PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Dear Old Boy

Much has been said of the recent open letter which has been in circulation over the last few weeks with regards to sport at the school. Firstly, I would like to make it clear that this was a letter sent out by the sports office of the school, not by me which many have assumed. However, I publicly confirm that I am 100% in support of the letter and the contents. The response to the letter was rather overwhelming and I thought it apt to address it publicly to Old Boys.

Boys High sport in general is at the very best it has ever been, those are the facts. Cricket, Water Polo, Basketball and Hockey are ranked in the top 5 in the country so to those who continually say that Boys High sport is at the worst it has ever been you are unfortunately wrong. Yes 1st Team Rugby is struggling and struggling more than ever. The school understands this and is actively addressing the issue of this I can assure you.

To those Old Boys who are attempting to take matters into their own hands, I appeal to you to consider the proud traditions, values and ethos that you claim to love and support. While I applaud your enthusiasm and willingness, the Old Boys’ Association cannot support anything against school policy.

It is against the school policy to get into the business of buying players. As a well-known Old Boy put it: “We are not prepared to sell our soul for a win”. The Association fully supports this policy. We pride ourselves in producing the common man.

Of the 200 odd emails I received in response to the open letter, I felt the following by an Old Boy was one of the most hard hitting BUT to the point;
He says: “This is not a difficult problem, or one without a solution:
1. For those fathers or Old Boys who are trying to re-live their schooldays through their children, or those who simply want to brag about their son’s school rugby results at the local pub, move the boy to a “rugby” school and pray that they don’t buy a player to replace your son.
2. Those parents who want their son to have the right to the best all-round education in this country, and with the prospect of a bright and successful future, be very grateful if your son is even accepted at PBHS.”

Again to those Old Boys who think and say that by airing your laundry on social media you will get the reaction you have been waiting for, I again ask you to think before you act, your unconstructive criticism is not going to be heard or supported.

There is only one loser when social media erupts and that is the current boys of the school. Don’t be fooled in thinking they don’t read it and act upon it. We have failed dismally as Old Boys when we start hearing that boys don’t want to play in the 1st Rugby side because the Old Boys expect too much or the pressure is too great.

Our responsibility as Old Boys is simply to support, engage and encourage the school. Our responsibility ends there. It is not for us to dictate to the school how to run or govern the school. The school has in the Headmaster, Mr. Tony Reeler, the very best in Headmasters who are out there. I am privileged to spend a huge amount of time interacting with him, discussing the challenges of modern day society and its impact on our education system. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the right man for the job.

Beyond the headmaster is a dedicated team of teachers, admin and support staff. I am further privileged through my role as chairman, to engage with various members of the school governing body including Mr. Marius van Staden, Chairman of the Governing Body. Gentlemen, trust me when I tell you the school is in great hands; we need to support the system and trust the system.

Gentlemen, let us not be defined by the achievements of 15 boys on the rugby field.
The time has never been more right for us as Old Boys for us to stand together and support through the correct channels. I appeal to you to do just that.

“TIS HERE WE LEARNT TO LIVE”

Kind regards

Thomas Rundle
Chairman

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY

Position available: Director of Rugby at Pretoria Boys High School

Pretoria Boys High School has a proud rugby history and is currently inviting applications for the post of Director of Rugby. This is a fixed-term contract (negotiable) which has long-term possibilities.

The successful candidate would be required to be available four afternoons per week (Monday to Thursday) as well as on match days. The remuneration package is negotiable and would be dependent on qualification and experience.

Some of the duties and responsibilities include the following:

