PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Dear Old Boy

BOYS HIGH 60 YEARS ON REUNION: 1960 & 1961

Friday 14 May 2021 – what a momentous day!

On this beautiful cloudless day, some 43 of us, including a number of wives and specially invited guests gathered to “meet and greet” in the traditional way over tea on the lawn of Solomon House. Great friendships were renewed and memories rekindled.

Early in 2020 with COVID shutdowns looming, the 1960 organising committee decided to postpone their upcoming event and asked the leader of the 1961 matric group (Doug Henwood) if they could join with them. This decision was warmly welcomed and a combined organising committee set to work with Inge Paulsen-Liddle at the school to search for the respective old boys, send invitations and make other critical decisions.

We were extremely privileged to have Mr Greg Hassenkamp, the new Headmaster, give his whole day to us. His personal taking us on the traditional walkabout through the beautiful grounds was a highlight, giving us interesting, historical and up-to-date commentaries on the school’ s life and development. Thank you so much Headmaster.

Then to tea in the new Bill Schroder library excellently served to us by boys before joining the school seniors for the traditional Friday Assembly. It’ s easy to describe the events of Assembly but not our emotions, feelings of nostalgia, wonder and privilege – surely our most unforgettable experience of the day. We were privileged to have Pieter Cox, a 1961er, and retired CEO and Chairman of Sasol, as our Speaker, addressing his remarks to the boys on the essence of the school’ s historical values and philosophy which established that ethos for which Boys High has become famous: the development of the balanced all-round young man through discipline, culture, desire for knowledge and sport. Boys and staff have come and gone but this ethos and philosophy has tied us to our past and carries the school forwards. Leon Kok expressed his experience this way:

“I believe that apart from re-uniting with a fabulous group of people, the Reunion brought home once again that PBHS remains a pocket of excellence, and has always stood out because of its strong leadership tradition and its capacity to produce balanced individuals – academically, culturally and in the sporting arena. These are the people who go on to become successful and make a difference”.

And then, like hungry schoolboys we walked down to the school central dining hall (what in our day was the bicycle shed). What a privilege to sit down to a marvellous lunch with our fellows and the Headmaster. How wonderful to have Bill Schroder join us for that! Thank you so much Bill. The chatter and reminiscences continued all afternoon before we moved to the front of the school for further fellowship and sherry.

The day concluded at 5.30 pm with The Last Post sounding out from the West Bell tower by a bugler – perhaps a note of sadness to close a remarkable, enjoyable and emotional day.

There are so many to thank, but we wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Old Boys Association, Inge Paulsen-Liddle in particular, the Headmaster and staff, the boys of the PBHS, our special guests and all who attended. Virtute et Labore.

AGM

The date for the Association’s Annual General Meeting has been provisionally set to 28 July 2021. The Board has taken the decision to delay the AGM by a month as we seek to finalise the audits for FY18, FY19 and FY20 so that the audited financials can be circulated with the notice of the meeting.

Life Members of the Association are encouraged to update their details in the interim in order to retain their voting rights for the AGM. Any Members who have not updated their personal details during the period of 28 July 2020 to 14 July 2021 will automatically become Non-Voting Members for the purposes of this year’s AGM. Personal details should be updated on AlumNet, which can be accessed using the following link: https://pbhsoba.alumnet.co.za Should any Member experience any difficulty updating their details, please contact Mrs Paulsen-Liddle in the Association Office.

Members are also notified that the following vacancies will arise at the AGM:

Honorary Treasurer: The Honorary Treasurer is responsible for the financial oversight of the Association and all committees, and chairs the Finance committee. Duties include the preparation and review of monthly management accounts, the annual financial statements, the annual budget and other financial plans, and the review and approval of Association receipts and disbursements.

Flats committee member: The Flats committee is responsible for the protection, optimisation and maintenance of the flats facilities at Hofmeyr Park and the resultant income stream which is the Association’s primary source of revenue. Duties include oversight of the flats Caretaker and other staff, planning and undertaking routine maintenance of and upgrades to the facilities, oversight of the rental collection through correspondence with the agent, and overseeing health, safety and security matters for the facilities.

