PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
VALEDICTION 2020
I heard a lone trumpet call over the school grounds one afternoon. Around me, all activity had ceased, the roar from the sports field had dissipated into a hushed and sacred silence through scattered calls of the “Last Post!” I looked around me as an inexperienced Form I to find boys of all backgrounds and cultures facing the school building with their hands over their hearts. That was the moment I realised that this was different. Boys High wasn’t just a school. It was a brotherhood, a way of life of which I had become a part of.
Good evening Mr Hassenkamp, staff, honoured guests, parents.. and the matric class of 2020, my fellow pupils, my brothers, Congratulations! We have made it. We have reached the end of our journey on these hallowed grounds. We have survived many things – including older Forms, puberty, hair inspections and Friday detentions. When we entered the school we were big-eyed Form Is looking up in awe at the giant matrics such as William Gersteling. It took us a while to get used to the way of life here at Boys High as we struggled to find our place in this institution. The “Last Post” sounded eerie and strange and had no meaning. It was simply a school tradition of remembering those who had come before us, its melody was as unsure as the uncharted waters before us. But Boys High is filled with the best music, be it the “Last Post”, the rhythm of the gumboot dancers, the bag pipes rehearsing in the forest, or the constant drone of the Star Wars theme played by beginner trombone players.
Another thing that makes Boys High so special is its vast cultural programme. While many rival schools may top us on the sports fields, the Boys High Music Department is arguably the best in the country. The phrase has been used many times, “There is a place for every boy at Boys High. He just needs to find it.” I am very happy to say that I found my place in the ranks of giants. I was not a first team player for any major sports, but I threw myself into the cultural programme of the school. Some of the happiest memories of my time at this school were when I was singing my heart out on stage alongside a hundred or so of my brothers. This camaraderie is something that we all experienced at one time or another, especially next to the sports fields where hundreds upon hundreds of boys would bind in support of those representing them in their first team jerseys. There’s just something that gives me goosebumps every time I hear our war cries echo across the school grounds like a mighty lion roaring, bringing all else to silence.
I would like to quote the words of the prefect whose name was the most difficult to learn, Thobekani Khanyile, affectionately known as TK, the valedictory speaker of 2016 – who also happened to be my boss. He said; “These two things: memories and relationships will mould us and shape us to become the beings we are.”
Form II came around and we all got the standard chip on the shoulder that Form IIs carry with them. Luckily, there were enough Form IIIs to put us back in our places. By the time we reached Form III, most of us had found our place in the school and we started to really throw ourselves into our different activities. The school buildings started to feel like home and the sports fields our backyard. The “Last Post” started to mean more than mere tradition, it became a reflection of our personal experience on a day-to-day basis because our brotherhood had now developed into an unbreakable bond. The Form IV year found us full of energy, vibrance and passion. It was a year full of triumph on the academic, sports and cultural fronts. As we watched the matrics of the previous year leave the school environment to write their examinations, we were more than ready to take our places at the top of the food chain.
We entered matric in a blissful state of comfort, content and excitement. The “Last Post” was a familiar and welcome tune that beat along with our final pace in this race. We were working our legs off in preparation for the rest of the year. But it was not meant to be. Nobody expected the events which took place from March onwards. We, the matric group of 2020 had to watch our hopes and dreams for the year slip away in a complete state of helplessness. Many of us had been working towards goals we had set out for ourselves in Form I. We lost our matric year. There was no Inter-House athletics, no Maritzburg Exchange, no Four Schools’ Concerts, no winter sport season, no annual production and no Affies fixture (where we undoubtedly would have thrashed them on their home ground, on their 100 year anniversary!) For many months, the classrooms were empty, the corridors were silent, and the sports finds were quiet and unoccupied. For months, no “Last Post” resonated over the school grounds.
Although we lost so much, there is a great deal to be thankful for. Let us cast our thoughts to the Valedictory Ceremony of 1945. During World War II, 95 Boys High boys lost their lives. The matric group on 1945 stood broken, with unfillable voids in their ranks. For these brothers there was no future. Of those who survived the horrors of war, many had had their school education so interrupted that they did not complete their school careers.
Look around you. We are surrounded by our brothers, still standing tall and strong. We have a future. I will be watching out for you and you will be watching out for me. I look forward to seeing what we have all become when we meet again on the twisted paths of life or at one of the ten-, twenty-, thirty-, or forty-year-on reunions. No matter what has been taken away from us, the class of 2020 will be remembered as the group that took the hardest punches in the history of the school, but rose, stronger than ever as conquerors. I asked myself a question while I was preparing this speech. What is Boys High? After some contemplation, I came to the conclusion that it was not the name, the grounds, or the school buildings. Boys High is a culture, a way of life, a brotherhood. Boys High is a people. Boys High is everybody in this building. Boys High is the forms below us. Boys High is all who have walked these sacred grounds before us. Boys High is all those, to whom the “Last Post” is not merely a tradition.
