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Bob Francis (referee)

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Bob Francis
CNZM QSO MBE JP
Francis in 2021
21st Mayor of Masterton
In office
1986–2007
Preceded byFrank Cody
Succeeded byGarry Daniell
Chair of the Wairarapa District Health Board
In office
2006–2013
Preceded byDoug Matheson
Succeeded byDerek Milne
Personal details
Born
Robert Charles Francis

(1942-07-27) 27 July 1942 (age 82)
Spouse
Eva Francis
​
(died 2014)​
Children4
Rugby union career
Refereeing career
Years Competition Apps
Test matches 10
Ranfurly Shield 12

Robert Charles Francis (27th July 1942[1]) is a New Zealand politician and former rugby union referee. Francis was the mayor of Masterton from 1986 until 2007, and chair of the Wairarapa District Health Board from 2006 to 2013.

Early years

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Francis originally played rugby union, but stopped due to asthma and instead concentrated on refereeing.[2]

Referee career

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Francis started as a referee aged 18 in 1961. He went on to control almost 100 first-class matches.[3] This included 12 Ranfurly Shield games and 10 test matches.[4] During the 1980s, he was rated the world's number one referee.[2]

Francis later served as the chairman of the New Zealand Referee Association for 14 years and was on the referee selection panel for several Rugby World Cups.[3] In 2014, at the World Rugby Awards, he was awarded the International Rugby Board Referee Award for distinguished service to the game as a referee.[3][5]

Political career

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Francis was elected as Mayor of Masterton in 1986 and held the position for 21 years, until 2007. In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to local government and the community.[6]

In 2005 Francis, a long time member of the New Zealand Labour Party, was expected to be selected as its candidate for Wairarapa electorate at the 2005 general election to replace the retiring Georgina Beyer. However the party instead selected Denise MacKenzie. Francis had previously turned down an approach by the New Zealand National Party to contest the electorate for them in the 2002 election.[2]

In 2006 Francis was appointed as the chairperson of the Wairarapa District Health Board as well as the board of the Fire Service Commission.[7] He chaired the Wairarapa DHB until 2013.[8]

In 2012 Francis was appointed as a member of the Capital and Coast District Health Board.[9]

Honours and awards

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In 1990, Francis was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[10] In the 1991 New Year Honours, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to local government and the community.[11] Francis was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services in the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours.[12] In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Francis was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community and conservation.[13] At the 2024 New Zealander of the Year Awards, he was named Senior New Zealander of the Year.[14]

Later years

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His wife, Eva, died in 2014.[15] A biography of Francis, written by Gary Caffell, was published in 2015.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Lampp, Peter (15 November 2012). "Loss of great coach". Stuff.
  2. ^ a b c d Farmer, Don (18 November 2015). "Bob Francis biography set to launch". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Parker, Elliot (21 June 2014). "Francis whistles up an IRB award". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  4. ^ Harris, Caleb (20 June 2014). "Francis receives top IRB ref award". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Distinguished service award for ref Bob Francis". NZEdge. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. ^ "No. 52383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1990. p. 30.
  7. ^ Wardell, Melissa (27 September 2006). "Francis chosen as chairman of district health board". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  8. ^ Springford, Vomle (15 November 2013). "Shock at Francis' DHB axing". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Bob Francis appointed to Capital & Coast DHB". beehive.govt.nz. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 145. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  11. ^ "New Year honours 1991" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 12. 25 January 1991. p. 216.
  12. ^ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  14. ^ Wilkie, Freddie (29 March 2024). "Bob Francis receives national recognition". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Wife of ex-Masterton mayor dies". The Dominion Post. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
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