PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
AN ENDURING MYSTERY
The School Badge
The symbolism associated with the four quadrants of the Boys High Badge or shield is easily understood. The first quarter represents learning; the second (top right) represents the wealth of the Transvaal, then based on gold mining; the third (bottom left) symbolises growth (and possibly the agriculture of the Transvaal); and the last represents the Transvaal. The Latin motto ‘Virtute et Labore’ was first used by the Boys High School and dates back to at least 1903, appearing in book certificates of that year. It was probably chosen by the then Headmaster, Harold Atkinson. It can be variously translated as meaning the virtues of labour or toiling combined with manliness, the capacity for work, sustained effort of the sum of the excellence of man.
The background colours of the four quadrants were used as the colours of the first four houses when these were given permanent names. Hence Town House became red, Solomon gold, Sunnyside black and Rissik was the green.
The origins of the badge are, however far more intriguing than any suggestions must, unfortunately, remain speculative. Harry Williams, the Art master at the School, is credited with designing the badge and was probably undertaken sometime between April 1909, when the school re-opened in its new buildings, and September 1909, when the badge appeared on the cover of the first Pretorian.
The lower two quarters are virtually identical to the shield on the national coat of arms adopted by the Union of South Africa in 1910. In that design the third quarter shows an Orange tree, representing the Orange Free State and the fourth quarter again represents the Transvaal (by then a province). It seems too much of a coincidence that the two designs ended up having these identical elements in the same positions on the shield. The Union of South Africa coat of arms was authorised by Royal Warrant of the College of Arms in Britain, on 17 September 1910. The Pretoria College design existed at least a year earlier and so it would appear to pre-date the country’s shield. But this raises more questions than it answers.
Did Arthur Holland, who is credited with the artwork for the Union of South Africa shield, base his design on the Pretoria College design? Did he know Harry Williams and exchange ideas? There is a link between Arthur Holland and the School in that his son, Arthur junior, was admitted in February 1911, although by that date both of the designs did already exist. Which design imitated which is made more confusing by the tree symbol. In the erstwhile national coat of arms it is the Orange tree that bears fruit and symbolises the province of the Orange Free State; in the original Pretoria College design no fruit is visible. In subsequent decades the Boys High tree has ‘sprouted’ fruit in certain versions of the badge, making it difficult to know which version is the original! No written evidence on the origins of the School badge has been unearthed and so, for the present, it must remain an enigma.
SOURCE: Pretoria Boys High School, The Story of a South African School, John Illsley
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR GREGARY HASSENKAMP
Vuyo Tswago (Form V) sat down with the new Headmaster of Pretoria Boys High School and asked him a few questions. Click here or on the image above to view.
THE SCHOOL BADGE ON CAMPUS
Photographed below is a collection of the Pretoria Boys High School badge as spotted on campus. How many do you recognise? Click here to go to the Association website to see how many you guessed correctly.
TYPES OF PEOPLE DURING QUARANTINE
The Athlete
If you are running laps around your yard, constantly working out, have a
stricter workout schedule than the school schedule and you are eating like a
bodybuilder. You can be stereotyped as a lockdown athlete. Hopefully, you will
be able to beat Affies in next year’s sport fixtures (If there are any).
The Productivity Pro
You are not on schedule with your schoolwork, you are ahead of schedule. When
you are not browsing Google Class-room you are either reading self-help books
or you are watching Thomas Frank on YouTube. You are the epitome of time
management, will power and developing helpful habits.
The Do Littles
You do not do much. There is no need to write this paragraph because you
probably will not be reading it anyway.
The Film Fanatic
You have binged over 4 shows during quarantine. You have watched over 25 movies
and plan on watching one every day. Most of your time is spent in front of the
television or watching Netflix. Every movie you watch triggers a new
combination of emotions. You have developed a sophisticated taste in movies and
can clearly distinguish greats such as Shrek from the trash like Twilight and
The Emoji Movie.
