bagpipe 2012.pmd - Andrean Foundation

2012
No. 33
Barry Mosley (X47/49) writes: What may be of interest
is my U3A research into settlers from Northumberland in
the Eastern Cape. I have come come across information
about the Bowker Family, the Mitfords and Barbertons.
Very interestingly, I have discovered that the family of
General Sir Rufane Donkin (or Shaw-Donkin), who
played a major part regarding the 1820 Settlers, have for
a long time been landowners in the Morpeth area of
Northumberland. There must be others with strong
Northumbrian connections, but it is difficult finding them.
I shall be looking forward to the next edition of Bagpipe,
and never forget that I was a drummer in the band.
In my fifteen years living in Northumberland I am to a
great extent out of touch with OAs in London and the
South, also most I should imagine were not amongst my
contemporaries. Still it is interesting reading what OAs
are doing and that they are found all over the world.
I am very happy in Northumberland which in many
ways is out on its own. This land of the “Geordies”, which
is centred on Newcastle, has a strong accent and dialect
of its own, and in other ways has a uniqueness even in
England. I like especially the wide open countryside,
animal reserves, and Kielder dam which is the largest manmade lake in Europe, and the forests. Also species once
extinct in the UK have been reintroduced, eg eagles, while
there has been an increase in numbers of otters, deer,
and it is possible that beavers will be reintroduced. The
scheme to reintroduce wolves in Scotland is controversial!!
I was at College 1947 – 1949 and so do not hear
about my contemporaries. However Axel Grey was with
me in Merriman! If I am correct he eventually took Holy
Orders, astonishing when you consider the Axel Grey I
knew in Merriman! He was a great and loquacious tease
and, verbally, would get the better of most. Still he was
great fun. Please let me know if I am correct.
From Roy Joynt (M41/44): Moira and I celebrated
our Diamond wedding on July 4th, and during the year
the first birthdays of our two great grandchildren.
We have also been busy learning to live with old age
creeping on. Otherwise a quiet year.(Mac: as long as it
just creeps, and doesn’t gallop!)
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Bob Mickel (X42/46) writes of Scouting at College:
During the Second World War the RAF had established
the 44 Air School which trained and serviced a coastal
air recognizance squadron. The squadron consisted
mainly of Airspeed Oxford and Avro Anson aircraft. These
worthy aircraft were a daily feature of the Grahamstown
sky as they slowly droned their way across the town. Our
cadet pipe band used to play at their passing out parades.
One of the members of the ground crew at the air
school had been in Scouting in the UK and he
had obtained permission from, Ronald Currey to establish
a Scout group at College. Adverts were posted inviting
those interested to meet in the Drill Hall on a certain day
and time. This meeting took place and led to registration
of a Scout group at St Andrew’s. I and my friend B. C.
Dawson had been Scouts before
coming to College so as
veterans we were made
patrol leaders; my seconder
was the late Buisson
Street. Our scout master
from the air school was
known to us as ‘Smokey’
I have forgotten his
surname.
He
always contacted us when he
needed
to in letters signed with a
drawing
of a three log camp fire with
a spiral
of smoke rising up from the
flames.
We did all the things scouts do working towards badges,
going out on camps in the surrounds of Grahamstown. I
am not sure how long the troop lasted – about two years
I think. Eventually Smokey was transferred to another
base and without a Scoutmaster the troop was disbanded.
At about that time our Housemaster the Rev. H.
Cartwright called Dawson and me to his office and asked
us if we would like to establish a Scout troop at the
Anglican Church in the township. We agreed and had
our first meeting at the hall adjacent to the Anglican
Church, near the entrance to the township, beyond the
railway station. We were introduced to about eighteen
African schoolboys. They were very keen to learn and
after arranging them into patrols with leaders and
seconders we had a troop going. They could not be called
scouts but were registered as Pathfinders. We had no
money and no uniforms. This did not matter very much
– we did all the other things scouts do: first aid, knot
tying, gardening, fire making and so on. Our meetings
did not always take place at the church hall, sometimes
up on the hillside above the town. We met on Sundays.
Arrangements had been made for us to collect a sack of
provisions from our dining hall, enough for all. There
were lamb chops, vegetables, coffee, sugar, condensed
milk, oranges. Looking back I am sure this was a strong
attraction to join this troop. Regrettably with matric and
other commitments on the horizon we had to end our
township troop. But it was good while it lasted.
Colin Kidwell (M49/52) writes: After leaving College
my entire working career was spent in Banking. I started
with Standard Bank in East London and then spent
several years at their Salisbury Branch in the then
Rhodesia before returning to R.S.A. I then spent 3 1/2
years with Lombard Banking in London, coming back to
join Chase Manhattan Bank in their Cape Town branch
and yes, I did meet David Rockefeller! I then helped open
the Cape Town Branch of the Bank of Lisbon before being
transferred to their Head Office in Johannesburg. After
some 5 years with them I moved to Wesbank and to Cape
Town where I was in several levels of Management,
Internal Audit and Marketing. I retired in November, 1994.
I have enjoyed a very varied and to some degree,
successful, sporting life which has included amateur
motorsport locally and in the U.K. (have driven at Brands
Hatch and Goodwood circuits). Rowing: I rowed with
several Clubs around the country in regattas country wide
and was W.P. Sculling champion and bow in Coxed Four
in finals of S.A. trials for selection to compete in the
Commonwealth Games. Running: I represented W.P.
Masters in the Marathon and Cross Country, am a
Comrades Marathon Silver medallist and was a sub 3
hour Marathon runner. Yachting: I have done three transAtlantic voyages including two Cape to Uruguay Races
and a return in the Southern Ocean. I also did two voyages
from Cape Town to Mauritius, two Cape Town to Durban
and back trips and numerous off-shore events out of Cape
Town. I also enjoyed a Charter in the Aegean Sea which
was fantastic! Cycling: I have completed 15 Argus Cycle
Tours to date and am entered for 2013. I have also cycled
in Germany, France and The Netherlands. I am a regular
Hiker and have done many of the better known trails
and even dabbled in some Rock climbing at one stage!
(Mac: sounds as though the banking was a sideline!)
In my early years on my return to Cape Town I had a
lot of fun in Amateur Dramatics and did some 360 odd
stage appearances with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society
and Camps Bay Operatic and Dramatic Society.
I have had the good fortune to do a fair amount of
travelling over the years and have ‘done’ the whole of
Europe including Croatia (fantastic), Turkey and Norway.
I have also visited Namibia, the ‘old’ Congo, Nigeria,
Egypt and Uganda. I have also been to South America
(3 times) the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. I also
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enjoyed a trip to the Far East including Hong Kong,
Bangkok and Singapore before flying on to Australia. We
are booked for Australia and New Zealand for 2013.
I have been married twice and currently live with my
partner of 12 years, Barbara.
Although living in Cape Town, I regrettably do not
come across many O.A.s of my era, but really enjoyed a
Matric Reunion in 2002 and, of course the Jubilee in
2005 – a truly memorable occasion!
Lawrie Henry (U43/46) writes: On my retirement 17
years ago, my wife and I bought and developed a 5 acre
property on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia as a
hobby farm. We had it certified “organic” and grew
vegetables,
raspberr ies,
strawberries,
blueberries, black currants,
thornless
blackberries, apples, cherries
and
27 varieties of garlic. We
bought 2 horses
and enjoyed the
trails in the area,
as did our 3
children and 7
grandchildren,
who visited us
from Vancouver, a 40
minute ferry ride away.
My father was vocal (with
cause) in
his disapproval of my school reports, but on one of them
was written by the Headmaster (R.F. Currey) “a promising
young boxer but he left a lot of gore in the ring”. As a
boxer of some ability in his youth my old man may have
approved of this one report.
A year ago we decided that we were a bit long in the
tooth to be ‘farmers’, prepared the property for sale, and
sold it 2 months ago.
Anthony de Wet (A43/46) writes: I am now 83 and
have grandchildren at University but I keep myself busy
with fundamental research on the elementary particles,
one of which is the Higgs boson that has been in much the
latest news. It is supposed to be the particle associated
with the mass field just as the photon is associated with
the electromagnetic, or light, field.
Should any OA be interested, my latest paper is on
the web under ‘Standard Model Algebra’ which gives
an alternative to the Higgs. The particle recently
discovered at CERN with much fanfare is probably
something else.
Interesting enough I almost failed maths in my matric
year partly because the young teachers were at the front
and my maths master could not make the subject
meaningful. Should I live again I would love to teach
maths which I now love as a philosophy.
John Clogg( E49/52) writes: Not being a natural ballgame-player , but forever trying, I must recite the story of
my cricket career. In 1949 all the new boys had to have
an internal house game in preparation for selecting the
house team to compete against the other houses. My elder
brother ( Peter E47/50) advised the powers that be that I
was not much good at cricket and accordingly I was put
low down in the batting order and also required to bowl
near the end of the opposition’s innings . The advantage
of this was that the opposition I was faced with were also
not top cricketers. After I made about ten runs and bowled
a hat trick the seniors felt I had potential. Of course the
record did not show that the third ball of the hat trick hit
the ridge at the edge of the mat and shot across at about
thirty degrees to hit the stumps . Anyway after that I made
the house team for a couple of games before my true
potential became apparent. Later I played for the U14C
team. One of our matches was against the Prep 1st team.
Unfortunately we were all out for three runs – all byes.
John Batting (U51/55) says he was in the Prep team.
On leaving College I went to UCT to study civil
engineering . This was probably because of Drac Lucas
making it very difficult to ignore his efforts to teach you.
