PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
I started my school career at Pretoria Boys High School in 2001 as a lonely Form 1 boy, as I was the only student to go to Boys High from my primary school. I will never forget that first day sitting on the grass in front of the school, looking out at all those strange faces and wondering what I had gotten myself into. Little did I know that those faces where to bring me some of my best memories and great friendships in the years to come.
I was a slow developer at school, in the beginning I did not play in any A Teams as far as sports went and as far as school work went, I just managed to scrape through with my grades. However in true Pretoria Boys High School spirit I started to find my place in the school as it started to shape me into the man that I am today and I finished at Boys High playing both 1st Team Rugby and 1st Team Water Polo, as well as passing matric with university exemption.
“G Paull was a physical, determined player. Always ready for a challenge.
1st Water Polo Player Profiles – The Pretorian 2005″
Though none of this would have been possible if it were not for the great teachers that were such a huge influence on me during my years at Pretoria Boys High School. With the likes of Mr Hassenkamp, Mr Simmons and lastly but not least the headmaster at the time Mr Schroder whom I believe is the best headmaster that any pupil could ask for, to just mention a few. If it were not for them I don’t think I would have become the person I am today as they helped mould me and taught me about the person that I could become. They believed that I would be able to achieve to the best of my potential and taught me that I should make use of all that Boys High could offer me.
I will never forget the train trips to Natal and the Free State, water polo tours to the Cape, school farm trips and getting up to mischief with the boys on the trips, I have such fond memories of these times.
Graham Paull (hooker)
Like all hookers Graeme is a tough, volatile, gutsy and robust young man. His throw in at lineouts improved dramatically throughout the season and he was a tireless and physical player at rucks and mauls. He overcame an injury and his passion and love for his team and the game, saw him back in the Candies in no time!
– First XV Rugby Player Profiles, The Pretorian 2005.
One of my greatest memories at Boys High though was beating Affies in the 100th game between the two schools. Who would ever forget that glorious day and being a part of the 1st team that day, made it even more memorable.
After I matriculated from Boys High in 2005 I went down to the Sharks Academy in Durban, (one of the many opportunities that the school gave me) and I managed to make the under 19 and 21 squads but, I unfortunately never had the opportunity to play a game. I then studied aquaculture through the University of Stellenbosch and used this knowledge to start my own trout grow out farm in Limpopo. However, I did not give up on my rugby dreams and I carried on playing club rugby until I managed to get selected for the Limpopo Vodacom Cup side for the 2013 season. It was just after my selection was announced that I contracted a virus in my spinal cord called Transverse Myelitis which left me paralysed from the waist down.
Boys High taught me that no matter what gets thrown at you there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, so I decided that I was going to make the best of situation that I had been given and since I have always been a sportsman I knew that I
had to find a new sport that I could do.
This is when I discovered canoeing and it has been such a great sport for me.
It gives me the opportunity to constantly better myself; it challenges me and keeps me focused.
I was fortunate enough to win the Gauteng Para-Canoe and the SA Para-Canoe Sprint Champs in my category, which qualified me to represent South Africa at the World Cup in Germany in May this year.
I recently participated in the World Championships in Milan, Italy this past August, which was an Olympic qualifying event. I managed to place 5th overall which is a great achievement. I now have to do one more international race, which is
African champs next year March and if I do well there, I will secure my place in the 2016 Olympic Games
At the end of the day anything is possible with a bit of hard work and determination.
– Graham Paull (2005 – MAT)
READ MORE ABOUT GRAHAM
Paull leads SA Sprint team charge on day one
Milan – With the para-paddlers taking centre stage on the first day of competition at the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Gauteng para-paddling star Graham Paull set a positive tone as he powered..
Rugby player turned canoeist wins gold
When he was younger, Graham Paull (27) would never have thought he would be winning gold medals in canoeing.
CLASS OF 1965 – 50 YEAR ON REUNION
The 50 year reunion of the Class of 65 took place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September 2015.
