PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
INCREDIBLE ACT OF BRAVERY BY FORM IV BOY.
Extract from Mr Hassenkamp’s Friday (16 April 2021) Assembly speech:
“During the month of March Mr Adendorff and I received an invitation to attend an awards ceremony being presented by SAFReC (South African First Responder Chaplaincy).
SAFReC is a non-profit charity organisation consisting of trained members of the community, who reach out and willingly serve the community wherever they can assist. Whether it be people being in need of food or clothing, people who need emotional support, it does not matter. Their sole aim is to make a tangible difference in people’s lives in whatever way possible.
The awards ceremony was held at the Lewende Woord Church, Montana, on Friday 26 March where medals for bravery were awarded to Thomas Earle (a Form IV boy in Arcadia House) and a Mr Danie Esterhuizen, for saving the lives of Marlene and Lara Steyn (a mother and daughter) from a burning house.
At the awards ceremony Thomas was awarded the Ingonyama Medal for Bravery (Ingonyama meaning Lion) for saving the life of Lara Steyn, a 19-year-old woman from her parents’ house that was completely destroyed in the fire.
I am going to describe the incident to you as it was explained to Mr Adendorff and I when we attended the awards ceremony.
On 17 October 2020 at 19:15 in the evening, the house of Mario Steyn and his wife, Marlene situated in Newlands, Pretoria caught fire. The fire started with an unexpected strong gust of wind, causing the covered “Weber” braai to overturn, breaking the window and spilling hot coals onto the chairs and curtains in the adjacent room. Within a minute or two the house was on fire.
Marlene was trapped inside the house on the third floor, unable to move to safety. Their two daughters, Lara and Mieke, were trapped on the first floor. Neighbours and bystanders reacted to Marlene’ s calling for help.
Danie Esterhuizen, a neighbour realizing Marlene’ s predicament, and without any Emergency Services on the scene yet, without thinking twice, immediately set about rescuing her. Showing little regard for his own personal safety, Danie was able to use a series of ladders, assisted by bystanders, endangering himself to rescue Marlene Steyn from the third floor.
The two daughters of Mario and Marlene Steyn, Lara (19 yrs.) and Mieke (24 yrs.), were at the same time trapped on the first floor balcony at the front of the house and Lara was intent on going back into the burning building to reach her mother. This is where Thomas Earle, a 16-year-old neighbour, without hesitation, jumped in to assist.
Realizing their predicament, Thomas immediately got involved to help. With little regard for his own personal safety, Thomas scaled the wall to the first-floor balcony leading from the burning rooms. With Mieke on the balcony and in a state of extreme stress and anxiety but at least safe for now, he went into the house to look for Lara. She was trying to get to her mother who she could hear screaming for help on the third floor.
At this stage the room was filled with thick smoke and the heat from the flames was intense. Thomas could not see her in the room with all the thick smoke and started to become overwhelmed by the smoke and heat himself. Worried for Lara, he called out for her repeatedly. He ran out onto the balcony for air and was followed shortly afterwards by Lara who was in a very bad state. She was crying, coughing severely and battling to breathe. Lara again turned to go back into the burning house as her mother continued screaming for help.
That’ s when Thomas realized from what he experienced in the room, that she would simply not make it out again and was at risk of being completely overcome by the smoke and severe heat. Following her back into the house he grabbed her and pulled her out, and held her, preventing her from going back in to the house.
By then ladders had been placed against the wall and Thomas, Mieke and Lara came down to safety. Soon after that, the room windows shattered from the intense heat and increasing flames.
Fortunately, Thomas suffered no lasting effects from the smoke and heat. However, Lara was taken to hospital by ambulance. She was admitted and treated for smoke inhalation and stayed for 10 days in the Intensive Care Unit.
The doctor said that Lara was likely to have been overcome by the thick smoke and would not have made it out alive if she had succeeded in going back into burning house a second time.
This morning gentlemen, we take this opportunity as a school to acknowledge Thomas for the extremely brave deed he did in endangering his own life in saving a young woman from a burning house. I would once again like to award the Ingonyama Medal for Bravery from SAFReC to Thomas and I ask him to come to the stage to receive the award.”
ANNUAL OLD BOYS DINNER
The 102nd Annual Old Boys Dinner will take place on Saturday 5 June 2021. The Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys Association is delighted to announce that Old Boy Nick Dreyer has agreed to be our guest speaker on the evening.
