PBHS Old Boys Association - ePhobian

Black-crowned Tchagra at PBHS (Historically)

A few kind people have checked PBHS’s bird book at my request in order to see whether or not the Black-crowned Tchagra is listed (it isn’t, which I suspected might be the case). In 1956, I was birding, armed with binoculars, at the front of the school in the shrubbery leading down (at the time, anyway – don’t know how things look now) to the swimming pool, when a lone Black-crowned Tchagra that was foraging on the ground in the undergrowth came into view. In those days, I wasn’t interested in school work. Only in matters ornithological. Nevertheless, I wasn’t bunking class. This was either at break or after school. The species was also heard at the time, calling from somewhere around the koppie. The occurrence of the Black-crowned Tchagra at PBHS was partly responsible for the comment “Recorded from suburban areas” on p. 41 of the following (now ancient) publication: Markus, M.B. 1964. An annotated list of the birds of Pretoria city. South African Avifauna Series of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, No. 18.

From Professor Miles Markus, medsynth@telkomsa.net.

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.

Address: Heinie Dittberner, 29 May 1998

Mr Headmaster, Staff and Boys,

Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to appear on this stage and thank you all for the flattering welcome.

I should perhaps start by telling a little about myself, so that you have a better understanding of this person who spent 35 years of his life at the School. I was born in 1935 in a small country dorp, Nylstroom, about 130 km north of Pretoria. My grandparents raised me, as my father had died at an early age. Our home language was German and I attended the local Afrikaans school. My mother remarried, to an English-speaking person, and I then joined them in Johannesburg. My English vocabulary was limited to ‘please’ and ‘thank-you’ and a few other simple phrases. Reading was at the level of ‘the fat cat sat on the mat’.

In those years we had to write a ‘high school entrance exam’ before proceeding with secondary education. Because of my still poor standard of English, I was duly enrolled at Helpmekaar Hoerskool. My father had to negotiate with the Education authorities before I was permitted to proceed to Parktown Boys High School.

Yes, I’m sorry to disappoint you – I’m not an Old Boy of this School. Lest you’re wondering why I have the audacity to proudly wear this (Old Boys) tie, it’s legitimate. I was made an Honorary Old Boy, and, in addition, elected as Honorary Life President of the Old Boys Association in 1992.

I matriculated at age 16 at Parktown Boys High and proceeded to Wits University, and after graduating with a BA , majoring in Afrikaans and German, proceeded to the Johannesburg Teachers’ Training College where I received a Higher Education Diploma.

Interview With Eddie Dorey

In the run-up to their 40-Years-On reunion a few years ago, Leon Kok – the convenor, compiled a series of interviews. Here is the fourth with Eddie Dorey.

I had the opportunity in late July of meeting with Eddie Dorey in his comfortable home in the Lynnwood area where he stays with his longstanding wife, Eline. He was the wonderful person that he always was, with considerable spirit, generosity and humour.

Eddie and Eline adopted a son in 1977, who is 26 today, married, and farms in the Lydenburg district. They’re grandparents already.

Eddie spent two years in Japan, in 1967 and 1968, developing his martial arts skills, which he says was one of the toughest experiences in his life. ‘I knew that if I gave up, and I was often tempted to do so, that I’d never be the same again. The martial arts teaches you enormous self-discipline, and if you don’t play by the game, you get hammered’.

Retired, he teaches self defence today, using a knife.

Eline trained as a teacher at Normal College and spent almost her entire working life as a teacher at Meisies Hoer, which Eddie says has ‘the same background, ethos and traditions as Boys High’. Eline is also retired, but says, ‘I’m so busy that I don’t know how I ever had time to teach’.

Eddie and I spoke for about an hour.

Eddie Dorey was one of the School’s greatest folk heroes. Immensely spoken about by the boys. He taught many of them for three, four years; played an important part in their sporting lives; warmed their backsides on countless occasions. And yet, it can be asked, did any of them get to know the ‘real’ Eddie Dorey? Who is he?
My Dad was a police officer and I was born in the small Free State town of Ficksburg. However, as a family, we travelled from one town to the next during the course of my first 11 years. Then we came to the Transvaal, followed by my father being transferred to Natal. It was felt that Natal’s school’s syllabus was far too different to the Transvaal’s, so it was decided to place me in boarding school in Lydenburg for a year. Then I was sent to the Potch Volks’ Hoerskool where I eventually matriculated in 1953. I attended our 50th reunion last year. It was indeed in Potch that I got to know the first of the four Milner Schools – Potch Boys High – but I never imagined that one day I’d end up teaching at one of them.