It was a time of laughter, emotion, joy and pride.
Class members and their partners gathered on the lawn outside Solomon House. Name tags were useful, but long standing friendships took up quickly as if there had been no break since last meeting!
Mr Reeler welcomed the group and brought the group up to date with current developments at the School. The weather was good and the walk through the grounds led by Mr Reeler was enjoyed by all.
Many were introduced to the new hall for the first time. It is truly magnificent! We were also shown the start of the next phase of the development currently under construction.
The visit to the remarkable Museum was a highlight with Mr Keith Gibbs providing information.
Tea in the Memorial Quad gave us time to pause before assembly. As always the assembly was very moving. An address from Mr Reeler which included showing a clip on the Tank Man in China after Tiananmen Square in 1989. An address by Gordon Hay and Psalm 86 read by Marius le Roux. The Dixie Band were excellent and then 40 (50) years on ringing through the hall.
A long lunch as we reminisced with Keith Gibbs reflecting on days past and Eric Esterhuysen entertaining us. Trevor Quirk our inimitable MC.
Sherry as the sun began to dip and the Last Post sounded from the Bell Tower.
The dinner on Saturday night was a loud and enjoyable one. Trevor kept the proceedings rolling.
Mike Yates provided information on class members tracked down but unable to attend before saying Grace as the meal began.
Azar Jammine Proposed a toast to South Africa and Rob Fitzpatrick (in from Australia) the toast to absent friends.
Then Rob Schroder and Dieter Vogel (of Dieter and the Raves – big in 1965) entertained us. The wholegroup joined in with the “Young Ones” and the “House of the Rising Sun”.
Gordon Hay proposed the toast to the School and Mr Reeler replied. The School is in good hands.
What does one say? An amazing reunion with new memories made.
Click here to view the photos on our Facebook page, or visit www.pbhsclassof65.com
Gordon Hay – Head Prefect 1965
REGALIA
Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys Association Life Members will be pleased to hear that we now have the ever popular Old Boys Bowtie in stock. They are R175.00 each (excl postage & packaging) and are only available to Life Members of the PBHSOB Association. Click here to purchase one from our Online Regalia Shop!
9TH ANNUAL EASTERN CAPE BRANCH DINNER
Held at the Kelway Hotel, Port Elizabeth on 18 September 2015
It is always a pleasure hosting our Headmaster, once a year at our Annual Dinner. This year was no exception. Mr Reeler delighted the audience with a PowerPoint presentation of the building operation constructing the new hall and it’s official opening. Some of our Old Boys recall the demolition of the old school hall and the Matric Class of 1963 writing their final examinations at Pretoria University.
L-R. Standing: Ken Schmulow, Geoff Meyer, Mark Muttitt. Seated: Vaughan Abernethy, Tony Reeler
Mr Reeler also shared with us his thoughts and experiences at the International Headmasters’ Conference held in Finland earlier this year.
The fine achievements of our School in Mathematics is to be applauded and no doubt due to the excellent Mathematics Department staff. Old Boys were delighted with the news of the appointment of a Director of Rugby and believe that there is already an improvement in the way we play. Guests felt relaxed in the knowledge that our School was in safe hands and doing well all round.
The loyalty and spirit of Old Boys never fails to amaze us especially considering the distances they travel to attend our Dinners. Peter and Dee Hollely travelled from Knysna, John and Margie Hollely from Plettenberg Bay, as did Craig Williams. Ruan Scheepers, a final year photo – journalism student from Rhodes travelled from Grahamstown. Glen and Anne McCreath travelled from Bathurst and Derek Green all the way from East London.
We specially welcomed Ken and Colleen Schmulow who have settled in PE after a lifetime in Pretoria. Ken and Colleen were regular attendees of our Dinner over the years.
