2020 No. 41 Covid-19 has led to many people taking stock, with possibly a lot more time on their hands than usual, and this has happily led to a good many responses this year!

Don Nicol (E4245) aka the Sphinx, opens this year’s At age 90 I find myself in a retirement complex, sound Bagpipe: The Sphinx arises from my being a rather silent in mind (though some might dispute this) but attached and impassive boy. At College, all boys were known by to a walker for bad balance. Like so many SA families, a nickname, usually very appropriate. Masters used our my offspring are scattered around the world. Two surnames; Christian names were not used at all. grandchildren in London, two in SA and three in Sydney. I always enjoy the Bagpipe, it awakens so many With best wishes to all Old Andreans. reminders of our schooldays. I did Law at UCT and was admitted as an Advocate but chose a career in business instead. I worked in management for an international corporation and this led me to working and living in 5 different countries - SA, Mozambique, New Zealand, the UK and Australia. I remember the days when groups of us were sent out for the day with sausages, coffee and condensed milk for a picnic in the bush. A runner would go ahead to book a place near a stream so that we had water 3 Espins - Left to right: Peter Tisdall (E52/56), Eric for the billycan. We cooked Brotherton (E53/57) and Brian Smith (E51/56) the sausages on a stick which The photograph is of three 1956 Espin prefects who invariably caught alight and charred meat was the meal all ran in the first race of the day on Sports Day that for the day…a simple primitive outing. The carefree days year. The race was the 220 yards’ sprint. All three gained of youth. Athletics Colours in that race which was won by Peter Saturday pocket money led straight to the tuck shop Tisdall in the record time of 23.00 secs. Brian Smith was for cream buns and creme soda. next followed by Eric Brotherton. Visits from parents were rare because it was wartime “Alastair Williams was somewhere in the mix but I and petrol was rationed. When they did come there was can’t remember where - they were all behind me!” – a grand meal at the Grand Hotel, which I understand is Peter Tisdall. He too gained his colours. The record was no longer in existence. never broken because in later years the distance changed Highlights of the year were Sports day, the House to 200 m. The previous record was held by Peter Searle Feast, Saturday rugby matches and the School dance. (E50/54). (Mac: all Espinites - must have spent many No shortage of exercise. I represented Espin in athletics nights running from the cops!) Brian Smith wrote: “Last and boxing and the school in U/16 rugby in 1945 (my year I attended a College luncheon in Wilderness where I Matric year). We had hot water for baths only twice a met up with Peter Tisdall and Eric Brotherton. The three week – on Wednesdays and Saturdays. of us earned our athletic colours in the open 220 yards Then there was the matter of education…we were in 1956. I just though it remarkable that all four of us are privileged to leave College well prepared for tertiary over 80 and still going strong.” challenges (Mac: such as beer drinking, and women....) Colin Brayshaw (A4853) writes: I have just turned and at UCT I was in the company of a score of Old eighty five and still enjoy playing golf. Andreans. After retiring as head of Deloitte on turning sixty I had 1 a second career as a director of Colonial Wars, which I’d been invited to join in the of companies over the next 1990s. I had transferred later on to the newly established twenty years. During this British branch of which I was the registrar/genealogist. period I was a director of some Membership entailed researching and thirty JSE listed companies. documenting every step of my Now I am fully retired and American ancestry going only involved in a few family back 350 years. I trusts for old clients. spent a week visiting I do find some days of lockdown Colonial Williamsburg very long as I guess do a number and Jamestown, as of people! well as the rural Bryan McGee (D/M 55/58) sent us this: county where my On the first of August, four OAs of the 58/59 vintage direct ancestors with their spouses met at the home of Johnny and Carolyn owned plantations in Coke on the Holkham Hall estate (www.holkham.co.uk), the 17th century. The restored and on the north Norfolk coast, where Johnny took us on reconstructed area of 18th century a conducted tour of the ancestral Hall and 25,000 acre Williamsburg is stunningly authentic in estate where, until his recent retirement, he ran the every aspect. The attention to detail, especially of the agriculture for his late brother Eddie Coke (M50/54), the employees & volunteers who carry out the actual daily 7th Earl of