From Joss Hamilton: The Hofmeyr Connection

In December, 2008, I was able to spend a couple of hours with Murray Hofmeyr, the youngest son of Mr Billy Hofmeyr, the first Headmaster of Pretoria Boys High School in the current building. I was then able to assist in persuading Murray to attend the Centenary Dinner of Solomon House, of which he was Head Boy in 1942, as well as that of the School. As I had been the fag for his buddy, the late ‘Woppy’ Botha, and we were the only remnants present from those who left in the 40’s, we spent most of the time together and I was able to catch up on some Hofmeyr history.

Although the School had started to function a couple of years earlier, Murray’s father was the first Headmaster to serve any length of time, from 1910 to 1934 in fact. To begin with, he lived in Solomon House until School House was completed in 1915, when he moved into the Headmasters accommodation part of it. Murray’s two eldest brothers were born in Solomon House, while it was in School House, in 1925, like his remaining four brothers, that Murray was born

In 1942, when I arrived from WHPS at Boys High, Murray was head of Solomon and the School and captain of cricket, while Will, his elder brother, was assistant House Master. The following year, Murray enrolled at Rhodes University College in Grahamstown. In those days the Rhodes cricket team included Eric Norton, Anton Murray & Harry Birrell, amongst others. Having completed his BA in 1946, Murray became the third brother to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and went on to Oxford in 1948. While there, he got his Cricket & Rugby Blues and played for England at fullback against Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and a number of times for the Barbarians.

On his return to South Africa, Murray taught for a while at Boys High, living in Solomon House as an Assistant House Master. He then joined Anglo American where he worked his way up to eventually, Chairman of JCI.

It is incredible to note that, with the exception of one year (1935 I think), from 1910 to 1985, there was always a Hofmeyr at the School. A truly unique association!

From Joss Hamilton Matric, 1946.

Interview With Hugo Ackermann

In the run-up to their 40-Years-On reunion a few years ago, Leon Kok – the convenor, compiled a series of interviews. Here is the third with Hugo Ackermann.

I met with Hugo Ackermann on Wednesday at ‘The Place’ coffee shop at Menlyn Retail Centre. The pioneer of Boys High reunions, he was Headboy in his year, matriculation top learner (having achieved distinctions across the board), a teacher at the School, and ultimately Headmaster of Potchefstoom Boys High School.

Hugo convened the 50-year Reunion earlier this year.

His wife, Ann, is also a former teacher of the School and salvaged numerous of its ‘academic crocks’ at Larry Robertson’s Capital College, myself and Clive Edkins included. Several of them went on to do exceptionally well at university and today hold top corporate and public office positions. Ann was an extraordinary teacher and compared with the best that I ever came across.

Perhaps surprising, but I never really got to know Hugo, even though he was in charge of the Thirds and Fourths cricket contingent of which I was a member. I regarded him as quietly-spoken, almost shy, an abstract figure in some ways. He seldom showed his emotions.

My nephews, the Travers boys and their father, Walter – all Potch Old Boys on – on the other hand, got to know him particularly well and always spoke highly of him. The meaning of this made sense for the first time in our meeting this week. I was confronted with Hugo’s wonderful sense of value, progressive thinking, humour, spirituality and an unbelievable passion for his family, the School and Potch Boys High.

His management approach at Potch, for example, was not as a ‘kragdadige’ head, but open-minded, a team player, and sensitive to diversity. He pursued a balancing act that gave recognition to different talents and characters, always with fairness, equitable, and recognition of achievement at any level.

Significantly, he said, ‘they (some parents) should be willing to applaud a son who gets 50%, because for some children that will be fairly close to their best achievement’.

I might point out that Hugo has not been well in recent months and Ann has been a tower of strength to him.

Your wife Ann, as I have known her, has been an extraordinary wife, mother and teacher. Please define what she has meant to you?
You’re right. A fantastic teacher and wife. Don’t under-estimate when husband and wife have strong common interests that bind them. A good example is once we moved to Potchefstroom Boys High in about 1972. In those days you had to be 50 plus before you got into a boarding house. At Potch we took over a hostel, not an easy one. The hostels’ there were much larger than they were at PBHS. And whereas in Pretoria you were exposed to a more advantaged pupil, we didn’t realise that Potch, being fairly remote, had a lot of children with either mining or farming backgrounds. They were not spoilt. That was wonderful. But it was a considerable challenge dealing with 136 children, providing them with more than they might otherwise have had. Ann was marvellous. Her abilities were amazing.