The Social Media Cyborg
How you come across on social media affects your whole day. You take more than
two photos of yourself before posting it. Then you try to think of an
intelligent caption. (Try to think.) If your posts do not get the optimal
amount of likes, your day will be ruined. When you are not acting as if you are
anyone but the real you, you are commenting on all your friends’ posts while
stalking strangers.
The Bookworm
You are not perceived as normal by our generation. You love indulging in
stories and you can easily read more than 4 hours a day. You are intelligent
and whenever you find someone to talk to about the latest book you have read,
you instantly become friends. If more people understood your love for
literature the world would be a better place.
The Gamer
Sometimes you want to take a break from the PC and play console. If you are in dire need of a break, you will play mobile before hopping back onto your PC. Dota, League of Legends, Overwatch, COD, Minecraft, Skyrim, GTA and even Fortnite are all of the games you have played during the lock-down. Your parents are probably irritated by you but as long as you are able to play your games nothing really matters.
Willie Botha – Boys Highlights, The Final 34th Edition 2020
LUCA – THE RISSIK HOUSE CAT
“Luca is not only the Rissik cat, but has become the school cat – roaming the school grounds and buildings during the day and paying the various offices and classes a visit. Katrina Dodds, the headmaster’s secretary, will tell you about the ladies in the office and their special relationship with Luca. Geraldine Wallace, our receptionist, has a special place for Luca to lie down and puts out fresh milk for him every day. Annelize Smit, our accountant, puts out food for Luca and he has a special chair there where he goes to take naps. Mrs. Thompson also told me of one instance where she stood outside her class to greet the boys coming in and who was next in line after the boys – Luca! He has also attended staff meetings and assemblies!
Of course, when the bell rings for break time, he is out of there and joins the groups of boys standing around to “beg” for food. Luca is, we suspect, a glutton, whose life revolves around food, very much like the cat, Garfield, in the popular comics. This is most probably the reason that he gallivants so – in search of delicacies that he perhaps does not get at home. We do share our food with him, in addition to the usual cat pellets and wet food, but Luca will eat until he throws up, literally!
He wasn’t always such a traveller. It was as if he underwent a transformation after lockdown. He would just stay in our house / yard before that; baking in the sun, sleeping. But it was as if he has decided that the school belongs to him. We now rarely find him at home, but more often out and about.”
Melissa Rust
Afrikaans Master, PBHS
“Luca he seems to be winning over the hearts (and feeding arms…) of everybody at Boys High.”
Erlo Rust
Rissik Housmaster
LETTERS
Complimenting a fine Headmaster
The Editor
PBHSOB Association Newsletter
I’d like to pay tribute to Mr Tony Reeler who, following those before him, has distinguished himself as a superb headmaster and leader.
I recently had the privilege of attending a Thunder Gun Pub lunch in Johannesburg in which Mr Bill Schroder brought and introduced Mr Reeler to the Old Boys present. This had its own significance. A person of no less stature than Adam Rutherford, a writer and BBC broadcaster on DNA and the Origin of Man, once said that pubs are the place where the real work gets done. Although invariably gritty places, people exchange ideas and that’s where big advances are often made.
While waiting for the food to be served, the conversation turned to Mr Reeler’s forthcoming tenure, due to start shortly.
Mr Schroder quipped that when he retired, he felt hurt because ‘ Oldman time’ took his beloved School from him. But I’m in no doubt that he concedes that he was succeeded by a worthy successor who has done a sterling job.
Mr Reeler has evoked divergent reactions in different people, but for most he has been the perfect gentleman, jovial, obliging and always accessible. No-one in his company is ever left in the cold. As many have observed, he has always shown a keen interest in the academic success of the School; his presence at various sports and cultural events has always been noticeable; and he has evoked immense loyalty from those around him. Further, he has instilled confidence in his supporters because he leads by example rather than precept. He does little on impulse and his decisions and actions are deliberately considered. No less significant, he has consistently pressed for an equitable society and indeed gone out of his way to support less-privileged boys under his watch.
