|
Bernie Crayston came to us in June 2003 from the position of Bursar to the Council of Knox College and Salmond Hall, a private entity (established by the Presbyterian Church in 1909) that owns and operates two Residential Colleges for Tertiary Education students in Dunedin. Bernie was in that position for nearly 8 years. He joined us having had a varied and interesting background. He was born in 1947, during a snow storm, in a town called Horsham, which is in the south of England. He spent part of his early years in Benghazi, Libya, where his father was posted during his time in the Army. Together with his parents and elder brother Bernie was there during the time of the Suez crisis of 1956. A period of his life which he describes as being "fairly adventuresome," as he can recall being taken to school by an armed escort. In due course, the British Government of the time arranged for all non-combatants to be returned to the UK to a somewhat safer haven. He then underwent the usual educational trials and tribulations and upon leaving school at the age of 17 years went to London where he became a Police Cadet with the Metropolitan Police Force and then, at the age of 19 years, became a police officer. It was during his time with the police, that he met Jan and, after a “whirl wind” romance they married. He served 7 ½ years in the Police, the latter 4 in the Criminal Investigation Department, before migrating to New Zealand in 1973, at which stage his and Jan’s son was just one year of age.
Since then his work experience has predominantly been in the Finance, Trustee and Hospital Sectors. His working background, together with his outside interests, meant that he brought to the role of Diocesan and Trust Board Manager a very wide range of skills and experience. He gained his B. Comm. in 1988 and the following year qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
His outside interests include choral music, gardening and membership of the Dunedin South Rotary Club. Prior to joining the Diocese he had served as Treasurer for various "Non Profit" organizations for some 25 years and was one of the initial Trustees for the East Otago Community Health Trust. Together with Jan, he has been the proud owner of Scottish Terriers and other dogs and they currently have an aged Welsh Springer Spaniel. (They also own two cats and a budgerigar.)
His direct involvement with our Diocese goes back to when his son went to Sunday
school at St. Nicholas's, Waverley. Many years later he joined the Congregation
at St Paul's Cathedral, where he served as People's Warden for 4 years. He then
became the Cathedral’s Auditor, a role he had to relinquish upon his
appointment.
[Diocese Home] [About Us] [News] [Parishes] [Resources] [Contact] [Feedback]