• To be directly responsible for the development and management of players and coaches at the school.
• To liaise with the Master in Charge of Rugby at all times and provide feedback on the development of squads to the Director of Sport.
• To improve the calibre of rugby players in the long-term, by enhancing skills.
• To manage and give direction to coaching staff by providing assistance with technical knowledge and skills.
• To arrange and attend coaching courses and seminars to enhance the skills of coaching staff.
• To ensure that coaches run disciplined practices.
• To attract top Primary School boys to the school who have good potential and/or a proven track record in rugby. This could entail attending festivals and tournaments, visiting Primary Schools and offering coaching clinics at the school for Primary School boys.
• To be involved in the physical development of players (diet/gym/aerobic) by working closely with the Strength & Conditioning Coach.
• To identify the specific sets of skills to be mastered at the various age-group levels – and to oversee the development of these skills.
• To be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of training plans and practice schedules for teams at all levels.
• To develop a comprehensive and functional knowledge of the sport and maintain a thorough and continuing familiarity with all applicable regulations.
• To develop players to play to their optimum levels.
• To develop individual player profiles so that each boy might be aware of his strengths and weaknesses and of the optimum path for his progression.
• To develop a profile of the strengths and weaknesses of opponents and to communicate this to our coaches.
• To develop players to play at provincial level and to liaise with the various provincial rugby unions.
• To manage the selection process.
• To attend all matches and tournaments (some overnight travel is required).
• To use relevant technology to record and analyse matches for the 1st XV and all other A teams.
• To give feedback to coaches after each match in a constructive and positive manner.
• To communicate with players throughout the year and ensure that the mood and perspectives of players is always being vetted and assessed.
• To retain a keen focus on the fact that sport is played for educational purposes and that playing rugby is just one facet of Boys High.
• The Director of Rugby will not be required to coach any specific team but may be used to enhance coaching at a particular level.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of three years of professional experience in coaching and managing a rugby programme.
• Level 2 Coaching Certification.
• Strong work ethic.
• Strong communication and motivational skills.
• Excellent people management skills.
• Willing to travel.
• Registered with Boksmart.

Applications close on 15 July 2016. Please send a brief CV of no more than two pages together with two references and a letter of motivation to the HR Administrator, Ms Connie Badenhorst, at: hr@boyshigh.com

For any queries, please do not hesitate to call Mr Purchase on (012) 460 2246.

Please note that should you not have received any feedback during the two weeks after application closure, you can consider yourself unsuccessful.

Please also note that the School reserves the right not to make an appointment if there are no suitable candidates.

THE BILL SCHRODER CENTRE

Pretoria Boys High has always prided itself on claiming to be the best school in the world. While our boys, past, present and future, will always be the defining mark of what sets us apart, one cannot deny that we also have world-class facilities to back our claim.

The second phase of the School’s construction project, a new Music Centre and Library, was completed during May this year. Although this double-storey building stands on the site of the previous library, it is hardly recognisable. The facility boasts a brand new library layout on the ground floor, with a modern computer centre, a Reference Section, and a Special Collection which consists of books written or donated by Old Boys and teachers of the School. The Library’s walls are decorated with beautiful pieces of artwork, and offers areas for research and studying, areas for relaxed reading, and a giant chess board outside which has been preserved. On the upper level is, in the words of our own Dr van der Watt, “a spectacular realisation of a collective dream”. The Music Centre is a specialised facility with a rehearsal room (which can accommodate the full orchestra), a music teaching room and thirteen dedicated instrument teaching rooms (with names like “Flute Cocktail” and “Cello Fellows”), all sound-proofed with specialised doors, carpets and acoustic ceiling panels. This new facility truly is a Centre of Excellence at the School, bringing together two of the key spheres in Boys High’s philosophy, academics and culture.

It is only fitting that this new beacon should bear the name of a man who has given so much to our beloved School, and who took it from strength to strength during his 20 year tenure as Headmaster, Mr Bill Schroder. His contributions are immeasurable and the Boys High community will always be grateful for his years of service. Mr Schroder will forever remain one of the greatest Headmasters the School has ever seen, a man loved and respected by all with whom he came into contact.

Mr and Mrs Schroder were honoured at the opening and official naming ceremony of The Bill Schroder Centre, which took place on 31 May 2016, along with members of their family, teachers of the School both past and present, friends of the School and Old Boys. Guests were seated outside the entrance of the Centre, under the beautiful “Onward and Upward” artwork, inspired by the history of aviation (and with a strong sense of influence by the Project Coordinator, Mr John Illsley, although he strongly denies it). Entertainment was provided by various ensembles of musicians and choristers looking down from the balconies and windowsills of the Music Centre. A blessing and prayer were provided by the Venerable Tim Lowes, words of thanks and appreciation by Mr John Illsley, and a tribute to Mr and Mrs Schroder by the Headmaster, Mr Tony Reeler.

In his reply, Mr Schroder spoke of his time at the School and humbly gave thanks to all those who had made it possible to achieve what he has. One part of his speech, however, stood out the most; he quoted an acknowledgement from the book “Tom Brown’s School Days” by Thomas Hughes, as a tribute to his wife, Mrs Schroder:

“To Mrs. Arnold, of Fox Howe, this book is (without her permission)
dedicated by the author, who owes more than he can ever
acknowledge or forget to her and hers.”