As a result maths was my best subject. Anyway when my
father J.O. Clogg (E17/23) received the news that I had
successfully passed matric after I had prepared him for
months of my impending failure, he cancelled my
application to return to College in 1953 and said it was
now or never to go to University. When I arrived at UCT
in 1953 I discovered that Basil Holmes (E45/49) was in
second year engineering and had already made a name
for himself as a top rugby player . Mark Lloyd (E49/52)
and I had fagged for Basil in 1949; a most undemanding
fag master. He had two fags as one of our duties was the
washing of the jock strap . When I graduated in 1956
Basil was doing third year engineering and doing very
well at Varsity rugby. He finished his engineering degree,
I believe, but has since passed on.
I am now
retired and living
in Knysna. I try to hit a
golf ball every now and then
but can’t get it into the hole
without bouncing it off a tree.
Paul Winsley (E43/48) muses on “How/why I got to
SAC”
My folks met and marr ied in Singapore (as
“Colonials”). My grandfather (Mother’s father) was
Auditor General of the Malay States before retiring. They
were all born in the UK (as I was on one of my father’s
“home leave” trips – 6 months every 3 years ! – and by
ship there and back via Suez in 1929)
About 1928 grandfather retired to Brastagi in Sumatra
(no aircon then - cooler up in the mountains) and built a
house – next to a golf course!! (Mac: plenty of trees to
bounce balls off?) In my pics, this is the only house visible
on the course, with a volcano in the background, which
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erupted last year (Mt Sinabung) and their house would
have been affected – but that house was burnt down by
the Indonesians (who sided with the Japs) in 1940, when
the Japs invaded Singapore. They were interned and died
just before the end of the war.
My 1st school (Highlands School) was there in Brastagi
where I was sent as it was near them and
close to S’pore, and the only English
speaking one nearby – run by the
Dutch and part of the Dutch East
Indies, in about 1937 to 1939.
I was then “dropped off” in
Perth for higher education (at
Hale School) when my
folks and I were
returning from
“home leave”,
coming back
from UK via CT
to Perth – all still
by ship!, and
they went on to
S’pore. After that
I only went home
to S’pore once a
year – by ship – a
10 day voyage each
way !, on a regular Blue
Funnel Line vessel, the “Centaur”, which was mostly
cargo, taking 60 passengers and usually about 3500
sheep loaded at Carnarvon. (Mac: Fellow scholars
returning home?)
My last trip was Dec 1941 when, after leaving
Carnavon on the 6th, the Captain heard about Pearl
Harbour (on 7th) and returned us to Carnavon to
catch another ship of the line going the other way
back to Freemantle. (On those voyages with some
50/60 other kids at that time of the year, no adult
would travel, as we had a “reputation” - even letting
sheep into the passenger accommodation areas!
(Mac: I rest my case!)
The Centaur was then converted to a hospital ship by
the Aussies, and the Japs torpedoed it off Brisbane –
despite being painted white with huge red crosses !! She
was not found until 2008 off Brisbane! The relatives of
staff and crew have been having memorial services
annually without knowing where they were – now they
have them on the water above it!
The Japs overran S’pore fairly quickly, coming down
the Malay Peninsula, and my folks only left there 3 days
after the surrender. Father and office staff crewed a
deserted ship from the west coast of Sumatra to Colombo,
having first found a ship in S’pore going to Freemantle for
my mother which was overfull, and she had to sleep on
deck under a lifeboat! He eventually contacted her and
they agreed to meet in SA with a view to going on to UK
after the war.
My mother and I came over on the first Queen
Elizabeth, converted to a troopship, but completely empty.
She did not travel in convoy as it was faster than most
and we went down towards the South Pole to get here as
it was too cold for subs! We arrived in Simonstown where
the QE picked up some 4000 Italian prisoners of war
from other vessels and took them to Canada (leaving some
here for our Pizzas today !)
My folks decided to settle in PE and also on SAC
in1942, where I went to Prep until 1943.and
College thereafter.
From Jonathan Lawley (E51/54): I try and stay in as
close touch as possible with Africa and particularly Zambia,
Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. This has continued
to be possible since my retirement from Rio Tinto in 1996
first through BESO then as Director of the Royal African
Society and now through the Business Council for Africa
(BCA). I still miss my two very best friends both OAs and
now both sadly departed, Richard Valentine and Chris
Stone, both outstanding human beings. Another OA and
friend Peter Searle it was who thoughtfully phoned from
Port Elizabeth to tell me of the latter’s death. My wife
Sarah and I are due to pay a month-long visit to Zam,
Zim, SA and Mozambique in November. Apart from
seeing friends and relations we are looking forward to
spending a few days in the remote Niassa national park
in northern Mozambique. I am contemplating writing a
book on wild places in Africa and the Indian Ocean. (Mac:
with a long chapter on Soweto?) A paperback edition of
my book “Beyond the Malachite Hills” is due to appear
in mid-January 2013. Family wise it is the grandchildren
about whom we now boast. Apart from her achievements
in hockey, tennis and netball, granddaughter Georgina
aged still 12 and in her penultimate year at prep school in
Suffolk broke 3 athletics records including the 1500 metres
which she ran in 5 minutes and 45 seconds.
Mike Streeter (M50/53) says: My wife Gill and I have
spent the last 11 weeks exploring
Western Australia with our old
Mitsubishi Challenger towing a
camper trailer with which we have,
over the last 12 years since retiring,
slowly explored most of this vast
and interesting country. So far
4
we have covered 16,000 km and have at least 4,000 to
do to get home to Sydney over the next three weeks.
Last night we met up with our first OA, Steve Ball (M74/
78) and his wife at their home in Perth.
We have four sons and soon will have 7 grandchildren,
with two of the boys living in Newcastle 2 hours north of
Sydney, and two in Sydney so we are extremely fortunate
to have our whole family nearby. Last year we visited PE
and were fortunate enough to spend a day with 90 ex
colleagues and their wives from our old firm Thermaire
which became Improvair when taken over by Murray and
Roberts. Emails and the internet brought us all together
from all over SA as well as the States, Germany and two
from Australia.
Peter Terry-Lloyd (U55/59) confirms that retirement
is far better than the drudge of the office. Each day is
yours to do with as you like (including tax returns!) as
long as the TV stays off until evening except on Saturdays
if the rugby is potentially good. I have teamed up with
another long-time resident of Richards Bay, our goal being
to rehabilitate Pelican Island within the harbour. (Mac” I
thought rehab was a place for drunks and drug addicts...)
Not one authority is prepared to take responsibility for its
survival after nearly being completely eroded away by
wave action. The vegetation is returning, including some
60 indigenous trees that
we have planted but so
are the loons in
their 4 x 4s and quad bikes. 700 poles later and a
reasonable barricade has been made to protect this small
piece of paradise within the harbour: wildlife is returning
in the form of birds and leguaans. It is a safe place to walk
dogs on the beach, swim, picnic etc. Most people take
their litter away with them. However, there are alien
invaders which have to be controlled, so all the Syringas
are gone and the dodder vine (aka the strangler vine) is
our biggest problem at the moment. It’s just great to
spend your days in the open! We also visit our families in
Australia on an annual basis so we are off again this
Christmas to Perth and Sydney.
Dr Patrick Goldstone (E50/51) poses the dilemma:
TO BE, OR NOT TO BE (CANED): THAT IS THE
QUESTION?
Unfortunately, I was only at College for the last 18
months of my schooling; and I was in Espin House when
Peter Harvey was the housemaster.
He was one of the last of the stiff-upper lip, old boy
brigade. But he was also an excellent maths teacher. I
needed extra maths lessons when I arrived at College.
And he gave them to me. I would like to think that I was
quite bright (of course), but he taught me well and I learnt
fast. But that is not what this little anecdote is all about.
Corporal punishment is now something of the past in
the Western world; but it was still employed at College at
that time. Even a prefect could give a new boy “three of
the best”, if he thought that this was necessary. No doubt
about it, of course – injustices were inflicted on the more
vulnerable.
One day I was summoned to appear in Mr Harvey’s
office. As I walked to the door, I had a premonition of
trouble. Now, the reader must try to understand. I had
always played my cards very carefully. If I did anything
that was unacceptable, then I did my best to keep it secret.
That was the eleventh commandment, after all: “Thou
shalt not be found out!”
I entered his study with trepidation, after respectfully
knocking. There sat the local authority: policeman, judge
and hangman rolled into one. “Is this handkerchief yours,
Goldstone?” I took a good look at the offending
handkerchief, and unfortunately, I recognised it as being
one of mine. If I could have known what was coming, I
might have been prepared to disown the offending piece
of cloth. “Yes, sir, I do believe that it is mine.”
“Did you know that it was unmarked?” No, I did not
know that my name was not on it. (How had they found
out that it was mine?)
(Mac: DNA analysis?)
“Well, the punishment
for this offence is three
of the best!”
I took my caning as
best I could: with
longsuffering! (Mac: and
subsequent longstanding!)
But, of course, it was
painful. And it was
intended to be. So, was it
justified? Not really.
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As I look back over the years at this incident, there are
a few lessons that I learnt from it. Firstly, life is not fair.
However, there are lessons that all of us need to learn, if
we are going to live at peace with our fellow men in society.
If one oversteps the invisible line, then one will be
punished. Sometimes the punishment is fair, while at other
times it is not.
Nobody is completely free to do as they like. When
breaking the rules of society, there is always a price to
pay. And sometimes one is going to be punished unjustly.
It is not difficult for me to forgive Peter Harvey. May
God rest his soul in peace. He was determined to leave
his mark on me – which he has clearly done! Otherwise,
there would not have been this little story, would there
now?
Bryan C McGee ( M55/58) writes: Since my retirement
in 2006 from full time employment I have continued to
remain in close contact with the grain processing industry
with which I spent my entire career working for one of
the leading manufacturers and suppliers of equipment
and systems. One of the most interesting recent
assignments was acting as ‘expert witness’ in a large patent
litigation case which was concluded in a 5 day trial in the
High Court in London.
