Archive #45/65: Reverend Doug Storkey

A Hawke’s Bay Boy, Rev Storkey was the surviving twin of a Napier couple. His father was a largely self-educated book keeper in a wood and coal merchant’s office, who, which his wife later owned a city book shop. The shop was destroyed in the Napier earthquake to be rebuilt and then sold when his father died. With money tight, in his final years at Napier Boys’ High School he passed three units of an Arts degree so as to reduce the time it took him to graduate and subsequently reduce the impact on the family purse.

As a preacher his sister Margaret Robb recalls his decision to become a minister as being no surprise to the family. ‘The centre of our lives was the Presbyterian Church in Napier. We went to Sunday School and Bible Class. It was not an unexpected step.’ Rev Storkey had a wish to preach what he practiced.

Doug Storkey was suited to the church. His gifts were not just his knowledge of gospels, his faith and his remarkable and eloquent preaching style but also his personality. He was happy, funny and engaging and would talk endlessly on issues of the day. In the pulpit, he dispelled any notion of a dour and dutiful preacher the minute he opened his mouth. He had the rare ability of appearing to speak without notes when, in fact he was always prepared. His sermons, which he painstakingly edited, contained neither gobbledegook nor ‘cant’ and flowed in a beautifully modulated way as if a record player was implanted in his chest. As he always had something valuable to say there was little chance of snoozing ones way through one of his services.

It was at Kent Terrance after one of his sermons that he rose to National prominence. Rev Storkey articulated the case that the All Blacks should not tour South Africa in 1960 without its Maori players. A sermon that was supposed to be for the congregation was published by the press and he ended up debating the matter on radio with former All Black George Nepia.

As a fantastic Chaplain

The first full-time Chaplain to be appointed to Lindisfarne, Rev Storkey made an immediate impact and soon became a revered figure. Living on site, firstly in the room above the Rector’s office in the Homestead, he tended the pastoral care needs of upwards of 200 boarders.

He had an inspirational way with teenagers. In one tribute, his nephew Murray Robb commented ‘It was as if a little part of him had stopped developing and the boy remained with him for the rest of his life, much to the benefit of thousands who he work with, in the schools and churches around the country.’

His immense experiences, humorous anecdotes and stories and his love of the English language rubbed off on every boy who passed through his hands. He developed a rapport which made him a guide, a counsellor and most of all, a friend to the boys who passed through the College gate. Rev Storkey’s preaching skills became quite legendary. His sermons always seemed to touch off a response, or jolt many from their complacency. The morals and messages strengthened, inspired and enthused many of the community in their daily lives.

After 8 years as Chaplain he retired to live in Hastings where he kept in close contact with the College, supplying afternoon tea to the occupants of Storkey dormitory each year until his death in 2003.

Doug Storkey was a Preacher who was as good as his words.

For more photos click here.