Benefits committee member: The Benefits committee is responsible for understanding and adapting to the ever-changing need and expectations of the Association’s Life Members in order to ensure that the Association remains relevant to its Members and continues to attract, manage and retain the strong member base. Duties include actively marketing the Association membership, driving events and expanding on regional branch activities.

Social, ethics and compliance committee member: The SECC is responsible for ensuring that the Association adheres to the principles of sound corporate governance and overseeing matters of ethics and legislative compliance. Duties include developing and maintaining codes of best practice and monitoring and reporting on the Association activities in terms of matters of compliance and the adherence to governance principles

Details of the nomination process for filling the above vacancies will be communicated with the formal notice in early July.

FRIDAY ASSEMBLY

21st May 2021
“Make the most of this thing called life”

The sudden passing of one of our teachers, Mr Jaydon Kelly, at the start of this week was again a reminder of how fragile life is and that we can never know for how many years we will live. And so, it is also, I think, a reminder of the need to live life to the fullest.

It has sometimes been suggested that the best life is one where you can look back with few or no regrets. Or, to put it differently: live a life in which you never let down yourself and those around you.

You boys are all close to the beginning of your life, which is why, when I was considering what to talk about this morning to our two junior groups, it seemed appropriate to think about this question, because the sooner you have this perspective, the sooner you might start to do something about it.

So what are the things that you might look back on in maybe 50, 60 or 70 years’ time and regret?
I would like to suggest that among the most likely things are these six:

1st: That you never got to do certain things that were important to you; to achieve certain goals that you set yourself.
2nd: That you never made use of opportunities that were available at a certain stage of your life or that briefly came your way.
3rd: That you treated some people badly.
4th: That you never expressed your appreciation or thanks for what was done for you.
5th: that you allowed some friendships to lapse.
6th: that you neglected your health and that you paid a price for this in later life.

I am not going to say much more about the last four of those because if you value those around you; if you treat all people in the way you would expect them to treat you and if you look after your health, making a genuine effort in these things, then you can very possibly avoid having those four as regrets when you come to the end of your life.

But what about those first two: not achieving goals and not using opportunities?

The first really needs you to think big, maybe dream big, but to also be realistic. Explore your talents and don’ t underestimate your potential.

It was Denis Watley who said: “The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’ t consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way and who will be sharing the adventure with them”.

And that leaves the last possible regret that you could have when your life comes to an end: not using opportunities available to you. At this stage of your life, many, if not most of the opportunities open to you, are there because you are fortunate enough to attend this school. This is a special place in terms of how much is on offer. Boys High currently offers 18 subjects; 15 types of sport; 34 Clubs and Societies, a symphony orchestra, a pipe band and a choir in addition to eight other musical ensembles.

I don’ t know of another school in the country that has that much to offer. When we have old boys groups to visit the school, as we had last Friday with the 60 year on reunion, they are in awe of what you can take part in as a Boys High boy, because back in their day, most of these things simply did not exist.

It is really no use for you to look back one day and think “why didn’ t I make more of the opportunity I was given – in the classroom; on a sports field; in some or other cultural pursuit?” At that stage it is too late – the chance has passed and you have a regret instead of the memories of being part of something good and having a sense of achievement. As one of the lines in the song Forty Years On, sung at all old boys reunions, reminds us : “Feeble of foot and rheumatic of shoulder, what will it help you that once you were strong?”

The biggest advantage you have at this point in your life is that you are young and that you are blessed to have these Boys High opportunities presented to you.

WM Lewis once said: “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon but that we wait so long to begin it”. Gentlemen, my appeal to you this morning is: don’ t let that be true of you.

Mr Kelly, whose life was cut short this week, was a busy and involved man and I would like to think that he lived a full life in the years that were granted to him.

John Illsley
SECOND MASTER

PBHS NEWS

Nine PBHS climbers competed in the Gauteng Climbing Provincial League. There were three disciplines in which they could enter; Speed, Boulder and Lead.

Six of our climbers were placed and have qualified for the National Competition and selection event for the Youth World Championship which will be held in Russia in July. The climbers in the under 15 section are Ben Cloete and Adam Isebeck. In the under 17 section Nicholas Cibulka and Raphael Gibberd. Loren Ehlers and Edward Harvey qualified in for under 19.