After World War I, H.G. Wells said “This was a people’s war” and the “Last Post” became the people’s anthem. Before having the connotation of honouring the fallen, the “Last Post” was played to signal the end of the final sentry duty at the end of the day. Be quiet and listen for a second. Do you hear that? The sports fields have gone quiet, the rest of the school has turned towards to school building with their hands on their hearts, thinking of those who have gone before them – thinking of us. Our “Last Post” is playing, signalling the end of our duty at Boys High. The class of 2020’s years of service have come to an end. We have been fully equipped for battle. All that remains now is for us to take everything we have learned here into the world and make it a better place. It is time that the 2020 battalion leaves the training camp known as Pretoria Boys High School. For “Tis here we learned to live” Boys High!
Brandon Robertson (2020)
THE GRASSHOPPER
I am soft and brown and made of leather. I come as a pair. I often get tied up in knots when I let my friend decide whether to put his left foot or his right foot forward. Even though I am sometimes on my toes, no one can say that I have no sole. The only problem is that normally after six months my friend gets too big for his boots. My only claim to fame is that I have an insect’s name.
Stephen Marlin Form IB – The Pretorian 1991
THE BOYS HIGH PODCAST
A SMOKE BREAK WITH CHALKY
Paul Somerville, better known to Old Boys as the legendary Chalky, reflects on his years at Pretoria Boys High. We revisit all of Chalky ‘s favourite memories from the school stage to the cricket field, and reminisce about the characters that coloured in his experience. Hosted by Nick Dreyer, Nic Latouf, and Ross Zondagh (Three Boys High boys that now sell shoes) Produced by Anna Greenfield
The Boys High Podcast can be found on Spotify, Buzzsprout, Stitcher, and will be available on other podcasting apps like iTunes shortly.
AGM
The date for the Association’s Annual General Meeting has been postponed. 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.
LETTERS
Hi Inge,
I should add 28deg.C warm/hot
greetings ! My veranda thermometer tells me 28 C. Fortunately my apartment is
so designed that I have through draught to kitchen, study and bedroom so that
the air conditioner is “unemployed”. I have some ceiling fans that
are sufficient when required.
I always enjoy reading news about The School that I left that NEVER left me! I
left at the end of 1945.
Fortunately through my work, sport and privately I have been to and seen interesting places and met interesting people. However, with all that my 5 years at Boys High were something special and gave me a good start in life. I’ll leave it at that want ou mense kan baie praat! Coming from the platteland, Standerton I was tweetalig. After leaving school and living in Standerton I “played rugby in Afrikaans”. Then I went to study in Durban I played rugby in English. Some years later living in Springs I became a referee and reffed in Afrikaans and English.
Years later I was in Wales managing the Israel Badminton team at a tournament and the organising chairman asked me on his behalf to welcome the South African team in Afrikaans! At some other tournament I introduced myself as the Israel team manager and was greeted with: You’re joking – with a South African accent! In Holland and Belgium I “modified” my Afrikaans and managed.
In Israel the virus situation was easing and things were becoming a bit normal-whatever that means. However, since Friday there are now strict rules for masks to be worn at all times in public buildings, shops,-anywhere indoors. I have a mask hanging on my front door handle to remind me !
That’s it for now. I hope you and family are fit and well and also for all in South Africa and the world. [what a situation !]
Sincere greetings and alles van die beste from Jeff Geffen, Ashdod, Israel.[Rissik House 1941-1945] Have a Nice Day – Every Day – Jeff
THIRTY MEMORABLE YEARS AS ESTATE MANAGER
February 1991 – June 2021
This all started in 1969 and in itself enabled me to set some sort of record regarding Headmasters I have been involved with. I started under Mr Abernethy, matriculated under Mr Armstrong, returned as Estate Manager under Mr Schroder, Mr Illsley was acting Headmaster until Mr Reeler arrived and now I leave under Mr Hassenkamp.
I arrived as a new boy at School House. Having come from a rural bilingual co-ed school. This was quite a cultural shock.
Being a chronic asthmatic, and medical science not being what it is today led to me spend more time in hospital and sick bay than I did at school. As a result of this I ended up repeating Form I. This did not detract from the initiation we experienced. This was rough at times from warming the toilet seat for your boss in winter irrespective of time of night, sleeping at the end of your bosses bed in winter to keep his feet warm and many other insane events!