Leicester, and later for his nephew Tom, now life activities of our forebears, was convincingly accurate the 8th Earl. - nothing Disney-like about any aspect. The entire We were all at the 1956 - 1960 Leavers Reunion' in colonial area was homely and friendly and immersed November 2018 at College. me in the past. The same was true of my visits to the reconstructed forts at the two very early settlement sites at Henricus & Jamestown. The museums in Richmond & Jamestown were both educative and enthralling in the diverse ways in which they told the stories of the settler periods and earlier times, including clear expositions of slavery. My overall experience during my carefully planned visit exceeded my L-R Bryan McGee (Mu), Johnny Coke (Mu ), Michael expectations. I now have Murray (Espin), Ross James (Mu) in front of the North a vivid picture of how my earliest Virginian ancestor and Entrance to the Hall. his family lived when he was in command of the 1640s fort at Middle Plantation (now Colonial Williamsburg) as well as of his prosperous planter descendants. The Society of Colonial Wars dinner in Richmond was a white tie and tails affair, complete with miniature medals, port and cigars. The members were courteous and friendly and were reflective of the upper reaches of Virginian society. They take their history seriously and have excellent records of, and research into, every aspect of their British ancestries. We toasted HM The Queen after the Bryan McGee, Michael Murray, Johnny Coke and Ross President. My James. The column to commemorate 'Coke of Norfolk', fairly intensive the great agricultural pioneer is in the distance range of activities Anthony Bateman(X56/59) writes: I’m sending Bagpipe over seven days a write-up of my visit to Virginia in 2019 as it might be was made easy of interest to any OAs who, like me, are descended and pleasant by from someone who had held a public office or served the helpfulness, as an English or militia officer in the American colonies friendliness and before 1776. I had timed my visit to coincide with the fall old-fashioned convention of the Virginian branch of the General Society Southern

2 courtesy of all whom I met. Virginia is a beautiful place anchor or in a port. It was too intense after that. But I had to be, especially in the fall, and I strongly recommend the advantage of being able to retest all day long as we others to experience it. were together most of the time. Doug Sutherland (X55/59) sent us this fascinating The book I self-published about these four years is story: “Throw off the bowlines” and is available by contacting After the 1976 Cape to Rio Race on the yacht me on [email protected]. Dabulamanzi, I went to Argentina and ended up buying John Cruickshank (E54/57) writes: Don’t think I’ve the yacht Gaucho. Gaucho became our home for my ever ‘Piped about’ the past 60+ years! After leaving wife Marianne and our three children Rob (8) Andy (6) College, a brief and Jackie (3). job Production When after 4 years we returned to South Africa we Planning at had many stories to tell of our adventures. So many Rex Trueform times, I used to hear that I must write a book. Clothing factory That is easier said than done. in Cape Town. What finally prompted me to get going last year was Reputedly it when looking through various papers as retired people was the largest in the do, I came across all the letters both my father in law world, but sadly no and mother had kept which we had written to them. longer operating! I studied part Letters are an instant “photo” of what happened and time and full time at the UCT so many memories were rekindled. There was more Commerce Department. After documentation in the form of both my daily journal and a couple of years, I joined the yacht’s log plus I remembered that a photojournalist the Norwich Union Fire had visited Gaucho when we were in St Thomas, a U.S. Insurance Society, again sadly island in the Caribbean. He was putting together a book no longer operating. During this era called “DOWN BELOW – aboard the world’s classic saw several OA’s at UCT and in Cape Town. yachts” and asked if he could take some photos of Then, before I could finish at UCT, I was able to Gaucho. By chance, the kids were included in a move to London with Norwich Union where I photo sitting in the forepeak. Then I came across worked at the Enfield Branch, completed my CII many sailing books where Gaucho our yacht Associateship. was mentioned. I had met Jen Parsons, a So, putting this all together Physiotherapy student at UCT, which I started thinking of what she continued at Middlesex Hospital happens when one day in London. We got married the kids have to explain at the oldest wooden church to their children why in England, St Andrew’s this photo is there? Greensted near Ongar in This book is written