NEWSLETTER 2 OF 2024 : FEBRUARY EDITION
JOIN PBHS, THE SOUTH AFRICAN HALL OF FAME, NASHUA, AND THE CEO CHALLENGE FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
PBHS is proud to be part of The South African Hall of Fame Legacy Project, already having successfully integrated 16 coaches and 10 scholars into our family in 2023.
This year, we’re excited to announce the CEO Challenge: a collaboration between The South African Hall of Fame and Nashua, with a groundbreaking initiative in July 2024 to empower future generations. The CEO (Cycle) Challenge 2024 is not just an event, it’s a movement.
ABOUT THE CEO CHALLENGE:
As a corporate fundraising initiative, the CEO Challenge aims to raise R50 million to expand The Legacy Project’s impact. Funds will support scholarships and employment, furthering education and sports opportunities for talented children nationwide.
IMPACT AND PARTICIPATION:
Hear from Pretoria Boys High School’s headmaster, Mr Greg Hassenkamp, about the impact that The South African Hall of Fame Legacy Project is making at Pretoria Boys High School, and his challenge to CEOs, including Old Boys and friends of the School, from all corners of South Africa to #GetInvolved, #BeTheChange and #JoinTheMovement:
GET INVOLVED
Visit https://ceochallenge.co.za for general information. As a CEO, your commitment is to cycling your 25 minutes during July 2024, and tagging us in your social posts to help drive awareness for our youth. For further information including a step-by-step guide on how to participate, please use this link https://pbhsoba.alumnet.co.za/PublicMedia/81/1/1
We would love our PBHS Old Boys to Join the Movement, Be The Change, and help us raise funds for a project that is already making a massive impact at the School on the Hill.
OLD BOYS’ ACHIEVEMENTS – GLEN THATCHER, SCHOOL HOUSE 2016
Our heartfelt congratulations to Old Boy Glen Thatcher (School House, 2016) who recently graduated from Stellenbosch University as a medical Doctor with MBChB cum laude and was awarded the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Outstanding Graduate of 2023.
This award encompasses many of PBHS’s ideals of the “renaissance man” and Robert Frost’s “A Man for all Seasons”. It is awarded to the graduate who, in the opinion of the faculty and clinical staff of Tygerberg Hospital, is both academically sound and has epitomised the ideals of the university and has upheld the highest degree of compassion, kindness, diligence and has been recognised to have been a servant leader to both his patients and colleagues throughout his term as a medical student. Glen proudly wore his PBHS Old Boy’s tie at his graduation to (in his own words) “pay homage to the incredible school that was instrumental in shaping the man I have become and that set me on the path to achieving my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor”. He went on to say: “I hope that my story and achievements as an ordinary Old Boy of the school may, in some way, inspire the young men at PBHS to work hard and persevere in the pursuit of their dreams, regardless of what challenges they may face along the way”. 🏫 ❤️🤍💚
Glen Thatcher proudly wearing his PBHS Old Boys’ Tie at Graduation
OLD BOYS’ ACHIEVEMENTS – DR BRAD SCHRODER’S “RHINO RUNNING AROUND THE WORLD”
We found an interesting article in The Horn 2023 magazine by Save the Rhino which is focused on wildlife conservation and the plight of the rhino.
Pages 8 and 9 are dedicated to Old Boy Bradley Schroder’s (1991, Town) famous Rhino Run. To quote from the article Rhino Running Around the World: “Working in African conservation for 32 years, with most of this time directly focusing on rhino breeding, reintroductions and anti-poaching, Brad Schroder is one of our most passionate and knowledgeable fundraisers. His journey started in London in 2014 and almost 10 years later, he’s completed an incredible fundraising challenge”.
Brad goes on to outline his decade of running marathons, in rhino costumes, on all seven continents, raising funds and stimulating awareness of the plight of rhinos. He says, “The journey has been long and tough, but utterly amazing. One of the greatest rewards I receiving during this journey was the understanding of how little the world knows about the plight of rhinos or any threatened wildlife species. For me, having the opportunity to present and create awareness throughout the world has been a privilege”.
Here is the link to read the article in Brad’s own words: SR3498_TheHorn23-v6.1-ISSU-Eds.pdf (savetherhino.org)
Brad is the son of former Headmaster Mr Bill Schroder.
Running Rhino : Marakele, South Africa 2019 (Photo: The Horn 2023 Save the Rhino)
SUMMER SPORTS DAY RESULTS
Our annual Summer Sports Day, also known as Old Boys Day, took place on a beautiful sunny Saturday, 20 January 2024.
Thank you to all PBHS Old Boys and their families for attending and participating so enthusiastically in all the sporting and cultural events. And well done! The results have been received from the School’s Sports Coordinator and, as a picture paints a thousand words, we will share some of the results via photographs courtesy of the PBHS Photographic Society.
