From OBHS to Oxford – Professor Paterson Visits OBHS

By RIchard Hall | Posted: Tuesday May 6, 2025

This week the school had the privilege of hosting Professor David Paterson of Oxford University.

Professor Paterson is Head of Cardiovascular Physiology and a member of Merton College. He visited with his partner Dame Carol Robinson, a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford and the first woman to teach at both Cambridge and Oxford.

Their visit to the school coincided with Dame Robinson giving a Chemistry lecture at Otago University and Professor Paterson delivering the graduation address at the University of Otago this weekend - an honour in itself. He will also be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University, in recognition of his outstanding academic record and leadership.

Davis was a pupil here at Otago Boys' until 1976 and was a member of the OBHS team that broke the NZ School's 4x 400m record. He went on to represent New Zealand in Junior Athletics.

The visit was timely as we were able to discuss, as teachers, the role education plays in shaping a young man, the importance of establishing strong practices and habits, and the value of a school such as ours. 

Professor Paterson is back in New Zealand in September and we are hoping he will be able to visit the school again, this time being able to speak to our school.