15 September 2017 & 16 September 2017
It is always with some trepidation that one approaches any reunion, let alone a 50-years on class reunion, partly because of age and partly because of the unknown. Concerns of that nature are immediately put to rest on driving through the gates of the School, up the tree-lined avenue to those magnificent buildings. Within minutes of getting out of the car, you are confronted by passing pupils wishing you good morning and asking if they can help. You realise, immediately, that you are in the midst of a quite extraordinary and most wonderful institution.
The format for the reunion is well-established and exceptionally well-managed by the School. We meet on the Solomon House lawn, followed by a glorious walk through the grounds, inspirational comments by the Headmaster, Old Boys reminiscing about their achievements and taking in the sheer scale and beauty of the grounds including the newly established gardens and water features.
And then, to tea in the Bill Schroder Centre, a new development of real quality, superb architectural merit and fitting in as though it had always been there. Lovely to speak to teachers and pupils and observe the buzz of school life.
Then on to Assembly – another extraordinary experience in listening and observing the wonderful sound of boys chatting and the discipline that enabled all that chat to end the second the Headmaster walked into the hall. The Assembly, apart from numbers, has changed little over the years included an interesting mix of music, news, addresses and prizes. The boys were reminded of how fortunate they are to be at such a quality institution benefitting from the talent, values and wisdom of their teachers. They were told of the need to be positive in an ever increasing negative portrayal by the media of the world we live in. Regrets of yesterday and fears of tomorrow are two thieves that rob us of the joys of today.
Moving on to the Sommerville Pavilion for lunch , another great place where many of us experienced the benefits of sport, team work, bonding and competitiveness. A wonderful lunch and some inspirational comments regarding the development and growth of one of South Africa’s most successful companies emphasising the need for team work, openness and tough love.
And then a gentle walk back through the grounds to the front of the School to listen to the Last Post, played every day at 5.30pm, a truly inspiring moment. Many thoughts came into one’s mind at that moment including how fortunate we all had been to have been educated at the School and how extraordinary it was to observe at 50 years on how the School continues to be a most remarkable institution which is an enormous credit to the Headmaster, the teachers and the pupils.
The black tie dinner on Saturday was a very memorable occasion. The various toasts to the School and South Africa mentioned world events 50 years ago – the Mandela treason trial, just a few kilometres down the road, with its remarkable outcome of life imprisonment, as opposed to the more probable death sentence; the assassination of John F Kennedy; Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech; the Johannesburg station bomb with one of our classmates reading at John Harris’ funeral – extraordinary times leading to the development of South Africa into a true multi-cultural society with all the benefits and challenges that that brings noting the very positive role played by the Constitutional Court. It was uplifting to listen to the Headmaster and appreciate how brilliantly the School has coped with these challenges and gone from strength to strength. A visit to the Old Boys Club for a farewell drink concluded a memorable weekend.
Finally, the School puts an enormous amount into our Reunions which undoubtedly makes the day the fantastic success that it is. For those of you who have Reunions coming up, make every effort to attend – it is a truly inspirational outing.
– Peter Rogan
Head Prefect 1967