PBHSOB Association Director Geoff Meyer presenting Eastern Cape Branch Hon. Secretary Vaughan Abernethy with an Honorary Life Vice – President Certificate
The highlight of the evening was when Mr Reeler, halfway through the evening, handed the podium over to Association Director, Geoff Meyer, who then proceeded in conferring a local Old Boy, Vaughan Abernethy, an Honorary Life Vice – President of the PHSOB Association.
We were delighted that Vaughan has been recognised for his work in promoting our local branch over the past 9 years.
L-R: Ken Schmulow proposing a toast to the School, Chairman Mark Muttitt presenting his closing speech
Mr Reeler concluded his address by reminding us that despite its many problems, South Africa is still a great country and that we should all adopt a positive attitude towards our nation.
Guests adjourned to the Pub and enjoyed a night cap overlooking what must be the best view of PE and Algoa Bay.
Once again Mr Reeler and his golf partner, Craig Williams (North) enjoyed victory over the South, Anthony Marks and the writer. We have already started practising for next years North vs South clash.
Mark Muttitt – Chairman, Eastern Cape PBHSOB Association Branch
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
The Music Department held a Charity Concert at the Brooklyn Methodist Church on Sunday 13th September 2015 in aid of their Crisis Centre.
Pretoria Boys High School is extremely proud of Matric pupil Neil Fair, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.
Neil competed in fourteen swimming events and won six medals, including five bronze and one gold. Neil was one of the joint highest medal earners for Team South Africa and the relatively small swimming team of four boys and four girls won 23 medals in total.
Images & Text: PBHS
SCHOOL BUILDING UPDATE
Building Update; 4 – 14 September 2015
The pillars are all cast and the shuttering for the casting of the main first floor slab is being installed at present
Building Update; 21 September 2015
Installation of rebar and shuttering in preparation for the casting of the upper storey floor is well underway.
Casting of the upper floor and the two skywalks should take place next week.
OLD BOYS IN THE NEWS
Kruger Begins his Journey to USA Eagles
Niku Kruger (2009 -Ed), the sensational Kutztown University scrum-half that scored the game winning try against Life University, which in turn, catapulted the Golden Bears into the CRC championship.
Lock, Nunez Selected for Oracle/ITA Masters
Tallahassee, Fla. – Seniors Benjamin Lock (2011 – Ed) and Marco Nunez have been selected for the 2015 Oracle/ITA Masters doubles draw in Malibu, Calif., the ITA announced last week.
Eugene Ashton Appointed CEO of Jonathan Ball Publishers as Jonathan Ball Retires
Jonathan Ball Publishers has announced the appointment of a new CEO, Eugene Ashton (1996 – Ed), following the retirement of founder Jonathan Ball.
South Africa Name squads for India tour
Congratulations to Old Boys Chris Morris (2006) and Simon Harmer (2006) for being on the team. We wish them and the rest of the squad all of the best during the tour.
RENOWNED OLD BOY ARTISTS
Perhaps this is an Old Boy record. Two renowned Mandela Bay artists have contributed to the upgrade and beauty of our City, and both happen to be Old Boys. They are Duncan Stewart and the late Phil Kolbe.
Duncan Stewart and his 16m Sculpture as published in the Weekend Post of 9 October 2010
In October 2010, Duncan created a 16m sculpture made of stainless tubing to recreate the sound and image of flowing water, as part of the Donkin Reserve upgrade. Duncan also had his wonderful paintings and sculpture depicting soccer at the time of the World Cup, exhibited in Port Elizabeth and displayed in Parliament, Cape Town. He subsequently donated the stainless steel ref’s whistle to the School and it is now positioned at the bottom of Polly Shorts in the grounds of the School. No doubt that this is a reminder to our sportsmen, to play by the rules, not to argue with the ref and play to the whistle and be good sportsmen after a win and then especially after a loss.
We are very proud and privileged that Duncan also chose to live in the City, and look forward to his continued art in the City and elsewhere in the RSA.
Phil’s Prester John Memorial.
Phils’s “Windswept Figure” now at the Boardwalk
positioned on a rock with her back to the Casino.
