Community Contributed
Joan Sellors
Former Chronicle proof reader dies.
| Date of birth | 1905 |
| Date of death | 19/03/2001 |
Death Notice
SELLORS: Joan Mary of Levin.
On March 19, 2001. Loved wife of the late Colin. Loved sister of the late Ewart, Marjorie and Stephen Bevan. Loved cousin and friend of Maureen McCarthy (Levin). R.I.P. A Service for Joan will be held at St . Joseph's Catholic Church, Weraroa Road, Levin on Thursday March 22 at 2.00pm, thereafter to the Tiro Tiro Road Cemetery, Levin. Harvey-Bowler Funeral Services Ltd, Levin FDANZ Griefcare.
Former Chronicle proof reader dies
BY BOB MALCOLMSON
A link with this district's earliest history has been severed with the death of Joan Mary Sellors, a member of the pioneer Bevan family and the last of her generation of that family.
Joan Bevan was a daughter of Thomas and Jane Bevan, her father being the son of the first Thomas Bevan who settled with the original family in the Manakau area after a long trek from Wellington along the beaches after arrival in the sailing ship Nugent in 1841. The family's contribution to its development is made in the history of this district.
Thomas Bevan senior set up a rope-walk. Manufacturing rope was a very important early industry in the sailing ship days.
The late Joan Senors' father was the Bevan of the firm of Swainson and Bevan, a large general store at Weraroa in the township's early days. The store was later destroyed by fire.
Mrs Sellors was the wife of the late Colin who died a number of years ago in a road accident some two years after their marriage. A sister was the late Marjorie Bevan, a well-known early Levin florist who pre-deceased her in May 1999. As a young woman, Mrs Sellors was crowned Queen of the Mardi Gras back in 1922. It was held in the course of the official opening and dedication of the Peace Memorial for those who died in the World War 1.
The mardi gras was a fundraiser for the memorial. Associated with it was the planting of a row of trees on the Oxford Street frontage with plaques dedicated to personalities of those early days.
The plaques have disappeared with wear and tear over the years.
In her later life the late Mrs Senors was employed by The Chronicle, being particularly noted for her skill as a proof reader.
She joined in 1933 as a typist, having completed a course at Gilby's College, Wellington. She went from the office into the reading room, firstly as copy-holder and gradually was given the position of proof reader. The editor at the time was Mr Hudson.
When she retired after 35 years in June 1970, Mrs Senors was praised by the then managing director, the late Tom Kerslake, for her thoroughness and meticulous attention to detail. "Everything has to be right with Mrs Senors. She knows no second best," he said at her staff farewell ceremony. He noted her quiet, amicable manner and the pleasant way in which she gave numerous copy holders over the years tuition.
In the course other reply Mrs Sellors spoke of her time at The Chronicle as having 'widened my horizons'. The funeral service for Mrs Sellors was at St Joseph's Catholic Church.
Reference was made to Mrs Senors and her sister, Marjorie having lived in their Mako Mako Road residence for many years. Both were 'women of faith'. Interment was with her late husband at the Tiro Tiro Rd cemetery.