It is with a heavy heart that I write to you of the passing of my husband, Joe de Beer.
He attended Pretoria Boys’ High from Std 6 (grade 8) in 1954 to the end of Std 8 (grade10) and then his parents moved and he attended Selborne High in East London, matriculated there, and went on to the University of Natal where he studied towards a Bachelor of Science.
At school, he was called Johann but in his university days, he was called Joe and that remained his name for the rest of his life.
But what is so important is how much he loved PBHS. When we visited Pretoria where his sister lived, we always drove past and once we drove into the school during the holidays and met Mr Malcolm Armstrong who was walking around and he took us on a tour of the school and Joe told him how much the school had meant to him.
I, his wife, wish to thank Pretoria Boys’ High for the pleasure which it brought to my husband’s life and memories.
He became a Life member of the Old Boys and was proud to have his tie.
He died exactly a month after his 80th birthday and I grieve so much for him.
Best wishes,
Val de Beer.