Mr. Colin Crombie

Colin started at Boys’ High in 1960 and he was a fine all-round pupil. He began in Form IIIB, was in Albion club, and had a fellow Business Alumni member, Bruce Lambie, in the same form class.

Colin did well academically, achieving School Certificate in his 5th form year in 1962, University Entrance and Endorsed School Certificate the following year, followed by Higher School certificate when he was in the Upper VIth in 1964 – that’s Year 13 to those of you of a younger generation.

While at Boys’ High, Colin was fully involved in school life. In his 3rd form year, he was in the Eighth-Grade Red rugby team which under the guidance of Mr Doel, went through the season unbeaten to win the Eighth-Grade championship. In fact, Colin enjoyed a successful rugby career at school – in his five years playing rugby, his teams played 60 games, for 49 wins, five draws and only six losses. Two unbeaten seasons – the Fourth Grade A team went through the 1963 season without a loss – the year before the 5th Grade A team had lost just once, to Wanganui Collegiate. Colin was captain of the 2nd XV in his final year, coached by Errol Brookie, and in his team was future All Black Ian Stevens. In the Palmerstonian, Mr Brookie remarked that “Crombie was rarely out hooked”.

Colin was also a good tennis player and athlete. He was runner-up to Ian Bevins in the junior tennis championship in 1962, in a three-set thriller, and he would go on to play for the Senior A tennis team. He was a regular member of the Albion 4×100 yards relay team.

Colin was in the cadet force; he was platoon corporal of B company in 1962, rising to be the Regimental Sgt Major Warrant Officer 1 of the School Battalion. In 1964 he was the school’s Deputy Head Prefect.

Upon leaving PNBHS, Colin began working in the insurance sector. He subsequently qualified for both the New Zealand and Australian Insurance Institutes, and he would go on to become a Life Member of the Corporation of Insurance Brokers, NZ.

Colin was a founder of insurance brokerage firm Crombie Lockwood in Napier in 1978 from the basement of his house. Crombie Lockwood grew to become one of the largest insurance brokers in New Zealand, and today the company employs around 900 staff operating from 31 offices throughout the country. Colin retired as chairman of Crombie Lockwood in 2008 after 30 years at the helm.

In 2014 Colin was awarded the QSM (Queen’s Service Medal) for philanthropy and services to the community. He said he was “stunned but absolutely pleased and honoured to have been considered” for the QSM. In what Colin considers to be his most rewarding project, he and his wife Diana have spent 15 years providing academic scholarships for tertiary study to the sons and daughters of hard-working families through the Penzance Charitable Trust.

Colin and Diana have also supported the restoration of the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery. Colin’s philanthropic work is not limited to New Zealand, either: he helped establish the Rose Charity Eye Clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The clinic has become the leading eye clinic in Cambodia, assisting people in rural areas with sight difficulties.

Colin lives in Hawke’s Bay, and he has continued his interests in business as joint founder and director of a telecommunications company, a security company, and currently an innovative stock food business. He has been a member of the Iona College Council for more than 10 years and is a member of the College Foundation. Colin is also a life member of Outward Bound.

Colin’s love of sport continues, and he says when the rivers of Hawke’s Bay finally clear from the ravages of Cyclone Gabrielle, he will resume his passion for fly fishing.

It is a privilege to be able to recognise Colin’s success.