Robin Gray (New Zealand politician)

Gray was born in Borgue, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland on 2 July 1931 to Adam and Elsie Gray. He received his education at Borgue Primary School and at George Watson's Boys College. After serving with the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards from 1949 to 1951 in Africa, he migrated to New Zealand in 1952 to take up farming, initially working on a farm at Tapanui, before moving to his own property at Waitahuna, Central Otago. Gray married Mary Muir Thomson in 1957. She was the daughter of Alexander and Lindon Thomson. ==Member of Parliament==

He joined the National Party in 1956, and held a number of positions in its internal hierarchy. Gray became the National Party's Junior Whip in 1985 and the Senior Whip in 1987. As Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gray was entitled to the title of The Honourable, and he was granted use of the honorific for the rest of his life in 1994. ==Life after Parliament==

After stepping down as an MP, Gray retired to Mosgiel, but continued to make occasional appearances and commentary at various conferences around New Zealand. He was mildly critical of the National Party for failing to promote members' interests at conferences, to which he achieved a degree of success in ensuring delegates had more opportunity for engagement at the formal meetings. Gray was the founding president on the board of trustees for the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust. He died at his home in Mosgiel on 2 April 2022. ==Freemason==

Gray was active as a Freemason from the 1950s. He was initiated at Kirkcudbright the day before he left for New Zealand. He joined the lodge at Tapanui after arriving in New Zealand, before transferring to Lawrence in 195, where he rose to become master in 1971. After retiring from farming, he transferred to Lodge St John 84 in Mosgiel in 1995, and was appointed grand lecturer the following year. ==References==