Cecil Manson

Cecil Murray Manson (20 January 1896 – 13 June 1987) was a New Zealand writer, journalist, broadcaster, photographer, artist and soldier. Born in England, Manson studied art in European institutions and served as a soldier in both world wars. He moved to New Zealand with his wife Celia Manson in 1947, and together they co-authored a number of historical books, including children's books. They also helped found the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship.

Cecil Manson
Born	Cecil Murray Manson (1896-01-20)20 January 1896 London, England
Died	13 June 1987(1987-06-13) (aged 91) Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation	Writer journalist broadcaster photographer artist soldier
Spouse	Cecilia Evelyn Drummond ​ ​ (m. 1939)​

Life and career

Manson was born in London, England, on 20 January 1896.^[1][2][3] He was the youngest son of Frederick William Manson and his wife, both based in Wimbledon.^[4] He was educated at Repton School,^[1] and studied art at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art, the Metropolitan School of Art, and the Académie Julian.^[5]

He served in both World War I and World War II, first with the 4th Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment.^[6] During the Gallipoli campaign in 1914 he met New Zealanders and decided he would like to move to New Zealand.^[7] After that campaign he moved to the Royal Flying Corps,^[8] where his son later said he survived nine crashes.^[7] He worked in insurance and journalism between the wars.^[1] In 1939 he married New Zealander Celia Manson in France.^[9] Their son Hugo was born in London in 1941 and later became a freelance journalist.^[7][5]

At the time World War II broke out, Manson was in his mid-forties, and his military service involved working in military intelligence at Bletchley Park. Until the mid-1970s he told people he had worked in airforce administration due to security restrictions.^[7][10][11] Manson and his wife moved to New Zealand in 1947, where together they co-wrote over 12 books about New Zealand history, including children's books.^[1][5] Manson also worked as an artist and photographer.^[1][12] In 1947 he purchased the Tyree Studio in Nelson, which he renamed to Manson's Studio.^[13][14] He exhibited his artwork at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts regularly between 1961 and 1979.^[15] In 1962 his work was exhibited as part of the Hay's Ltd Art Competition.^[16]

In 1967 Cecil and Celia visited Menton in France, and subsequently founded the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship together with Sheilah Winn.^[17][18][19]

In 1981 he published a memoir of the first 34 years of his life, A World Away, through Pigeon Press.^[1] It was published simultaneously with his wife's historical work, The Widow of Thorndon Quay, and a review in The Press said the works were both "excellently written in their respective genres as would be expected of writers of their experience and calibre".^[20] In February 1987 a retrospective exhibition of his works was held by the Molesworth Gallery in Wellington.^[5] He died on 13 June 1987, aged 91, four months before the death of his wife.^[6][21][5]

Selected works

Works by Manson and his wife Celia include:^[1]

• Tides of Hokianga (Wingfield Press, 1956)
• Doctor Agnes Bennett (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960, also published in London by Michael Joseph^[22])
• Curtain-raiser to a Colony (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1962)
• The Lonely One (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1963, also published in New York by Roy Publishers^[23] and in London by Epworth Press^[24]) (children's book)
• Pioneer Parade (A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1966)
• The Adventures of Johnny van Bart (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1965, also published in New York by Roy Publishers^[25] and in London by Epworth Press^[26]) (children's book)
• I Take Up My Pen: An Early Colonial Scrapbook (Pigeon Press, 1972)
• The Affair of the Wellington Brig: A True and Terrible Story (Millwood Press, 1978)

Manson separately authored:

• A World Away (Pigeon Press, 1981)