PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Dear Old Boy

Dave Sampson matriculated from Pretoria Boys High School in 1996 and was in Hofmeyr House. Dave was a keen and talented sportsman and played for the first XI from 1994 until matric, and at his debut recalls taking 5 wickets!

“In a game against Affies in Form IV, we were chasing down a total just over 200. I remember us being about 30 – 5, and I managed to make a 70 to help the team get over the line… from recollection, we were 9 down and John Smit hit the winning runs. Any win in any sport against our ‘neighbours / rivals’ was special!”

In Matric Dave played played golf and remembers he was fortunate enough to play the odd game for the First Rugby team. His fondest memory is running out on Brooks against Affies. “.. but that’s where the fond memory ends from that game, as we got well and truly beaten (and I had a shocker) Nonetheless, it was still an amazing experience.”

For Dave, his schooling career “was mainly all about the sport” and the school’s cricket professional at the time, Jim Pressley, who played for Glamorgan and England and also happened to be a slow left arm spin bowler, was probably his biggest sporting inspiration.

“Boys High gives everyone the opportunity to grow and become whoever they choose. The school helps all its pupils to become well rounded, ‘good’ people.”

In 1995 and 1996 Dave received Full Colours for cricket and was the captain of the Northerns U19 cricket team. In Matric, he was the First Team cricket captain, was a school prefect and the deputy head of Hofmeyr House.

At school Dave was good friends with the two Sommerville boys. “As they lived on the school property, we would spend many an hour after school playing all sorts of sports games in their garden.. mainly ruining the garden to Mrs Somerville’s displeasure! The whole family took all their friends in, like their own. They were and are special people.”

On the note of friends, Dave says that the biggest thing he has cherished from his school days are his friends. “We don’t keep in touch as much as we should or would like, but you really do make friends for life while there.”

Dave went on to study at the University of Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and completed a BA in Building Arts and BA in Building Architecture in 2000 and 2002 respectively.

“The education and upbringing we received at Boys High was second to none. The quality of teachers, and facilities, both culturally and sporting wise, were unbelievable and I believe Hofmeyr Oval is still the best school cricket ground I have ever seen!”

In early 2003 he moved back to the UK and spent six months working as the cricket analyst for Surrey County Cricket Club, prior to joining a London based architectural firm as a Design Associate, where he was involved in design detailing, production of working drawings, and project facilitation.

In 2002, Dave was the successful winner of the Golf World Design-A-Hole Competition, which led to him joining European Golf Design as a Design Associate in late 2004. In 2008, he was promoted to the position of Designer, and is now directly responsible for project designs, management, supervision and on-site construction inspections.

“Boys High gave me the solid grounding and confidence to go out and chase my dreams.”

He has also recently completed the design and construction works on the redevelopment of the Evian Golf Course, France, in preparation for the Evian Championship, the new 5th major on the LPGA tour.

In 2009, Dave completed design works on the Safaa Golf Course at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. His other project in the region, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club at King Abdullah Economic City, has recently won awards for, ‘Best in Saudi Arabia”, ‘Best in Arabia” & ‘Best International” Leisure Development 2016-2017’ at the prestigious International Property Awards.

A senior Member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, Dave is presently working on design projects in the UK, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman and France.

Dave recollects: “Our Final Assembly is a day that has lived with me. I recall having tears flooding down my face, but weirdly, I look back on that memorable and emotional occasion with immense pride and fondness. It was the culmination of the ‘special experience’ that is going to school at Boys High.”

Click here to read more about Dave and European Golf Design >>

PBHSOB CHESA NYAMA

Old Boys are invited to the first ever Old Boys Chesa Nyama at Jackbudha Lounge in Mamelodi.

Come enjoy some braai meat, a drink and some good company in one of Pretoria’s more popular establishments.

Date: Saturday 4 March 2017
Venue: Jackbudha, Mashabela Street, Mamelodi
Time: 12:00-17:00
RSVP: 24 February 2017
Address: Thomas Rundle – PBHSOB Association Chairman, Tony Reeler – PBHS Headmaster, Goitse Konopi (2009) – Associate Researcher in the Office of the Presidency for the National Planning Commission

• Complimentary welcome drinks
• Cash bar available
• Plates of braai meat will be sold from R70
• There will be two screens showing the Soweto Derby (Chiefs vs Pirates) @ 15.30pm, Liverpool vs Arsenal @ 17:00pm.
• Old Boy DJ’s will be on the deck: Chris K, Timo, Slip Inc, Smokes and others.

