Street Stories: The Governors
Cobham Place

Lord Cobham, our ninth Governor-General, was almost left off the list of those to be commemorated in Masterton streets. When Plunket Street was formed in 1967 it was proposed that it be known as Cobham Street, but the proposal was turned down as it was thought likely to cause confusion with the similar sounding Cockburn Street. When Cobham Place was later proposed there was a change of heart.

Cobham was another with keen sporting interests, having been vice-captain of the MCC cricket team to tour New Zealand in 1935. He was a noted public speaker, and when his term expired some of his collected speeches were published.

Pic: Lord Cobham was an enthusiastic outdoors man.