PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
A veldskoen business making waves locally and abroad has made it into the British media after Prince Harry, who is currently touring the country with his wife, Meghan Markle, wore the brand.
The brand – succinctly named Veldskoen – was launched two-and-a-half years ago after Nick Dreyer and his friend Ross Zondagh were chatting about how the South African Olympic team in Rio looked so dismal in their Chinese tracksuits.
” They could have been wearing veldskoene, and that’s how it started,” Dreyer said. ” I’m an ex-hotelier and Ross is an ex-builder but when we applied ourselves and when we saw how veldskoene could be seen through a more colourful, fashionable lens, it started to make more sense. We started to work inside e-commerce to sell our shoes.”
The goal was to create an iconic item of South African apparel, and not just for fashionistas or hipsters. “We want to create SA’s iconic shoe … a little bit like the Havaiana is for Brazil.” This week veldskoen handed a pair of shoes specifically made for Harry and Meghan to the British High Commissioner at Cape Town in honour of the royal couple.
The shoes were embroidered with a crest and a vine bearing an English rose and a Californian poppy. The vine signifies SA, the rose England and the Californian poppy Meghan,” said Dreyer.
The prince isn’t the only high-profile person to wear the shoes; Dreyer says Princess Charlene of Monaco has a pair. Some of the investors are also celebrities – they include US actor Ashton Kutcher and Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and investor on the Shark Tank reality show in the US.
South African born entrepreneur Stephen Watts and his wife Angela introduced the high-profile investors to Veldskoen after they won on Shark Tank in 2016 with their Slyde Handboards.
Veldskoen has just one set of financials under its belt and is in its second financial year. But it attracted attention of Brian Joffe’s Long4Life shortly after launching, and within a year the investment company – which handles brands such as Sportsmans Warehouse, Outdoor Warehouse and Sorbet – has taken a 49% stake in Veldskoen.
Dreyer and Zondagh used the money to scale up their business over 10 months. Expanding from three employees to the current headcount of 18.
In its early days Veldskoen kept 400 pairs of shoes in stock at any one time, but now the figure is at least 5000. Turnover stands at about R9.2m.
Veldskoen’s US operation, called Calibuntu, sells about 800 pairs of shoes a month online in the US and a similar number to customers elsewhere in the world. SA is still the biggest market and the company has sold 30 000 pairs in total so far. Prices range from about R 900.00 to R 1300.00. Veldskoen’s head office is in Paarden Eiland in Cape Town, and the shoes are manufactured by Hopewell Shoes in Durban.
“It’s a real partnership. They’re making veldskoene and they have to be super comfortable, really well made,” Dreyer said.
“At a time when things are a bit depressed it’s offered an alternative South African story for entrepreneurs. We consider ourselves custodians of veldskoen; and the South African public has gotten behind it.
Dreyer and Zondagh have launched online in Australia and are talking to David Jones about selling the brand in the Australian retailer’s stores.
Veldskoen has become the first local fashion footwear brand to be stocked in Woolworths, a retailer that normally sells only its own-name apparel.
Dreyer and Zondagh first met while they were pupils at Pretoria Boys High and later invited another friend and alumnus, Nic Latouf, to join their partnership.
“We’re mates,” Dreyer said. “Nic has a digital advertising background and was one of the first who saw the product and believed in it. There was a time when some people thought it was a bit farcical.”
Dreyer says they’ve had much positive feedback from South African expatriates from Seattle to Washington and London. Many of them asked how they could get involved in Veldskoen.
He says the origins of the veldskoen were the animal-hide footwear worn by the region’s indigenous Khoi people. When South African troops went to fight in World War II in Egypt and Morocco, they wore veldskoene, Dreyer says. “Those troops came back … and wore them in the fields.”
A report in GQ magazine in 2012 said that the South African troops had commissioned Egyptian cobblers to make veldskoene for them when their army boots wore out.
During the war, Nathan Clark, great grandson of one of the founders of British shoe brand Clarks, was impressed with the veldskoen and used it as inspiration for the Clarks desert boot.
