1 July 2019
I have been given the privilege of sharing, with the 9,600 or so members of the Old Boys’ Association, the magic that wove its way through the 99th Annual Old Boys Dinner. What follows is a brief summary of each speaker’s contribution, the most important of which is featured at the end of this report.
Mr Geoff Meyer convened a fantastic dinner: he declared an open bar and the icing medallion of the Association badge that anointed each dessert was another caring touch. He also identified in Mr James Orr, a very capable and articulate master of ceremonies. Though I was James’s Form 1 tutor, I can take no credit for his irreverent sense of humour. That honour belongs to another English teacher and his immortal spoonerism.
Father Timothy Lowes remarked that we all needed some religion after that and opened the evening with Grace – and a forgiving twinkle in his eye.
Mr Eddie Penzhorn was asked to toast absent friends. In his toast he reminded us of the history of our tradition of remembering the living as well as those who have died: we remember the living lest we forget the dead. A thought was spared for the thirty-two Old Boys and members of the Association who have passed on since our last annual gathering.
Mr Karabo Matang was invited to toast South Africa. He said that Pretoria Boys High School epitomized the best of South Africa. He linked the beauty of the country to the beauty of the school; the two Nobel prize winners from Vilakazi Street to the two from the school; the diversity of the country to the diversity of the school. The school is certainly a microcosm of the society which South Africa aspires to be.
The school’s head prefect, Kyle Brown, did the school proud. He spoke about the magic that oozed from the bricks in the school and assured us of the schoolboys’ perspective that the water from the tap near Brooks has never tasted sweeter. At times one could hear a pin drop as magic spread from his very speech. He spoke with such authority and eloquence that he received a standing ovation.
Mr Jason Webber addressed us as the newly-appointed Chairman of the Old Boys Association. He spoke of his first six days in office: the unisex Old Boys’ Association pin to recognize the teaching and auxiliary staff who qualify as honorary life members of the Association, the rezoning of Hofmeyr Park, the renewed energy of the directors and their primary objective to support the school.
Our guest speaker, Mr Patrick Conroy, spoke about the scourge of fake news and his experiences on Mount Everest. He spoke about the way Eddie Dorey shaped his life and his memorable quote: “Little things stop us doing big things.” He autographed his book and kindly donated the proceeds of his book sales that evening to the School.
Finally, our headmaster, Mr Tony Reeler, shared his vision for the school. Having addressed the need for sound financial practice and cost-saving initiatives, he intends to focus on catering for the needs of the common man for whom the current school fees are becoming increasingly out of reach. He spoke about the need for inspiration and quoted Nelson Mandela’s advice to Andre Agassi: “We must be careful in our decisions, careful in our words, and we must be careful in our relationships. Andre, we must live our life carefully.” To this Mr Reeler added that as a school we need to heed that advice and be careful about what we say and do. He reminded Old Boys of the role they can continue to play in the noble and pure intentions of the school.
There was a gentility about the evening which left me inspired by the following thought: Since Pretoria Boys High School is the best school in the world, can it not also be the most important and the noblest?
– Lincoln Keeton (1996)