Letter: A Tribute to Wally Morrow, Matric 1957

Wally Morrow was a lecturer in philosophy of education in the Department of Education at Wits when I came to know him. Although we had been at PBHS at about the same time (he matriculated three years before I did), we had little contact with each other until in 1973 I found myself in one of his classes. At the end of the year, I think at Wally’s instigation, Wits offered me a lecturing position in the same Department (which I’d already accepted by the time the Transvaal Education Department eventually notified me of my appointment to teach at Pretoria Boys High). Wally and I worked closely together for the succeeding four years, until I emigrated to Australia. We had a good deal in common, both having been postgraduate students at the University of London while living in England, he in philosophy of education at the Institute of Education, I in philosophy at Birkbeck College.

Wally was passionate about the need in education for the rigorous input he believed philosophy could provide, not as an ivory-towerish abstraction, but as a clear-headed, practical, and essential contribution to educative teaching. For him, philosophy was certainly not an optional extra, a picture-gallery of sketches portraying ‘idealism’, ‘realism’ and other ‘isms’ as ‘philosophies of life’ for students to choose from according to their fancy. Teaching was important practically in life because of its effect on what learners came to know and believe, what kinds of people they became, and consequently what they actually did in the world. Ethics, education, and practice were, for him, crucially and unavoidably interdependent, all subject to reason, none the prerogative of any special interest group, whether religious or other. His living and thinking were as one; without fear or favour he put into practice what his careful, critically considered thought led him to believe to be right and good.

He was a mine of ideas and initiatives, an inspiration to students and his academic colleagues alike, and devoted himself unstintingly to furthering education. He established and edited Perspectives in Education, a published forum intended to stimulate engagement with issues important in education both locally and more widely. That initiative would have benefited from greater institutional support, but the University had grander and narrower preferences for more orthodox academic publications. Such lack of support eventually led him, I believe, to leave Wits and move to the University in Port Elizabeth where in due course he was closely associated with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, continuing to make his extraordinarily rich and deep contribution in education. He died on 11^th February, 2009, from an inoperable brain tumour.

Wally was the kindest and most generous of friends, and an outstandingly supportive, helpful, and hard-working colleague. I shall always remember him as a truly admirable person, one of those whose qualities owed so much to the years he spent at Pretoria Boys High School.

From Don Margetson, Matric 1959.

Interview With Stuart Hendry

In the run-up to their 40-Years-On reunion a few years ago, Leon Kok – the convenor, compiled a series of interviews. Here is the second with Stuart Hendry.

A fortnight ago I visited Stuart Hendry at his home in Menlo Park and he seemed full of the joys of life. He certainly gets great pleasure meeting and hearing from Old Boys, and I dare say he fully enjoyed our discussion. His study is central to his home; he has an excellent collection of books mainly on flying and history; also a collection of model aircraft; and he is still relatively mobile. The substance of these interests becomes apparent in the interview.

How have you been keeping?
I’m 82 and well. I retired in 1982, nursed my elderly mother for several years, and then went through a trying period myself. Pains in my chest necessitated a by-pass operation that went wrong. It had to be repeated on the same day, and I survived. It was carried out by an Old Boy, Mark Stevens, whom I had taught. More recently a doctor identified valvular trouble, but on balance I’m healthy.

What do you do for fun these days?
I enjoy hitting a synthetic golf ball against a wall; I keep a fairly detailed diary which I have been doing since I retired; I enjoy watching the (TV) history channel; and I still drive my car every day. It’s a twin-carb Mini that I bought in 1976 for R3 000, and recently a collector offered me R25 000 for it.

Do you still see any of your former colleagues?
Yes. I meet Terence Aston for tea occasionally and we always have lots to talk about. I always enjoy meeting with Heinie Dittberner, a quietly motivated person, and who for several years was OC of Pretoria Regiment. His wife has not been well of late.