Mr Reeler remarked at the lunch that he still had much to offer and hoped that he would not disappoint those who had selected him for his upcoming appointment.
A brave statement, even though he is still a young man. I think I should know. Aged 91, it took much anguish coming to terms with no longer being able to climb mountains. Yesterday, I even found it a bother walking up a stalled escalator. Mr Reeler has several decades before him and we wish him well.
To say that our School has been fortunate with its Headmasters’ underplays the care and trouble that respective governing bodies go to in choosing an incoming incumbent.
Well done to them and Messrs Schroder and Reeler. They have done themselves proud and we thank them greatly.
Sinclair Perry.
Class of 1945
Mr Reeler’s comment:
Dear All
Many thanks for the email and thank you Sinclair for your kind words about Bill and me. It has been a privilege to have worked at this fine School of ours and I shall look back when I leave with great fondness! I do recall our Thunder Gun conversations!!
Kind regards
Tony
OLD BOYS IN THE NEWS
Strings and Songs – 20/20 Entertainment in Containment
Biblioteek Productions presents twenty Classical inter-disciplinary online projects of twenty minutes each. Nearly sixty freelance artists from all spheres of the creative and arts industry are involved in this exciting project, including Mathilda Hornsveld and Frankie van Straten (2010) These mini-productions will be rolled out each week from 10 July. Join us in this online revolution, where we continue to bring boundary shifting classical music to you.
World Elephant Day 2020
August 12 has been set aside as World Elephant Day since 2011. Supported by numerous conservation agencies, the day is a time to “spread awareness, share knowledge, and provide solutions for better care and management of both captive and wild elephants… “
… One of a series of images by the photographer Greg Du Toit (1995), taken in Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve between 2014 and 2017, giving a close view of the lives of elephants.
IPL 2020: AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris join RCB in Dubai
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s South African stars AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris (2006) joined the team in Dubai. The Bangalore franchise posted a video of the players’ arrival at the team hotel on Saturday.
MY BED
I love swimming in waters cool and blue,
I love popping paper bags – see faces turn to hue,
I love opening gifts and getting that surprise,
I love giving gifts and seeing that surprise,
I love jokes that give a hearty laugh,
I love hiking, try to keep on the right path.
I love tinkering with gadgets, try to make them work,
I love reading – the shock that gives a jerk.
I love seeing our first rugby team win.
I love beaches with sand so hot and thin.
I love free periods to rest my beaten head,
But most of all, most of all, I really love my bed!
Wayne Izatt, Form IIB – The Pretorian 1980
IN MEMORIAM
DAVID JOHN DALLING (1957)
DAVD JOHN DALLING ( 1939 -2020 ) – WAKE ON FRIDAY 14th AUGUST 2020.
David Dalling, Head Boy of PBHS in 1957 died in Somerset West on 1st August 2020. Ed Meyer and Peter Eedes were requested by his family to contribute to his Wake memorial service with our memories of David’s school days at Boy’s High. Peter said they had much in common, as they both started as day boys in 1953. In 1957 both were wings in the First XV, Peter recalling that they played outside a very determined centre Eddie Barlow, who literally kept them on their toes. The very successful team that year was captained by the legendary Buddy Hinds and lost only one match all season. Both had leadership roles in the school that year, David as Head boy and Peter as Sergeant Major of the Cadet Corp.
Ed recalled that both David and Peter had good singing voices and had principal roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “Pirates of Penzance”. David also took the part of Macbeth in the school production of the Shakespeare play, showing his dramatic & acting skills, which stood him in good stead later in his political career. Peter and David’s friendship developed after they both retired to the Western Cape, Peter from his role in the Educational field in Pretoria and David from a varied and very active role politics in Parliament.