I am happy to say that we won the case and were
awarded the considerable costs.
I have also done a number of assignments writing
articles for the trade press.
Currently I am involved in a few interesting related
projects including:
1.
Assisting a German publishing company,
AgriMedia, produce an English language handbook for
students of cereal milling and its engineering aspects.
2.
A project for English Heritage to capture and
record details of ‘The Rollermilling Revolution’, in England
in particular, which transformed the processing of grain
for human consumption from the latter part of the 19th
century through into the 20th. This has never been
systematically done before.
3. Helping an engineering company in Krugersdorp,
Techmach Technology (Pty) Ltd, develop their website.
www.techmach.co.za
On a personal level, this year has been notable since
our daughter, Emily, was married in April to an army
Anglican Chaplain and is currently based in Bovington,
Dorset, the tank training base. They were married in our
local parish church by the Bishop to Her Majesty’s Forces.
My wife, Cherry, still works part-time for a local legal
practice, which she much enjoys.
Retirement has allowed me to revive my interest in
classic and vintage cars which dates back
to my
time in UCT where my first car was a
1931 Austin Seven. In 2002 I found
and imported
from
Knysna, a very rare 1935 Armstrong Siddeley. I have
more recently repurchased from Minneapolis a 1937
Rolls-Royce which I owned 40 years ago. This gives us
much pleasure in the summer, and most recently at the
Chatsworth Country Fair.
In my capacity as a Trustee of the Armstrong Siddeley
Heritage Trust I was asked to arrange a visit by the
Owners’ Club to Holkham Hall to celebrate the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee.
I was able to arrange the visit with the owner of the
estate, the Earl of Leicester, who was better known to
OAs as Eddie Coke. (pronounced Cook) E.C.D. Coke
was a prefect in Mullins in 1954 when we had little or no
idea he was to inherit one of the great estates of England.
(www.holkham.co.uk )
Holkham is a near neighbour of Sandringham and
the Cokes have had a long association with the Royal
family.
Eddie’s late father never returned to England when
he inherited but sent Eddie, by then Viscount Coke, to
manage the estate until he in turn inherited.
Eddie has played a leading role in the restoration of
the Palladian house and was Chairman of the Historic
Houses Association for which he was awarded a CBE.
The Siddeley connection was established when we
discovered a few years ago that the Holkham museum
houses a 1909 Wolseley Siddeley which has now been in
the family for 103 years. (Mac: you’d think he could afford
to drive something a little more modern!)
We remain in contact with a number of contemporary
OAs and in particular Ross James in Hermanus.
We continue to live in our home of nearly 30 years
and enjoy the close access to the open countryside around
us.
My parents are still both living and thus I visit the Cape
and Transvaal fairly regularly to see them and the rest of
my extensive family. Next year we are planning a trip to
Namibia with Ross and Tish James, a region which we
do not know at all.
In moments of reflection I page through Marguerite
Poland’s The Boy in You which fills one with nostalgia.
Ava Nicholson (U55/59) writes: Daphne and I have
retired to a Tuggerah, a seaside village some 100km north
of Sydney, Australia….to be closer to our son and 3 lovely
grandchildren.
I recently put a “do-you-remember” note on my
genealogy file about buying my Housemaster’s car in
1959.
Mr Gascoigne-Smith was updating his veteran 1934
Willys sedan and was talking about it at one of the weekly
Prefects’ “tea gatherings” in his kitchen.
Pat Hodgen and I could get no support from our
respective parents, but approached him anyway. He
smoothed the way within the school hierarchy….for no
schoolboy was allowed to own, let alone drive a car whilst
at College….and so we ran raffles etc. amongst our
friends. The 40 pounds (or was it Rands by then) (Mac:
no, Rands date from February 1961) was found: the car
stored in a garage near the swimming pool: much minor
work was done to get it through the ‘roadworthy test’ in
Grahamstown (it had separate cable-operated brakes on
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all four wheels, and another one on the drive shaft for the
hand brake. Getting them balanced was a nightmare):
and the inevitable ‘test-runs’ up at the old airport….with
“Gassy” driving us up the hill, taking a chair from the
boot and his newspaper, and telling us to ‘be back within
the hour’. We dyed an old blanket orange to cover the
holes in the bench seats and hand-painted the car a midgreen…….it must have been a sight!!
Matric over: much well-wishing: and we headed off
via East London for the OFS. It is a real testament to the
car that even at 40 mph it battled Penhoek Pass and the
Free State flats in summer without mishap. We arrived
safely at our farm at Marquard……. much to the surprise
of my family !! (Mac: and probably, had he known it,
much to the surprise of its previous owner!)
Pat Hodgen caught the train home to Johannesburg:
the car passed ownership yet again to our lorry driver
Witbooi: and we all had a happy Christmas.
Matric results gave me entry to Natal University and
Dairy Science: the Willys continued for at least one more
year locally ferrying masses of happy young faces to and
fro at weekends….
I think back with great admiration on the lessons
“Gassy” gave us in the areas of character-building, risktaking, and mentor-support, that we took for granted from
our great school – but have seen lacking in the educational
ethos in other areas in later life. I have often used his
shortened Latin version of ‘grace’ at meals…..a great
memory to a larger-than-life man.
‘Nec Aspera Terrent’ fits so well with ‘Adjuvate Deo’
from my father’s side and ‘Perseverantia Victor’ from my
mother’s side in my own life’s journey. (Mac: in SA at the
moment the motto to adapt is probably “non illigitimi
carborundum”!( translation at the bottom of the page for
those younger OAs who didn’t have the benfit of Latin
at College...)
Greetings to all my friends…..
David van Coller (A51/55) writes: I would like to place
on record a pearl of wisdom I received at College in case
it is never repeated. In 1955 in Post Matric, Mr Gascoigne
Smith, who was Housemaster of Upper, the Geography
teacher and known to us all as Gassy, taught us Economics
to enable us to write Economics 1 at Rhodes. In our first
‘lecture’ he asked us what we thought was the greatest
invention of all time. After we had all tried electricity,
internal combustion engines, chloroform and other ideas
– all of which
he rejected
– he said
t h e
correct
answer
was
the
‘limited liability
company’. He then
explained
to
a
somewhat confused
group
that
this
institution enabled
people to invest some of
their savings in risk ventures without risking their total
Non illigitimi carborundum: don’t let the bastards wear you down!
wealth. Because of this, limited liability companies have
been able to take risks and as a result generate amazing
technical and economic progress. It is this critical institution
which has made capitalism such a major contributor to
development in so many fields. Hopefully as capitalism
seeks to adapt itself – as it has done many times over the
past few centuries – in response to the current wave of
attacks, the fundamental of the limited liability company
will not be lost. I have always felt it was an amazing insight.
C.J.(“Jonty”) Driver (U53/57) has a short biographycum-memoir called My Brother & I, mainly about his
brother Simon Driver O.A., being published by the
Kingston University Press in 2013. A pamphlet of 26
poems will be published by the Happenstance Press,
under the title Citizen of Elsewhere, also in 2013. A
sequence of 22 of his poems, under the general title of
Before, is due to appear in the December number of the
South African literary magazine, New Contrast. In 2010
C.J. Driver’s first four novels were made available as Faber
Finds, with comments by J.M. Coetzee and Nadine
Gordimer. See www,jontydriver.co.uk for more details.
Donald Sinclair (E51/54) continues to enjoy
retirement in Chicago where he has been for thirty years.
Willem Kempen (U57/60) writes: Here in Australia
there is a well-known saying ‘North in the Winter, and
South when its warm’. As this island continent spans the
southern latitudes and the savannah tropics, the trend
for those who detest the colder weather is to move north
during the winter months and when the warmer spring
weather appears, to return home. And that is what we try
to achieve each year though it does not always work out
that way. Those living in the northern latitudes have a
saying too that “ when the winds drop in June and the
Dollar-bird flies north to Papua New Guinea, the tourists
arrive with their dollars and in September when the winds
start up again and the Dollar-bird returns, the tourists leave
and take their dollars with them”. This year we left home
at the end of April and after 128 days on the road and
around 18,000 kilometres travelled taking in 5 States of
this country, we are back home again. (Mac: wouldn’t it
be simpler to buy a heater?!) Four months or so in a 14ft
caravan can get a tad tedious and when we start getting
‘scratchy’ it is time to come home. On our journey we
stayed with friends for some of the time, stayed over in
caravan parks for about 10% of the time and for the rest
bush-camped in the vast Outback of this country. There
are still areas where you can get off the beaten track and
be alone and safe in the wilderness. Along the way we
had some adventures.
Here are some links to tales for this year on our website:
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=155
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=157
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=159
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=160
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=161
http://www.kempen.id.au/index.php?id_pag=162
Arthur Clarke (Day55/59) writes: I’m writing this
about my younger brother, Guy “Gigs” Clarke. (D57/
61) He’s a survivor! In 1990 he suffered a brain aneurism
requiring two operations; in 2005 the removal of a
pituitary tumour also requiring two operations, followed
7
by a heart attack requiring five stents. Yet at 69 he is full
of good spirits, owns and manages a B&B in Hermanus,
called Anchor’s Rest. He has a terrific memory of his pals
at College such as Robbie and Dougie Jay, Neville
Critchley, Charles Palmer and Paddy Ewer to name a
few. Where are they all now?
But the tale I want to mention – he wouldn’t mention
this himself – is when one holiday at Kenton on Sea the
rip tide carries a middle-aged woman way out to sea.