Nick Dreyer is the Co-founder and CEO of VELDSKOEN™ shoes, the iconic South African product that took the world by storm. Nick was in Rissik House and matriculated at Pretoria Boys High School in 1996. He pursued a career in the hospitality industry, after obtaining a National Diploma in Hospitality Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The next 17 years was spent as GM of the world-class Ellerman House in Bantry Bay, Director of Everard Read – Africa’s oldest commercial art gallery, and owner of Auriti – a fine art advisory firm providing specialised services in selected markets, to name but a few.
In 2016, after seeing the South African Olympic team in their “misfit” outfits that did not resemble a fraction of the talent and uniqueness that South Africa has to offer, and a six-hour car drive whilst on a call with another Old Boy – now business partner – Ross Zondagh, VELDSKOEN™ shoes was born. Ross and Nick soon roped in another Old Boy Nic Latouf and the three partners set out to build VELDSKOEN™
Since its inception 4 years ago, Veldskoen is a global fashion brand that is distributed to 28 countries. VELDSKOEN™ shoes are worn by royalty, sporting icons, music legends and more importantly, folks who love South Africa!
DATE: Saturday, 5 June 2021
VENUE: Central Dining Hall, Pretoria Boys High School
TIME: 18:30 for 19:00
DRESS CODE: Black Tie or Lounge Suit
INCLUDES: Three course dinner, refreshments and entertainment.
ENTERTAINMENT: Guest Speaker – Nick Dreyer
COST: Per person: R450.00
Strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place on the evening.
8 Per table to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
No mask, no entry.
This event is only open to Old Boys of Pretoria Boys High School & Honorary Life Members of the PBHSOB Association.
TICKET SALES ARE NOW OPEN!
Please book here: https://pbhsoba.alumnet.co.za/Event/102-ANNUAL-DINNER-2021
UPDATE ON MR SCHRODER
It has been several weeks since we updated you on Mr. Schroder and his progress since he contracted Covid in December 2020. Firstly, on behalf of Mr. Schroder and the Schroder family we would like to thank all the Old Boys, staff and friends who have sent through the most amazing and encouraging messages and stories, which Mr. Schroder continues to read. These messages mean so much to him and they have given him a huge amount of motivation and dedication to fight through this torrid time.
As far as the doctors are concerned Mr. Schroder has recovered medically from his bout of Covid, the pneumonia, amputation and other setbacks which have impeded his recovery over the past few months. He has been taken off oxygen support and thus has no current medical requirements to remain in hospital at this time. Three weeks back he was moved to a rehabilitation hospital in order to rebuild his body condition and to teach him to walk on a prosthetic leg. The process to full recovery will be a long one but he is making wonderful progress.
The support, messages and friendship from you all have certainly been major factors in his recovery process. He is currently only able to receive limited visitors at the hospital on a controlled basis but if anyone would like to visit him, please contact his son, Bradley bradley.schroder(at)gmail.com or 073 668 4089.
RECOLLECTIONS
Tut tut kerels, dis net ‘n kwesie van maniere….ne
Mnr Lowes (LoWes as he used to call me)
Having read Albertus Scheman’s anecdotes on Mrs Matthews, took me back to 1971 .. I think it was ’71, for whatever strange reason, I remember it was the year of the 1st Ali/Frazer fight!
‘Hymie Dittberner .. the meticulous Mr Dittberner, who despite having the unfair reputation of allegedly being the happiest person in 1948, was a gentleman of unique humour and genuine affection for his students.
I was a rather ‘lively’ student and while my ill disciplined life style must have sorely tested and exasperated the highly disciplined Hymie, he always had a twinkle in his eye with his ubiquitous ‘tut tut, dis net ‘n kwesie van maniere, né Mnr Lowes?'(emphasis on ‘LoWes’).
‘Hymie’ had the habit of keeping a glass of water in the cupboard. As with anything else in Hymies life, it was kept spotless, in a precise and exact place (I’m sure he used a ruler to ensure it was perfectly placed), from which he would every now and again take a swig .. here again, each occasion would never be at random, but precisely .. there was never anything random in our dear Mr Dittberner’s life!
The clear water gave me an idea and for weeks I carried a small bottle with Gin, waiting for an opportunity, but how?
I’ve always said, a sign that God has a wonderful sense of humour, one day, out of the blue, Hymie asked me, me of all people, to go clean his glass and fill it with water. I couldn’t believe my luck.
I went to the cupboard, picked up the glass and went to the washroom to clean the glass and timidly emptied the Gin I had been carrying around with me for weeks.
I returned to the classroom and against character, upheld the strict and meticulous methods of Hymie and ensured the glass was placed in the exact position he would have insisted. I returned to my desk, hands shaking, heart thumping, waiting for Hymie to take a break and go have a swig!
