Vic Wilcox

Victor George Wilcox (6 November 1912 – 29 April 1989) was a New Zealand farmer and trade unionist who was secretary-general of the Communist Party of New Zealand.

Biography Early life Wilcox was born in Willesden, London, England on 6 November 1912 to William Wilcox, a railway shunter, and his wife Kathleen Sage. In the mid-1920s, the Wilcoxes emigrated to New Zealand with his family. His father took up dairy farming at Waiharara in Northland while Vic was educated at Takapuna Grammar School. After completing his education Wilcox worked on farms in Northland. There he became involved with the Waiharara branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and he served as its secretary from 1936 until 1939. He partook in many sports in his youth including rugby and tennis, later in life he took a keen interest in horse racing.

Wilcox married Ann Richards on 21 June 1940 and would later have one daughter. Then during World War II, Wilcox served as a clerk in the Royal New Zealand Air Force starting May 1942. In October 1943 he was transferred to the reserve list on grounds of ill health.

Later life and death Wilcox continued his political activity in old age via the New Zealand China Friendship Society before dying of cancer at his home in Henderson, Auckland, on 29 April 1989. He was survived by his wife and daughter. His funeral ceremony took place in a green garden in the Waitakere foothills where his brother-in-law Mark Richards (a poet) read a poem by communist Rewi Alley in tribute to Wilcox and the attendees sang "The Internationale".