PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

SUMMER SPORTS DAY 2018

Dear Old Boy

Summer Sports’ Day 2018 will take place on Saturday 20 January at Pretoria Boys’ High School.

The following activities will be on offer:

Basketball
Cricket
Cross Country
Squash
Tennis
Table Tennis
Water Polo
Chess

We look forward to see a great turnout of Old Boys supporting each other and the school!

In order to secure your place at Summer Sports’ Day 2018, we encourage you to please complete an entry form (attached) and return it to info@pbhsob.com as soon as possible or for more information, please contact the following persons:

SPORT	NAME	CONTACT
Water Polo	Luvuyo Rubushe	waterpolo@boyshigh.com
Squash	Craig Stephens	cstephens@boyshigh.com
Cross Country	Lincoln Keeton	LKeeton@boyshigh.com
Basketball	Caterina Christodoulou	Cchristodoulou@boyshigh.com
Tennis	Gerald Stoffberg	gerald.stoffberg.pbhs@gmail.com
Table Tennis	Chan Dowra	CDowra@boyshigh.com
Chess	Jeanne De Meillon	jdemeillon@boyshigh.com

A LOOK BACK…

CRICKET

OPENING OF THE NEW PAVILION AND TURF WICKET
1st November 1958

Speakers:
D. F. Abernethy, Esq – Headmaster
David Smith, Esq – Chairman of Parents’ Association
Erik Todd, Esq – Chairman of Governing Body
Dr. T. le Roux – Inspector of Education
Prayer: Dean F.A. Amoor

Cricket Teams:

Old Boys: M. Broughton M. Hofmeyr D. Johnston C. Ludwig (Captain) M. Milne D. Price R. Scott G. Shearer T. Spies C. Steynberg P. von Broembsen

School: J. Aylward S. Brown E. Chatterton P. Corbett R. Falkson A. Hector N. Holmes (Captain) K. Kellar K. Kinsella A. Murray R. Rusk

The opening of the enlarged school pavilion and newly-turfed cricket field was held on the first of November 1958, in conjunction with the Old Boys’ Day. The closely-cut green field with the new pavilion standing out against the overcast sky was indeed a pleasant sight. People started arriving at the field soon after ten o’clock and by eleven o’clock, when the cricket match between an Old Boys’ eleven and the school first eleven began, there was an air of expectancy amongst the crowd.

The school side batted first. Stan Brown and Keith Kinsella faced the Old Boys’ opening attack by Graham Shearer and Malcolm Milne admirably and before long, the first fifty run partnership on the field had been made. Kinsella was dismissed for 24 valuable runs and Peter Corbett went in to give Brown some valuable support.

At 12:30 pm the players left the field for the lunch interval. Play was resumed at 1:45 pm. Corbett was run out for 34 runs. Neville Holmes, the school captain, set out adding runs to the total rather rapidly. At this stage, Brown got caught for a well played 67 runs. This was the first individual 50 scored on the new field.

At 3:45 pm the players left the field for the opening ceremony and tea interval. The first speaker was Mr. Abernethy, who, after an interesting address, introduced Mr. David Smith, Chairman of the Parents’ Association. Mr Smith thanked everyone who responded so well in the appeal for funds for the modifications to the pavilion, and also said he hoped that the future generations of parents would complete the scheme of modifications to the pavilion. He said that the pavilion had improved dressing rooms, a first rate tuck shop, facilities for team luncheons and “not only will this pavilion serve as a background for cricket matches, but we hope it will also serve as the grandstand for athletic meetings, cadet parades and other outdoor functions.” Mr Eric Todd was the next speaker and he was there in triple capacity: as an Old Boy, as Honorary Architect to the Parents’ Association and as Chairman of the Governing Body of the School. It was he who officially opened the pavilion. When Mr Todd had completed his address, the Headmaster introduced Mr. Theo le Roux, and Old Boy and the present Inspector of Education. He spoke of some of his experiences at school and wished the school luck in the use of the new pavilion and cricket field.

The cricket match was resumed after a prayer by Dean Amoore. Alan Hector joined Holmes and the latter was bowled for a bright 22. Tony Murray swung his bat with some success and when he was caught at the wicket for 10 runs, Holmes declared the innings closed with 183 runs for 7 on the board. Hector made an undefeated 18.

A good batting start was made for Old Boys by Spies and Steynberg, but unfortunately for them, Spies was caught brilliantly by Corbett off Brown. At 33, Alan Hector took two wickets with consecutive balls and the school side was well on the way to victory. Murray Hofmeyr held up the Old Boys’ side for a time, and made a good 24 before going out. Old Boys offered little resistance from then on, and due to some outstanding catches by Corbett, and some good bowling by Hector, who finished with 5 wickets for 21 runs, they were all out for 136 – 47 short of the School’s total – and shortly before six o’ clock.