Adjacent to the City Hall in PE you will find the Prestor John Memorial dedicated to the mythical Christian Patriach and King, and to the Portuguese explorers, who were the first Europeans to land in South Africa. The monument was sculptured by Phil Kolbe and unveiled in 1986. The Port Elizabeth Technikon, now NMMU has many murals in its Auditorium and Hall and elsewhere in Port Elizabeth created by Phil Kolbe. He worked and lived in the City for 37 years and left a wonderful legacy.
Click here to read more about Port Elizabeth’s Prester John
Click here to read more about the history of Prester John
PBHSOB ON LINKEDIN
The official PBHSOB Association LinkedIn group is now open to Life Members of the PBHSOB Association. Join today and connect with other Old Boys!
The aim of the Pretoria Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association Group is to provide a platform where Life Members of the Pretoria Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association can connect with other Life Members in a formal business environment.
Click here to join the group >>
THE RESIDENT BARBER
Rob Fitzpatrick (left) points to his photo on display at the 50 Years on Reunion earlier in September. The photo (below) was taken from The Pretorian 1965 – Rob was known as the resident barber at school and all the boys went to have their hair cut by him!
WHAT I SHALL REMEMBER
When I have finished school and I look back on my schooldays at Boys High, certain aspects of the school will immediately present themselves. One of these is the unique attitude of masters towards boys and the mutual friendliness between teacher and taught. This is one of the most distinctive qualities of Boys High. No master is ever unwilling or reluctant to listen to a boy’s particular problem or query. The pupils do not tremble in trepidation at the approach of a master.
The numerous extra-mural activities – sport, newspaper or magazine committee, chess or any of the other clubs – help to establish a warm atmosphere in the school. A master is not a rigid, unapproachable deity, but rather a friend, qualified and prepared to help you. Mr Spies, Mr Fair, Mr Ashton, Mr Dorey and so on, are very rarely heard at Boys’ High. Much more familiar are Burridge, Bob, Terry and Eddie.
Another thing that strikes me when I think of Boys High is the morning assembly. It is indeed an impressive ceremony. It is not just a formality, but an enjoyable start to the day and nearly all take part in it with gusto. The
singing has deteriorated but assembly still remains a thing to remember.
I also remember that somewhat insane but traditional event – the Cross-Country. I have never trained for it, but I have, I suppose, gained a warped enjoyment from it. I never reached any peaks, but just plodded steadily along, hoping that, at least, I would be able to say that I had finished the course. The green and infinitesmal “orange” at the end was no reward compared with the knowledge of having finished, despite the lack of training.
My Boys High memories are lasting, but perhaps my membership of the newspaper and magazine committees are the most enjoyable. For two years I was on the magazine committee and I can imagine few more pleasant relaxations than sitting in a lovely garden and eating delicious cake while vainly attempting to get some work done. Being general editor of the newspaper is much more exhausting, but great fun nevertheless.
– P. Burger, Form 5A. The Pretorian, 1965
THE CYCLE PEN
The cycle pen is not just a place where bicycles and mopeds are kept – it is the meeting place.
– R. McLea, Form 5D
It is the most dangerous area of the school grounds.
– C. Christodoulou, Form 5D
It is the place where one hears all the news about school.
– P. Jordaan, Form 5D.
It is a thankless task and is frequently abused, but still it faithfully watches.
– D. van der Spuy, Form 5D.
It is the cog of the wheel which sends six-hundred boys in different directions at 1.35 p.m.
– G. Hay 5A.
The Pretorian, 1965
IN MEMORIAM
EDMOND JOHN AINGE (1951)
School Prefect, took part in Cadets and 1st XV Rugby, passed away in Australia while on a visit to family.
GEORGE HARROP-ALLIN (1960)
VINCENT ANTHONY MOORE (1971)
It was with profound sadness that the Phobian community received news that a much loved and highly regarded Old Boy, Vincent Anthony Moore, had suddenly passed away.