Essex. In London, I did to them to explain it all. link up with Tom Beyers To round it all years (?) of the London later Marianne and I sent OA Branch. Then them to school at D.S.G Norwich Union and College where it appeared sent us back to from their scholastic results, they were unscathed by these South Africa to years. I used to teach the two boys with a correspondence the Johannesburg course from the Calvert School in Baltimore. Never for local Head Office in 1966, when more than an hour a day and only when we were at I finished my Chartered Insurance Institute Fellowship exams. Later this led to my election as a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of South Africa. Meanwhile, we built our home in Bordeaux Randburg and happily spent the next 25 years there. Linked up with John Westwood (Mer 59) and attended the Annual OA Dinners at the Rand Club for many years. During this time, we were very involved with St John the Evangelist Ecumenical Church (Anglican, Congregational, Methodist & Presbyterian) in Parkmore, Sandton from its early days, where Fr. Hugh “Horse” Harker (Hon. OA) was the

3 Anglican Priest. As our two daughters grew up, Jen was delighted to see that Allen, Knight and my names started as Physiotherapist for Rand Aid Association up on the Drill Hall ceiling were still there, although they and stayed there until she retired shortly after the turn were backstage originally, having been painted from the of the Millennium, when we moved into a Rand Aid catwalks in 1954 when I was a stagehand! The pinkish Retirement Village, Thornhill Manor, in what was then paint was the colour of the “flats” for the Dramatic the little village of Modderfontein; so I have an expert in Society’s production of “Black Sheep of the Family”. care of the elderly to look after me in my dotage! (Mac: Suddenly it was 2017, sixty years since I matriculated, I think some of our cabinet ministers could use a little so a number of us joined the celebrations at College. pysiotherapy - those back-handers can lead to repetitive Great fun joining up with chaps one hasn’t seen for sixty starin syndrome!) years in some cases. Maybe we were all looking a bit In 1985 my life took an entirely different direction older, but one felt young at heart. Also have seen both when I was asked to run a Residential Protective my study mates Bruce Henderson and Ian Osborn over Workshop, Cluny Farm Centre in Sun Valley, Midrand. recent years. They were the bright ones, both becoming I knew nothing of Intellectual Disability and my only doctors, I just plodded on happily, but great to catch up farming experience was on a wine farm as a kid in and now keep in touch. the Cape. However, I learnt fast and was soon deeply Now locked down by Covid19, they say we older involved in the world of Disability, serving on the old folk are the most vulnerable; we are very comfortable Regional Welfare Board and post 1994 on the Gauteng in our retirement village. Thank goodness for modern Interim Welfare Council; as well as being a delegate to communications, Zoom get-togethers with our children the Bloemfontein Disability White Paper Conference in and grandchildren, constant contact through WhatsApp, about 1995. does mean that although we don’t get together physically, I was fortunately financially able to retire when I was at least we are in touch. My wish for everyone is good 60, so continued working for the world of Intellectual health, keep your peckers up and find ways to enjoy life. Disability with Gauteng Social Development Department Peter Forbes (Day52/55) writes: still alive and kicking as well as various NGO’s on a voluntary basis, whilst hard in North-East Cheshire, where I have lived for the handing over the day to day running of Cluny Farm last 33 years. Know of no OAs in the vicinity but will be Centre to my successor. I stayed on the Board of Cluny glad to hear from anyone who is in the area. until 2015 and still keep in touch as it has become very Brother Nigel living at St Francis Bay, and sisters Lyn close to my heart. After 1994 our local Scientific Study and Meriel in Cape Town. of Intellectual Disability Association was able to link up Hope to visit the family when Covid-19 allows. with the International body, so I attended and presented Jack Walsh (M51/54) ponders: It seems hardly credible papers at the International Congress in Helsinki in 1996, that I finished College in 1954, some 66 years ago that, where the idea of holding the International Congress in memory wise, seems more like 6 years ago. I guess that South Africa at some point was conceived. Attended the only goes to prove that my school years, like most of my Congresses in Seattle in 2000 and Montpelier in 2004 generation, were some of the happiest days of my life. and finally brought it to Cape Town ICC