With great sadness we advise that Chris Hense died on 29 November after a long and brave battle
against Parkinson’s disease. He was aged 79.
Chris was an understated, but remarkable Trinity person, making a huge contribution to the School,
the Old Boys, and the OTGAFC.
Chris attended TGS from 1948 – 59. He was School Captain in 1959, and also Dux of Humanities and
winner of the Rhodes prize.
Between 1960 and 1970 (interrupted by working overseas) he played 68 games for OTGAFC. Off the
field Chris was a tireless worker for the Club, always putting his hand up when there was a job to be
done - he undoubtedly umpired many more games than he played, whether field umpiring,
boundary umpiring, goal umpiring – not to mention timekeeping!
When the Club fell into dark times in the late 1970s, Chris stepped in as president in 1978 & 1979.
Chris served on the School Council from 1970-1988 and was its president from 1983-86. He also
served on the Old Boys Association for many years, including as president from 1969-71. He was a
great supporter of the OTGAFC while on both of those bodies.
Chris also had much wider links to OTGAFC through his family. His brother-in-law, Ian Curtis, was a
decorated player, captain (and captain-coach), committee member and secretary. And the career of
his brother, Terry, as a player, coach and committee member is the stuff of legend.
Perhaps most important of all, is the affection and respect that everyone who knew Chris had for
him. The tributes that have flowed in for Chris all had that as a consistent theme – including “he was
welcoming, friendly & supportive”, “a true gentleman”, “a great clubman who was part of the
culture that made Old Trins such a welcoming and happy club”, “a Trinity legend”, “a terrific bloke”,
“it was a privilege to have him pass through my life” etc.