“We’ve been sitting on this incredible bit of history in SA without knowing it,” Dreyer said.
Part of what makes Veldskoen’s product different is the brightly coloured laces: the red version is “Pinotage”, the blue us “J-Bay” – which Dreyer calls “the greatest surf spot in Africa” – the yellow is “Vilakazi” (for the street by that name) and the black is “Safari”.
Dreyer is the CEO and co-founder of Digital Online Retail Products (Dorp), Veldskoen’s holding company.
– Harry takes giant steps in local vellies By Adele Shievel (The Sunday Times – 29 September 2019)
“One of the greatest things about PBHS is that, it gave us the history, in order to make a future. Myself, Nick and Nic all matriculated in ’96 but we all went separate ways after school but because of the bond PBHS gave us, it was very easy to reconnect 20 years later and picked off were we left in ’96. Our business partnership is far more robust because we gave each other so much stick at PBHS. It’s actually made our business stronger and as silly as it sounds people are always amazed at our “friendship” between the three of us but that’s because PBHS gave us that. – Ross Zondagh
“You can spot a Boys High boy from a mile away. A lot of that has to do with the following line that gets drilled into you from your very first day – Manners Maketh Man. “- Nic Latouf.
Nick Dreyer says school taught him that a person’s character counts far more than their social status, wealth or lineage. “At school all boys are equal and that principle serves me well as an adult and now in business. We really enjoy how Veldskoen has been a magnet for attracting PBHS Old Boys. Our space in Paarden Eiland regularly has Old Boys pop in and just the other week there were 8 of us which is amazing!”
Ross added that all of the passwords at Veldskoen are based on Boys High! They even named their new venture studio 96 Capital – which is the year they matriculated and Pretoria being the Capital of SA – where Boys High is!
Nic admits he was really naughty at Boys High and there were times when it backfired. Like when he landed up in the cross country team.. “There was a school race where everyone had to enter, and there was a route you had to do twice to complete the race. Couple of hundred metres in I dived into one of the schools fishponds and hid under the water with a couple of straws. I waited a while and then jumped out and joined the race… but a little too soon. I landed up being one of the first to finish… and instantly the apple of Mr Collins eye. The following week I had to start training with the cross country team. I was the opposite of fit. Not fun.”
They also started a flip flop company called Plakkie.
Visit their websites below:
www.veldskoen.shoes
www.plakkie.shoes
www.dorp.africa
WELCOME 2019 MATRICS
The Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys Association would like to welcome the 2019 Association Life Members and wish you all of the best with the Matric exams.
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2019
The Remembrance Day Assembly will take place on Monday 11 November at Pretoria Boys High School. Old Boys are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The Assembly will take place at the front of the school – weather permitting. Please wear a jacket and tie and be seated by 10:50. Tea will be served in the east fountain quad thereafter. Please RSVP to pr@boyshigh.com
TEACHERS’ OPINIONS
We asked some teachers what they thought about their own(1) and other subjects(2).
ENGLISH – Mrs Georgiades
1. I think English is the most important subject of all, because if you do not understand English, you can do no other subject whatsoever. English also teaches you to think.
2. I don’t dislike any subject, you have got to know everything. Knowledge is power.
MATHEMATICS – Mrs Bouwer
1. Mathematics teaches you perseverance, diligence, work ethic and problem solving as well as being the groundwork for many other subjects.
2. Technology was my least favourite subject. I hated all the group projects!
LIFE ORIENTATION – Mr Adendorff
1. Life Orientation provides a comfortable space to ask any question. It is a break from more challenging subjects.
2. Mathematics was my least favourite subject … just ask Mr Smuts.
HISTORY – Mr De Kock
1. No subject that is taught today would exist if it weren’t recorded. It also provides a better perspective of events that is so desperately needed in a modern society.
2. I dislike LO the most as I don’t believe it teaches anyone about the reality of life.
MUSIC – Dr Van der Watt
1. Music teaches you discipline through practice and co-operation in musical groups. Above all, it is also a subject that one can enjoy.
