PBHS Old Boys Association - ePhobian

Pretoria Dinner, 5 June 2010

The Directors of the Old Boys Association invite you to attend The 91st Annual Dinner: Pretoria. RSVP: Booking form: 2010 Annual Dinner.

Kilimanjaro – September 2010

Old Boy, Robin Mountain, is putting together a Kilimanjaro Trek, Fly-in Luxury Tented Serengeti Safari & a Zanzibar holiday in September this year. They are trying to get as many old boys on board as possible. For more information email Robin or download the itinerary here.

Obituary: Robert (Bobby) Edwin Fendick, Matric 1968

31 May 1951 – 19 January 2010
The Association has been notified of the passing of Bobby Fendick, Matric 1968. Bobby was in Arcadia and in addition to being a school prefect was an officer in the Cadets. He finished at PBHS with a distinction in mathematics and went on to become an Actuary. He died after battling cancer.

Information supplied by Keith Gibbs.

Should anyone have any further information please contact the Editor.

School’s Business Manager passes away

Mr Neil van Coller, appointed as the Business Manager for PBHS in late 2007, died of a heart attack on Tuesday 2 February. In his short time at the school he had already made a significant impact on the management of a number of facets of the school.

Neil was also a parent at the school with his son David having matriculated in 2009 and James currently in Form IV. Our condolences to his wife Carla, the two boys and the Van Coller family.

The funeral will take place in the Abernethy Hall of PBHS at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday 6th February.

A Silk Old Boy’s Tie

About a year ago I got an email from a London old boy. Nicholas (Hill) explained that he was not a small fellow and that his old boy’s tie, worn every Friday, drew some inappropriate attention. It has to be said that while fashions have moved on the cut of the old boy’s tie is somewhat out of date.

He jumped into action and within weeks had managed to get a sample of a new silk tie out to South Africa for approval. The Association agreed and soon took delivery of the very first batch of old boy’s ties made of silk.

Thanks go to Nicholas for doing all the work and ensuring that we can continue wearing our ties with pride, particularly in parts of the world wear ties are still in fashion. So – for the first time ever you can order a silk tie. Please email us for more information.

Photo: Trevor Krige and Nicholas Hill, both Rissik 1981 in Cardiff for the Australia Wales match.

Mark Gleeson to Speak at the Pretoria Dinner

"Mark Gleeson is a living legend of African football" and happens to be an Old Boy from the class of 1981. With all that surrounds the 2010 World Cup, what a perfect moment to invite one of the best journalists on the subject and have him propose the Toast to the School. For a little more about Mark see this Mail & Guardian profile.

Reunion Notice: 91st Annual Dinner - Pretoria

The Directors of the Old Boys Association invite you to attend The 91st Annual Dinner: Pretoria

Date: 5 June 2010
Venue: Centralised Dining Room
Dress: Black Tie or Lounge Suit
Cost: R250
RSVP: Please download the booking form: 2010 Annual Dinner.

Letter: Farewell Mr Schroder

Dear Sir

At the end of this term Pretoria Boys High School will say farewell to its Headmaster of twenty years, Mr Bill Schroder.

Being a third generation Old Boy, I take pride in keeping up with the School's development and have observed Mr Schroder’s progress with immense pride and admiration. While all the headmasters before have had their own challenges, I believe that Mr Schroder’s tenure was the most challenging given the history of our country. Not only did he successfully guide the School into the new South Africa, he did so while still maintaining both the School’s traditions and academic standards.

Bill Schroder has introduced new traditions that have both supported and strengthened the old ones. One in particular is Last Post. It’s one of those traditions that makes one swell with pride to be an Old Boy. In this modern age of arrogance and anger it is awesome to watch four water polo matches halt in a sudden deathly silence to observe the salute. With their hands over their hearts, and the distinct, ‘Boys High’ at the end, is an incredible sight to witness. And then everything resumes as if it were a natural part of school life! The few times I have observed this ritual I have purposefully observed the boys trying to catch out at least one individual not participating. My surprise!

Then there is always the Old Boy’s debate as to whether Mr Antony Reeler will be able to fill Mr Schroder’s shoes. I think each and every one of Mr Schroder's predecessors has been faced by this daunting task and each and every one has succeeded in their own right, adding more to the School’s rich culture. I trust Mr Reeler understands the enormity of his appointment just as Bill Schroder did twenty years ago.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Mr Schroder for his tireless efforts over the last twenty years. Even in the official diary and as far as the UK he is known as The Boss. This epithet was originally reserved for Mr Desmond Abernethy, and to have this honour bestowed on one is a huge honour and one of which Mr Schroder has proved himself worthy.