One of the major tasks of a Form I one was to keep the coal-fired boiler going to ensure the rest of the boarders had sufficient hot water every evening. The balance of the boarders would in turn make sure they used up all the hot water before the Form I’s came up to shower!
Despite all this, we soon got into the fun of boarding. Building koppie kaya’s – remember there were no staff houses at that time. These structures were used to store excess food and other substances. The food would come from a lucky raid into the boarding house kitchen (each boarding house had their own kitchens) or raids of the neighbouring houses’ orchards. This fruit was used to make home brew in large glass bottles borrowed from the Science and Biology Departments.
Once this concoction had brewed long enough we would spend a Saturday afternoon or Sunday enjoying the fruits of our labour.
If on the odd occasion we felt like a roast chicken we would raid the High Commissioner’s chicken coup and have a roast chicken for Sunday lunch.
As the hormones kicked in we did late night visits to our sisters at Girls High.
Throughout this time as a pupil my love for this amazing school grew stronger and stronger and by the time I matriculated I knew I would like to return at some point in my life. This opportunity presented itself in 1991 when I applied for and was appointed as Estate Manager.
At no stage did I see the appointment as a job, but rather as a privilege, an honour and a challenge, which I took on with all the passion I could.
I took over a very dysfunctional
institution with regards to the state of the facilities and equipment. My
predecessor had left prior to me arriving so I had no one to learn from.
The house I moved into was a one bedroom house in a very poor condition. For
the first 18 months we all slept in one bedroom. Thereafter plans were approved
and two additional bed rooms, a laundry, a separate bathroom and toilet were
added.
And so began thirty years of development, upgrades, purchasing equipment, continually striving for new standards, building a data base of service providers, suppliers, contractors etc. It was also a wonderful family life.
I have listed below some of the projects, upgrades and purchasing of equipment that I was involved with in my 30 years.
Building infrastructure
- The final year of construction of the staff houses
- The completion of the construction of the staff tearoom and adjoining offices
- Central dining room
- Central Laundry
- Conversion of boarding kitchen and laundries to accommodation and ablution facilities
- Conversion of support staff quarters from old style dormitories to individual rooms
- Construction of the Estate Managers office and work shop
- The upper floor of the science block
- The construction of the Media Centre
- Upgrading of the Abernethy Hall.
- Upgrading the two main ablution blocks at the main campus
- Pollock Campus
• The return of Pollock. Initially 16 classrooms
• Construction of classrooms 1 and 2 on existing vacant slabs
• Removal of the dilapidated wood and iron structure and reconstruct which is now rooms 20,21,22
• Remove the asbestos ablution block which was boys and girls and reconstruct the existing block
• Removed asbestos and rebuild what is now rooms 4 to 9
• Ongoing subdivision of halls to get to the present 38 classrooms - New pools pump room
- Water polo pool
- Heating of the water polo pool some years later
- Terracing of the seating on the south side of the top pool
- New clothing shop twice. First where the Sports Department stands and then its current location
- Conversion of the old clothing shop into Sports Department
- Construction of Sanatorium
- Construction of Wilkinson scoreboard
- Closing in / upgrading Somerville upstairs and green room
- Aquatic tuck shop
- Tennis pavilion
- Rugby pavilion
- Rugby hut
- Abernethy Pavilion
- Mulvenna pavilion
- Headmaster’s house
• Conversion of Headmaster’s double garage to family room
• Construction of new double garage
• Installation of new pool
Fields development - Building of the astro
- Widening of the athletic track from four lanes to the present size
- Double the number of artificial nets
- Double the number of turf practice nets
- Turf cricket pitches from 3 to 6
- Rugby fields from 3 to 5
- Soccer from 0 to 3
- Grass hockey from 2 to 3
- Building of Mulvenna field
- Building of Shalang field
- Raising of what was B rugby to the same level of what was C rugby field (now Oehley near and far)
Grounds Equipment - No operational tractor to 4 tractors
- No field mowing equipment to equipment with a replacement value of approximately R 3 000 000
- From surface manually moved irrigation pipes to fully automated underground system
- From marking fields with a bicycle with a tank mounted in the frame to a ride on three-wheeler.
- Drilling of two boreholes to water the fields.
- Drilling two additional boreholes for proposed water project
Other - Concrete palisade fence on the west side
- Steel palisade on east and south
- Reduced access gates from 8 to 4
- Move main entrance from West to East
- Traffic circle at Roper street gate.