As Head Boy, David was responsible for organising the 1957 Matric Group Reunions for 40 Years On (1997), then 50 years On (2007) and more recently in 2017 our 60 years On Reunion. For this ‘final’ reunion we had 38 of the 138 matrics in our class of 1957! Ed and Peter worked closely with some other classmates like Ian Banyard, Jack Klaff, Buddy Hinds and Ray Liebman to ensure these Reunions were really memorable events. They were always held at our special ‘School on the Hill’ in Pretoria, with the help on the Old Boy’s Association. Ed recalled at the wake for David, one of the most moving and poignant experiences for both of them at that last 2017 Reunion, was the Boy’s High tradition of the ‘Last Post’, played by the lone bugler from one of the turrets of the magnificent School building every Friday.
Ed Meyer (1957)
Once a stormy petrel of South African politics and a senior member of a string of political parties, David Dalling has finally gone to his rest.
He gamely battled ill health for years and died in hospital in Somerset West, aged 80, on Saturday morning.
As a boy, Dave had excelled in his education at prestigious Pretoria Boys’ High and was head boy in 1957. Fast of foot, he played interprovincial rugby, but a snapped hamstring ended his ambitions of being a full-fledged Blue Bulls player. He had become an attorney after being at Wits University.
JOHANN WILLIAM DE BEER (1954)
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you of the passing of my husband, Joe de Beer.
He attended Pretoria Boys’ High from Std 6 (grade 8) in 1954 to the end of Std 8 (grade 10) and then his parents moved and he attended Selborne High in East London, matriculated there, and went on to the University of Natal where he studied towards a Bachelor of Science.
At school, he was called Johann but in his university days, he was called Joe and that remained his name for the rest of his life.
But what is so important is how much he loved PBHS. When we visited Pretoria where his sister lived, we always drove past and once we drove into the school during the holidays and met Mr Malcolm Armstrong who was walking around and he took us on a tour of the school and Joe told him how much the school had meant to him.
I, his wife, wish to thank Pretoria Boys’ High for the pleasure which it brought to my husband’s life and memories.
He became a Life member of the Old Boys Association and was proud to have his tie.
He died exactly a month after his 80th birthday and I grieve so much for him.
Best wishes,
Val de Beer.
LOUIS BOSCH (1957)
THE DOMINIE AND THE LAW OF LOVE
The Rev Dr Louis Bosch (known as ‘Father Louis’ to most), passed away at his home in Edenvale on Friday August 7, 2020. Sadly, a victim of the dreaded Covid 19.
A marvellous friend of so many at the School, Louis finished there in 1959, matriculated the following year at the former Pretoria Technical College; did articles with a leading accounting firm; and then turned to divinity. This encompassed graduating at Rhodes University with a bachelors degree in theology, followed by a Masters and Doctorate at Unisa in the same discipline.
The reason for his not spending his last year at Boys’ High was that his father (a professional soldier and veteran of both World War II and Korea) believed emphatically that his son required exposure to something more practical and useful !!! A major rumpus arose when Louis chose to be a contentious objector and declined to undergo his compulsory military service. Considering himself a pacifist, he consistently maintained that the individual had the right to refuse military service on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience or religion.
The School, of course, was always a major focus in Louis’ life, he regularly attended a host of sports activities, reunions and functions, and expressed a long-standing wish for his ashes to be scattered in a quiet place on the School Estate.
He was first and foremost a man of God, unusually gifted and successful as a Methodist minister. His love and faith had few equals in real life; his magnificent sincerity brought God into the affairs of so many; his approach to life was broad and enthusiastic; and he arguably spent more time visiting and serving the distressed at home, hospitals, jails and orphanages than anyone I know. I always marveled at his clear direction and generosity.
As a Minister, Louis’s postings included the Cape Flats, Maclear in the Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth, Barberton, the former Pietersburg (Polokwane) and Kensington in Johannesburg.
He is survived directly by his wife Gail whom he married in 1965, his two sons Erin and Jeromy and grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters. Gail has long been a lecturer at the Johannesburg College of Education.
May Louis rest in peace.
Leon Kok (1964)