Thomas Brash

Thomas Cuddie Brash (29 November 1874 – 19 January 1957) was a leading figure in New Zealand's dairy industry and one of only four lay moderators of the General Assembly in the history of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He was the father of Presbyterian and Ecumenical church leader Alan Brash, and grandfather of governor of the Reserve Bank and leader of the National Party Don Brash. Family & childhood Thomas Cuddie Brash was born to William Brash and Jane Parkinson Brash (née Cuddie) at Saddle Hill, near Dunedin, on 29 November 1874. His parents were descendants of Scottish settlers who lived in Dunedin, and they bought their own farm of at Mataura Island, Southland. Brash attended a small school near Yeovil, but had no formal secondary education. Dairy years Apprenticeship At 15 he was employed by his uncles James and Richard Cuddie as a boilerman in their dairy factory at Mosgiel. While in Mosgiel he joined the Taieri Ramblers’ Cycling Club and became well known for his successful cycle races.