Letter: From Stuart Grondel

Dear Editor,

Firstly I'd like to say how much I enjoy catching up with all the news on the ePhobian website when I get the chance. Recently I had the opportunity of being a spectator at one or two of Boys High's 1^st team hockey matches at Hartleyvale stadium in Observatory, near Cape Town. This was part of the Cape Town International Hockey Festival held annually with teams from all over the country as well as from abroad. Boys High made it to the final only to be pipped by a golden goal in extra time to a New South Wales team from Australia. Interestingly, Boys High beat that same team last year in the final by a golden goal in extra time! I thought it would be great if you or your editorial team could get more details from Mr van Zyl and Mr Franken and put together a few photos for the site? [I shall ask the question. ED.]

Girls High also took part and placed third under the excellent coaching of David Reid-Ross, whose son Justin is currently playing in the SA Mens Hockey team.

Kind regards,
Stuart Grondel, Matric 2005.

Letter: Vivian Henry

Dear Editor,

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Vivian Henry, especially having met with him at our 40-Years-On and seeing the same incisive, witty, irrepressible twinkle, looking younger and sharper than most of our class of 1967.

He was a wonderful teacher. I consider myself very lucky to have been in his history class in Form II and Form IV. One thing he said has stayed in my memory over the years; in giving humorous feedback to the class on the previous evening’s parent-teachers meeting: ‘It never fails to amaze me, when I meet your parents, that these two could have given rise to ... you! Generally I think you are a great improvement on your parents …’

From Peter Novellie, Matric 1967.

Interview With Terence Mulvenna

In the run-up to their 40-Years-On reunion a few years ago, Leon Kok – the convenor, compiled a series of interviews. Here is the first with Terence Mulvenna.

In my last letter I pointed out that Terence Mulvenna had been through a rough patch health wise and I promised that I’d provide you with an update. I visited him at his home last month and found him in good health, in great spirits, and as mentally sharp as ever. He is in his early eighties.

I might mention that I first met Terry exactly 50 years ago when he was a young teacher at Brooklyn School and I was in Grade 2 at the same school. In fact, the first time that he and I interacted was when one Peter Harper alleged that I had maliciously punctured a young girl’s bicycle tyre and he (Terry) had to determine whether I was guilty or not. The allegation was false in the extreme, and fortunately through Terry’s better judgement and the pleading of another teacher, Mrs van Wyk, the matter passed. I was otherwise assured the hiding of my life from Terry (or, more precisely, the first of several to come).

Terry taught me maths for four of my five years at Boys High and was my form master for a year. We also shared many memorable moments on the sports field.

We had a marvellous discussion, reflecting on the past, and he very courageously shared various unknown and private life experiences.

How did you get into teaching?
Through my younger brother Charlie, who was about three years younger than me. There was also a ‘laat-lammetjie’, Patrick, who was a lot younger than us. When I left school I did medicine at Wits but just played the fool and had an easy time. Needless to say, I plugged and my father got me a job as a labourer in the Pretoria West railway good sheds. Boy, was that a fall from grace but it was one of the finest lessons ever in my life. All those poor whites’. You can’t imagine what it was like working with those toughs’ and thugs’. After two years of this, Charlie said to me: ‘Why don’t you consider teaching?’ You can get a loan and come to Wits. I put it to my Dad and he said, ‘Okay, but all that I’m prepared to give you is pocket money, nothing else’. I took the loan, went to Wits, and never looked back.

Letter: Re: Eddie Barlow

Hi Stan, [In response to the letter from Stan Brown.]

Not to take anything away from your story about Eddie Barlow, who was my vice captain of the Town House athletic team, the fifty years hence seem to have clouded the facts. I have found my scrapbook with the program and Pretoria News clippings with the results.

1.	The year before, 1956, we beat KES at home 90:78.
2.	During that meeting Clive Phillips ran for Boys High and won both the half mile and the mile. I don’t know if that was the Cliffy that had the best under 18 time, at the time. By the way I met him a few years ago here in California.
3.	In 1957 the meeting was at KES. The open mile was the third last event. By then we were 22 points ahead. After the last race, the 440 yards, we won 95:73.
4.	Eddie came second to KES's Lundie in the mile.

Eddie won both the mile and half mile at the school championships. I remember an exiting race where we, Town House, were running the medley relay and Eddie the last leg, the half mile against Arcadia's Clive Silberman who had the fastest Northern Transvaal time for the season. We, Town House, were way behind. Eddie went for it and for some unexplained reason Silberman got the batton in third lane and stayed in the lane, Despite Arcadia fans screaming at him to cut in and get into the inside track.