Over an extended period like this there were many highs and lows. Outside of all the development mentioned above, some of the other highs were being involved in the preparation of the fields for hospitality tents and parking for the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The 2010 Soccer World Cup led to upgrades like the paving up to Mulvenna, as well the paving to Abernethy field. The flood lights around the fields as well as the streetlights, which were relocated to their present position along main drive after the world cup.
There were obviously also lows. In thirty years, the death of members of the support staff was to be expected. The worst however was the hit on our plumber earlier this year on his way to work and having to address the memorial service.
There were many other incidents that made up for a memorable thirty years, such as taking on would be car thieves and being the resident fire fighter for veld fires and fires in buildings.
Finally, after so many years, one always hopes to leave a legacy. Being a quiet “back room boy” this was always going to be different. I never saw the position of Estate Manager as a prestigious position, but rather a position at a prestigious school. I made it very clear from the start that none of the staff were working for me but with me. I also never expected any of them to climb to places I would not climb to or expect them to do anything I would not do.
Over the years I was able to assist with upskilling staff. I managed to find employment for family members of staff outside of the school. I also had the pleasure of being able to help some of the children of our staff members with their schooling and post matric studies.
At one point one of the ladies was not getting maintenance support from the father of her children. In this case I managed to get a legal firm to take her case on a pro bono basis and the matter was resolved.
My proudest moment dates back to 1998 when a young street kid from Sunnyside approached me for a temporary job. I took him on and could see he was something special. He was eventually appointed permanently and continued to impress.
He went on to get married start a family and enrolled his children at Laerskool Pretoria Oos. All have excelled in their various grades. His eldest is in Form IV at Boys High. Old Boys will be well aware of the state of our sports fields and grounds equipment. All because of the dedication and commitment of Mr Ben Mathebela. The man I have referred to in the story above.
In conclusion, I believe I have left a legacy, and I am confident that I leave this magnificent school in a better state than I found it.
I would like to wish all those that I leave behind all the best for the future and continue to uphold all that is Pretoria Boys High School. Thank you and good-bye.
Patrick Vermeulen (1974)
IN MEMORIAM
HAROLD ALWYN JOHNSON (1962)
DEREK JOHN WETZLAR (1966)
GEORGE ASHTON BELL (1968)
THERESA NOBLE
In Memoriam: Theresa Noble
Theresa Noble, as Biology teacher, Head of Department, and member of the School’s Executive, served Pretoria Boys High School for twenty years between 1972 and 1992.
Theresa is described by her friends, of whom she had many, as a true, faithful and above all, loyal friend. Her loyalty was of that absolute sort which would stick with friends through thick and thin, irrespective of their or her circumstances. In her relationship with people, her somewhat mischievous sense of humour kept everybody’s feet on the ground and well-entertained. Not that everything in her life was easy or simple but it was exactly this sense of humour and boundless optimism that carries her through darker times.
To the hundreds of boys she taught over twenty years, she was a saint. They loved here and her subject and she knew how to get the best out of them whether it be in the classroom, on the stage or in a position of leadership. It was Theresa Noble who drove the development of the cultural activities at the school during the 1980s. This culminated in her being the producer of many annual productions and being the director of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Tom Stoppard) in 1989 – one of the best dramatic production put on stage by the school. She was an especially keen supporter of everything musical at the school. This stands to reason as she was a good choral singer and an organist in the Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn for many years. She always had a kind word for a schoolboy musician.
To her colleagues at school she was a pillar of strength, always ready with an answer in order to lend a hand or solve a problem. Her presence in the School’s Executive was rewarding and her suggestions practical, always giving a subtle feminine touch and providing much needed balance in a male-dominated environment.
Theresa left PBHS to join her long-time friend Jenny Nieser’s NGO, Project Literacy, which took her passion for teaching to the adult-level. She found this work rewarding as she strongly believed in the upliftment of all South African learners, young and old.
Theresa certainly lived up to her surname: always cheerful, full of energy and eternally optimistic – a noble soul indeed, who deserves to rest in peace.
Niel van der Watt
PBHS – July 2021
HAROLD LAWRENCE MILNER (1950)
Dear Sir, Madam
I am writing to inform you that my father, Harold Lawrence Milner sadly passed away on Monday 14 June 2021 in JHB. He attended PBHS from 1947 – 1951 as a border in Solomon House, he’d been an active member of the PBHSOB for as long as I can remember, he regularly attended functions and really looked forward to the dinners which he always attended and his Old Boy tie with pride.
He was born on 13 January 1933 and passed away 14 June 2021. He was 88 years old. Although matriculating 70 years ago, he never lost touch with the school and I think that speaks volumes about PBHS.
Both he and his father Louis Milner (attended 1918 – 1922, he was born in 1904 so that’s my mathematical estimation!) attended the school.
