Builder and Community Figure (Daily Post obituary, 1962)
‘Darkie’ dies in hospital he helped to build. Cyril Rankin (“Darkie”) Lloyd died on Sunday night in the hospital he had helped to build as a young building employee and contractor.
In his late 60s when he died Mr Lloyd was born in Launceston, Tasmania, and came to New Zealand as an infant. His early years as an apprentice carpenter to the then contracting firm of Campbell Burke, were spent in Wellington, where he played Rugby and was taught boxing by the late Tim Tracey.
When World War I enshrouded the world he went to France as a sapper with the New Zealand engineers.
Boxing Champion. After the war he fought services’ bouts in England, being billed as the middleweight champion of New Zealand.
On returning to New Zealand he took up employment in Rotorua working on the King George V Hospital. He commenced building on his own account in 1920. A partnership with the late Roy Quinlan as Lloyd and Quinlan was 
dissolved about 1930. As managing director of Lloyds Ltd, his firm erected many buildings in the town. These included the Rotorua Furnishing Co (now Smith and Brown), the Bank of New South Wales, the “Daily Post” Wallingford Flats, Thirwell Buildings, the municipal building, the technical block at the Rotorua Boys’ High School and the modern Bridgman wing at the Rotorua Hospital.
It was in a room in this building he died. During World War II his firm was associated with Bay of Plenty Builders Ltd., in building the Rotorua Hospital nurses’ home.
Monument. The Bridgman wing, however, is his monument as a builder. The firm was plagued with an extraordinary shortage of skilled labour and vital materials.
Long periods of wet weather and the discovery of hot ground and springs in the foundations turned the excavations into a quagmire of immovable pug, and created delays.
All of these difficulties were overcome and today the building is regarded as a model of its kind in New Zealand.
An ambitious but ill-fated venture of Lloyd and Quinlan was the building in 1930 of the Sylvana Hall. Situated opposite the now sub-divided borough motor camp, Sylvana Hall was a spacious dancehall with sprung floor, cafeterias associated cloak rooms, murals and fittings. Even today it would be regarded as delux.
The venture failed, however, because the world failed. The economic blizzard of the 1930 depression hit New Zealand with devastating force and business faded overnight. Unemployment approached nearly 100,000. The country went through a period which most who encountered and weathered it prefer to mentally file only to be dusted off for action if the like threatens again.
Tent Dwellers. Certainly the motor camp was inhabited—not by eager, pleasure seekers but by tent dwellers who were dispossessed of their homes. Sylvana withered on the vine and Rotorua lapsed into a period of insular austerity.
Appeals to slump-embattled business people to take bonds of £10 each raised only £30, so Rotorua went without its indoor stadium for more than 30 years.
Gymnasium promotion was one of the late Darkie’s (he would prefer to be called that) interests. He was on the executive of the first Rotorua wrestling association and served as vice-president and equipment organiser for many years.
Darkie Lloyd, however, was dismayed but not daunted. With the welfare of youth ever in his mind, he offered to erect Sylvana on a site in town with additional raised balconys and spacious side rooms as a gymnasium and stadium for indoor sports. The price, incredible even then, was £750.
This building would approximate in size that for which funds of over £20,000 were recently raised.
Driving Spirit. He was on the executive of Post World War II boxing association, president and life member of the Rotorua Old Boys’ Rugby Club and the driving spirit behind the effort that caused the club to build its own rooms at Arawa Park.
He was a member and steward of the Rotorua Racing club.
In later years he developed a great attachment to Maketu and, early in the venture, he opposed and fought the diversion of the river there, a fight which he kept up till his death.
Accumulating evidence would seem to be proving his fears justified and his opposition well-founded.
Forthright to a degree Darkie was not always understood by casual acquaintances. Those who knew him well appreciated his sincere desire to encourage and help all worthwhile youth movements.
When the history of Rotorua is written the name of Cyril Rankin Lloyd will be associated with it.
Gordon and Joyce Lloyd
GORDON LLOYD, 1919-1979, after Airforce, Pacific zone, in W.W.2. he married JOYCE PATCHELL, the District Health Nurse. Joyce is interested in family history and recalls when Gordon’s mother Annie gave her the photos of Rua’s capture and Rua’s son’s gambling penny from step-father Bill Neil’s ammunition box.
C.R. Lloyd, Gordon’s father in early 1920s bought the Fenton St. property, the family first living in a tent until the cottage was built. Another entrance was off Te Ngae Rd. where two flats were added. Three staff cottages on south border were added first.
1984, ‘Turners and Growers’ bought the majority of the property. In early 1990s they sold it to Mr. Cook the big property developer for ‘BIG FRESH’ & ‘GEORGIE PIE’.
1946, Lloyds established a Drying Kiln for the timber by sinking a thermal bore. Lloyds hot mineral bath was popular with Gordon’s rugby mates. Lloyds were great supporters of sports. Gordon extended the business to mill & paints.
The 2 sons, after University, chose other careers.
Figure “Two workmen Messrs R. Pollock (lf.) and L. Houghton—take a last look at a gt. log before it is put the saw in a Rotoruua timber yard yesterday.” Lloyd’s Saw Mill, 1960s.
JOYCE LLOYD, nee Patchell, from Hawera. 1935, represented Waikato in Basketball. 1939, began her nursing training in New Plymouth, graduating with N.Z. Gold Medal for maternity nursing. 1944, was one of two nurses appointed to Rotorua as District Health Nurse for the area of Waiotapu, Mamaku, Rotorua and Atiamuri. 1947, after marrying Gordon Lloyd, she was kept busy bringing up their two sons, Warwick and John and supporting their educational as well as sporting activities. Joyce also trained in Office Management
1979, was appointed Justice of the Peace, then served 10yrs. on the Executive Council of Rot. & Districts Justice of the Peace Assoc. 1988, held position of President – only 2 women have. 1982, appointed as a Marriage Celebrant. 1992 her book “Today’s Wedding Ceremonies” as a guide to other marriage celebrants. Rotorua Hospice trustee and fund raising work. Vice-president of the Rot. Hospital Auxilary. Patron of the Rotorua Croquet Club. 1944 onwards, member of the Rot. Golf Club and has ‘holed-in-one’ twice!