John Fullarton (1908-1978)

Newspaper editor and author John Haydon Fullarton was born in Dunedin and educated at Napier Boy's High and Canterbury University. He then trained to be a teacher and taught in both New Zealand and Britain. Fullarton served in the New Zealand Army in North Africa during World War Two then joined the Taranaki Daily News as sub-editor in 1946, subsequently becoming associate editor in 1952 and editor in 1962. 

Fullarton travelled widely and in 1961, after a seven-week tour of Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan and Japan, the Daily News published a series of his articles on Asian politics and economies as "Our Asian Neighbours". He also edited the 1976 Egmont National Park Handbook and had earlier published two novels: Troop Target (1943/44?) based on his war service in North Africa and We Walked Alone (1946) about his student days at Canterbury University.

Fullarton was a keen sportsman and was involved in rugby, cricket and bowls. He also served as vice president and president of the New Plymouth Bridge Club, which still holds a Central Districts Fullarton Teams event and presents a Fullarton Trophy for teams play in his honour. John Fullarton retired in 1973 but continued to contribute a weekly Daily News column called "The Man in the Corner" until his death in 1978, when it was taken over by Keith Downes.