Go well Sir and enjoy your retirement. You deserve it.

From Gary Paul, Matric 1973.

Small world – isn’t it?

An extract from a letter sent by Nicholas Hill: ‘Finally let me tell you an amazing story. My 5 year old daughter has just started swimming lessons, and they use the pool at the Royal Grammar School in High Wycome (a town near where we live in Oxfordshire). Last weekend I was waiting to pick her up afterwards, and was looking at the noticeboard in the Sports Area, and saw a picture of a touring party who went to South Africa last year, sitting on the front steps of the main PBHS school building I could even pick out Mr Wilkes's, and Mr Penzhorn's windows. It is a one small world isn't it!’

From Nicholas Hill, Matric 1981.

Directors' Photograph 2009

Back L to R: Rupert Hector, James Lourens (Vice-Chairman), Geoff Meyer, Mike Carnie, Lincoln Keeton (Secretary), and Savaal Singh.
Front L to R: Trebot Barry, Eugene Ashton (Chairmain), Bill Schroder, Pierre Beguin.
Absent: Ken Schmulow, Matthew Blackmore, Graeme Hearn, Thomas Rundle and Carl Pistorius.

Photo taken by Henry Brink, Matric 1975.

Ask not for whom Bill toils

For the online version of the article please click here.

Neil Malherbe (1981) appointed Head of Penryn Prep School

Recently we stumbled on this bit of news, the following is taken from the Penryn College Newsletter:

“Accordingly it gives me great pleasure to announce that the position has been offered to Mr Neil Malherbe. Happily he has accepted and will begin here on the 1 January next year. We had announced earlier that this was to happen in the third term, but we felt given the competence of the man that this was no longer necessary.

A bit about Neil if I may. He is at present the deputy at Reddam House in Constantia in Cape Town. He is 44. As a boy he was schooled at Pretoria Boys High School where he was a provincial athlete, a prefect and served on the SRC. He is a highly qualified teacher finishing off with a Masters’ degree in education at Rhodes University in 1995. While he was at Rhodes he represented Eastern Province at athletics.

After qualifying he was a teacher at Selborne College in East London for 6 years, at Durban High School for two years, and at Graeme College for seven years where he was HoD of English and Housemaster of 120 scholars from Grade 1 to Grade 12 at Grant House.

He then saw the light and went into Primary school education joining Reddam House in 2003. He was appointed as deputy in charge of academics in October 2007. As a teacher he was an accomplished sport coach, being the South African u18 waterpolo coach from 2001 to 2007, a rugby coach of some renown, master in charge of athletics and swimming at two of the schools he served, and a gymnastics team in East London!

But he has a number of other very impressive strings to his bow, being the director of a number of plays, running a school museum, running a debating society and a Christian Union at Reddam House.

In his personal capacity he is a Rotary member and has been a Society Steward at Tokai Methodist Church since 2005. He is also a widely experienced Sunday School teacher having filled this role for the best part of 20 years. He is widely travelled. And lest we think that time has been resting heavily on his shoulders he has recently written a novel that he has submitted for publishing.”

We wish him all the best in his new appointment.

Information supplied by Chris Lee.

Photo Album: 1999 10-Years-On Reunion

For the full photo album click here.

Smit vs Joost

Two rugby books in the rup-up to Christmas and it seems that John is leading the way. Book SA has the story.

New Headmaster Appointed

Mr Antony Reeler, the current Headmaster of Pinelands High School in Cape Town has been appointed as Headmaster of Pretoria Boys High School from 1 July 2010.

Tony Reeler, aged 44, was educated at Rondebosch Boys High School where he was Deputy Head Prefect and at the University of Cape Town where he obtained a B.Sc, H.D.E. majoring in Mathematics and Science.

He began his teaching career at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth in 1988. He was promoted to a Head of Department in 1992 and spent his 11 years at Grey in a variety of leadership roles, cultural activities and sports coaching (1^st XV rugby and 2^nd XI cricket). In 1999 he returned to Rondebosch as a Deputy Headmaster and spent four years in various management and leadership capacities. He became Headmaster at Pinelands High in 2003 and has run the School for 7 years with conspicuous success.

Tony Reeler is married to Rose and they have two children – a son who will come into Form I at Pretoria Boys High and a daughter of 10. All involved in this appointment are delighted that Mr Reeler has accepted the offer and look forward to many years under his proven leadership.

Photo Album: 1959 50-Years-On Reunion

For the full photo album click here.