2. I disliked woodwork the most as it was compulsory and the sawdust got into everything. I sneezed the whole time!
CREATIVE ARTS – Mrs Cloete
1. Art provides value to the boys as well as to society as a whole. It is an opportunity to think beyond expectation, rules and norms. It gives people the chance to explore, innovate and ultimately to create and influence their surroundings.
2. My least favourite subject is Mathematics!!!
GERMAN – Mrs Maartens
1. German is a subject that provides you with great opportunities. Other perks of the language include studying abroad, business opportunities, wanderlust as well as being a key language for science nerds such as Albert Einstein.
2. Eine Pretzel…?
FRENCH – Mrs Fratini
1. There is just so much to the language. Be it abstract thought, challenging societal norms in this dystopian age of absurdity-themes which are evident when we study Christophe Bregaint’s poems in Matric, the bipolarity of human nature and how one is attracted to the extreme of pure unadultered good yet fascinated by decay and revolt.
2. My least favourite subject is Physical Sciences.
EMS – Mrs De Meillon
1. Accounting is a life skill. It helps you to manage your finances and your money.
2. My least favourite subject is Mathematics, because it is hard. I can add and subtract, but all these x ‘s, y’s and z’s…It is hard!
AFRIKAANS – Mrs Gowar
1. Afrikaans, like any language, has a philosophical side, which can greatly benefit boys if they realize the value thereof.
2. I hate Geography because I was bad at mapwork and telling direction.
P.S. Mrs Gowar has recently left to go and work in China.
Hope she found her way there.
By Johann Kok – Boys Highlights Number 31, September 2019
OLD BOYS IN THE NEWS
Fishing time for the Game of Stars
The Mark Fish (1991) Foundation will be hosting the Game of Stars farm workers’ soccer league on Saturday 19 October at The Ranch Resort in Polokwane.
Cameron William Closes National Music Competition
Three years since he triumphantly won the gold medal and first prize of the National Youth Music Competition (NYMC), the talented clarinettist and saxophonist Cameron Williams (2015) this week returns to the prestigious…
Justice Edwin Cameron gets his wish after Ramaphosa appoints him inspecting judge of prisons
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed retired Constitutional Court Justice Edwin Cameron (1970) as Inspecting Judge of the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) – an independent prison watchdog.
AN APOLOGY
I should like to apologise to the guy who didn’t steal my maths tin. I had just bought it and called him a punk and a scum, and a thieving swine. I am sorry, and also sorry that I said he would never give it back. You see I now know it wasn’t he who stole my tin six months ago, because I found it in lost property yesterday.
The Pretorian 1979 – A Paton Form IV E
PBHS NEWS
The White Caps have won the Northerns Platinum A-League for the first time ever. Well done to all the players and coaches on this fine achievement!
(Photo courtesy of Mr H Viljoen)
LETTERS
Hi there,
I hope this mail finds you well. I’m not sure if this really constitutes as “worthy news” but I thought it may be a nice to know.
My name is Alexander Jansen – I matriculated in 2008. I was deputy Head boy of Solomon House and an avid swimmer and waterpolo player (1st teams). I say this, because after school I was fortunate enough to keep my 1st team waterpolo gown. Which has followed me around the world for a number of extreme swims, including an 8 hour swim in Tanzanaia and some Robben island to Blouberg swims. But perhaps my most noteworthy swim was this July in Lesotho where I became the first Botswana citizen to complete 1km swim in ice water.
Attached are some pics, which you can see the Boys High emblem still going strong on the gown. I certainly attribute my mindset to the incredible school that helped me become who I am.
For your reference, below is a link to the international Ice swimming members pages, and also attached are letters confirming the swims.
Anyway, all the best and thank you for maintaining the phenomenal PBHSOB Newsletter, I look forward to them! Kind Regards,
– Alex Jansen
Thank you again for the newsletter.