The life guard is too scared to attempt a rescue, so my
brother grabs some flippers and charges out. He reaches
the woman, tells her to be calm but explains he cannot
swim against the current. They will have to find
somewhere else to return to shore with him supporting
her. The rip-tide takes them both about a kilometre out
to sea and 4 kilometres down the coast. Eventually,
supporting her under her
arms, he swims back to
shore – probably about
two and a half hours
later. Guy is so exhausted
he collapses on the beach,
to be woken by an old man
prodding him. At assembly at
the beginning of the next
term, SpencerChapman, the
headmaster, calls
him on to the stage. Guy
wonders “What have I
done wrong now?” (He was a bit of a rebel and always in
trouble.) But, much to his surprise, Spencer-Chapman
presents him with a watch with an inscription on the back
from the rescued lady in appreciation of his bravery. He
still has it in his possession.
Joe Newton (M59/62, G63) writes: I married my
school sweetheart in 1968, Diane Dawson Douglas
(Crewe House), she left DSG in 1963. We met in Std
7 I think, and it was quite a famous romance at school, I
mean, all the staff knew about it etc etc. I also left in 1963
from Graham House, foundation year, originally from
Mullins in 1962. I am still married to her and we
had three children. I farm with wool sheep on “Askania
Nova” in the Middelburg East Cape district (my
Dad’s and my Grandfather’s farm originally)
My brother Des, also 1963 Mullins House, works for a
touring company in the UK, organising sports tours etc,
etc and has written a book about his growing up on this
farm, his life at Prep and College, and then later about
his rugby career and the tours he does. The book is called,
“Sporting travels of a Karoo Son” and can be viewed at
www.desnewton.com (I have copies with me at a reduced
price !!)
My youngest brother was also at College for a while,
cannot give you a year at the moment, long after Des
and I.!! (Mac: and he seems to have forgotten his name
too! Jack, 67/69!)
RI (Doc) Caldwell (M58/62) is about to embark on a
lengthy Spanish “pilgrimage”. Thereafter, even if on a
stretcher or buoyantly within a cask of Klipdrift, he plans
to meet RJ (Rob) Anderson (A58/62), FC (Fred) Holroyd
(X58/61) and JM (Wing) Wingfield (U58/62) for a pub
lunch in London in late October. They celebrated their
60th birthday year in similar fashion: this gathering will
mark the passage of half a century since they left St
Andrew’s. (Mac: Hope it turns out to be in the cask of
Klipdrift - a more pleasant alternative!)
Malcolm Pearce (U51/55) reports : I am helping my
wife Pauline, who taught Wetpups for 30 years, in
writing a history of the school for the centenary in 2014.
There are probably many younger Wetpup OAs who
will remember her, but a lot more from further back who
never knew her. We would like to appeal particularly to
that group, ‘Vetpups’ as we like to call them, to let us
have your memories of your time at Wetpups – anecdotes,
impressions of the staff, your friends – anything, good or
bad (the food, from what we’ve heard so far, seems to
fall into that category!) about your time at the school.
Our deadline is approaching, so please hurry. Mail us
on [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from
you.
Roger Hull (A53/56) writes: After a 50 year working
career in Jo’burg I have at last retired and live in Fish
Hoek. 5 doors away from me is Selwyn Lange (X52/55)
who was with me in Fairlawn, Prep 1950- 52), and across
the valley is Lin French (A46/48). Are there any other
OAs in this part of the world?
Bernard Eglin (X59/63) Here’s to all those new boys
of 1963! That was the last year of initiations. (Mac: officially
anyway!)
About five of us were initiating a couple of them (don’t
ask their names now?) and somehow or other Jock Cawse
(Headmaster at the time) got to hear about it.
At assembly that Monday after the usual bumf, Jock
Cawse asked us to report to his office, where we all got
four of the best. He was pretty accurate!
You can imagine how I felt – rugby colours and a
prefect! Anyway we gave them a hard time in other ways
after this .... like warming up toilet seats before we used
them.
Binks Arnold (U52/56) reports that they have moved
to Perth, Australia to be close to their family who have
moved there over some years.
Brigid (DSG) 1985 is married to Mike Bradley and
has 2 daughters, both born in Australia. They arrived in
Australia in 1992 and are teaching at schools in
Dunsburough south of Perth.
Robyn (DSG) 1983 is married to Wayne Rochat and
has a son and daughter born in South Africa. They arrived
8
in Australia in 2004. Robyn has a Graphic Art Business
and her husband is a Commercial Photographer.
Vicky (DSG) 1986 is married to Garry Van Heerden
and has 2 daughters born in South Africa. Garry is
chaplain at Presbyterian Ladies’ College and their two
girls go to the same school. Vicky works for a consultancy
firm specialising in town planning and those kinds of
things.
Judith matriculated from DSG in 1991. She married
Sean McCarthy and soon after they were married they
moved to London. They have two children, a boy and a
girl. Sean is in the banking business.
Judith is very friendly with Caroline Kitson (also ex
DSG) (Mac: daughter of Ant Kitson (M/G 59/63 and
staff, and Jenny - DSG staff) and their daughters go to
the same school, Holy Cross Convent.
Mike Yoell (D55/56) reports: Having retired some
twelve years ago from Rotoflex – a flexible packaging
converting operation that was based in Pietermaritzburg,
Pat and I have spent a wonderful time in Cape Town.
Our first eight years were spent in a house that we bought
in a suburb of Durbanville and for the last nearly four
years we have been very happily settled in a large
retirement village in Durbanville itself.
We have a stand-alone house with a garden and space
around it. It includes a double garage that I can tinker in.
Very important.
I am most involved in our All Saints Church in
Durbanville. As one of the Layministers I have ample
opportunity to interact with the community that worship
in our lovely thatched roof church. This is very rewarding.
Nice people.
One of the activities that needs to be followed is the
care of our church garden. It is large and we try hard to
keep it looking really nice as one of the recognised Quiet
Gardens in the Diocese.
Not only does the garden require attention, there is
always a need to keep a hand on maintenance as well.
This absorbs time but it is worth it all.
Pat and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary
in August. It was wonderful to reflect on how far we
have come together in what is almost a lifetime. We
did this by spending a fantastic weekend up in the
Cedarberg. It was so nice. Beautiful weather and
a beautiful place.
I reach another milestone at the end of
September when I turn 74. I feel this must be
someone else and that it can’t be me! (Mac: I
usually feel that way when I look in the mirror in
the early morning!)
I divide time too, between the garden development
that I have been championing at our retirement complex
and the work that I carry out, with two other volunteers,
in what has now been proclaimed a reserve. This is the
area known as Uitkamp, formerly classified as a Public
Open Space in the heart of the suburb where we lived
before our village move. It is now recognised as a Wetland
Reserve. It is a very crucial part of the Cape Floral
Kingdom. We have Red Data Flora and Fauna in our 33
hectare reserve. In fact we have 33 Red Data flora alone.
All very special and some are absolutely endemic to the
area.
We work with the Biodiversity Management Branch
and are very involved in alien control in the reserve. At
this time of the year it is extremely wet. Ideal for the large
number of plants that were propagated in the Nursery
last year and which we planted out, before the winter
rains arrived. They were placed in an area that we have
been rehabilitating. Satisfying work indeed.
Martin Goldswain (E56/60) writes: A small insert
which you may already have is the passing of Adrian
Schweizer [not to be confused with Schweitzer of Mullins]
of Espin (E57/60) in Sept., 2012. He matriculated in 1960
and was one of the brighter characters of College and
keen sportsman. Subject to correction, father Victor and
grandfather were Andreans (Mac: father Victor E12/19,
but grandfather was not an OA) and Adrian’s son Justin
attended College (E86/90) with three sisters at DSG. Gail
his wife is sister of Trevor Brown [Armstrong] Head Prefect
of College in 1958 and great sportsman and academic.
Adrian, David Brice and I headed for UCT in 1961 and
B.SC ChemEng, Adrian and David succeeded and he
started in the industry, then qualified in law to take up
Patent Law and was elected partner of Adams and Adams.
Passionate about Nature and Botany, he and Gail have a
cottage near Timbavati but his real love apart from family,
was his wild and cared garden home in Irene.
Have kept pace with Adrian and Gail forever, and
ended on a high note in Jan this year with a memorable
trip to the Antarctic Peninsula including South Georgia.
Of myself, I have been retired out of Architectural
practice for 15 years and headed into the Property and
Hospitality industries. Sailed big yachts and dinghies to
date, including two Laser Worlds in the Great
Grandmaster class, but with 70 looming at the end of this
year, I find competition sailing too taxing. Brother Peter
[1958] emigrated to Australia and frequently visits RSA.
Robin Ross-Thompson (X58/62) writes: I’ve become
used to retirement, after a lifetime in journalism and
enjoyed it all for many different reasons, particularly as it
has been diverse and interesting.
Most of it was spent on the Daily Dispatch in East
London, starting in 1965 as a cub reporter and climbing
to deputy editor, finally retiring in 2008. Best work was
doing a daily column, writing about anything that tickled
my fancy. Was also motoring editor which allowed me to
drive some really interesting cars and SUVs, travel the
world to see how they were made and to be among the
first journalists to drive them. (Mac: the life of a journalist!)
I am married to Janet and have a son who is about to
marry a Kiwi girl in Auckland, so no doubt we’ll be
travelling there soon. We also have a daughter, married
in Johannesburg and two lovely grandchildren.
Retirement has been a blessing (not having to meet
daily newspaper deadlines) and Janet and I have taken
to travelling in our 4x4 double cab and camping in
Southern Africa in a big way. Our best holidays are spent
in the wild. We’ve made two trips with friends to
Botswana’s Moremi and Chobe game reserves and had
several sleepless nights with lions around the tent sniffing
and roaring as only lions can.
9
We visit Kruger regularly and are off again in early
November for two weeks hoping to see some of the bird
migrants coming south at that time. We’ve also enjoyed
trips to the Kgalgadi in May (20 cheetah, nine lion, many
birds and lots of other animals too), and northern Kwazulu
Natal in March where we stayed at Ndumo and Mkuze.