This may be the race you remember since Eddie was tired from his previous races and still offered to run the half mile for Town House. We needed to win that relay to be the inter-house champs, something Town House had not done for many years. That showed Eddie's spirit.

As with every edition, I of course enjoyed getting the Phobian 55. That KES meeting was probably the most enjoyable athletic meeting for all of my career and sits amongst the test matches for South Africa, Swiss champs and European Champs. There was just one thing missing, no girls from Girls High…

All the best to you all and greetings form California.

Klaus Schiess, Matric 1957.

Letter: From Colin Hultzer, Matric 1952

Living, as I do, outside of South Africa, I am no longer in touch with the Old Boy news grapevine; and so it was with profound shock and deep sadness that I read in the recent issue of The Phobian 55 of the untimely passing of Roger. Although I cannot recall ever having had the pleasure of meeting Roger in person, I certainly enjoyed corresponding with him from time to time. However, those interfaces, brief and superficial as they were, showed me what exceptional human qualities he possessed – nothing was too much trouble for him, and the detail of every Old Boy news item or yarn was of infinite interest to him. He was a real tribute to the School, and a person who I am sure is being sorely missed at both School and the Association. My deepest sympathies, belated as they are, to his personal family and to our family of Old Boys.

With warm personal regards,
Colin Hultzer, Matric 1952.

Letter: From Peter Bantock

Dear Sir,

This note is simply to congratulate you on the superb job you have done in producing The Phobian 55. Every page gave me and many of my contemporaries pleasure, in the shape of memories from the past.

The Editorial highlighted the role of many who have made great contributions to the school. Roger Herbert was fantastic. His role in the life of the school and Old Boys Association were covered excellently. Did Roger take over from Doug Fenwick who fulfilled a similar function? [I joined the Association in Doug’s last year. He was Treasurer and Roger Secretary – they were a formidable combination! But of course Doug was the older of the two and if memory serves, was a director of the Association for over fifty years. Ed.]

The tributes to Terry Ashton were well deserved and were well worth reading. Terry was an old friend; we first met as "Freshers" at Knockando. Terry's first teaching post was at Lord Milner School in Settlers. Perhaps my influence persuaded him to apply for a position at PBHS. He re-united with several other ex Knockandians when he arrived at Boys High. Charlie & Terrence Mulvenna, Burridge Spies and I were all contemporaries. Burridge and I were in the same Matric class and then with Charlie we started our teaching careers at PBHS in 1950. The Phobian 55 also brought back memories of other contemporaries of my vintage. Murray Hofmeyer, Joss Hamilton, Brian Smith, Neville Kearney all received mention and made me think back to the good old days.

Most of us realise what a tremendous contribution has been made by Bill Schroder. He has been an outstanding Headmaster, and from my perspective, one of his most impressive achievements is the way in which he has made present day pupils appreciative of the spirit and tradition behind the excellent reputation which is enjoyed by PBHS. Boy's High is one of the great South African schools. Bill has fostered this reputation, by amongst other things, with his encouragement of Old Boy reunions. I have been privileged to attend 50^th Anniversaries of a number of matric classes in recent years. On each occasion it was evident that Bill Schroder was respected and admired by boys and Old Boys. Bill will be missed when he retires.

From Peter Bantock bantock@yebo.co.za.

Affies: Letter from the Headmaster

Dear Old Boys

Thank you for the tremendous support on Saturday for our match against Affies. While we would have dearly loved the result to have been reversed, I am sure that none of you could have been disappointed by the commitment and courage shown by our boys against a side twice their size. I am very proud of them as I am about the sportsmanship on the field and the behaviour of our boys off the fields and on the stand.

I wish I could say the same about some of our younger Old Boys who threw the odd can, threw ice at the Affies players and generally behaved in a manner unworthy of Boys High Old Boys. While generally the behaviour was better than last year, I still find it hard to understand that people who come to support because they love the School, but at the same time sully the School’s reputation by their behaviour.

One of my personal goals for 2009, is to hand over a School to my successor as near to perfect as I am able. The subject of this letter is one area which is not good and over which I will have no influence in the years ahead. I can only hope that the vast majority of you who love the School and understand what I am trying to achieve will assist in eradicating the silly and unacceptable behaviour of the few.

