunterville. She continued to play golf and also took up dog trialling. At 87, she was marching with the Marton Everglades team, at 90 she gave a music recital, and at 92 she was helping at the Marton Opportunity shop and attending line dance classes.

Last year, shortly before her 100th birthday, Mrs Fullerton-Smith told the Rangitikei Mail her life was more sedate and she enjoyed watching TV because it kept her up to date with what was going on in the world. (Rangitikei Mail)

Wearing two left boots instead of buying a new pair was indicative of the thrifty nature of Bessie Fullerton-Smith, whose life was celebrated last Monday afternoon.

Mrs Fullerton-Smith, MBE, died on Tuesday, July 29, aged 101. Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate her life, filling St Stephen's Anglican Church in Marton, and the church hall.

Her son, Henry Fullerton-Smith, related the story about the two left boots during his tribute to his mother. He also recalled a heater that stopped working days before she died. He bought a new one and she told him to take it back "I can get by without one," his mother told him.

"My mother was an amazing lady. She loved life and she loved people," he said.

He said his parents had a wonderful marriage. "They were a great team." When his mother stopped living an active life she still loved receiving visitors at her home in Bond Street, Marton. "I was fortunate to have such a caring mum, a famous mum," he said.

Granddaughter Gina Sunckell created a tribute using the letters of "Granny Bessie". She said her grandmother was wonderful, kind, generous, remarkable, amazing, a lover of nature, horses and young people.

She was a woman who was always beautifully turned out, loved entertainment and parties, a sportswoman and champion golfer, strong, independent and full of energy. "I love you, Granny, and I already miss you."

From London by phone link, grandson Jason Fullerton-Smith recalled a trip to the Rangitikei River when his grandmother taught him some of the finer techniques of fishing. He said it took some time, but by the end of the day they were eating fresh trout. "I've never known anyone to have so much energy," he said.

Family friend David Duncan said her pet name for the younger set was "ducks, for all of us".

Music, many sports, including golfing and hunting, were all a part of her life, along with farming with her husband. After the tributes, a slide show accompanied by the Ray Charles song I Can't Stop Loving You was played. As the hearse left the church, members of Rangitikei Hunt Club and dogs followed it up Maunder Street as the club's tribute to Mrs Fullerton-Smith, who was the master of Rangitikei Hunt from 1956 to 1973. (Rangitikei Mail)

One of the country's most charismatic pioneer sportswomen, Bessie Fullerton-Smith cut a stylish swath through the worlds of golf, hunting, showjumping, tennis, marching and band music for more than 80 years.

Back in the days when women were supposed to accept their lot as housewives, Mrs Fullerton-Smith bucked the trend to become a champion golfer, representing New Zealand in England and Australia in the 1930s, and she was appointed the first female master of the Rangitikei Hunt in 1956.

Born on a farm near Oringi, Dannevirke, she displayed a strong streak of independence and sense of style from an early age. She attended Nga Tawa private girls' school in Marton, where she had her first golf lessons and went on her first hunt, soon showing her skill.

A life member of New Zealand Golf, she gained star status during the 1930s. She was twice a New Zealand women's golf champion and played in the winning trans- Tasman cup team and in the British Ladies' Open. Sports writer Joseph Romanos rated her in the top 10 New Zealand women golfers of all time, and golf magazine The Cut put her at No 3, behind Marnie McGuire and Oliver Hollis.

On her beloved chestnut gelding Royal Crest, she won more than 200 ribbons – mostly red – in the late 1940s and early 1950s. She won New Zealand's first three-day event and later became Rangitikei Pony Club's chief instructor. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1972 for her services to equestrian sport.

Her father, Henry Russell Gaisford, was the eldest son of a southern Hawke's Bay sheep farming family. Her mother, Ethel, was Ngati Kahungunu on her mother's side and Mrs Fullerton-Smith was the great- granddaughter of Chief Retimane Te Kouru. Her mother's father was an English lawyer.

Her beauty, style and accomplishments meant she attracted many admirers during her life, but it was hunting, fishing and farming enthusiast Rod Fullerton-Smith whom she chose to marry in 1935. Their son Henry was born in 1941.

Even in her later years she impressed others with her energy and grace. After hunting all day at the age of 85, she astounded Blenheim's Starborough Hunt by attending their annual ball that night and dancing till the small hours. She learned line dancing at 92. Celebrating her 100th birthday last year, she described herself as "one of the lucky ones".

Mrs Fullerton-Smith is survived by her son Henry, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. (The Dominion Post)

Sources

• "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
  • Birth Registration / 1907/7176 / Name: Gaisford Muriel Bessie / Parents: Ethel & Henry Russell
  • Marriage Registration / 1935/436 / Muriel Bessie Gaisford & Roden Surtees Fullerton Smith
  • Death Registration / 2008/18887 / Name: Fullerton-Smith, Muriel Bessie /DOB: 3 April 1907
• Find A Grave: Memorial #195418282 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 March 2021), memorial page for Muriel Bessie Gaisford Fullerton-Smith (3 Apr 1907–29 Jul 2008), Find a Grave Memorial no. 195418282, citing Mount View Cemetery, Marton, Rangitikei District, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand ; Maintained by Cosmo (contributor 49300889)