Background
Lance Bavin was born in Wellington, New Zealand, the youngest son, and eighth child of nine, to the Review Rainsford Bavin, a Methodist minister from Lincolnshire, England, and his New Zealand-born wife Emma, née Buddle.
Lance Bavin was born in Wellington, New Zealand, the youngest son, and eighth child of nine, to the Review Rainsford Bavin, a Methodist minister from Lincolnshire, England, and his New Zealand-born wife Emma, née Buddle.
Auckland Grammar School.
He was the preparatory school headmaster of lawyer and company director Sir Norman Cowper Commander of the Order of the British Empire, poet Kenneth Slessor Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and Prime Minister The Honorary Gough Whitlam Air Corps Queen's Counsel.
Rainsford Bavin arrived in New Zealand in 1867 and was appointed to Christchurch circuit. His family moved to Sydney from Auckland in 1889 and his father took charge of the William Street Church.
Nothing is known of Bavin"s education until he attended Newington College as a day boy in 1896 and 1897 from the family"s then home in Ashfield.
As the son of a Methodist minister he was on half-fees. In 1906 Bavin founded the The main building was constructed for the opening of the school in 1906 and is now heritage listed.
In 1914 Sandy Phillips, until then a master at Sydney Grammar School, became co-headmaster with Bavin and Chatswood Preparatory became known as Bavin and Phillips had been students together at Newington College. Phillips remained at Mowbray House until his return to Sydney Grammar in 1924, where he ultimately became Headmaster.
Bavin continued as Headmaster of Mowbray House until the school closed in 1954 due to his ill-health.
Bavin served as an alderman and Mayor of Willoughby Council.