R50 discount both ways for Old Boys who will attend using the Taxify App. Download their app on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Promotional code will be provided in ticket booking.

Click here to make a booking for this event. For more information, please visit: pbhsob.com
or contact the convenor Aphile Molefe: aphilem@gmail.com

This event is only open to Old Boys of Pretoria Boys High School and booking is essential.

A LOOK BACK..

Old Boys from the 80’s are requested to please send us stories and recollections of Masters who taught them during this time. We would like to publish some of these in the next email newsletter.

Please email info@pbhsob.com or simply reply to this email.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

In the first week in September the school production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s light opera, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ was presented in our Hall. It had been the intention to have four performances, but the booking proved to be so heavy that it was necessary to run the play for the entire week and on each night the Hall was full and the audience appreciative. It was a pleasure to see among our visitors the Rt. Hon. JH Hofmeyr and his mother the Acting Director of Education and Mrs Otten, Mrs HHG Kreft, Mr and Mrs JC Markotter, Mr and Mrs Murray de Villiers and Mr and Mrs BO Meyer besides a large number of other well-wishers among them many parents, Old Boys and scholars from other Pretoria high schools, who came in force to support our effort.

Mr Elwyn Davies as Producer and Musical Director, is to be congratulated on a first-rate performance. It was largely the result of his careful training, inspiration and sustained enthusiasm that the efforts of his big band of helpers were crowned with success. To many in the audience this year’s show recalled Mr Davies’s previous productions of ‘The Mikado’ and ‘The Gondoliers’ in those far-off, happy days before the war. In many ways ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ equalled, if, indeed, it did not excel the School’s productions of eight and nine years ago. It certainly helped us to recapture something of the spirit of those more carefree times. Indeed it was from every point of view a happy show.

The success of the production depended on the help of so many people, who did much unselfish and efficient work either behind the scenes or in the auditorium. In training the performers Mr Davies was assisted by Mr Howell, the chorus master; Mr Fair, who coached the performers in their dialogue parts; Miss Niven, Mr Jones and Frank Phillips, the rehearsal pianist, and by Derrick Lewis, the correpetitor.

The attractive costumes worn by General Stanley’s numerous daughters were largely the work of Mrs de Villiers and Miss Meuwsen, while these ladies, with Mr de Villiers, Mr Jack Kennedy and other willing helpers were also responsible for the effective make-up. The two pleasing sets, “A Rocky Seashore’ and ‘A Ruined Chapel’ were painted by the boys of the art classes under direction of Mr Battiss. The stage manager, Mr Fraser, ably assisted by Maritz, Cilliers, Weir, Cohen, Profitt, Rose-Innes and Opperman, did yeoman work behind the scenes, as did Mr Brooks and his assistants, McQueen, O’Sullivan, Matus, Sutter, Stein, Kirchoff, Hamilton, Meyer, Dengler and Fair, in controlling the complicated lighting arrangements, while Messrs. Hendry, Buchner and Candy looked after the cast’s extensive wardrobe. In the House itself, Mr Hofmeyr, Mr Garson and their staff of ushers expeditiously seated the large audiences, while a special word of praise is due to the boys responsible for parking over a hundred cars each evening in our somewhat limited space. A number of mothers sold refreshments and sweets each evening in aid of the War Memorial Fund.

The Orchestra, comprising boys and girls and old pupils from the two high schools and some parents of pupils, gave a fine performance from the Overture to the Finale. Derrick Lewis of Form III conducted the Overture each evening and, owing to the indisposition of Mr Davies, conducted the entire performance on the first night with signal success.

Each of the principals deserves a special word of praise, for every one of them rose to the occasion magnificently. John Spence, who more than fulfilled the promise he showed last year as the Judge in ‘Trial by Jury” was “the very model of a modern Major-General” as understood in Victorian days. In this difficult introductory song and in the dialogue his diction was clear, while in the second act his rendering of the song ‘Sighing softly to the river, Comes the loving breeze’ was particularly charming. In this he was well supported by the male chorus.

Lyndon Bowker used his powerful voice to good effect as the Pirate King. He acted well throughout and from first to last made one feel it was “a glorious thing to be a Pirate King.” Herbert Lamont played the long and arduous role of Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice, very creditably indeed, while Eric Klein as Ruth, the Pirate Maid of all work, interpreted the part in the true Savoy tradition. His voice was true and his diction always clear and he captured the comic side of the role admirably.

Owing to the unfortunate illness of Gustav Heinze, the part of Mabel, the leading lady, was taken on different occasions by Gustav Heinze and his understudy, Ebbie Krohn

One can pay both boys no greater compliment than to say that they played Mabel with equal charm. They were good to look upon and sang delightfully.

Edith, another of the General’s attractive daughters, was played on alternate nights by Manfred Schorman and Roy Snyman.

They both did well in this role, but the latter sang and acted with such delightful verve that he was certainly the discovery of the show.

The Chorus work was one of the special attractions of this year’s opera. General Stanley’s numerous daughters, all of whom were dainty and pretty, captured many hearts besides those of the Pirates and their first appearance on the stage caused quite furore every evening. The Pirates – a ferocious looking lot – were ably led by Ernest Jones as Samuel, the Pirate Lieutenant, and sang most efficiently from their first rousing song to the last; while the Policemen in the second act, under the able leadership of Jose Gobetz as their Sergeant, quite stole the show during their two appearances on the stage. What they lacked in courage and native intelligence was more than made up by their sense of Gilbertian humor!

Chorus of General Stanley’s daughters: Sugarman, Scott, Dyer, Willis, Kuit, Schorman, Pickard, Falkson, Mellor, Smith, van Rooyen, Cohen, Oosterbroek, Collins, Walker, Laredo, Esser, Gast, Russell, Amm, Fourie and Spanner.

Chorus of Pirates: Hudson, Steyn, van den Aardweg, Vlok, van Reenen and Beguin.

Chorus of Policemen: Webb, Serfontein, de Beer, Kaplan, Woodland, Brink, Humphreys, Jaffe, Shearer, Beeton and van Bergen (also Pirates in Act I)

Seldom have school performances been such as enthusiastically received and obviously so much enjoyed by the audiences that filled our Hall night after night. And somehow the actors and actresses, both principals and chorus, managed to give the impression that even if the audience were enjoying the show, they were enjoying it themselves even more. Undoubtedly they were and in their obvious enjoyment lay much of the success of this year’s opera. Congratulations to you all from the whole School.

– M.S.G. (The Pretorian 1947)

The fiftieth anniversary of the first production of Pirates of Penzance at Pretoria Boys High School was probably tackled with as much enthusiasm as the 1947 one, directed by Mr Elwyn Davies.

The 1997 cast, was however, much larger with a total of 130 boys involved in all aspects of the play, on-stage, back-stage and orchestra. It was perhaps this aspect where virtually everyone was offered “his place in the spotlight”, that made it especially worthwhile.

The number of pirates grew from seven in 1947 to thirty in 1997 and the Major-General’s family increased by almost the same proportion. Nevertheless, a Gilbert and Sullivan seems to have a timeless appeal, and this brought back eleven members of the 1947 cast and nearly 100 Old Boys and their wives for their “50 Year-On Reunion”.

A memorable event on the Friday evening took place when Mark Edge, a policeman in the 1997 production, could welcome his grandfather, Mr Leon Vlok onto the stage. Leon was a pirate in the 1947 production. He was joined on stage by Mr Scott, Mr Kuit, Mr Cilliers, Mr Hudson, Mr Beguin, Dr Sterfontein, Mr Kuyper, Mr Ernest Jones and Mr Francis Phillips who led the cast and audience on the piano for the singing of the finale. As the director of the Pirates of Penzance, it was a pleasure for me to work with these remarkable young men. To see them develop their characters and create those ‘special moments’ which made the effort worthwhile. The 19 staff worked together as a team, well managed by Des Sinovich.

– Tracey van den Aardweg (The Pretorian 1997)

“Breathe!” said Ms Hornsveldt, yet again, as if breathing were somehow the meaning of life itself. So I breathed, again and then I forgot again. How was I going to get through an entire production (and that song), Ms Hornsveldt, our Lady Conductor, politely asked, if I did not breathe? She needn’t have worried though; there were times I practically hyper-ventilated. I will carry this memory, and others, with me forever.

I will remember the gaggle of lead females fussing over their hair, their dresses, their lipstick – “Do you think this cherry colour suits me?” – and their words; I will remember Mr van der Watt, with a sadistic (yet oddly artistic) grin, re-arranging my face, most of the time with make-up and I will remember a primary school boy wanting to ask Edith out. He soon found out, however, that her real name was Sean and she, a he, was not interested. I also learnt two things; firstly it is a glorious thing to be a Major-General, and nogal fun and secondly – most importantly – when in doubt look at Ms Hornsveldt and BREATHE!

-Roy Havemann (The Major-General)

Mabel Says..
Being a girl in a Boys High production is probably one of the hardest roles to perform. It was a totally new experience for most of us and the mere thought of going on stage in front of 1000 people in a girl’s costume was enough to scare anyone away, but most of us stayed right through to the end. It took a lot of practice to get more or less in tone for the higher notes, but we managed to pull it off in the end. The reaction from the audience was quite positive.
– James Rushton (Mabel)

Source: The Pretorian 1947 & The Pretorian 1997

PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Pretoria Boys High School is extremely proud of the following results from the Top 20 Athletics meet held earlier in February.

Gold Medals:
Kuda Musanhu (U19 Triple Jump)
Matthew Joubert (U17 100m & 200m)

Silver Medals:
Timothy Glatthaar (U15 Long Jump)
Kieron Nicol (U17 Triple Jump)
Matthew Forrester (U17 1500m)
Alan Perfect (U19 Shotput & Javelin)
Costa Avvakoumides (U19 Long Jump)

Bronze Medals:
Kuda Musanhu (U19 Long Jump)

In total, PBHS won 3 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze medal for a total medal tally of 10.
PBHS was placed 8th out of the 20 boys schools participating.

Well done to all the boys who participated!

Congratulations to Evan Fair (Form V Hofmeyr) who came 2nd in the RoodeBronx 1.5km Open Water Swim at Bronkhosrstbaai on the 29th of January.

Next to him is Old Boy Neil Fair (2015) who came first in the same race. The brothers are preparing for their swim at Midmar Dam on the 11th of February 2017.

On Monday 20th February 2017, the Pretoria Boys High School B Swimming Team participated in the Inter High B League Gala at Hillcrest Pool. The boys swam with such passion and such devotion and it paid off enormously, with the results being as follows:

1st – PBHS B
2nd – Menlopark B
3rd – Overkruin
4th – Affies
5th – Garsfontein
6th – Montana
7th – Oos Moot
8th – Tygervalley
9th – Woodhill College

AS SPOTTED ON CAMPUS..

The 2017 Form I’s get an unexpected war cry surprise from the matrics, again proving what a special school Pretoria Boys High School is. Many thanks to Corli Janse van Rensburg for permission to share her video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGA8gNV0P4I&feature=youtu.be

Click here or on the link above to view the video
on the official PBHSOB Association YouTube Channel

The 2017 Form I’s singing Five Hundred Faces to the school

https://youtu.be/fsWGUW7v6dE

Click here or on the link above to view the video
on the official PBHSOB Association YouTube Channel

Five Hundred Faces

Five hundred faces, and all so strange!
Life in front of me – home behind.
I felt like a waif before the wind
Tossed on an ocean of shock and change.
Yet the time may come, as the years go by,
When your heart will thrill
At the thought of the Hill,
And the day that you came so strange and shy.

A quarter to seven! There goes the bell!
The sleet is driving against the pane:
But woe to the sluggard who turns again
And sleeps not wisely but all too well!
Yet the time may come, as the years go by
When your heart will thrill
At the thought of the Hill,
And the pitiless bell with its piercing cry

Five hundred faces alive with glee!
Trials are over; the term is done,
With all its glory and toil and fun;
And boyhood’s a dream of the past for me!
Yet the time may come, though you scarce know why,
When your eyes will fill
At the thought of the Hill
And the wild regret of the last good-bye!

E Howson and J Farmer

OLD BOYS IN THE NEWS

LETTERS

Dear Sirs,

I have received a copy of your paper from Ken Lodge with whom I am in contact at golf club events here in Lancashire- a chance meeting when we discovered we were both Old Boys of PBHS [not at similar times as I am alas a bit more long in the tooth] In this latest copy I read news of a very good old chum and was overjoyed to hear about Keith Gibbs. I would hope you can convey my regards and very best wishes. Like him I am married for a second time. [I lost my first wife nearly ten years ago and after some time as a widower I was lucky enough to meet and marry another wonderful person to keep me on the straight and narrow] I was at the best of the houses [Rissik] while Keith was not a boarder but as he sat in the next desk I was prepared to speak to him! We were good friends and shared many a tasty bun bought from Ma Tammy in the break midmorning. The table in the Quad was a very important port of call in either of the two breaks we had during school.

The Photo of the prefects in 1952 was full of nostalgia for me. Most of them had been classmates at some stage or fellow Rissikites. I was in S.A. recently and stayed with Ed Krohn who kindly entertained me right royally when I went to visit my younger brother in Hermanus who was celebrating his eightieth birthday. Ed Ainge kept in touch via E-mail ’til sadly he passed on, not too long ago. I will long remember him on stage in Gilbert and Sullivan in the School opera.

I am enjoying retirement after 47 years in practice finally as senior physician in W. Lancs Health Authority – it is bliss being able to ignore the telephone!

My good wishes to all associated with our dear old school, most sincerely
Giles Sechiari 1951

BOYS HIGH BOOKIE

IN MEMORIAM

JACOBUS FERDINAND JAN DRAGT (1946)

It is with regret that I have to advise you that my brother Jacobus Ferdinand Jan Dragt passed away on the 21st December 2016.

He matriculated at the end of 1946. He was a keen hockey player and a fanatic speed boat pilot, in which sport he earned Transvaal colours.

After school he joined the staff of the Johannesburg Building Society where he met his wife to be,Doris Joyce Dorling. After a few years he tried his hand at running his own business but returned to banking when he joined the then South African Building Society in Durban.

He leaves two sons with their families and five grand children. At the end of 1989 he retired to Port Shepston on the south coast of Natal. When his wife passed away in 2012 he returned to Durban where he passed away due to poor circulation problems.

Andre R Dragt (Matric 1957)

JOHN WILLIS EWART HOLLELY (1959)

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of John Hollely on the 1st of February this year at the age of 74. He was a prefect, he matriculated in 1959 and was the Dux of the school that year.

He graduated from UCT with a B.Sc Hon. degree in Mathematics in 1963. He was a very good golfer and played for Northern Transvaal and Western Province. He lived and worked in South Africa, England, United States and The Netherlands. His last employment was as General Manager and Europe Marketing Manager for Kumba International BV when he was based for eight years in Amsterdam.

He retired with his wife, Margie, to Plettenberg Bay in 2008. One of their favourite pastimes was visiting many of the game reserves in South Africa. He was also very actively involved with the NSRI.

John was, without doubt, a very special and caring husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and brother. All who knew him were immensely impressed by his humble and caring attitude to life and people. He was a very proud Old Boy of Pretoria Boys High.

– Peter Hollely

WALTER HEYMAN EDELSTEIN (1945)

Wally, as he was fondly known by most people, attended PBHS from 1941 to 1945. He sadly passed away on 3 November 2016, aged 87 years. He started at PBHS as a boy of 12 years old and matriculated at such a young age that he was not able to attend the army or do military service. He followed in his father’s footsteps (Robert) who also matriculated in 1914 from PBHS and similarly as his father, became an attorney and thereafter an advocate. His son, Alan, matriculated in 1974, also from PBHS.

Wally practised as an advocate for over 17 years, after completing his legal education at TUKS. He left the bar and joined the side bar where he practised as an attorney until he retired in 2008.

He was highly respected in the legal profession and gave mentorship and guidance to many legal practitioners over the years, many of whom are still practising law today.

In 1982 when his son, Alan, was admitted as an attorney, there were three generations of Edelstein’s then practising as attorneys in Pretoria.

The legacy he leaves will be sadly missed by all and his sharp mind, blue eyes and wit will be remembered for years to come.

– Alan Edelstein