in 2008, when College was, and still is from all I read, an extraordinary the fairest Cape did us proud. school environment, which certainly shaped my life Jen and I took a cruise to the Antarctic over the and the person I became. (Not that that I was anyone Millennium for a month with friends, which really particularly special.) During my time there, I had the whetted our appetite for travel. We have travelled very privileged of been taught by an outstanding array of widely both here at home and abroad from then on; with teachers and mentors. our Hiking Club including four trips to Greece where Top of the pops was certainly our headmaster, we were hosted by Dawie Hoets (X52/56); with friends “Rook” Currey, probably the most exceptional head out and on our own in our off-road caravan all over of a long list of outstanding heads that College always attracted and found. One never-to-be-forgotten incident occurred in in Upper House prep-room, where ‘Rook’ used to give Divinity classes. If I remember rightly, amongst many other qualifications, I believe he was a Lay preacher. Anyhow, whilst delivering one of his normal eulogies about the New Testament, the class was interrupted by, relatively speaking in a somewhat confined space, a thunderous explosion emanating from Southern Africa. I was one of the upper House boys’ lockers at the back of the lucky to be able to get down to Grahamstown room. Most of us visibly lifted out of our seats in shock, (Makhanda) for the Espin Centenary. Then it was the none more so than several Upper House individuals Jubilee, so we attended that very enjoyable event. present, who, as we afterwards learnt, had an idea as to Having been at College during the Centenary, it was its source. ‘Rook’ barely lifted an eyebrow, pausing only significant I suppose. momentarily to address an Upper House prefect present, During another visit for the National Arts Festival, I whilst a somewhat malodorous treacly yellow flow of

4 whatever coursed its way he finally came out with the request that, in this his last out of the locker to pool on year, we should make every effort to win the annual Art the linoleum covered floor Trophy. Mullins had not only failed to win this whilst he below. “Please see that was Housemaster, but, if I remember correctly, in fact the mess is promptly had not won it for something like 20 years. We apparently cleared up after won the overall Sports Cup regularly, only sometimes class finishes, make falling to Charles Fortune’s Merriman House, when we sure there are no other would always accuse him, not of cheating, that would pineapples floating around never be suspected of a College Master, but of being Upper, and then present the devious in somehow favouring his boys, particularly in perpetrator of this interruption Athletics, as he was the school coach! to my study at 18H30 this evening.” After Well, the house head-boy and other prefects those few words, he carried on with his determined that, irrespective, however useless any boy lecture as though nothing untoward had happened! was in the arts, which certainly included me, every one I was in Mullins house, THE house as always, with of us had to create something. I submitted that I would one of the three most influential men of my youth as build a fishing rod, which caused some consternation as my Housemaster, Ashley Brooker. He was to all his boys to whether it would count. However, the art committee the epitome of “MR CHIPS”, loved by all of us, though decided it fell under miscellaneous. The announcement now and then feared by some, at times justifiably, for his of the winning house, Mullins, and individual winners almost uncanny ability to see through us all when we had took place at the Mullins House parting dinner for The done something wrong. In my first year, I found myself Brookers, and I fluked my section with an additional Fag to the house vice head-boy, Paul Brummer. One special mention for imaginative thinking! How I remember night, when I was polishing his shoes after lights out in his parting speech, when there was not a dry eye in the his study cubicle in the corner of the junior dormitory, a room from Man, Woman, or Schoolboy! pillow fight developed with everybody taking part except The above brings to mind two other events involving yours truly dutifully carrying out his task as fag. At the Half-term holidays! height of the fight, in walked Matron with Brummer, Firstly, soon after I who she had called because of the noise created, and everybody was bundled off to the Housemaster’s study, where it was quickly ruled that everyone would get three cuts each. However, Brummer quickly told “Ash” that I should be exempted, as I had not taken part through being in his cubicle at the time of the fight. Ash looked arrived at me in the eye saying, “Doesn’t