WATER POLO
Old Boys (Senior) 19 vs PBHS 1ST 6
Old Boys (Young) 7 VS PBHS 1ST 6
BASKETBALL
Old Boys 1ST 43 vs PBHS 1ST 30
Old Boys 2ND 39 vs PBHS 2ND 29
FOOTBALL
Old Boys 1ST 0 vs PBHS 1ST 3
Old Boys 2ND 3 vs PBHS 2ND 2
CROSS COUNTRY
1st – James Seeliger (Old Boys)
2nd – Murendeni Netshituka (Old Boys)
3rd – Jonathan Gauld (PBHS)
CLIMBING
1st – Loren Ehlers (Old Boys)
2nd – Edward Harvey (Old Boys)
3rd – Thomas Isebeck (Old Boys)
TENNIS
Old Boys vs PBHS 12 matches to 4
CRICKET
Old Boys 1st – 171 All Out (Nicholas Rossouw 3/36)
PBHS 1st – 171 for ) (Marc van der Merwe 102 and Luke Marshall 51)
PBHS won by 10 wickets
Old Boys 2nd – 279 for 8 (Tim Paulus 3 for 45)
PBHS 2nd – 232 for 7 (Pieter Steyn 75 and Owen Stollen 64)
PBHS 2nd lost by 47 runs
PBHS’S ANNUAL INTER-HOUSE GALA AND ENTRY TO SCHOOL PREMISES
Due to a sudden storm, the ever-popular Inter-House Gala had to be postponed on the evening of 26 January 2024 and will now take place on 23 February.
The Old Boys Association has been asked to share the contents of a letter from the School to parents with our Old Boys:
“Please take note of the important updates regarding the upcoming Inter-House Swimming Gala, an event that has become a highlight for both pupils and parents alike. While we are committed to creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere for our school community, we must prioritise the health and safety of our school and parents.
In light of recent concerns and to ensure a secure environment for everyone, we regret to inform you that, due to health and safety reasons, we will no longer be able to include Old Boys and members of the public at the Inter-House Swimming Gala. This decision is made in line with our dedication to maintaining a safe and controlled event. Moving forward, access to the school property during the Inter-House Swimming Gala will be limited to PBHS parents only and accompanying guests in the parents’ vehicles.
It is important to note that, for security reasons, we will not permit anyone to walk onto the property, except our school boys in house attire. Additionally, Uber and other external transportation services will not be granted permission to enter the school premises during the event.
While we understand that these measures may pose some inconvenience, please know that they are implemented with the utmost consideration for the safety and well-being of all participants. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter”.
Signed by Deputy Headmaster: Sport, Mr C Oldnall and the Headmaster, Mr G J Hassenkamp.
BOOK CORNER
One of our Old Boys, Ken Treloar (Rissik, 2004) was recently included in an internationally acclaimed best selling book (new release) as one of 18 experts in the Drone Industry.
For drone enthusiasts or friends of Ken, here’s the link to the publication:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSBMNS2M
REUNIONS AND BRANCH MEETINGS (LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL)
Reunions
The first reunion of the year is the 60 Year On which will take place from 08:00 to 18:00 at Pretoria Boys High School on Friday, 17 May 2024. We are pleased to advise that the Head Prefect and Deputy Head Prefect of the Class of 1964, George Laurence and Peter Abery, will be attending from the UK and Australia respectively. If you are from the Class of 1964 and have not as yet been contacted by the convenor, Leon Kok, please advise us at info@pbhsob.com.
Branch Meetings
London, UK and Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We are very excited to confirm that two international branch get-togethers will be held this year in July.
London – Old Boy Alistair Constance (Rissik, 1997) has convened a UK PBHS Old Boys Reunion which will take place on the evening of Friday, 5th July 2024. As the Headmaster, Mr Greg Hassenkamp, will be attending a conference in the UK at the beginning of July Alistair decided that it would be a good time to arrange a Dinner which Mr Hassenkamp can attend to bring our UK Old Boys up to date with developments at and future plans for the School.
Amsterdam – Old Boy Shaun Anderson (Class of 2004) will be convening an Old Boys Dinner in Amsterdam on Saturday, 6th July 2024. We have already had an expression of interest from several PBHS Old Boys in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to attend the Amsterdam Dinner. The Headmaster will also be in attendance at this dinner and is looking forward to meeting the Old Boys based in Europe. More details to follow!
Any Old Boy residing in the UK or other countries in Europe who would like to attend either the London or Amsterdam Reunion Dinners and have not already been in contact with the convenors, please email info@pbhsob.com.
Further details on both events will be communicated separately.
South Africa – KwaZulu-Natal, Southern Cape, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Cape Town
KZN – Although we have previously announced that the KZN Branch’s get-together will take place on Friday, 1 March 2024, it has unfortunately been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. We are hoping to announce a new date shortly and we anticipate that it will be in the form of a Friday lunch during April.
Bloemfontein – A Bloemfontein Branch meeting has been re-introduced on our calendar of events. An Old Boy has kindly volunteered to convene the event in the City of Roses. However it would seem that our database is outdated. Could all Old Boys living in or near Bloemfontein please send their details (name, surname, email, contact number, year and house at PBHS) to Sally at info@pbhsob.com.
Cape Town Branch – Old Boy Matthew Currie did such a sterling job in arranging last year’s CT Dinner and has agreed to organise this year’s event as well which will be taking place on Wednesday, 24 July 2024 – SAVE THE DATE!
Southern Cape – George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay – This is a new addition to our calendar of events and is due to take place on Thursday, 25 July 2024. Again, an Old Boy has stepped up to make the arrangements but as he will be new to the area we are looking for a co-convenor. If you live in the area and are willing to assist, please give Sally a call on 012-4602246 x 200 or email me at info@pbhsob.com.
The annual Johannesburg get-together will take place on Thursday evening, 7 November 2024.
THE PBHS OLD BOYS’ CLUB LYNNWOOD
Living in or visiting Pretoria or PBHS? Don’t forget to pop in at the PBHS Old Boys Club in Queens Crescent Lynnwood for great special and good food!