Wild Coast visits are fitted in between.
The main purpose of this letter is to persuade 1962
matriculants to join us for the festivities and get-together
at College over the weekend 23-25 November. I’ll be
there, hope you will too.
Richard Southey (U59/62) reports that he is still
in Laguna Beach California (with wife Kathy and dog
Katie). He is allowed to slip away on Saturdays to his
Gary Player designed golf club, He says that he has no
plans to take up either roller-blading, surfing or yoga.
He says that Laguna
weather, the topography
and the general lie of
the land (i.e. the
koppies and the
veld) closely
r e s e m b l e Po r t
Alfred. Says that
he travels every
other week between
Los Angeles and
New York (a one
year consulting
agreement with a mining
group is now into its tenth year). He has many airline
miles which Kathy applies towards even more
relentless travel. He has just met up with older brother
Ed Southey in the south of France. Neither brother has
any competence whatsoever with the French
language. There are not many OAs in southern California
but he keeps in touch with Brian Belchers (M58/
63)(northern California), Daph Marshall (DSG) (North
Carolina)
and Frank
Baartman
(U/G59/
63) (England). California is nice but he says that he still
really misses the Karoo!
Geoff Bennett (U62/67)writes: Some news of our
sons, both in UK: Andy Bennett is working as an IT
consultant for Channel 4 in London. Michael Bennett is
relocating from London to Cheltenham, in the Cotswolds
where he is working forWholefoods as their Artistic Design
guru.
Peter Terry (M64/67): comments: It’s basically
outrageous that I’m on the cusp of 62 and unable to retire
and live the life of luxury that all the ne’er-do-wells of my
generation (eg Graham Mackay, Simon Susman, Peter
Oliver etc) seem to have managed. After 28 years of a
permanent job (at the State Theatre in Pretoria) I had to
go freelance in 2000, and it’s been an exciting journey. If
worrying where the money for next month’s bills is going
to come from is your idea of exciting. I’ve done a few
theatre productions over the past few years, for the Market
Theatre, State Theatre, Theatre on the Square, and the
Jo’burg Theatre; plus I was in the international TV series
of Wild at Heart IV, as well as The Devil’s Whore, a brilliant
series starring such current megastars as Andrea
Riseborough and Michael Fassbender. Currently, I’m
working in the Casting Department of The Wild, an MNet daily drama (okay, soap) that is most unnecessarily
and unfortunately coming to an end soon (March 2013).
In the cast is Ian Roberts, (U66/70) who is giving what I
would suggest is the performance of his career. I read the
Lorraine Mullins
history of St
Andrew’s
Prep earlier
this year, and
was chuffed to
see that Lorraine
had mentioned
me and Ian in the
same breath, as
ex-Preppies who
went on to act
p r o fe s s i o n a l l y .
There’ve been quite
a few ex-College lads who’ve opted for the poverty and
heartbreak of showbiz, of course. Ian and I had a long
discussion about Eric Norton a few years ago; opinions
about Eric that I’ve canvassed over the years vary quite
radically, from complete loathing to great respect. As Lee
“Henski” Hall (also Upper, same vintage as me) pointed
out, apart from having landed on the beaches of
Normandy on D-Day (which earns anyone my undying
respect) Eric was a Commando officer who had to do
some pretty warlike things in the dead of night. But he
wasn’t a man one could take to easily, I thought. We kids
didn’t really appreciate the exploits of our masters; there
was old Dup Murrell, wounded on the first day of The
Battle of The Somme (hence his limp), Can Harvey who
was at Tobruk, Eric, and so on. Brave men – but we just
thought they were old farts. And that’s a mantle we’ve
inherited, of course. (Mac: farting? or being brave?)
Grenville Wilson (M67/72) comments: In response
to Brian Hobson’s (M38/42) wondering (Bagpipe no 32)
about College winning the Empire shield in 1937 with a
“Possible” 560/560, my late father Tony(AJ) Wilson (M38/
42) and a contemporary of Brian’s at Prep and Mullins
told me the exact same story fact for fact on more than
10
one occasion, confirming that the “Possible” had only
been ratified after the targets were submitted and that
the Bull had been reduced in size subsequently. So I have
to observe that Brian has an excellent memory and say
that the story must be true and 100% accurate or that it
might just be a “Mullins” story because as I remember it
Mullins were almost always best at shooting and if you
look at the 1937 College team you will probably find the
majority of the boys came from Mullins???
Ian Stevens (A60/64) writes about 2 swimming events
that were initiated almost 50 years ago ....
I seem to remember the first impromptu game of water
polo being played at College on a Thursday afternoon in
October 1963.
Neil Street and John Browne, respectively captain and
vice-captain of swimming were looking for a way to keep
the non-cr icketers fit and motivated after the
Grahamstown inter-schools gala had opened the summer
season, and suggested to T.C. Stevens, Master in Charge
of swimming, that we could start playing water polo.
As there were no facilities other than the pool, it was
handed back to them to work out how it could happen.
Eric Tasmer and the carpentry shop were co-opted
into making wood available for two sets of makeshift goals,
those at the required distance in the shallow end being
suspended on a rope between the wooden seats on the
embankments either side of the pool. A set each of dark
blue and white numbered caps were made by various
house matrons – Miss Webb of Armstrong springs to mind,
and TC, the coach, produced the regulation water polo
ball, a whistle, an introductory lecture on the rules of the
game and the requisite refereeing.
Two sides and reserves were picked from swimmers in
all the houses and by the time the game started the news
had got around and the embankments were filled with
enthusiastic spectators. Neither history nor memory relate
the duration of the game, nor the final score, but the
spirited encouragement elicited a complaint from the
music master as piano practice in the adjacent music
rooms
had been totally disrupted.
The seed had been sown.........
Perhaps some comment could be
forthcoming from Neil and John,
and the likes of Jonty
Edwards, Barry
Dace,
Chr is
Wheeler, Bob
D e a n e ,
Granville
Wilkinson,
Terje Salhus and
any other survivors who may have taken part in this event.
(Mac: was it so rough that there were “survivors”??)
The second event coming up for its golden jubilee....
On a Sunday morning in November 1964 the rather
better documented and recorded first swimming of the
College River Mile took place in the Kowie River. (In those
days bull sharks were unheard of. However, I must admit
that this Free Stater had some misgivings about being in
the water, but drew some encouragement from the idea
that there might be safety in numbers.)
Mark Warren (M67/68) says: I farmed
Glenhope Pineapple farm for 40 years. Married to
Sheena, we have 2 kids Grant and Kerry.
Sold the farm in 2008 and have been working for
Sotheby’s Port Alfred as their farm agent ever since.
I am crazy about Deep-sea fishing and Rock and Surf
fishing in between golf and travelling.
We have just returned from a month in the UK visiting
our son in Bristol and a week on the narrow boats in
Warwickshire and a visit to Lords to watch SA beat
England.
David Gardiner (U68/71) writes: We had a great time
this summer with the Olympics and Paralympics in
London. My doctor brother from Australia, Rob (U61/
64) came over. A great sports fan, he had watched most
of the Sydney (where he has lived since the mid-‘70s)
Olympics with his family. One of the events we attended
was the Men’s Triathlon in Hyde Park. Coming into the
Park we got chatting to a couple (wish I remembered
their names): the husband had run the Comrades like all
the men in my family, he was from Queen’s and she was
an ex-VG girl, but they were friends of – and showed us
a picture of – James Thompson, an OA (Upper too),
who had won a Gold for South Africa in a rowing event.
[I spent the Olympics cheering England, Australia… and
of course, South Africa, culminating in Oscar Pistorius’s
great 400m win.] (Mac: there were a lot of very proud
South Africans this year!)
Anyway, I had a great experience through gaining
tickets for my family to see the Opening Ceremony of the
Olympics “thanks” to my 7/7 involvement (when I lost
my leg on a tube in 2005).
John Wilkinson (A63/66) writes: The Free State
branch of the Old Andreans held their 2012 get together
on ‘Crichton’ in the Westminster district on Sunday the
23rd September. Old Andreans who attended were D.
Tanton, A. Gilbert, R. Whitehead, D. Whitehead, I.
Stevens, I. Robertson and J. Wilkinson. A lovely braai
was had whilst reminiscing about days at Prep and
College. The 2013 Free State get together will be held
on Rantso in the Gumtree district on the Sunday 22nd
September 2013.
Rob Nevin (X68/72) comments: What a great
weekend in June when the class of ’72 got together.
Having not been back for 40 years it was great to see all
the changes and how great College and Prep are looking.
It was also great catching up with old, old friends and
reviving great memories of bunking out to the Odeon
(which is still standing), making beer, seeing Mrs Dobo,
who bust me making the beer, going up to Cradock dam
for a smoke. Seeing the Drill Hall where a good few fights
were held and matric was written, and the new dining
hall is like a restaurant, wish we had that!!!! And to watch
Queen’s get another thumping was great. In our matric
year we played them the day of the matric dance and
they were invited to the dance. They arrived unbeaten
and we won; they refused to stay and climbed on the bus
and headed back to Queenstown straight after the match.
André Williamson (A64/67) writes: I was most
privileged to attend the August 2012 performance of the
College/DSG chamber choir and ensemble in
11
Pietermaritzburg. The pieces played and songs sung were
beautifully and harmoniously executed. The audience was
blown away by it all. I sat next to the musical director of
a local school and she raved about all aspects of the
performance. I noted that all members were perfectly
attired, well-mannered and excellent ambassadors for
both schools, as were the staff members.
I also derive immense pleasure by logging onto SAC
SCHOOL to see, at first hand, all the wonderful things
that are happening at College. It is incredible what
Andreans are achieving in so many, varied forms of
human endeavour. This all makes for a very proud Old
Andrean.