Vince, as he was fondly known, started the PBHS journey in 1967 and finished Matric as a 1st team hockey player serving as a Prefect on the Executive Committee to boot, thus making him a true ambassador of Sunnyside House! Being a typical Boys High Boy though, Vince did have a taste for adventure and a voracious appetite for fun, leading to one particular anecdote that played out in 1970 and yet will have many that knew him smiling wryly.
It was towards the end of the year and the class of ’70 had already left school. Vince, Pete Brauer, Steve Blair and a few other ‘responsible’ scholars were given keys to the sacred Prefects Room which would serve as the Ops Room for their tenure as Prefects.
During their first meeting, the focus of the agenda switched to alcohol where after it was unanimously decided that some wine was to be brewed. It was minuted that consumption would take place during the reading of the minutes of this first meeting, at the second meeting, which would be held at the same venue in exactly one week’s time. Equipped with a 5l bottle and bung & tube kit courtesy of Willy Brooks’ Lab (The legendary science teacher and deputy headmaster after whom the Brooks Field is named) the ambitious brewers began at once with their pineapple, yeast and brown sugar potion.
As is the case with most pioneering gangs, there is always one member vulnerable to the spoils of a good crime and who leaks the story and once word got out it didn’t take the boarders long to polish the entire pineapple wine batch off without it so much as touching the lips of a very keen Vincent Moore. Suffice to say this is a very plausible explanation pertaining to his love of fine wine (particularly after school) and his insistence that no poor soul is left out of any celebratory occasion – a rule that he religiously stuck to throughout his illustrious and adventure-filled life!
DAVID EWALD STARKER (1954)
RITCHIE CHARLES LAMB (1960)
Recent years have seen the School reluctantly lose some outstanding Old Boys. One of these is Richie Lamb who matriculated in 1960.
He passed away in Ramsgate in early September, having retired there about five years ago. He had been in hospital for about a week before his death.
A thoroughly nice guy, he was well-liked by all who came into contact with him, staff and boys alike. Richie was Head Prefect of Solomon House, and described by his former contemporaries as a rather clever fellow, keen at games, quiet and assuming but always bright and cheerful. His deputy was Bernard Alison.
Said Brian Taverner: “I knew Richie for most of my life. He and I were in Grade 1 together, went on to Boy’s High and indeed Solomon House, and matriculated the same year. Very tall and relatively quiet, he was highly respected and a true leader. He compared well with some of his pre-eminent peers such as Gordon Ehrens, Grenville Camps and Rupert Hector. I think he played both seconds cricket and rugby, but he was generally a good all-rounder”.
ARNOLD PIERRE BOVET (1954)
Pierre Bovet was an old boy from the class of, I think, 1954 and was, I believe, in Solomon House. He had been living in retirement on the Garden Route in Wilderness for several years. Sadly I have to report that Pierre passed away after a
serious accident and being in a coma in the Mediclinic, George for several weeks.
– Nicolas Kriek
UPCOMING OLD BOY EVENTS
- 23 & 24 October 2015
CLASS OF 1975 – 40 YEAR ON REUNION - 7 November 2015
CLASS OF 1995 – 20 YEAR ON REUNION - 21 November 2015
CLASS OF 2005 – 10 YEAR ON REUNION - 16 January 2016
SUMMER SPORTS DAY
OLD BOY REQUESTS
The PBHSOB Association Office often gets various requests from Old Boys, hence the inception of “Old Boys Requests” – a page on the Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys Association website dedicated for this purpose. Click here to visit the page.
If you would like to submit a request simply complete an application form and send it to info@pbhsob.com. Once vetted, it will be
placed on the page for a period of one month – allowing fellow Old Boys to reach out, contact you directly and assist you if need be.
Kindly note, this service is only available for PBHSOB Association Life Members.
If you have any interesting news items and photos or just want to let your fellow Old Boys know what you have been up to after school, please send all information to info@pbhsob.com