Loren Ehlers, our vice-captain placed 1st overall in the under 19 male competition, 2nd in speed, 3rd in boulder and 1st in lead.

Edward Harvey, our Captain, placed 2nd in boulder and 3rd in lead for the under 19 males.

Nicholas Cibulka placed 1st in Boulder and Lead for the under 17 males.

Raphael Gibberd placed 3rd in Boulder and 2nd in Lead for the under 17 males. Ben Cloete placed 2nd in Boulder u15, 4th in Lead and 3rd in Speed.

TODAY

1 January 2000

Can you feel this excitement
Radiating from something new?

The finer details of the master plan
revealed openly as public knowledge
In the longest second of history.

The cloudburst
The wind
The cold

The warmth.

Everybody discovers himself again in the
Lights covering the horizon.
The skyline of celebration stings my eyes
Explodes.

Sharing the mirth of a new revelation,
Breaking into something we don’ t know anything about
Together.
A little scared.

The long anticipation causes
Bubbling over, strange reactions in the overwhelming emotions
that leave some of us a little empty
a little disappointed.

But we can’ t turn back now.
It’ s here, it’ s today.

My head still aches in the blinding yet far-awaynewness
That is born in this sunrise. Welcome to the 21st century.

Jaco van der Merwe Form IV – The Pretorian 2000

LETTERS

Dear Old Boys,

I came across this picture of Sunnyside athletic team 1966.

Gary Levy
Matric class 1970

Dear members,

Thank you for the invite.
Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the Annual Old Boys Dinner in June.
Travelling from Europe is at this moment in time not advisable.
I would have loved to be present to meet other old boys and to hear the lecture on the Veldskoen adventure.

As an ex-Marketing executive I was very impressed with the product and its presentation.

Good to read that old boys of PBHS cannot only build cars and rockets but also have a heart for the primary needs in life such as shoes and as we say in Holland: ‘Blijf met beide voeten op de grond staan’.

I wish you all a very entertaining evening and a tasty dinner. Enjoy.

Regards, Hans Verburg

Class of ’59
Veldhoven – The Netherlands

I attended PBHS from 79-81, before my family moved to the USA. This picture of my classmates was taken in June 1981 by Cecil Barry (I am also including one with my photo circled). My name is Guillermo Christensen. I would love to try to reconnect with any of my classmates now – is it possible to post the photo and this request?

Back then I went by William Christensen (Guillermo was tough to pronounce).

I went back to the school in 1979 (Mr. Armstrong was still headmaster) when I was at the US Embassy in Cape Town. Have not been able to visit again unfortunately.

Thank you!
Guillermo Christensen

The Sixty Sixers donated some funding and timber for the refurbishment of the Old Music Room and invited woodwork master, Mr Paul Ewart Phipps to report back over lunch, on the beautiful work he has done to date.

Regards,

OJF
Owen Frisby

IN MEMORIAM

THE PASSING OF MR JAYDON KELLY

It is with great sadness that the school announces that one of our teachers who was serving as a boarding house assistant housemaster, passed away in his sleep last night.

Mr Jaydon Kelly joined the staff of Pretoria Boys High School in January 2007 and served as the Head of Department of the Business Studies Department from the time of his appointment until the present. From 2008, Mr Kelly served as an assistant housemaster in School House. His interest in the business world led him to establish and run the school’s Business Club, which has had a great success in the JSE Investment Challenge for school pupils. In addition, he was an enthusiastic rugby and cricket coach.

The sudden passing of this well-liked member of staff has come as a great shock to staff and boys, who were informed at a special assembly today.

Mr Kelly was 45 years old at the time of his passing. He is survived by his parents and a twin brother.

The school extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Kelly.

G J HASSENKAMP
HEADMASTER

(17 May 2021)

PETER CHENEY MOATSHE” aka “CJ” (2007)

CJ’s tuition started much like all of our own, tail between our legs and utterly in awe. He was lucky enough to get picked by the sorting hat to represent the house of Sunnyside.

As far as gentle giants go, CJ was in a class of his own. Soft spoken with a distinctive laugh, he epitomised a true representation of the red, white and green.

2020, Newsletters

Issue 5 2021 – Newsletter