This quote is so significant because it recognises that although Mr Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School from 1828 to 1841, was an unprecedented influence on both the educational system of England at the time, as well as the foundation on which Boys High was created, he could not have achieved what he did without the support of his wife, Mrs Arnold. The author therefore found it fitting to dedicate the book not to Mr Arnold, but to his wife.

Anyone who attended or visited Boys High from 1990 to 2009 while Mr Schroder was Headmaster, and even those who did not, will know how much of a role Mrs Cherry Schroder played during that time, with her unconditional love of all of the boys, the grace with which she carried herself, and the unfailing support that she gave to Mr Schroder. With a similar sentiment to that of the book, the opening ceremony was dedicated not only to Mr Schroder, but to Mrs Schroder as well. This dedication was symbolised with Mr Schroder drawing back the curtain to reveal the silver letters and officially name The Bill Schroder Centre, and Mrs Schroder cutting the ribbon at the entrance of the Centre, allowing the doors to be officially opened to the Boys High community for the first time.

Guests were invited to walk around the Centre, and were treated to light snacks and sherry, as well as a number of musical items by the orchestra, the Dixie Band, and a multitude of other ensembles in the various instrument teaching rooms. A wonderful evening was had by all, with nothing but praise being given to the School and to Mr John Illsley who lead the project.

A quote lines the wall of the new Library, which epitomises The Bill Schroder Centre, what it stands for, and what it means to the School:

“Through literacy you can begin to see the universe.
Through music you can reach anybody.
Between the two there is you, unstoppable.”
– Grace Slick

Images & Text: Jason Webber

FOUNDER’S DAY ASSEMBLY 2016

On Friday, 4 June a number of Old Boys were welcomed at Pretoria Boys High School for the 2016 Founder’s Day Assembly.

The Headmaster requested Mr Lincoln Keeton (1996, SOL) who teaches English and is the Master in Charge of Cross Country at Pretoria Boys High School to address the school on the day.

We have included below, a copy of his inspirational speech for Old Boys who were not able to attend on the day.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

The other day Mr Reeler called me into his office, and I wondered what I had done wrong. It had been a while since my classes watched season one of My Name is Earl or since I gave them those exhilarating chess and cross country appreciation lessons.

It turned out that he wanted me to speak at this Founder’s Day assembly. I was as bemused as you are that he would ask me to speak. I’m not Mr Springbok captain or Mr CEO who creaked these floorboards in previous assemblies. I’m just an average Old Boy, also known as the common man.

When Mr Reeler arrived at Boys High, he frequently commented on how often the term ‘The common man’ came up in Boys High literature. Always the importance of the common man was highlighted. So this is the perspective which I intend to share with you.

When I was in Grade 7, which is now twenty-five years ago, I was being interviewed at King Edwards by one of their deputy headmasters. He kept peppering me with sports questions. When he asked, ‘What’s your top score in cricket?’ I shrugged and said, ‘Five.’ And I saw him raise an eyebrow. But I’m glad he didn’t follow that up with, ‘Five? Five what?’ Because if he did, I would have said five points. I did play cricket. First team, actually. But my whole class did. It was a small mining town. I didn’t bowl, batted at number ten and fielded at long stop.

Then I came to be interviewed at Boys High. It was a very different interview. Mr Schroder asked me about coin collecting and Boy Scouts camps and my favourite tv programmes. I don’t know if my mom ever heard back from King Edwards, but it didn’t matter to me. I wanted to go to Boys High because the headmaster was kind, and my mom liked the courtesy of the boys. Some say that we must do well at sport if we want to attract good sportsmen. That was not true in my case. And I ended up being a fairly decent cross country runner. And cross country runners, as you all know, are Boys High’s most treasured sportsmen.

A few years after school a friend and I met him at the Phobians time trial. He had just been appointed as the headmaster of Kearsney College. We asked him about it and he said that they had a slogan: ‘Kearsney College: A Great South African School’. He thought the slogan was ok. It said all the right things. But he wanted to chuck it out when he got there and replace it with: ‘Kearsney College: The Best School in the World’. My friend said, ‘But Boys High is the best school in the world!?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, because you believe it is.’ The thought that Boys High was the best school in the world only because we all believed it was (and therefore acted like it was) had never occured to me. He understood that and wanted to recreate that Boys High magic when he got there.