Jonathan “Speedy” Seagers (X62/65) writes: Earlier
this year I was fortunate to spend two months with my
son, Rowan (“Toast”) at Kwandwe Game Reserve just
outside Grahamstown, where he works as a Ranger. (Mac:
“Speedy” and “Toast” - sounds like an advert for the
Wimpy!)
Whilst he worked, I made several visits to College to
soak up the atmosphere and generally snoop around!
How things have changed in the 50 years since I started
in the Spencer-Chapman; Cawse; Aubrey days. (Yes, we
managed to wear-out three Headmasters in my time at
College!)
Gone are the cold showers and the weekly bath - in 7
inches of water. (Not enough water to cover one’s feet –
let alone anything else!!) Another change was the move
to the new dining complex. (I made the opening of that.)
I remember the days of sitting at tables according to your
year and being served “slops” by the prefect/monitor from
the head of the table, food having been
prepared in the
kitchen behind.
Now, it seems,
it
is
“help
yourself” from
cuisine of a very
much
higher
standard. I was
impressed by the
boys of today
being able to
select their
L a t t e ,
Cappuccino
or Flat White
coffee at the end
of the meal! What next? (Mac: a choice of Cabernet or
Merlot perhaps?) Progress marches on.
At the opening of the dining hall complex I managed
to chat to David Hodgson and Ian Morton – sadly too
briefly as I would have liked to have had more time to
reminisce and share the changes with two of the Masters
of my day.
Also during my brief visit to SA, I was able to meet-up
with “Slab” Barnett and “Wally” Weir both now living in
East London.
Peter Betts is VERY vocal on Facebook and seems to
lead an idyllic life in Port Elizabeth. (Mac: he is very vocal
all the time!)
Mark Patterson (U66/69) informs us that Nick Utton
(X70/74) has just been chosen as America’s #2 Chief
Marketing Officer, beating out even Apple and Nike’s
CMOs. (Mac: it must be quite tough marketing America
in some countries ...)
James Whyle’s (X69/73) novel The Book of War,
was published this year by Jacana Media and has had a
favourable response from the critics. The book is available
from www.exclus1ves.co.za and Amazon.com
“A brilliant, unforgettable debut.” – The Times.
“One is thrown ... into the heart of the action, in a
state of dread and fascination induced by the dire events,
the pristine setting and the perfection of the writing.”
Mail & Guardian.
Bruce Steele-Gray (A62/66) writes that Niall and Pat
Wylde are back from Dubai and happily settled on the
Marina in Port Alfred. Niall continues to work part time
for Sika as a consultant advisor in Africa. The Three Wise
Men are debating whether he should become a Fourth!
(Mac: for bridge?)
Richard Steele-Gray married Cathy Miller in Feb this
year and they live in Meadowridge, Cape Town. They
both love the outdoors and spend as much time as
possible hiking and camping.
A couple of weeks ago we spent a weekend with them
and I found myself helping Richard all of Saturday and
Sunday morning paving their entrance driveway. It’s a
serious way of getting to know all your neighbours – they
all stopped to watch as they walked past and then asked
Richard where he got the beaten out old fellow who was
helping. Obviously I was doing a fine job! (Mac: no, it
was your naturally obseqiuous manner that helped them
identify you as the handlanger!)
He did make up for it with brilliant tickets for the
Newlands Test!
Peter Rowan (X67/68) and Branch Chairman of the
Durban OA Branch: writes: I’m sure my brother would
not mind me quoting him from an email he sent me in
the build-up to the 2012 Durban OA Branch cocktail
party, a message he would have liked me to impart at the
gathering, but unfortunately the Headmaster Paul Edey
was unable to attend:
“My brother and I had a special relationship with Paul,
being in the same house and same year in Mullins. In
fact the bullying was so bad that we may not have survived
if we had not had his father-like friendship. He took a
unique interest in my sporting activities and would often
come to watch me play cricket and rugby. “Where are
you playing this Saturday? I will be there.” ………….
his backbone of support was rare and huge. Here was
someone you could lean on. It is not surprising that
Paul Edey is headmaster today.”
So nice to hear, Paul. College is clearly in very good
hands.
He continues: Judy Green (ODSG74/76) and I
continue to attempt to keep the Branch ticking over in a
rather informal basis but are now looking in earnest to
encourage younger blood to take over the reins.
Michael Inggs (X65/69) writes:The 2012 Royal
Edinburgh Military Tattoo included the Drums and Pipes
of the Cape Town Highlanders under Pipe Major Steve
12
Collins. As usual, Andrean pipers were represented: Mike
Inggs, Clive Hunting and Andrew de Blocq. (Mac is proud
of the fact that more OAs still play bagpipes than play
rugby...)
Jan Maartens (X69/73) writes: I live in Portland,
Oregon, and work for a Chicago based company that
supplies chemical service to industrial
laundries. My specialty is to analyse
existing washing equipment and
to prescribe structural and
operational
modifications that
will reduce the
water and
e n e r g y
consumptions
of the equipment.
With this being a niche roll in a small industry, I have to
travel a great deal. I live with my fiancé of 12 years. We
have been to SA four times.
Murray Boustred (U67/71) writes: I was in Upper
House with the farmers and left in 1971 only to become
a farmer myself years later. (Mac: it must be contagious!)
Four festive years at Wits University where I did a BSC
Building Science degree. Married Juliet Badnal in JHB in
1979, and we have two sons and a daughter. I ran my
own construction business in JHB for a very happy 15
years during which we also had fun developing trout and
game farms, flying small aeroplanes, hunting and fishing.
My midlife crisis arrived early in the nineties when we
sold up in JHB and bought a wine farm in Stellenbosch.
We have been on Remhoogte Wine Estate for 18 great
years and are fortunate to have my eldest son Chris as
winemaker and my other son Rob involved with the
marketing. Samantha my daughter is finishing off at
Stellenbosch University.
To my old school buddies, there is a guest cottage on
the farm so please come and stay or join us for a wine
tasting to catch up. Contact me on:
[email protected] or www.remhoogte.co.za
News of Dave Bowker (M66/70) is that Dave and his
wife, Anne live at Lowlands Estate, Fish River, Cradock
and run 2 guest houses, Lowlands Country House and
Lowlands Manor. Their establishment is aimed at families
and anyone wanting a farming experience and there is
plenty to see and do. (Mac: sounds suspiciously like free
labour for the farm ...!) Lowlands Estate farms Dohne
merinos, Bonsmara cattle, lucerne, maize, pecan nuts and
walnuts.
The Great Fish River runs through the Estate which is
the venue for the annual Hansa Canoe marathon, now
into its 31st year attracting paddlers from all over. Lowlands
is also on the College/DSG Fish River Journey expedition.
There are also many other attractions nearby for guests
to visit.
Lowlands Country House has become a favourite stop
for families heading inland or to the coast via GraaffReinet. The abundant bird life on the farm attracts birding
groups especially in Spring and Summer. There is a
birding specialist who can be booked to take visitors out
for birding weekends.
Anne (nee Collett) and Dave both grew up on farms
so for them life has turned full circle after spending almost
40 years either working for Corporates or in their own
businesses. Fish River is Kingswood country so tact and
diplomacy are needed for any OA in the area! Dave’s
younger brother Buzz (M70/74) has already defected to
KC by sending his sons and daughter there. Buzz farms
at Signal Kop, Carlisle Bridge (also on the Great Fish),
while Andrew (M64/68) is retired at Kasouga.
Dave and Anne have a son John who is an IT specialist
in Canada. He and his wife have a daughter Emily and a
son Connor. Weekly chats on Skype keep Anne and Dave
abreast with the grandchildren.
Their daughter Kate is married to Ruaan and they live
on the farm next door at Saltpans Drift. Kate is a Graphic
Designer and is on hand to help with running the guest
houses.
Dave would like to see more OAs, St Andrew’s and
DSG guests visiting. It is not to be missed as a very genuine
and down-to-earth Karoo farm stay.
From Dacre Haddon (E75/77): I continue to serve
as a DA member of the Eastern Cape Provincial parliament
(legislature).
Living in Port Elizabeth and travelling
weekly. Sometimes a return journey of 500
kms to Bisho parliament – taxing on my
car.
It is a privilege to serve one’s province
and country in this way and I hope that my
efforts and those of my colleagues are
making a meaningful impact on the
improved quality of life for all our citizens
in this province.
Age really catches us – my daughter
matriculates at DSG this year, 2012.
Who remembers when we Espin boys
used to throw water bombs on passing DSG
girls from Espin dormitory windows?
Chris Barrow (A71/74) is currently
based in Sao Paulo running HEINEKEN Brasil.
(Mac: some people have all the luck!) His wife
Colleen lives in London, daughter Natalie lives in
Woollongong with her 2 sons, son Martin is in his
final year of Economics at New York University,
and son Sean has just started Economics at
University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
(Mac: well maybe not all the luck - his family is
scattered all over the world. Must be hell keeping
track of the time zones!) He left South Africa as
an expatriate in 1996 and has since lived in Hong
Kong, San Salvador, Shanghai, Amsterdam, Rio
de Janeiro, Warsaw, London and Sao Paulo. He
has started running again and will run the NY
Marathon in November with both sons – their first
marathons.
There is a small South African expat community
in Sao Paulo, but enough to cheer SA on with
sporting endeavours at the local Irish Sports Bar,
but he says he has not met any OAs. (Mac: well,
try offering free Heinekens!)
13
Matt Mullins (M74/75) says: The Mullins family has
settled well into Perth, where we have been for almost
four years. We have visited Grahamstown frequently over
the past four years, with two daughters still at Rhodes.