This exciting match was a blue-print, we hope, for the sort of cricket the new pitch will provide for many years to come.

The first of many memorable days at the new pavilion had come to a close.

Compiled by R. L. Bremner Form IVC
– The Pretorian 1958

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURF WICKET

On 1 November 1958, the first turf wicket at Boys High, now the Hofmeyr Oval was opened with a match between an Old Boys XI and the School’s 1st team. The expanded cricket pavilion (now the Paul Sommerville pavilion) was also opened by the then Headmaster, Desmond Abernethy. Exactly fifty years later, to the day, these events were commemorated during the fixture against King Edward VIII School.

HOFMEYR OVAL

On Saturday the 5th November 1977, a festival cricket match was held at P.B.H.S. cricket oval, between a Pretoria Boys High Old Boys invitation team and the Pretoria Boys High School first XI. It was held to mark the occasion of the retirement of Mr Will Hofmeyr at the end of last year. Mr Will Hofmeyr played in the School First XI in 1927 and 1928. Mr Hofmeyr started coaching cricket at the School in 1936 and in the 42 years since then many boys have benefited from his amazing gift of being able to coach, including all this boys who played in the Invitation Team that day. As a tribute to this fine gentleman, “A” cricket field was name the “Hofmeyr Oval” in his honour.

– The Pretorian 1978

BASKETBALL

Basketball 1988

In 1987 a group of boys got together to play basketball socially, creating an interest in the sport. I coached a side and entered a Boys High team in the Pretoria School League. In the “A” section of the League, Pretoria Boys High came first, but lost in the final.

This year we were glad to have Mr Denyssen as our Master-In-Charge of Basketball. He played basketball at school and university level and therefore has the necessary experience.

Early in 1988 a meeting was called for all interested boys; the response was overwhelming, with over a hundred boys turning up. Unfortunately, due to the lack of coaches and facilities, many interested and enthusiastic beginners had to be turned away. It was decided to field only three teams, comprising thirty boys.

I can only hope basketball will gain formal recognition at Pretoria Boys’ High School, to bring it on par with other sports at this school.

– Trevor Ford, Form IV F
– The Pretorian 1988

CROSS COUNTRY

START OF THE CROSS COUNTRY

CROSS COUNTRY

At the beginning of this year when I was still a new pot, and while I will still grovelling in the splendour of the school, I was told that there was to be a cross country of three and a quarter miles. At my old school we did a cross country of eight miles, so I was not impressed; that is until I saw the course! – V. Melleney, Form I E

The bigger boys took the lead while the smaller ones were in the rear. Running along University Road up to the west gate was fairly easy, but going up the hill wasn’t any fun especially to those who hadn’t trained, and that included me. – C. Alexander, Form II A

“Are you going to run?”
“No. What about you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I might, just for the fun of it.”
“Well, you don’t expect to take part and win it, do you?”
Many conversations similar to this took place at school a few weeks before the great event. – D.B. Margetson, Form IV D

At the sound of the starter’s gun the huge mass surged forward. The very earth shook to the thunder of running feet. I was sprinting madly for the gate, leaping crazily over barriers hitherto unnoticed. Suddenly I was at the gate, I was second through the gate. Everywhere cameras were clicking. I hardly noticed them. Then down the road, faster and faster and suddenly I was first, I was leading the whole school. Oh! The thrill, the exhilaration. Exhausted, I dropped back. – I Kinnear, Form IV C

And so the great race was over. All the weeks of training and preparation over in minutes yet enjoyed by all; and despite all the moans, groans, aches and pains, the same boys will doubtless run “just for the fun of it,” again next year. – D. B. Margetson, Form IV D

– The Pretorian 1958

SQUASH

WATER POLO

TENNIS

TABLE TENNIS

CHESS

PBHS Chess Club

Our Chess Club has been in existence for just over two years. A similar club had existed many years ago, but had become defunct when Mr Battiss left our school. The present club was founded by Mr. Jandrell with the assistance of the late Mr. Lubowski.

Our membership fluctuates between 30 and 40. We meet one night a week for two hours. Although the standard of play is not very high, it is improving slowly, and any lack of talent is balanced by a high degree of enthusiasm.

We have played matches against other schools viz. three against Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, one each against General Brinkskool and Bronkhorstspruit Hoërskool. Each time we were beaten convincingly. These matches offered valuable experience to our players, at the same time providing them with a pleasant opportunity of a contact of a less usual nature with the pupils of these Afrikaans-speaking schools.

It is regretted that, due to lack of time and manpower, we are unable to teach the game to those who have never played before, but many boys teach their friends the rudiments of the game, and then these youngsters come along and get their practice at the club meetings.

We firmly believe that the Chess Club fulfils a valuable function in the life of our school.

– W.J.S
– The Pretorian 1958