With kind regards
Bill Schroder

From the Headmaster: The Affies Game

The Boys High-Affies game for many Old Boys is an annual social occasion which many have enjoyed – particularly when we have been on the winning side as has been the case fairly frequently over the last few years.

Since last years’ game at Affies (which we won in case you have forgotten) the Education Department has introduced strict legislation in which the use of alcohol has been strictly forbidden on the premises of public schools. This is something which is difficult to control, so all we can do is to appeal to you not to bring and consume alcohol on Saturday 9^th May. We do not want to be confrontational at the game and make a special occasion unpleasant for all concerned so your co-operation would be hugely appreciated.

Drinks in the Mulvenna Room after the game is for the Staff of the two schools, sponsors and Headmaster’s guests only. The Old Boys Club will be open and happy to host an after-match function. The above obviously applies to all home matches.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Bill Schroder

Letter: From Brian Smith, Matric 1945

Greetings,

I was a School House boarder in 1945 and matriculated that year. Now, aged eighty with one foot in the grave, a retired physician, and US Citizen living in South Carolina I grow nostalgic.

I wonder how many of my peers are still alive. I have visited South Africa repeatedly since leaving in 1949, but will sadly make no further visits.

Warmest Regards
Brian Smith, briansmith@bellsouth.net.

Letter: Terence Ashton - A Tribute

I have been privileged, in my life, to get to know personally many remarkable people, including several Nobel Prize winners, and legendary writers and fellow authors, people ranging from Carl Rogers and Margaret Mead, through Viktor Frankel, Stephane Grapelli and Marlene Dietrich.

I mention them, not to boast, but to establish the company with which I would associate Terry Ashton, as truly one of the most remarkable people I have ever met. He had a sublime sense of humour and mischief, an endlessly broad range of knowledge, and a genuine joy in the life of the mind. He inspired me (and many others) to determine the extent of my abilities.

When I wrote and published my first book while a final year medical student and junior doctor, everyone else thought I was nuts to think I could get away with it. Terry saw nothing odd about it. Whenever I got involved in curious adventures around the world, he saw them as I did as rich and amusing experiences. Our shared love of the quirky, the eccentric and our off-the-wall approach to humour reinforced my oddities.

I regret that in recent years, while recovering from major injuries sustained in a car accident, I was unable to visit him as I had in the past; and that, fully occupied in a close family bereavement at almost exactly the same time, I was not able to reach him in his own final months. I can't think of anything one could wish for in a great and inspirational teacher, or a great man, which he lacked. Some of our other mentors of that era, like Larry Scully and Walter Battiss, were creative in the works of art they produced. Terry was just as creative in the people he helped to mould and enthuse. His works of art will last as long, and were fully as valuable.

From Michael Simpson, Matric 1962.

Letter: Eddie Barlow

Eddie came to us from WHPS at the beginning of Form II in 1954 with rumours that he could play a good game of cricket. When the new arrival turned out to be a blond-haired youngster who wore glasses, we wondered whether he as good as everybody said. A wicket keeper standing up to the stumps with glasses seemed to us to be a rather dangerous pastime. Still, Eddie walked into the u/14 A-team as our wicket keeper batsman – and the very next year kept wicket for the 1st XI and North-Eastern Transvaal Schools! Eddie would even go on to play rugby for the Transvaal against The British Lions and New Zealand.

But there are two stories which attest to Eddie’s enormous courage, guts and self-belief.

I remember that in 1957 at the beginning of the first term the 1^st Cricket XI gathered for the first net practice under the guidance of Will ‘Snake’ Hofmeyr. Eddie had kept wicket throughout his school career, but in 1957 we needed an opening bowler and there was no one to fill that position. The previous year I had opened the bowling with Jackie Botten, and now I needed an opening partner. Snake got us together for a chat and told us that there was a young wicket keeper called Elton Chatterton available and that he wanted to try Eddie out as an opening bowler. He promptly took out a brand new cricket ball and tossed it to a wide-eyed Eddie. In three years I had never been given a new ball to bowl with in nets, especially on the matting wickets of the day. The ball would be scuffed up in no time. In any case a new ball was for matches, not nets.

Anyway, now the fun and games started. Barlow was at his showy best. Watch me swing the ball in and the next ball away, he would say. And so it went on and on: ‘Sir, did you see that one move off the pitch?’ The poor batsmen didn’t know what had hit them. In amongst the few really good deliveries there were the many all-over-the-shop ones, hitting the batsman and screaming past their heads. It was absolute chaos, but Eddie was having the time of his life. We all wondered if Snake was doing the right thing.