On doing some research I found out that the school was founded by Viscount Alfred Milner…I don’t believe we are related though, although I could be wrong!
Many thanks,
Anthony Milner
Harold Lawrence Milner (Better known as Harry, Larry or Lawrence depending on who you ask) was born in Pretoria, South Africa on 13 January 1933. His father was a doctor and travelled frequently, this led to the family travelling to the United States where Lawrence spent nearly 2 years during the early 1940’s. The journey to the Eastern Seaboard of the US during war time was not without its danger, in fact, the ship that the family travelled across the Atlantic on was later sunk by German U-boats on its return journey after dropping them off.
He and his family returned to South Africa after about a 2-year stay. With the war now over the return journey was far less eventful. Lawrence then went on to attend Pretoria Boys High as a border at Solomon House where he matriculated in 1951.
Lawrence then went onto take a keen interest in music and began to learn how to play the Double Bass, he played both as a jazz musician as well as learning to play classical music.
MASHOME LEBOGANG KATLEGO KHALENA (2005)
Good day
I would like to inform you of the passing of an old boy Mashome Khalena from the class of 2005. Mashome was involved in a car accident on 6 June 2021 in Pretoria.
Kind Regards,
Tebatso Kiewiet (2005)
BRIAN HAYNES-SMART(1970)
Headmaster Desmond Abernethy often referred to the “unknown boy”, with reference to the non-first team sportsman, or the boy who was neither in Form 5A, nor a prefect. Unlikely known to few but his classmates. Sometimes the Boss reference was to the “common boy”, but never disrespectfully, rather extolling the unsung boy as the backbone of the school. Brian Haynes-Smart in 1968, in Form 5, was most likely such a boy.
This all changed as Brian, after spending the better part of 1969 doing his National Service, returned to school in 1970 to Form 5C, to improve his marks. No longer a boy, but now a street wise man, Brian was well known by all in the school as the guy who daily parked his VW Beetle outside Rissik House, (a very handy place to keep all your mates’ smokes, and the latest SCOPE magazine). Brian’s return to PBHS, not only made him classmate of his brother Donald (Don), but in addition my classmate and friend.
ANDRE DU TOIT (1950)
To the editor of PBHSOB Newsletter.
In Memoriam – Obituary notice of Andre du Toit
Our brother , Andre du Toit ( Class of 1950 ) and husband of Sheila du Toit – passed on peacefully on 16th June 2021.
After graduating at Pretoria University with the degree in Quantity Surveying , Andre married Sheila Retief and they relocated to Cape Town. Andre had a hand in the development and construction quantities of numerous of Cape Town’s mid-city buildings- first in partnership and later his own firm of Quantity Surveyors .
Together Andre and Sheila had four daughters’ , who gave them seven grand children ,who have given them much joy and support during their retirement at the Helderberg Village in Somerset West.
Kind Regards,
Michael E du Toit (Class of 1956)
HUGO BARNARD LAMBRECHTS (1959)
OBITUARY, 7th May 1940 – 21st October 2020 Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Hugo Barnard Lambrechts, one of Port Alberni’s best-loved veterinarians, died at the time of God’s choosing on October 21st, 2020 at the age of 80. After a long goodbye, he died peacefully at home.
Hugo was born in Umtata, Transkei,
South Africa. From boyhood he loved nature and when his mother called him to do
chores at home, often escaped into the bush.
When he was a teen the family moved to Pretoria. The big city was a shock to
his psyche: More escapes to the bush, especially during the summer holidays
where he would accompany his father, also a veterinarian. After matriculation
he followed in his father’s footsteps and studied at Onderstepoort, the
veterinary faculty of the University of Pretoria.
JOHN DUDLEY EGERTON AYLWARD (1958)
1941 -2021
Dudley passed away peacefully at Amber
Valley, Howick, on the 19th May 2021.
I first met Dudley at Solomon House in 1954. and have had the privilege of
calling him my good friend for 67 years.
Our 5 years together at Solomon House were memorable in many ways, especially when it came to sharing hours on the sport fields together.
Dudley played in the 1st XV rugby side for two years and captained the side in 1958. He went on to play for the under 19 Natal side whilst at Maritzburg University. In addition to his rugby skills he also played in the 1st XI cricket side, and went on to represent the North Eastern Nuffield side, which proudly included 7 players from our PBHS 1st team.
I was fortunate to share a study with Dudley in our matric year. He was so patient and tried really hard to teach me Maths – all to no avail. As prefects we were given a degree of responsibility and privilege that year, and it proved to be a particularly bonding period in our friendship. I got to know Dudley’s more serious, caring and conscientious side.