Through your office I am now in regular contact with Stan Shear, living in Vancouver. He wrote a moving tribute about Mr Edmund Jones. It so happens that when I read the tribute, the name rang a distant but CLEAR bell in my mind as my grandmother owned a small block of flats on Beatrix street very close to the corner of Beatrix and Pretorius streets. She had built the block as a widow just after WWII opposite the Deluxe Steam cleaning company founded by my grandfather circa 1920. As a little boy in the late 1950s my Ouma spoke kindly of her neighbour Mrs Shear, lo and behold Stan- now 80 years old is the son of Hettie Shear.
So once again thank you for putting me in contact with Stan by sending my E mail to you, on to him and he immediately responded.
SO now I have a simpler question- I attended Boys High 1967-1971 and Keith Ilsley was my Science teacher. I note the name John Illsley mentioned frequently and wonder if he is related to Keith and if he could tell me about Keith as I remember him fondly as a gentle kind teacher. Kind regards
– John Simpson
Hi Inge
Reading Warwick Krige’s interesting article about his donation of the organ to the school, makes me recall the days when Errol Richards used to play our old reed organ during assembly, and the Form I’s used to rigorously pump it with the lever at the side. I can still see Errol playing with his characteristic side by side sway, as he coaxed the beautiful hymns from this ancient instrument.
Whatever happened to this old organ, and indeed where is Errol today?
– Stan Shear (class of 1955)
Hi Jason,
This is to inform you that I received rugby equipment from Kyadondo Rugby Club last week. It included 2 tackling bags, 3 shields and 3 tackling suits.
I’m not sure who was behind the donation but would like to thank you for sharing the request in the alumni newsletter.
See attached a photo.
Kind regards,
Tim Iraka
IN MEMORIAM
DERECK ROY MARTIN (1961)
It is with sadness that I need to inform you that my father, Dereck Martin (class of 1961), passed away on 14th August. My father was always a staunch PBHS supporter and convinced me to also attend PBHS. Three generations of Martins have attended PBHS, including my grandfather and all my uncles and me. We have attended many rugby games and assemblies at the school.
Kind regards,
Rod Martin (Class of 1991)
DIETER FW VOGEL (1966)
It is with sadness that I need to inform you that my father, Dieter Vogel (class of 1966), passed away on 10 March 2019. My father was always so super proud of his school. My younger brother is also an Old Boy and my own son is also now a proud lad. My dad always spoke so highly of Boys High and he will be remembered as the lead singer of the famous school band, Dieter and the Raves, with his fellow Boys High students on instruments. Boys high installed a wonderful value system in him which he taught us. We miss him very much and will always remember all the stories he told and the big part that Boys High played in his life.
Kind regards,
Gisela van Garderen Rolfes
FRANCIS JOHN HOFMEYR PHILLIPS (1947)
23-01-1930 – 01-07-2019
Died peacefully in hospital in Port Elizabeth.
Remembered by many as a keen sportsman and pianist. Brother of Robin, devoted husband of the late Nanette; loving father of Jacky and the late Arthur; grandfather of Lloyd and Sebastian. He will be sorely missed.
JAAP LIEBENBERG (1957)
I wanted to inform you of the passing of my father Jaap Liebenberg this morning. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away just 2 days after his 80th birthday.
Kind regards
Annelet Liebenberg
DEREK JOHN MILLER (1951)
SYDNEY NOWOSENETZ (1945)
OLD BOY REQUESTS
The PBHSOB Association Office often gets various requests from Old Boys, which are now displayed on the AlumNet portal.
Simply email the Association office for an application form. Once vetted, it will be placed on AlumNet 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.
Dear Old Boy
Sometimes an event on your bucket list comes sooner than budgeted for. I’ve been unexpectedly given a chance to achieve my life long dream of swimming across the English Channel.
I’m entered and booked to swim in September 2020.
This is a very demanding challenge and it requires intensive training in the following months. Living in Pretoria makes it difficult to train in the required conditions and a swimming pool is not enough. I need to do long-distance ocean swims and attend training camps in Langebaan, Western Cape.