Three or four Saturdays later we were standing on the platform at Pretoria Station, waiting for the train to arrive to take us to Jo’burg to play against our arch-rivals — King Edwards (whose team included Ali Bacher). From Johannesburg Station we would catch a bus to the school. This is the way we travelled in those days.

Eddie and I were smartly dressed in our ‘coats of many colours’ having a chat, when he said, ‘Stan, I feel so good today. I am going to score a pile of runs or take a stack of wickets.’ I took this with a pinch of salt because Eddie was always enthusiastic and had such a strong belief in his own ability that he was always making rich statements. We batted first and Eddie made 5 runs. We were staring down the barrel until the scorebook reflected: Barlow 8 for 28. And that was the end of King Edwards and the Ali Bacher threat.

Eddie seemed to have a knack for beating the odds. In that same year Pretoria Boys High had a rare chance of beating King Edwards at athletics. With one event left, the mile, we were in the lead on points, but we needed a first place to take home the trophy. Barlow had trained extremely hard but he was not really an athlete in the true sense of the word, so our chances were rather slim.

What happened next was quite extraordinary. In fact, it is what fantasies are made of. Our athletics master, Charles Mulvenna, called Eddie over to tell him how important this final race was.
‘Don’t worry, Sir!’ Eddie said.
‘Eddie, do you know who you are running against?’
‘Yes, sir. Cliffy Durant.’
‘Eddie, do you know that he has the fastest time in the Transvaal this year?’
‘Yes, sir. But I told you don’t worry, sir.’

An exasperated Charles Mulvenna turned and walked away.

The athletes and our Barlow lined up for the start of the mile. Durant moved swiftly into the lead around the first bend. Barlow slipped into a spot directly behind him, and there Eddie stayed for the first 3 laps. We were so proud of him because he was giving such a good account of himself. As the athletes approached the bell-lap Cliffy was still in the lead, but then on the bell Barlow took off at a 440-yard pace and opened up 15 to 20 metres on the bend. We all were flabbergasted. ‘What is the idiot doing now? He can never keep that up. He has thrown the race, and the meeting with it,’ someone said.

We watched spellbound as more and more we began to realise that maybe Eddie might just make it. Cliffy didn’t seem to take this too seriously, but he soon realised that he needed to chase for real. He had left it rather late, but he was catching Eddie fast in the straight and Eddie was visibly weakening. As the tape loomed Cliffy was only a metre or two behind. Then Barlow dived full length for the tape and the race was over. We had beaten King Edwards.

Eddie was spread-eagled on the track, breathless and in agony, and a concerned Charles Mulvenna came running onto the track to see if Eddie was all right. The crowd and our school were beside themselves. Eddie crawled to his knees as he saw Charlie coming toward him and managed to blow out the words: ‘Sir, I told you so, I told you so!’

These memories of Eddie Barlow have stayed with me now for fifty years.

From Stan Brown, Matric 1958, brown_albatross@worldonline.co.za.

Letter: Roger Herbert – A Tribute

Roger Herbert passed on, on Friday evening 1 August 2008, a day before his 67^th birthday. Roger never missed an Old Boys Dinner. And what would have annoyed him most was that he missed the Old Boys Dinner in Bloemfontein that Friday.

Roger was a magnificent person. He was always quiet, polite and unassuming. His intent was never to be a burden to anyone. He gave generously of his time, expecting nothing in return. He enjoyed a selfless and meaningful life. He was an absolute gentleman who never spoke ill of anyone. He was humble, unmaterialistic and deeply religious. He epitomized all that Boys High boys should strive to be.

He served the school and the Old Boys Association with dedication and unquestionable loyalty for more than thirty years’. Such was his bias and passion for Boys High that I can well imagine him being received at the gates of heaven on Friday night by a choir of angels singing ‘All we see is red and green’, ‘’Tis here we learn to live’, and ‘Bread of Heaven’. And I can imagine them concluding their concert for Roger with the boisterous singing of ‘Forty Years On’.

Roger, the Old Boys will miss you and remember you with much fondness.

Our sincerest condolences go out to all Roger’s friends and family whom we know he loved dearly.

The Old Boys.

From Chris Lee,

From Chris Lee.