Dunning was born at
Ōmaha and educated at
Auckland Grammar School and
Auckland University College, later graduating
MSc (
Honours) in mathematics at the
University of Otago. He was New Zealand's
Rhodes Scholar in 1925 and, studying at
New College, Oxford, he obtained his
MA in mathematics. He taught at
John McGlashan College,
Dunedin, from 1923 to 1925 and from 1927 to 1939; he was also sports master. He was recruited to the headmastership of
Scots College, Warwick, in
Queensland from 1939 to 1949 and
Prince Alfred College,
Adelaide, from 1949 to 1969, where he was said to exhibit "Scottish carefulness". Dunning died suddenly at
Adelaide in
South Australia in June 1971, aged 68, survived by his wife and two daughters. Obituaries were published in the
New Zealand Cricket Almanack in 1971 and in
Wisden the following year. ==References==