Regretfully, the lesson ended without Hymie taking a break. I spent the day nervously expecting a call to go to the Boss’ office but nothing.
Next day, thinking possibly Hymie had probably not bothered drinking again during school the previous day, I casually and confidently walked into Afrikaans to be greeted by a beaming Hymie, ‘Mnr LoWes, wat was daai vuur water was jy my gee het?!!!’
Apparently, during the following lesson, Hymie has taken his break and almost fell off his chair when taking a swig. The story however was that despite the initial shock, Hymie never battered an eyelid, while gleefully but in full control, sipped the entire contents!
Just one of many wonderful memories and stories involving me and the patient and excellent Masters who taught me during my years at PBHS, including ‘Chalkie’ Sommerville, immediately correctly signalling me out, of a school of 1100 boys, as the culprit for replacing the staff room suger bowls with Eno’s! .. but that ‘s another story.
Anthony Lowes (1976)
LOWVELD DINNER
All Old Boys of Pretoria Boys High School and their partners, as well as prospective parents are invited to the PBHSOB Association’s Lowveld Branch Annual Dinner.
Pretoria Boys High School Headmaster, Mr Greg Hassenkamp and Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys’ Association Chairman, Mr Jason Webber will be in attendance to provide feedback and news on the School and Old Boys Association.
Date: Thursday 20 May 2021
Time: 18:00 for 18:30
Venue: 64 Coolmore Restaurant, White River
Cost: A la Carte menu – for your own account
Dress: Smart Casual
RSVP: Kuen Pappas: 083 256 6591 kuen(at)indigofruit.co.za
LIMPOPO DINNER
All Old Boys of Pretoria Boys High School and their partners, as well as prospective parents are invited to the PBHSOB Association’s Limpopo Branch Annual Dinner. Pretoria Boys High School Headmaster, Mr Greg Hassenkamp and Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys’ Association Chairman, Mr Jason Webber will be in attendance to provide feedback and news on the School and Old Boys Association.
Date: Wednesday 19 May 2021
Time: From 18:00
Venue: Maxims, Pizza – Pub – Grill, Tzaneen
Cost: A la Carte menu – for your own account
Dress: Smart Casual
RSVP: Mark Andrew 074 181 7447 mark(at)romafuel.co.za
PBHS NEWS
At the end of the 2020 school year the Covid situation was settling down and everyone was looking forward to a far more normal 2021. Unfortunately, during December the second Covid wave arrived which resulted in a disrupted start to the school year. The start of the academic year was delayed by two weeks and once again Covid restrictions were put in place.
Despite the academic year being delayed, the school was in the fortunate position of being able to go online and begin the academic programme during this two-week delay. Once schools were allowed to reopen, we were in the fortunate position of allowing all our boys to return. The commitment from all the teachers and the cooperation and support from all parents and boys must be acknowledged in this regard.
While the academic programme of the school was largely uninterrupted, the school’ s extra mural programme was put on hold. Fortunately, after a one month delay, the summer sports season was able to commence and a number of summer sports fixtures did take place. Further extramural restrictions have been lifted and the school has been able to commence with the winter sports programme, in anticipation of competing against opponent schools in the new term.
During the course of the term, two boys have tested positive for Covid. The necessary protocols were followed, close contacts were identified and school was able to continue unaffected. Two teachers and one boarder housemaster tested positive for Covid during the course of the term. Once again, these cases were handled following all the necessary protocols and there was minimal disruption to the school. With the necessary protocols and management structures in place, the school continues to provide a controlled and safe environment for the boys and staff. The management of this pandemic in a school environment remains a huge responsibility. I would like to thank all those involved for the professional manner in which these cases were dealt with and for all their hard work.
I would also like to thank the parents and boys for the responsible approach you have adopted towards the managing of this pandemic. The fact that the school has only had two boys test positive this term speaks to the manner in which you have taken responsibility for yourselves. It is only in working together that we have been able to maintain a safe environment. Thank you for this.
Thank you also to the staff and boys for the positive manner in which they have approached the year. With the delayed and disrupted start to the year it would have been very easy to become negative. I have found both the staff and the boys to be nothing but positive. Once again they have adjusted and adapted to the circumstances in which we find ourselves and have made the most of these circumstances. In particular, it has truly been wonderful for me to see the positive nature of the boys and they need to be commended for this. It is so encouraging to see their positive Boys High nature come through. If this is to be their attitude going forward, it can only bode well for the rest of the year.