Both their 21sts were held in the Highlander, where we
have enjoyed the fine Andrean hospitality on our visits.
There is a strong Andrean/DSG community in Perth
(and also alumni from other EC schools), and last year’s
reunion was attended by about 30 people (including 87
year old Nicolette Quekett). This year we’re having the
reunion at the House of David and Sue (Parry)
Whitehead, in Woodlands. Evan Edwards is the organizer,
and he is still a pillar of the Andrean community in Perth.
We have enjoyed seeing the resources boom develop
here (and now drop off a bit), and have seen Perth “grow
up” with lots of new development, including the great
addition to the Perth skyline, the BHPBilliton building.
Development of the new Elizabeth Quay has started, and
promises to be a welcome addition to the CBD. The
airport is still woefully congested, though.
Richard Arderne (M72/75) sends greetings from St
Francis Bay
Having lived here in St Francis permanently
for seven years, he writes, after over 20 in
Cape Town, it would be great to assist Old
Andreans looking for accommodation for
their Christmas holidays. Apart from the
obvious attractions, like the canals and
surfing etc, youngsters between 15 and 25
reckon that the St Francis New Year’s eve
party is the best in South Africa! My wife Jane
(Purdy), ex DSG, is also involved in our Pam
Golding franchise, and we can sell you a
house, if you don’t want to rent! There are
quite a few old Andreans here, like Fasie
Malherbe (A66/70), who I surf with, and,
Nidge Forbes (D54/58).
[email protected]
Gavin Ah Now (Odge) (M75/77) writes:
I have been consulting in the areas of
Governance Risk and Compliance for a
number of years, based in Johannesburg.
My assignments take me to Australia, the
USA, UK, and Europe as well as
Government. (Mac: a risk of noncompliance there, I’d say!)
On the interest side, I am a Nikon
Professional Photographer – some of you
may remember I was a member of the
Photographic Club. I breed some of the best
German Shepherd Dogs in South Africa. I
was invited to stand as Chairman of SA
Motorsport recently but turned it down. On
the academic side Wits Business school
invited me to complete my PhD, I have
written a number of papers in recent years
including “the Privatisation of State
Assets”. In my spare time I still ride
horses. (Mac: SA Motorsport is more
interested in a different kind of
horsepower!)
Hamilton (Tony) Wende (A75/79) writes: My news is
that I have just spent the last four months off and on in
Afghanistan filming a series on the US Marines that will
air on the National Geographic channel early next year.
My latest novel ‘Only The Dead’ about child soldiers in
northern Uganda and Eastern DRC is being published
by Penguin in October. Other than that I’m very glad to
be back in Jo’burg with my wife Lianne and two step
kids Caity and Nic.
Chris Lane (A77/81) expounds on Doing the Inca Trail
Marathon:
On 6 June 2012, the Lane Boys, Jimmy (A48/
51), Anthony (A81/84), Richard (A79/82) and
Chris (A77/81) accompanied by Winsome
(mother) flew to Peru to run the Inca Trail 44km
marathon. A total of 11 runners; 8 males and
3 females with the Lane boys
being the eldest amongst the
group. 4 were
from
the
USA, 1
f r o m
Spain,
1
from
South
Afr ica, 1
from
the
UK, 1 from
Australia and
3 from NZ.
On
the
afternoon of 5
June we got
dropped off at
Piscacucho, Km 82
for the start of the Inca
Trail, as we then had to
hike the next 6 km to
our campsite, which was
in the archaeological site
of Llactapata.
After being woken up
at 4 am for an early breakfast, we left camp at 05.30 to
hike to the start line for a 6 am start at an altitude of
2500m. The first 8 km were relatively flat. The 21 km
mark was at the top of Warmiwanuscca or Dead Woman’s
Pass at an altitude of 4300 m (the highest pass in the Inca
Trail) (Mac: that’s enough to make anyone pass on! That’s
nearly 14 000 feet up!) and we did this in 3 hours.The
next 23 kms took us another 5 hours to do.
If you are mad, you can hike the Inca Trail as a 3
night/four day hike, 4 night/five day hike or a 5 night/ six
day hike or if you are insane you can try and run it in a
day. We passed various hiking groups and porters along
the way and the porters always stepped aside and clapped
us as we went pass. The hikers just looked on in disbelief.
14
Arr iving at the Sun Gate looking down onto
Machupicchu was rather emotional as this is the furthest
most tourists venture when visiting Machupicchu. It is a
45 minute walk up the mountain. It is fair to say that
when they saw us appear and then found out that we
had run the whole Inca Trail in a day they were somewhat
surprised. All 10 starters finished with the winner setting
a new course record of 4hrs 56min. We are each now 1
of 348 people to have run the Inca Trail Marathon with
this tour operator since he started in 1996.
The highlight of the trip was being given the
opportunity to do this with my brothers and having our
parents with us. The last time we spent a holiday together
as a family without spouses was in 1981.
Alan Hobson (E74/78) is making sure everyone gets
to enjoy the beauty of the Boschberg Mountain in
Somerset East, usually a site everyone just drives past.
The Hobsons are everywhere! Hobson’s Choice Deli and
Nigel’s pub, aptly named after OA Nigel Hobson (U 46/
49), boast one of the best kept secrets of the Karoo
hinterland, a malt whisky bar in a century old church with
a fully stocked fly tackle shop in the old confessional and
a Deli in the old presbytery offering fresh country cuisine.
(Mac: what’s in the Nave?!) Somerset East now has a
Tourism hub with over 40 kilometres of mountain biking
track under the canopy of the indigenous forest
Stephen McGarvie (M76/79) writes: After 20
years of working for TOTAL in Africa, Europe and
Asia, I am moving to head up the downstream
operations of TOTAL in Canada. I’ll be living in
Montreal. (Mac: I love that - “head up the
downstream”! Sounds like a salmon run ...)
Andrew la Trobe (G79/84)wr ites: I
dropped my daughter Elizabeth off at Trinity
College in Oxford today, for the start of
her Classics degree at Oxford, and
bumped into Clive Eley (U03/05),
the College Rhodes Scholar, who is
now a Junior Dean at Trinity and
making good progress on his DPhil
in Biological Chemistry. Last time I
saw Clive was at the Jubilee 2005
reunion, when as Head boy
he performed his duties with such
distinction. Great to connect with him
again, and good to know Elizabeth
will have an OA around in case of need (and did much to
reinforce my claim that OAs are everywhere!) Exciting
time for our Elizabeth, and hopefully she doesn’t feel too
much pressure in her attempt to redeem the La Trobe
name at Oxford.
Allen Duncan (U7479) writes: I
am the CEO of Golden Macadamias,
a company operating in the Nelspruit
area of Mpumalanga. We are
growing very quickly and are
now one of the top two
macadamia companies in
the world. We export our
products to all parts of
the world.
The company has another OA on the board, Duncan
Macgregor (U84/88).We live in White River and play golf
regularly as a family.
Comrades Marathon 2012: PJ Faber (X86/89),
Jonny Hislop (A85/89) and Lance Wynne (A85/89), all
running for Wanderers, completed the Comrades this year.
They were well backed up by their OA seconders from
East London Frik Hendry (A85/89) and Danny Taylor
(E87/91)
James Delaney (G86/89) writes: Thought I’d give you
a bit of news on my art, which was featured on BBC
World on the weekend which was pretty cool. I spent a
fair amount of time at College in the art room in the Norton
block painting and drawing (some OAs from the 80s might
remember). I have an exhibition every year or two; the
most recent was this year in Jo’burg, where I live. This
year for Madiba’s birthday I built his portrait from 5000
cups of Jacobs coffee (Mac: he probably hasn’t been
able to sleep for 6 months!) in front of the Constitutional
Court. But I don’t usually work in coffee! Mostly painting
and printmaking, which I’ve been lucky to sell all over
the world, and can be seen at www.delaney.co.za
I also started two businesses which are run by people
who are much better at that stuff than I am. MojaNation
in Jo’burg is a multi-platform ad agency, and Moja Media
in Cape Town is the leading publisher of specialist travel
guides in SA – we recently bought Portfolio Collection,
which is pretty famous for having all the best guest houses,
game lodges and other boutique places to stay, which
we’ve relaunched with a new logo and smart Wedgwood
blue cover, and a fresh website, and it’s now available as
an app on your iPad.
Wayne Hendry (U87/90) says: A change in lifestyle
and career is imminent – after being involved in the
hunting safari industry for the past 17 years and living in
Tanzania (East Africa), I will be moving to Switzerland in
early 2013 to kick off a new career involving corporate
aircraft.
A big change, but coming at the right time with so
many uncertainties involving East Africa – great for my
wife and 2 kids, who will now enjoy the benefits of a
“modern” society and top notch health and education
facilities. No more living with malaria and
dining on biltong and pap – now
for some proper cheese and
wine!
I’ll be back intermittently though
– the chance to have a scrap with an
old buffalo or such will never be given up for good!
Patrick Rogers (U89/93) is still in the Lowveld, recently
made Acting Medical Manager of Tonga Hospital
www.tongahospital.org hoping to recruit 5 enthusiastic
rural minded doctors by Jan 2013.
15
He is loving life as part of the Lowveld Sugars Farm
community. Jeremiah is walking and talking Sotho now,
Hadassah is now sitting and taking no nonsense from her
rambunctious brother. Mampho still doing great work in
out-patients and theatre, anaesthetics, but wishing for half
days to spend more time with the children. Nthabeleng
should graduate from UJ with BCom this year, then
hopefully entering
the working world.
Of interest, the
farmer here runs a
Charity called
Makhundu
Christian
Support,
feeding
up
to
2 0 0 0
orphans a
month!
Paul Gardiner
(U88/92)
writes: Today our
family
business announced the first ever Bear Grylls Survival
Academy. I got to know the well-known face of Man vs.
