Skip to main content

Abstract of Rachael DAVIN, 2021

 Item — Box: 28
Identifier: H01870002

Abstract

Rachael Davin

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundson

Abstracter: Laura Davies

Date: 24 August 2013

Track 1

00:00 RACHAEL MARY? DAVIN born 18 February 1946 eldest daughter of MARTIN DAVIN the younger brother of DAN DAVIN.

00:20 Describes meeting DAN DAVIN for the first time in 1954 in JOHNSONVILLE, WELLINGTON – PATRICK DAVIN, MARTIN DAVIN and BILL NGATA the son of SIR ĀPIRANA NGATA were also present – DAN DAVIN was talking about CRETE during WORLD WAR TWO.

01:55 Recalls travelling to the UNITED KINGDOM via the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in 1975 – stayed with DAN and WINNIE DAVIN in OXFORD – mentions pub THE GARDENERS ARMS – Describes the daily routines of DAN and WINNIE DAVIN.

03:00 Recalls meeting DAN DAVIN in the weekends at his thatch cottage in DORCHESTER on the grounds of DORCHESTER ABBY – mentions the DAN DAVIN’S GARDEN – DAN DAVIN would go to the cottage to write.

04:13 Stayed with BRIDGET, daughter of DAN DAVIN while living LONDON – would meet up with DAN DAVIN if he ever travelled to LONDON

04:35 Returned to NEW ZEALAND in 1978 and saw DAN and WINNIE DAVIN when they returned to NEW ZEALAND.

05:00 Describes DAN and WINNIE DAVIN’S HOUSE in SOUTHMOOR ROAD, OXFORD.

05:50 Recalls clearing out the house after the passing of DAN and WINNIE DAVIN and their ASHES were scattered at PORT MEADOW, OXFORD.

06:28 Explains were the DAUGHTERS of DAN and WINNIE were when she visited in the 1970s – DELIA was in CHINA with LUCY – ANNA was in east LONDON – BRIDGET was in CAMDEN with her husband ANDY.

07:17 Describes DAN and WINNIE’S RELATIONSHIP – WINNIE was a POET working with the OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.

08:00 Describes DAN DAVIN’S personal and physical ATTRIBUTES.

08:55 Describes the COTTAGE in DORCHESTER.

09:45 Recalls DAN DAVIN’S gifts at CHRISTMAS and the DAVIN’S GENEROSITY.

10:10 Describes DAN DAVIN and WINNIE going to DORCHESTER each weekend.

10:45 Recalls what DAN DAVIN said about his CHILDHOOD and INVERCARGILL and SOUTHLAND – mentions his time in AUCKLAND and OTAGO.

11:15 Recalls the SPANISH CIVIL WAR and the CATHOLIC CHURCH in regards to DAN DAVIN.

12:00 Describes fond memories of DAN and WINNIE DAVIN from her and others.

13:00 [Interviewer mentions the DAN DAVIN writing competition]

13:10 Recalls going to BALLIOL COLLEGE with DAN DAVIN for lunch at the HEAD TABLE.

13:40 Describes friendship with BRIDGET, daughter of DAN DAVIN – BRIDGET worked as a bookseller – set up bookshop called LAMBS? – lives in KENT.

15:00 END OF TRACK

Track 2

00:00 Recalls occasion of DAN DAVIN visiting NEW ZEALAND were she drove him around including the house of JAMES MCNEISH – also met with VINCENT O'SULLIVAN and RORY SWEETMAN.

00:37 Recalls period after DAN DAVIN’S death during KEITH OVENDEN biography – three deaths in the family over a short period in 1995; MOLLY DAVIN, RACHAEL’S MOTHER and WINNIE DAVIN – RACHAEL DAVIN was in ENGLAND during this time.

02:20 Describes BRIDGET’S SUNDAY LUNCHES.

02:57 Describes her FATHER MARTIN DAVIN – worked in the WEST COAST during the DEPRESSION – he played SPORT – he wasn’t eligible for OVERSEAS SERVICE during the WAR and worked at the TRANSPORT section in TAUHERENIKAU.

03:55 Her parents met in INVERCARGILL – married at SACRED HEART CHURCH, INVERCARGILL – issues around her MOTHER not being CATHOLIC.

04:33 MARTIN DAVIN got send to OTANE in the HAWKES BAY were RACHAEL and her SISTER, DONNA, and TIM were born – Recalls learning to walk.

05:25 MARTIN DAVIN did extramural study – then transferred to WELLINGTON- MOTHER was a KINDERGARTEN TEACHER - Brought up in the CATHOLIC CHURCH

07:25 Her parents moved into TOWN in NORTHLAND – RACHAEL did NURSING – her siblings were at COLLEGE - mentions MARTIN DAVIN was also known as MATT – MARTIN DAVIN worked out of the chief executive office for the General Manager of RAILWAYS

08:25 After her parents RETIRED they travelled to ENGLAND and stayed with DAN and WINNIE DAVIN – her MOTHER toured EUROPE and her FATHER followed ALL BLACKS on TOUR in IRELAND – MARTIN DAVIN also visited were his FATHER came from outside GALWAY.

10:00 Describes similarities and differences between MARTIN DAVIN and DAN DAVIN – mentions the family are big readers.

10:50 Talks about story that they would find BOOKS in the RUBBISH dump.

11:36 END OF TRACK/INTERVIEW

Dates

  • 2021

Conditions Governing Access

Access to oral history recordings is via the Archives Research Room only. We are unable to provide access to this material remotely. Where access agreements allow, abstracts, audio extracts and photographs will be accessible online.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is copyright of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. In accordance with agreements held with interviewees, it is strictly prohibited to reproduce (copy) oral history recordings, abstracts, audio extracts or photographs without prior written consent. Applications for the reproduction of these recordings and associated materials, in whole or part, must be made in writing to the Southland Oral History Project Co-ordinator, c/o Invercargill City Libraries and Archives

Extent

From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository