PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
UPDATE ON OLD BOY ADAM NUNN’S MULTI-COUNTRY CYCLING TOUR
Since the beginning of 2022 we have been reporting on the round-the-world cycling tour of Old Boy Adam Nunn (School House, 2012).
Together with his friend Ron Rutland, Adam is undertaking a 45 000 km cycling trip which is taking them through 48 countries on six continents with the end destination being the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) in France.
The charities which will benefit from this challenging endeavour are ChildFund Rugby, the official charity partner of the 2021 RWC and various Sport for Development programmes supported by the 2023 RWC.
The latest update received from Adam and his team included photos of his recent meetings with three other PBHS Old Boys: “Since leaving Jakarta, we have cycled across the Indonesian islands of Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa. After Ron fell ill on Sumbawa, we had to take a 96-hour ferry ride to the island of Timor where we needed to get into Timor-Leste and catch a flight from Dili to Darwin, Australia.
When we arrived in Australia we had a 3000 km trek across the outback which was gruelling in the seasonal headwinds. We eventually made it to Townsville and we then cycled along the Queensland coastline towards Brisbane where I met up with Aymar Heyns (2013 – Rissik). We then went to Fiji by plane to visit a few rugby programmes and I was lucky enough to meet up with Alessio Valente (2016 – Abernethy). Our flight back from Fiji saw us returning to Brisbane, and we then cycled towards Sydney along the New South Wales (NSW) coastline. We arrived in Sydney on 3 September 2022 where we watched the Springboks take on the Wallabies (the Springboks won, which was epic!).
After a great fundraiser dinner in Sydney we headed to Invercargill, New Zealand. Our journey will see us cycle from the most southern town of the South Island to the top of the South Island of New Zealand, from where we plan to take a ferry into Wellington Saturday (24 September) and meet up with old boy Jean Terblanche (2016 – School House) – (See updated photo just received from Adam hereunder).
After a much needed break in Wellington we plan to head to Whangarei and then back down to Auckland to finish off the Race To Rugby World Cup 2021 (Playing in 2022).
If possible, please could you help us with our fundraising efforts and visit the website racetorugbyworldcup.com and donate to ChildFund Rugby”.
Their Indonesia video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/EvNYiMVFbwQ
PBHS OLD BOYS RUGBY JERSEYS
The Old Boys Association has partnered with Old School, one of the largest e-commerce stores in the country, to create a custom Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys rugby jersey. The rugby jersey is available on a pre-order basis on the Old School website https://oldschoolsa.com/collections/custom-jerseys/products/pretoria-boys-high
*Use the discount code PBHSOB1 to get R100 off* 🏉
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDED TO PBHS STAFF MEMBERS
The Chairman of the PBHSOB Association, Jason Webber, awarded seven Pretoria Boys High School staff members with Honorary Life Membership badges on Friday, 4 August 2022.
These honorary appointments serve as recognition from the Old Boys Association and acknowledges the contributions the recipients have made to the school. The appointments were ratified by the Association’s Board of Directors.
In terms of the awards criteria, the Association Directorate may confer an honorary life membership to any member of the teaching staff or administrative/support staff of Pretoria Boys High School if they have continuously served at the school for a period of five years.
Life membership was awarded to:
- Mr WJ Geldenhuys
- Mrs JG Wallace
- Mr HS Pretorius
- Mrs I Tucker
- Mrs MC Vukeya
- Mrs T Segaar, and
- Mr J Venter
PBHSOB ASSOCIATION’S BOARD ADDRESSES 2022 FORM V BOYS
On Wednesday, 10 August 2022, two of the Association’s directors, Karabo Matang (Sunnyside, 2008) and Kyriacos Floudiotis (Rissik, 2009) addressed the Class of 2022 to introduce them to the Old Boys’ Association and its aims and objectives.
There was great enthusiasm amongst the Form V boys and over 70 have already signed up and will become “Old Boys” of the Class of 2022. We are looking forward to receiving more applications after prelims and the matric dance and seeing dozens of young men wearing their coveted Old Boys ties in 2023.
REUNION NEWS
Since the July 2022 edition of the newsletter, three reunions have been hosted and thoroughly enjoyed by all Old Boys.
10 Years On – The Class of 2012 reunited at assembly on Friday, 12 August 2022 and at a black-tie dinner on Saturday, 13 August 2022. Our sincere thanks to the reunion convenors Daniel Swiegers and Matt Schiff for ensuring that almost 80 Old Boys had the opportunity to re-connect with each other and their school.
50 Years On – Old Boys from all over the country and different parts of the globe were reunited on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August 2022 as the Class of 1972 celebrated their 50 Years On Reunion. A group of over 40 Old Boys attended a special assembly on the Friday and were joined online by another 40 when the assembly was live-streamed via YouTube. On Saturday night, 27th August, Lord Peter Hain joined the group at a black-tie event in the main dining hall of PBHS and each Old Boy was gifted a signed copy of his book A Pretoria Boy.
You are invited to watch the video of the reunion as kindly provided by convenor Gavin Beckwith: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeIH8dxTCZNXZT75-ej2RAA
30 Years On – Convenor Chris Oberholzer made sure that the Class of 1992 enjoyed their 30 Year On Reunion at PBHS on Friday and Saturday, 2 & 3 September 2022. From early morning tea on Friday morning, followed by a tour of the school, assembly and a braai at the Old Boys Club, to a memorable black-tie dinner on Saturday night, each moment was a celebration of Pretoria Boys High School and school days!
Reunion dates 2023
| Reunion | Date | Convenor |
| 60 Year On Class of 1963 | Friday, 19 May 2023 | Louis von Broembsen Pieter Grey |
| 20 Year On Class of 2003 | Saturday, 22 July 2023 | Doug Saxby |
| 10 Year On Class of 2013 | Saturday, 12 August 2023 | Connor Henry |
| 50 Year On Class of 1973 | Friday & Saturday 25 and 26 August 2023 | Eric Johnson |
| 30 Year On Class of 1993 | Friday & Saturday 8 and 9 September 2023 | Greg Fisher |
| 40 Year On Class of 1983 | Friday & Saturday 27 and 28 October 2023 | Dave Gleeson |
BRANCH VISITS
KwaZulu-Natal Branch Event
On Friday, 16 September 2022 a branch get-together was held at the Greyhound Pub at Kearsney College at 13:00. The PBHSOB Association Chairman Jason Webber and PBHS’s Headmaster Greg Hassenkamp were in attendance to promote and encourage participation in Old Boys’ Activities. Many thanks to Old Boy Peter Kirsten for convening and hosting the lunch and to all those who took time out of their busy schedules to attend.
IN MEMORIAM
Michael Robin Hugh Shorney (Solomon, 1950)
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Robin Shorney, at the end of August 2022.
He has unfortunately been suffering ill health and been in and out of hospital the past three years. Although his body was failing him his mind was as sharp as ever.
Dad was extremely proud of having attended PBHS and was actively involved in Old Boys activities. He has been organiser of regular PBHSOB functions in KZN since at least the mid 90’s.
He excelled at School and loved his sport. He captained the School Cricket XI and was selected to represent North Eastern Transvaal for the Nuffield cricket week. He also played for the 1st Rugby XV, was a school prefect and as such, “was respected and admired, both by staff and boys” (as taken from his School leaving testimonial, dated 11th Dec. 1950).
He was a man who was both humble and generous in equal measure. He spoke passionately about his time at School and always maintained that School gave him the foundation to become the man he was – respected, admired and loved.
Richard Shorney
Raymond “Buddy” Hinds (Rissik, 1957)
Dear PBHS and Old Boys Association
It is with sadness that I would like to inform you of the passing Raymond Basil Hinds (“Buddy”) in the early hours of Monday morning, 12 September 2022. He matriculated at PBHS in 1958 and was also the captain of the 1st Rugby Team (scrum half). He always held a very strong loyalty and love for PBHS and would fondly remember his years there and the many memories he had made at school.
The world will be empty without him!
Monique Holtzhausen
Andrew Basil Swart (1959)
Dear Pretoria Boys High Alumni
It is with sadness that I send the news that Andrew Basil Swart passed away at the age of 80 on the 1st of September following an 8 month post-stroke experience.
Andrew matriculated from Pretoria Boys’ High School in 1959. He was Captain of the Shooting team and Regimental Quarter-Master’s Sergeant.
Je’anna Clements
Graham Alan Prime (1965)
Husband of Tienie, father to Michelle, Kelly, Amanda and Christopher.
Loving husband, father and grandfather passed away on 7th February of a Pulmonary Embolism. Will be lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved him.
Michelle Vermaak
Dan Swart (1955)
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dan Swart, Class of 1955, who was the model for the wooden statue on the dome of the main building which was carved from a piece of kiaat by Walter Battiss and boys of the senior art classes. This kiaat sculpture was later removed and replaced by a bronze replica caste. The original wooden statue is now preserved in the school museum.
Dan Swart was born on 6 July 1937. He passed away on 5 July 2022, the day before his 85th birthday.
THE OLD BOYS CLUB
Living in or visiting Pretoria (Tshwane)? Remember to pop into the Old Boys Club for great deals and warm hospitality!
Please remember to send any snippet of interesting information to info@pbhsob.com for the attention of Sally