GJ HASSENKAMP
HEADMASTER
SCHOOL PEACE
Looking over from the front of the school, one sees the lush greenness of the evergreen trees broken every now and again by a parked car. The steady chug, chug of lawnmowers and intermittent shouting of the P.T. teachers, gives their own touch of colour to the morning. The sprinkler moves to and fro leaving behind it a fresh layer of water which soon gets absorbed by the grass. The birds sing in perfect harmony with the trickling fountain. A few green leaves float along the pond with a small gold fish darting to and fro, as if dancing to the song of the birds.
There’ s an occasional blowing of a whistle and a roar of acknowledgement whenever a point is scored, while the scholars play volleyball. A great roar pulls you out of your slumbering as a motorbike speeds past you, closely followed by a car.
Then the sweet silence sets in again, with the soft coo coo of a dove and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. In the far distance one hears the tick ticking of a typewriter in the secretary’ s office. The church bells ring the time of the day giving you the feeling of self satisfaction and peacefulness.
John Mosdell Form III C – The Pretorian 1981
LETTERS
Dear Inge,
It was with great sadness that we heard Keith Ingram had passed. Our family was very close to his family, and although I was much younger than him, Class 67′, I always looked up to him. His Dad Scotch was my dad’s Best Man at his wedding in 1934 to Peggy Stewart, and I still have the sapele mahogany chairs Scotch gave my folks for their wedding.
I remember spending many Sunday evenings at their home or vice versa, and while the folks had their dop en dam, we would be entertained by Keith and Ian. I recall a time in the early 80’s, we were living in Empangeni and I was returning from a business trip in Durban. I stopped at the Forest Inn for a beer as usual, when I walked into the pub, which was rowdy as usual, I heard the growly Ingram voice above the racket. I had not seen Keith for many years but walked over and we chatted and had a “couple” of beers together with him and his colleagues.
We saw him a few times after that on the South Coast and always had memorable times in his company. He will be sorely missed by all he knew him.
Our sincerest condolences to his wife and family.
Anton, and Tickey Schmidt.
Best regards
Anton Schmidt (1967)
From left to right are Trevor Quirk (1965), Rob Bass (1964), Les Smith (1960), Doug Newham (1964) and Mike Joubert (1965). Matric year in brackets. Gus Anderssen (1965) was also there but had left by the time the photo was taken.
A Solomon House Luncheon was held at the Claremont Cricket Club in April. We try to get together at least twice a year for no other reason than we so enjoy each other’ s company.
On this occasion, Les Smith was a special invitee. He was our “C” dorm (new boys) prefect in 1960. Trevor, Mike and myself were three of the seven new boys in that dorm.
I trust you find this of interest.
Kind regards,
Doug Newham (1964)
IN MEMORIAM
ITUMELENG THANDO (TUMI) RASEROKA (2004)
Dear Old Boys It is with a very heavy heart that I write to you this morning to give you the sad news of one of our brothers passing. In the early hours this morning (22.04.2021) we got the devastating news
Tumi – was everything a Boys High boy strives to be. A great and loyal mate with many friends. He was a boarder in Sollys where in form 5 he was made school and house prefect. He served the school with pride and amazing skill for the first Rugby XV as a talented flyhalf come center, he also achieved on the cricket and athletics tracks!
Most of all Tums was a brother who would have done anything for us his mates and the school he loved so much.
I will personally miss his laugh and naughty sense of humor. He loved to laugh and take the Micky out of us. Tums always had such an inviting nature. Rest In Peace now my friend. Yours sincerely
Rob Ferguson
Head Prefect – 2004
ANTHONY BEAUMONT (TONY) TASKER (1957)
After matriculating in 1957 with German as a third language, he read Civil Engineering at Wits, and graduated in 1963.
His first job was with LTA and he worked on digging the hole in Commissioner Street which was the foundation of the Carlton Hotel. After marrying Irene, he moved to Munich, Germany and worked there for a couple of years and returned to SA fluent in speaking German. He
then worked for several Civil engineering firms, and was located in Vereeniging, Botswana, Middleberg Tvl. Newcastle, and finally settled in Benoni. On the way he had three daughters, all of whom achieved well in their own right. Presently Susan is head of Wykeham Collegiate
in Pietermaritzburg. In the latter part of his career, he was involved in sliding shuttering, used in the construction of grain silos; the twinning of the single road from Heidelberg to Villiers; the routing of the N4 around the North of Pretoria, all the way to the Botswana border. He also worked on the water intake races to the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, near Ladysmith, and finally the flyover bridge at Gilhooly’ s interchange.