Sometimes I tell my classes that Boys High is the best school in the world and I can see that they’re not always convinced. And I know what they’re thinking. They’re thinking of sports results, particularly team sports results. Specifically first team team sports results. And it makes sense. The South African middle class thinks that way. Many parents and Old Boys think that way. Those sports are on tv all the time. We live in a celebrity culture. And there’s money to be made from it, and so forth. The problem is that people who think that way are not informed by any educational acumen.

As a language checker I often see the old comment that so and so needs to involve himself in a team sport so that he can benefit from the team etcetera etcetera. It’s good that we care about the C, D and E teams. It’s right that we acknowledge the common man. But what about those of us who prefer solitary pursuits? Where do we fit in?

Well, on the bookshelves at the back of my class are stacks of neglected novels. What the boys take the greatest interest in, though, is the pile of old Pretorians on top. Boys look at old win-loss percentages. Some compare the old athletics times, heights and distances. And others just look at the pictures. But if you look at the much older Pretorians you can see that they get thinner and thinner.

In my day we used to debate in our headmaster’s guidance class whether to bring basketball to Boys High. Now one can get colours for music and service and first team scarves for all sports, which never used to be the case. We never had a water polo pool or an Astroturf. The growth from then to now is easy to take for granted. To me, the explosion in variety is the real story, which too few people appreciate. Some of the Old Boys in particular overlook this.

Tomorrow night I’ll be at the annual Old Boys Dinner. I pity any speaker who needs to address the Old Boys. They’re a tough crowd. But they love the school. All ages come from all over the country. Some of them fly from overseas to be there. We dress up in tuxedos and there are Old Boys cufflinks and Old Boys bowties, the school’s Dixie Band plays in the background, and we try to be civilized.

Though really the conversation would go something like, ‘Hey, Josh. I hear you’re a vet now?’ And then he flexes his biceps and says, ‘Can you cure my sick puppies?’

‘Ya ya ya,’ says his friend, ‘check my guns! You can touch if you want. Safety’s on!’

At the end of the dinner they all head out to the Old Boys Club for the after party. Wildest party in town. Imagine going to a party at a club which you own. We’re the only school in the country whose Old Boys Association still owns an actual Old Boys Club. Almost an entire city block.

Last year, after the dinner, a friend, who is an Old Boy, phoned me. My wife prefers me to say it like that. She thinks it’s funny when I call them Old Boy friends. Anyway, this friend, who is an Old Boy, told me that he was tired of hearing at dinners how good Boys High is at tiddly winks … meaning how good we are at a little bit of everything, but not always the main teams. I didn’t say anything at the time, but I thought afterwards that that is such an un-Boys High thing to say.

What I should have told him was that he’s right. He’s right if we were trying only to be the best school in South Africa. Then, yes. Everything in comparison is tiddly winks. But what if we’re trying to be the best school in the world?

Consider for a moment that the national sport of Brazil is capoeira, that the national sport of Russia is chess, Sumo wrestling in Japan, athletics in Kenya, volleyball in Sri Lanka, and so forth. Whereas South Africa may be good at rugby and cricket, the world values music and art and acting and tennis and golf and so much more. In other words, the world offers a little place in the sun for everyone, even those of us who prefer solitary pursuits. The world accommodates all the interests of the common man.

In my opinion, if we are to be the best school in the world, then we need to remain a little less parochial in our thinking. We need to look at the bigger picture. One day your son might come to Boys High and there will still be a cool hall and music centre and an Old Boys Club and a main rugby field that does not have a cricket pitch in the middle of it (and even Gamtoos), whereas many other schools’ investments at that stage might be in the form of erstwhile sportsmen soon to be fat and fifty.

At the dinner tomorrow we’ll be singing ‘Forty Years On’. It’s one of those traditions. There’s a line in there that says, ‘What will it help you that once you were strong?’ … ‘What will it help you that once you were strong?’

So, this weekend we’re celebrating the school’s birthday. That’s the point of this assembly. The school is 115 years old. Think about the qualities that someone who is 115 years old should possess … courtesy … class … patience … perspective. With that in mind, what do you think would be a suitable birthday gift? I would suggest that gratitude and pride are the best gift you can give the school for its birthday. And that’s so easy. All you need to do is appreciate that you are in the best school in the world and then act like it.