Wild, Bear Grylls (today the most watched TV program
in the world with a viewership of 1.2 billion people), over
the past 6 months and he and I agreed to set up a series
of survival academies around the globe. The first opens
up in Scotland in Nov and we have plans to bring one
down to the Eastern Cape after launching in the USA in
2013. (Mac: I hope part of the survival skills programme
deals with surviving the Eastern Cape driving! Most of
the motorists drive like wild animals ..) More info can be
found at
www.beargryllssurvivalacademy.com
Ed Gutsche (X90/94) reports that he just got engaged
to Taryn Van Eden in Greece on the 28.08.2012
Christian Rich-Byberg (M90/93) writes: I greatly
appreciate the reminders of life at St. Andrew’s College.
It is great to hear about what is going on and the
achievements.
During my time at Mullins House, I was not able
to appreciate the opportunities I was offered and today
with my own kids going to public school in America I
understand the greatness of Saint Andrew’s College
and all it instils with regard to respect and
opportunities.
Keep the uplifted head and exuberance! I hope
the current students at College understand the
opportunities and expectations that lie with being an
Andrean. Respect to all Andreans and the education
they receive at College.
Proud Old Andrean, Christian Rich-Byberg
Sipho Nghona (E92/96) informs us that John Morrow
(E92/96) (Head of House in ’96) married Robyn
(Nedbank Capital - Head of Events) in Haartebeespoort
on Friday, 28 September 2012. He adds that it was a
beautiful ceremony and they had the chance to reminisce
about their old College days.
Robert Brooke (G93/94) says: I’m out of the US Army
after 8 years and 3 tours, and am now studying Physics
and Mathematics at Duquesne University. Despite the
fact that I’m vastly older than the rest of the students, I’m
enjoying myself hugely.
Andreas Welz (X92/96): I report from the
wide, autumnal Northumbrian countryside in north-east
England, which is where we find
ourselves these days. After leaving
College in 1996, I pursued an
unsuccessful attempt at studying
medicine in Stellenbosch, followed
by a more successful 10-year career
as a deck officer in the Merchant
Navy. During that time I was fortunate
to be based in Cape Town,
and I also managed to fit
in a law degree at UCT
between sea voyages.
After ‘swallowing the
anchor’, having obtained the
LLB, and having met my wife-tobe (Jessica Edwards, sister of Michael and William
Edwards, both Graham House) I went on to the sweaty
climes of Durban to serve articles. Three years and many
ship arrests later (Mac: how do you arrest a ship??!), Jess
and I decided to head for a completely different climate,
by-passing the bright lights of London and finding our
feet on the Tyneside. I joined a niche international shipping
law firm in Newcastle and have since re-qualified as an
English solicitor. The north of England has been very good
for us, and although I’ve not been able to ‘larn Geordie’,
the people here don’t mind and are no less friendly and
salt-of-the-earth. We spent some time in Norway last year,
where I worked on secondment for a large marine insurer,
only to realise how much we missed our new home in
England. We returned to live in a small village about 25
miles from the city, and are privileged to be part of a
fantastic rural community.
We are even more pleased to report that our first child,
Otto Welz, was born in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in
Newcastle on 5 August – apparently being ‘born on the
banks of the Tyne’ entitles him to ‘proper Geordie’ status.
Who would have thought it! We’ve certainly come a long
way from the more temperate seasons of the Lower
Albany district. Having said that, even here there are
strong echoes of Grahamstown. I see them in the prolific
Victorian architecture, the big skies, long clear nights and
warm people, so am able to quell the occasional bout of
homesickness without too much effort. (Mac: a good
remedy can be found in some of the local breweries!) I
am grateful for the frequent invitations to various events
which I receive from the apparently vigorous UK branch
of the OA Club. Unfortunately, due to these events being
quite London-centric, I have yet to make it to any of
them. I hope to be in Grahamstown for our class twentyyear reunion, however.
Gavin Joughin (E90/94) is a Chartered Accountant
living in Seattle, Washington, USA. Gavin spent 10 years
living in the US where he worked at Deloitte, Google
and various social media technology startup companies.
16
For the past year, he has been part of the Global Retail
Accounting team at Amazon.com primarily focused on
revenue arrangements, business expansion activities and
financial reporting. Lisa Joughin completed her post
graduate Fashion Merchandising degree and is doing very
well as a fashion buyer. In our spare time, we enjoy
travelling extensively, running and cycling a lot and
spending time with friends and family.
Ian Minnaar (A97/01) writes: I have taken the big
leap and started my own law firm. I will also be getting
married to the love of my life Siobhan Halforty on 21
September 2012.(Mac: that’s two big leaps!) I elected to
form a partnership with Michael Bembridge, son of
renowned property attorney and head director of the
property department at Edward Nathan Sonnenburgs
(ENS). Together my partner and I have over a decade of
experience in law.
Carl Williamson (A91/91) writes: I attended St
Andrew’s College in 1991 for post matric. Before that I
was at Maritzburg College. I was the fourth generation of
Williamsons to attend (Mac: College that is!!). It was one
of my best years at school, if not the best. Many years
after attending St A, I had dreams of going back, and in
my dreams, I would be arriving at St A (sorry I will refer
to as St A, as
Maritzburg
College is
also referred
to by many
as College),
and the boys
in Armstrong
would be so
happy to see me, and
they would say, why are
y o u
back, and my response
would be
(even though I was 26
years old),
the headmaster has made
a special
exception for me to come
back, and we
would all laugh, and the
d r e a m
would end. I often tell
people
how I loved my year at St Andrew’s College – from the
day I arrived, to the day I left, the school, the teachers,
the masters, the boys made me feel extremely welcome
and loved, one could say. Just being there gave me huge
confidence in my life, I then attended Maritzburg Varsity,
where like most students I had a lot of fun – more out of
lectures, than in, but St Andrew’s College was in me, and
it is amazing how one year of schooling at such a special
place can have such an influence on your life.
Over the years I have come back to the school, with
my two late grandfathers, Mervyn and Vincent Williamson
and my Dad, Andre Williamson. I have also come back
with my wife. (still to come with the children). I may not
attend all the functions that come up as we all have busy
lives, but I just wanted to share how I felt about such a
memorable time in my life, and it was only a year.
I have my own company now, TrueNorth Recruitment
with offices in Johannesburg and Durban (Cape Town is
coming), and I often meet candidates from St Andrew’s
College and DSG. We are specialists in financial
recruitment. Our website is at
www.truenorthrecruitment.co.za
Justus Luttig (U05/09) writes: Since matriculation
from College in 2009 I have kept close ties with fellow
Upper housemates as well as Old Andreans in and around
the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, and UCT,
making the network very closely connected.
I enrolled in Stellenbosch University for a Bachelor of
Accounting degree (C.A. Stream) in 2010 and was placed
in the tallest and least attractive residence on campus –
“Helshoogte” we had to change its perception to the res
with the most “gees”. Since first year I have been involved
in a number of activities, the Stellenbosch Rugby Club
being a frequently visited place where I played for the
Maties u19A & u20 rugby teams. In my three years I
have been occupied with the founding and running of an
NGO “WonSA” in partnership with Renier Steynberg
(E05/09); working for Red Bull as a student brand
manager and putting my Accountancy skills to the test by
acting as the treasurer of UN association of South Africa
in Stellenbosch.
My future plans are to further my studies and to obtain
my CA through Investec Bank in 2016. I am also keen
on starting up an OA branch in Stellenbosch.
Experiencing University with the freedom any young
man could want, there is nothing that replaces that
camaraderie built up at school, and the mystique of the
College grounds after war cries or the dorm nights spent
speaking about absolutely absurd topics only to find your
dorm prefect listening in.
Michael Duncan (U01/05) is currently living in White
River and is a BMW sales executive. He studied hotel
management and game ranging and has swapped this
for a career in the motor industry. He plays golf, cricket
and rugby for the local clubs and loves the Lowveld
weather
Richard Duncan (U03/07) obtained his BSC. Eng
civil at UCT last year and has spent 2013 on a welldeserved Gap year cruising the world as a photographer
on the “Jewel of the Seas” (Royal Caribbean lines) The
liner carries 2500 guests and he has been fortunate to
have seen many parts of the world, (the Caribbean, UK,
France, Baltic countries, Russia, Iceland, Canada and US
to name a few.) This has been an excellent GAP year
and he recommends this to other OAs – get your degree
first and then cruise the world! He has also been giving
photographic workshops to the guests. He is coming back
to SA in December and looking to find a job in the
Engineering environment next year.
Pipe Band Reunion 2013
In 2013 the band, believed to be the oldest school pipe band in the country, will have its 75th
anniversary, and we hope to celebrate this by holding a reunion. As the records of band members,
particularly in the earlier years, are far from complete, if you were in the pipe band, please contact
Chris Terry directly, using the contact details given below. (Email would be the best choice, as it
makes correspondence quick and easy!) Please include your years in the band, what instrument you
played, and any rank held. Please do this even if you are unlikely to attend the reunion, as this will
enable us to compile as full a list as possible of those who have served in the band over the years.
Anyone knowing of deceased past members, please include any details about them that you remember.
Chris Terry: Telephone +27 (0)46 622 4154; cell phone 079 396 6339
email: [email protected]
Postal address: 21 Bedford Street, Grahamstown, 6139, South Africa
PLEASE DO THIS NOW!!
While the Bagpipe is available on-line, there are still many OAs who do not have
internet connections, and printed copies are mailed to them. If you receive the printed
version of the Bagpipe, but do not wish to receive it in future, please contact the
Foundation Office at telephone 046 603 2360 or email [email protected]
Please send your literary gem to: Mac, St Andrew's
College, P.O. Box 182, Grahamstown, 6140
or by email to: [email protected]
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