he still have an innocent College, ‘angelic face’, and I have seen he is fairly clever to boot. “Dup” Murrell, our swimming master as well as our Walsh have you not done anything wrong in the last few Maths teacher, singled me out as having certain ability days that probably deserved a caning?” I apparently and decided I was potential for the Eastern Cape schools blushed, lent over the chair where the swimming gala in Port Elizabeth in due course. I hated canings were administered, mumbled swimming practice, which bored me to tears. (Mac: at “Yes Sir”, remembering reading my least thosekept the pool topped up though...) However, book on my lap, whist pretending I did like the potential honour of representing my school to study a particularly boring and was chosen a year or two later. Unfortunately, the chapter of Renaissance Gala was held the weekend after the term’s half-term history that very evening, and holiday. In the meantime, on the strength of my fishing received three of the best. rod win, even Rook had been sufficiently impressed to Ash pulled me up from the allow me to form a School Angling club, and half-term chair, saying “Keep up that was the opportunity for our club’s first sea outing on the honesty, and it will serve you coast north and south of Kenton-on-Sea. Mid-morning, well in life.” Believe it, or not, I landed what would turn out to be the biggest galjoen that was the only caning I ever of my life of 3.6 kilos, (In those days 8 lbs), and then I received at College, and his words stayed with caught a small bream of just under 2 lbs, firmly believing me for life, many times keeping me on the straight and that that was the competition wrapped up appropriately narrow, though unfortunately, not always! by the Club Chairman. Never count your chickens In my second year, the rumour developed that ‘Ash’ prematurely in anything, let alone fishing, as my vice was leaving College at the end of the year, and it was chairman promptly landed a White Mussel-cracker of 12 then confirmed that he had been appointed headmaster lbs to relegate me to runner up. Nevertheless, it had been of Rhodesia’s (Zimbabwe) top school. One lunchtime, a great success, until the next day, when it turned out he asked whether we would grant him a parting gift and that I was so badly sunburned, that I could not swim in received a thunderous confirmatory applause. After the Gala. Dup, despite being as keen a fisherman as you keeping us on a string for several minutes of talking, could find, then gave up his swimming ambitions for me,

5 as he said the school always came first. Had I meant to wall at the neighbouring get so sunburnt? Absolutely not! sports field. (Mac: so That’s enough for now. Maybe I’ll try again next year, that’s where Pink Floyd as life and adventures were always full of excitement at got their idea for their St Andrew’s! That is, if I am still around! famous song, Another Roger Hull (A53/56) reminisces: My Andrean career brick in the wall...) started in 1950 at Prep. My twin brother Clive and I went After matric I to Fairlawn where Budu Rivett-Carnac was in charge. worked for Union Corp Early dormitory colleagues were MED Jones, Lankie on the gold mines to Sinclair, Francis Wilson and Selwyn Lange. 3 memories secure a bursary for mining stand out - cricket on the dusty and lumpy yard, the terror engineering at Wits, graduating in 1961. of sitting at head table with Budu’s wife (who policed your Wanting to experience the World, I secured a job on a manners relentlessly), and the break-time nickel mine in Sudbury, Ontario, where I lived for 4 years Fairlawn sandwich tin which before returning to SA after a year-long trip around the rewarded the first USA and Europe. Back in SA I discovered mining wasn’t four for me and I joined IBM in Joburg. They were staffing up a new division to exploit the mining industry, so I started in 1968. By 1977 I had moved to Sales and managed large accounts in Mining and Insurance. IBM were good to me and I was able to travel every year to the USA and to Europe. In 1986 IBM, under pressure from the US Government transferred ownership to its SA staff and in 1992 they offered me an early retirement on a pension which I accepted, to start a new career of my choosing. This period turned out to be highly challenging and arrivals with toast instead of bread. I also remember many lessons in life were learned. In 2012, at the age dormitory races every night (forwards, backwards and of 73, I retired for the 3rd and last time and am happily monkey), and the copper-sulphate taste of the tea which settled in Fish Hoek where my 2nd wife and I are enjoying was reputedly given to calm the boys down. My 1st the beach life in the vicinity of three of our four children. XI cricket photo shows Jimmy Duncan captain, Arthur And guess what. Just