Images: PBHSOB & Text: Lincoln Keeton

97TH ANNUAL OLD BOYS DINNER

The 97th Old Boys Dinner was held on 4 June in the reconstructed Abernethy Hall. Though it is referred to as the ‘new’ hall, it remains steeped in history. Its name, the old foundation stones, the school badge above the stage, the house banners and the honours boards acknowledging all its benefactors still offer little nods to tradition.

The venue gave Old Boys an opportunity to saunter up to The Bill Schroder Centre which caters for every kind of medium. In that sense it is a true media centre. But it is more than that. For those who prefer music and computer science and books and study and gaming, it is a home.

The venue gave Old Boys an opportunity to saunter up to The Bill Schroder Centre which caters for every kind of medium. In that sense it is a true media centre. But it is more than that. For those who prefer music and computer science and books and study and gaming, it is a home.

Coming back to the hall it may have been noticeable how the hall was made for theatre rather than dining. (For it revealed our friends to us in all their prosperity.) And theatre there was. Greg du Toit (1995), an award-winning wildlife photographer and Old Boy, put together a world-class presentation. At times the awe of his beholders was audible.

On sale at the back of the hall were autographed copies of his book along with all the Old Boys memorabilia. The demand for the Old Boys identity is truly uplifting. Eventually I found myself among these like-minded friends in the memorabilia, liquor and dessert table tug-of-war, and still the memorabilia was not abandoned.

The speeches between each course were shepherded along by Eugene Ashton who ensured that the last speaker, Tony Reeler, spoke at around eleven rather than the small hours of his predecessor. I felt that the loudest and most articulate voice of all after every speech and every introduction was the applause.

The meticulous attention to detail – from the name badges to the full-colour menus – was an attestation of pride and care. Those who spoke received individual letters of thanks and signed the menus which are to be preserved in our archives. And those who spent their evening in this outpost of civilization were rewarded with these old-world courtesies and a break from ‘social’ media.

The after party at the Old Boys Club is beyond the scope of my report so I’ll leave that to your imagination.

Images: PBHSOB & Text: Lincoln Keeton

The audio of the 97th Annual Old Boys Dinner can be found on either the PBHSOB Association Website or on the PBHSOB Association YouTube Channel.

Click below to view the images displayed by Greg Du Toit whilst listening to the audio of his address at the 2016 Old Boys Dinner.

Click here to watch a follow-up documentary on Greg’s website.

Click for more photos on the PBHSOB Association Facebook Page.

REGALIA

The Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys’ Association is offering great savings on popular Regalia items. These are now available on our online shop or via the Association office: info@pbhsob.com

Please note Regalia is only available to PBHSOB Association Life Members.
Limited sizes available.

PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Congratulations to the following boys on being selected for Northerns Hockey:

U18A: Z. Taljard, J. Brown, M. Glover, F. Van Maltitz, M. Chong, M. Lamprecht & D. Ferreira.
U18B: M. Sinclair, D. Lamprecht & J. Morris
U16A: Christopher Gous, Francois Mellet, Dylan Greef & Grant Finlayson.
U16B: Kganya Molete, Kuble Sithole, Sihle Sithole, Halloran Stratford, Hanu Viljoen & David Kunte.
U14A: Thomas Minnie, Nathan Meyer, Reilly Newberry, Luke Andrew, Devin Allen & Benjamin Anthony.
U14B: Brandon Fourie
Non-travelling reserve: Ignatius Jordaan

There will be a National Games hosted by the department of Sports and Recreation in Durban for all sporting codes.

Northern’s, Southern’s and Easterns have combined and selected the best U14 Hockey players to form a Gauteng Team to participate at the Games.

OLD BOYS IN THE NEWS

LETTERS

Dear Editor

The news has finally come through that Graham has qualified for the Paralympic games 2016. The games will be held In Rio Brazil from the 7 September 2016 to the 18 September 2016. As you can imagine he is extremely excited and nervous about it all, but feels so blessed to have the opportunity to represent South Africa.

As you know he recently got back from The Word Championships in Germany, he had mixed feelings about his races whilst over there. He was happy with his performance in the semi-final where he came in second behind Great Britain, however the final did not go as well as he had hoped, he managed to come in seventh, which thankfully was enough for him to qualify.

In his words:

“The conditions in Germany were not the best as it was cold and windy but it was the same for all the paddlers, however I felt confident going into my races and knew that all that I could do was my best. I was so relieved when I received the news that I would be going to the Paralympics, it is such an incredible opportunity to represent my country at this level. Im not 100% sure that it has all actually sunk in but no matter what I promise to go out there and give it everything that I have. All that I can hope for is to go to Rio and make my country proud.”