During his career he was called several times, as an expert witness in arbitration hearings, helping settle disputes between contractor and client. One most notable case involved a dispute with the Gautrain between Rosebank and Park Station.
All his varsity career and later life, he was very actively involved in rowing, and would have won his Springbok colours in 1964, had South Africa not been kicked out of the Tokyo Olympics in that year. He finally received Springbok colours as a coach in the rowing team that went to Germany.
After retiring to Sheffield Beach, he joined up with the Durban rowing club, which operated from Durban harbour. He was soon recognized as a most competitive oarsman, and was welcomed by all at the club.
Most of this latter activity was after has had already had several operations for cancer. He had his own single scull which he used on water nearby on the North Coast but mostly enjoyed being part of a crew of 4, which required driving two hours early morning to Durban while the water in the harbour was still calm enough. In spite of his severe physical handicap at that stage, he became heavily involved in arranging duplicate bridge where he lived, and during the COVID pandemic, was able to continue arranging bridge on the internet, right up to the end.
He passed away peacefully at home and leaves a wife, three daughters, and 5 grandchildren.
Rest In Peace Tony.
Richard Tasker
NIGEL PATRICK DAVID ARGUE (1950)
My Father, the late Nigel Patrick David Argue, Matric (1950) passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 17th of March 2021.
My Dad was a Boys High legend. He spoke so fondly of his days at Boys High and the special friendships he formed at School. He played flank and 8th man for the first rugby team and water polo from form 3 and was selected for the SA Olympic water Polo Team after School.
He is survived by me, his son Ryan Argue, School House 2000, Brother and Fellow Alumni Bruce Argue (Opened the new Battisphere) and sister Sally Von Willich.
Sincerely yours,
Ryan Argue
KEITH GORDON INGRAM (1961)
Keith Ingram, one who touched many lives
It’s with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Keith Ingram on January 16, an avid Old Boy and much loved member of varied communities in SA, the Class of ’61 and Solomon House. A victim of the Covid19 pandemic, he suffered gravely, but fought valiantly to the end.
He is survived by his loving wife Madele, sons Murray and Robert, daughter-in law Karen, and five grandchildren. Murray’s family relocated to Wellington, NZ, and Robbie’s family followed suit, but to Perth.
Keith was an excellent father and grandfather and did the best he could to teach and guide his offspring. He was saddened by not being close to them geographically in his later years, but the family enjoyed several mutual holidays together in SA and Australasia.
Said Madele: “Keith was very much a people’s person. He was a good friend to all, a man who would give his shirt for a friend. His memory of events long past was legendary and he enjoyed nothing more than chatting with friends from those days. His love of life, integrity, generosity, loyalty, and kindness to so many will be his substantive legacy”.
Keith grew up with his parents, Scotch and Zalea, and elder brother Ian, in Menlo Park, Pretoria. The brothers attended Brooklyn School and then Boys High. Keith became an avid Old Boy, attending reunions across the country, especially Cape Town and Pretoria. He greatly enjoyed reminiscing with his mates until the early hours of the morning. Ian, incidentally, also passed away fairly recently.
Both boys were avid members of the 2nd Brooklyn 56 Scout Group: Ian a leader of the Kestrels Patrol and Keith leader of the Kingfishers; and they thoroughly enjoyed hiking and camping around Pretoria’s former eastern outreaches, the former northern Transvaal and elsewhere. They maintained emphatically that Scouting afforded an all-round education for younger people, providing a sense of purpose, duty, patriotism and ability to work together. No mean Scouter himself, Keith was particularly proud of Ian’s achievement of being a ‘Queen Scout’.
The Harlequins Club was always central to the Ingram family’s social life. Scotch coached at U-19 rugby level; was a close friend and colleague of the legendary Kitch Christie; Keith played rugby for Quins post school; and often uttered that ‘the Carlton Cup was not for sissies’.
Not insignificantly, Keith remained a loyal Bull supporter throughout his life. “He was an avid sports follower (the Bulls naturally!) and read most newspapers from cover to cover”, Madele recounted.
As Henk Kaal illuminates below, The Pretoria Highlanders played a major role in Keith’s life and he served the regiment with pride and distinction. Both his grooming as a Scout and the School’s ethic contributed to his qualities of an outstanding soldier: decency, courage, easy to work with, self-control, selfless service, honour and personal integrity among others.
His last two years as a boarder in Solomon House arguably also counted for a lot, becoming attuned to house discipline, working seamlessly with the pack, and being self-reliant and obliged to take decisions independently.