Chalkie (Peter) Harrower PBHS – School House 1975 – 1980
Chalkie passed away on the 24 October 2023.
He was in the truest sense a Boys High “Old” Boy having started out as a boarder in School House in 1975. He was able to survive the School House initiation, he then began his patriotic and passionate rise through the years. He made a great success of his time at Boys High becoming Head of House, a School Prefect and a successful captain of the swimming team amongst other achievements. He loved the place so much, he spent six years there!!
As he matriculated, he took his passion for the school; as lessons learnt, fondly treasured memories and his friends with him forever.
National Service saw him become an officer (and sometimes a gentleman when he was not being mischievous!) In the Airforce he was trained as an Air Traffic Controller, where he was fully accredited, seeing active duty in various commercial airports around the country, as well as at the border – Caprivi Strip.
On final discharge from the regulatory two-year stint of National service, he was routinely called up to “annual camps”. This was until a serious bout of cerebral malaria picked up in northern (SWA) Namibia at one such camp, ending any future call-up.
He went on to set up and run his business with great success, which kept him busy but allowed him to indulge in his passions of supporting rugby teams with gusto including PBHS, but never missing the opportunities to support in person the Sharks and of course the Bokke.
In his last he was in a seriously dark place mentally, the result of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which culminated in severe depression and anxiety, and unfortunately leading to bouts of psychosis.
This all from a traumatic attack he endured in 2011, when he, his wife Gailyn and daughter Paige were attacked by armed men in their home in Midrand. Chalkie, unarmed, courageously tackled the intruders and took five shots to the body. Miraculously, none of the shots hit any vital organs. But in so doing, gave his family vital time to escape almost certain shooting. He survived physically, and pushed on with life as normal. However, the psychological impact caused untold harm leading to severe psychiatric difficulties which he battled for a number of years, unfortunately succumbing to the overwhelming mental harm he was forced to endure.
Despite the catastrophic event that unfolded in his last months, we will always remember the Chalkie that was positive, always supportive and very, very often a “stouta – kabouta!”
Chalkie loved PBHS, and was so proud when his son Kirk was accepted to attend the school, to School House, like he did, and matriculated in 2012.
Much time was spent, supporting the Kirk, his mates, the House and School. A happy time for Chalkie indeed.
He loved the old boys’ dinners, where sometimes he was part of the early morning hour faithful!
He relished in the assistance of the School House Centenary Celebrations in 2014.
His lively character and his passing have left a void for many who knew him, close family, and especially Gailyn, his wife of 36 years, his children, Kirk and Paige and us, his brothers who held him in high esteem.
For many who knew him, his love of the school will for ever be imprinted in our minds.
His mother-in-law composed this very fitting tribute:
Chalkie – a poem by Shirley McAtamney
As a son and a husband, a father, a friend,
A sibling to three and a land to defend:
He felt very deeply that he as a man
Must always be ready to work with his plan.
His marriage was blissful and then to his joy
His life was enriched by a girl and a boy.
And lest not forget that the School he held dear,
Grew bigger and better with each passing year.
His loyalty was legend, his friends will attest
There was never a question that Boys high was best!
Reunions and rugby and meeting old friends
His kindness and charity never knew ends.
So Chalks for the happiness that you’d impart
Your memory is special in many a heart.
Many thanks and appreciation to the PBHS family of old boys, and their extended family members who came to bid him farewell. RIP Chalkie – from his loving brothers Paul (1985) and Bruce (1988)