He has 3 months left of strenuous training before the games, he will be moving temporary to Pretoria so that he can train with a coach who is based at Roodeplaat Dam. He is incredibly lucky to have the company that he works for (BMG)’s full support, they have agreed to let him work half days out of a Pretoria branch for the next 3 months so that he can have more time to train.

Kind regards
Nicky Morgan

Good afternoon to the members of staff at Pretoria Boys High and to Mr.Hassenkamp,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every staff member through my high school career who instilled in me a sense of drive and determination to achieve the best I that I can and to those who warped my thinking to challenge every opportunity while standing for what I believe in. Pretoria Boys High instilled a brotherhood within me that cannot be forgotten.

With great gratitude I would like to thank you, Mr Hassenkamp, for reaching out to me even though I was just a name on a piece of paper. Thank you for believing in me and helping me follow my dreams to become an architect. Without your wise words of wisdom between geography classes and your interest in my schooling and private activities I would not be where I am today. Thank you for the opportunity to prove myself and to grow as an individual. You gave me the determination to strive for the best knowing that I had the support of you as well as Pretoria Boys High. Once again, I would like to thank you for the Kirkness Bursary that was offered to me. This would not have been achieved without the help and guidance you offered.

To Boys High, I have travelled the world and still to this day, I have never been part of an institution which instils a sense of belonging to all boys regardless of ones background. I live life through the pillars that hold the school sturdy to this day.

Tis here we learn to live.

Kind regards
Calvin Janse Van Vuuren (2012)

Send us your letters and news: info@pbhsob.com

HERMANUS GATHERING

A first meeting of Old Boys in the Western Cape Overstrand area will be held in Hermanus on Thursday 22nd September 2016.

Venue will be at the Burgundy Restaurant at 17h30 for 18h00, with a ‘Cash Bar’ and light snacks available for R60.00, payable at the door.

For catering purposes, please contact or sms Ed Meyer : Cell 082 880 7604 / edsalmeyer@telkomsa.net

Greg Hassenkamp, PBHS Old Boy and former Deputy Head of Boy’s High will speak to us of his experiences and his new role as Headmaster of Hermanus High School.

MEMOIRS OF A NIGHTLY SWIMMER

To all the boarders a nightly swim is a common prank and usually uneventful, however there are times when a ‘torch-bearer’ appears on the scene.

One night, while the play “Escapade”, was being staged in the School Hall, five of us decided to cool off after a strenuous period of ‘swotting’. Unlucky we chose to take our dip during the interval of the play. In view of a crowd of spectators watching us from the embankment above the bath, we made no attempt in keeping our presence unknown while we cooled off. Our swim was short but sweet.

No sooner had we started drying ourselves when an unexpected torch beam, coming from the direction of the change rooms, swept across us. Forgetting about our nudity we picked up our clothes and made straight for Jacaranda Avenue and the cricket fields. Fortunately three of us stuck together. After hastily getting dressed we returned to the House where we met the fourth member of our expedition. The fifth, Falkson, wasn’t to be found.

Ten minutes later we were in the lobby talking to Mr. Du Toit about nightly swimmers. We were all grouped around Mr Du Toit who was out of view from the back entrance to the lobby. Our discussion was broken into when Falkson, clad in a towel, and with a pair of underpants dangling from his left hand, strolled into the lobby from the back entrance. On seeing us he promptly asked, “Who swiped my clothes?” On seeing Mr du Toit, he uttered a prompt. “Good evening Sir,” and turning to us asked, “Who took my clothes while I was swimming?”

Falkson later on in the evening recovered his clothes which had been deposited on the change room roof by the torch-bearer.

– M.T. Brett , Form V
Taken from The Pretorian 1958

IN MEMORIAM

ARTHUR HARRIS BOUWER CHANDLER (CHICK) (1938)

It is with great sadness that I inform you that a Pretoria Old Boy Arthur Harris Bouwer Chandler – fondly known as Chick passed away on the 1 June 2016.

Born 15/11/1920. He matriculated from Pretoria Boys in 1938. He was head of Solomon House, played first team rugby and was captain of the shooting team in 1938 when they won the Dewar Shield in 1938.

Kind regards
Claudia Chandler

GEOFFREY MICHAEL WOODMAN (1962)