up the road lives Selwyn Lange! Gaydon, Mike Chubb, John Leach and Clive. Clive Whitford (D57/60) sent this evocative piece: At College (1954-56) my Armstrong fag master was Old Gassie Colin Stanton, a real gentleman; friends were Dave Actually, his name was Henry Gascoigne-Smith, (Mac: Hulett, John Fenwick, Tony Stanton, Russel Shorten actually Sidney) House Master of Upper in the 1950s. and Head of House, John Batchelor. Housemaster But we all know the old College custom of nick names was Mr Graham whose day started when, crossing for masters. Gassie was a relic of the first World War and from Armstrong building to the dining hall for breakfast whenever the College Pipe Band played, he was there he looked up into the sun and generated an enormous wearing his Graham tartan trews, watching and listening SNEEZE. Deputy was Mr Gathorne, the opening bat with a dazed look on his face. Some boys thought his for EP who, when he gave you 3 cuts, placed them all mind was going back to pre-1918, but others averred precisely in the same place—ouch! I enjoyed playing that he had been potting again. It must be admitted that “fives” on the Armstrong court. I was good at Maths he did have a close relationship with John Barleycorn. and won the school prize which was presented to me by Upper House boys maintained that he was so unsteady Harry Oppenheimer. My biggest influences in leadership that when he caned boys they had to sit at the end of a were Eric Norton and Dracula. long table while Old Gassie ran down the length of the In the 880 yards final on sports day 1956 I was table sliding his cane along its surface thus being sure leading the pack after 1 lap but was pipped by Briggs, that he would hit right on target. A story that Stuttaford and Garlick who all got colours and I didn’t. I he adopted this peculiar practice when got colours for tennis, Clive for cricket and we both got administering corporal punishment was the “PT badge” for gymnastics. I captained the 5th rugby that when using the normal stance he was team. Our coach, Harry Birrell, taught us to enjoy our once so unsteady on his feet that the cane rugby. Other school activities were the choir under Mr was swung too high, missed the poor Wise, Handel’s Messiah with DSG, Christian faith under blighter’s backside and hit Mr Harker, ballroom dancing lessons from Miles Bowker, him on the back of his head! and the way we each had to report a sport 4 times a (This story has not been attested.) week at assembly. I can still taste the flavour of the steak (Mac: there are many OAs who & kidney pie from the tuckshop. must have learnt their story-telling I also recall the excitement on Sunday evenings when art in DSG embroidery classes... the DSG crocodile marched past on the way to the or perhaps he had his head up his cathedral. And posting love letters in the loose brick of the arse.)

6 Gassie taught Bookkeeping and Commercial An ear-splitting explosion of huge proportions Arithmetic and I believe French for a short while, but there (courtesy of the Army soldier and his bren gun). can be no doubt that as Master in charge of the Dramatic There was a blackout in the hall and the audience Society he had no equal. In spite of an unfortunate looked to the stage only to see in the fading light officers stammer in his speech (an urr, urr, urr sound before the being flung in all directions and a huge wooden beam first word in a sentence) he trained his actors and drilled and masses of earth falling. Now there was darkness them so finely that the audience were too wrapped up in everywhere. The audience sat in a stunned silence for the drama to realise that they were actually watching a a few minutes, but it felt much longer than that. The ‘school play’. lights came on, the audience stood up and looked at one In 1957 he excelled himself when he produced the another and did not know what to say. Some started play ‘Journey’s End’ by R.C. Sherriff. shuffling out of the hall, others followed but before long This may have been the first major dramatic piece the stage curtains opened and there were the actors, put on in the Centenary Hall – the Centenary Hall was earth on their clothing, shoulders and even dirty dust on completed in 1955 and this was two years later. The play their faces. Members of the audience still in the hall gave was about a group of officers in the First World War, a short desultory round of applause, still too shocked to and dear Old Gassie was absolutely in his element here. take in The only name of the officers I can remember is Tony But there was a sequel: blue lights flashing in Somerset Findlay who played the part of the Senior British Officer Street and South African Police hurriedly appearing, sitting in a dugout with three or four other officers. (A wanting to know where the ‘explosion’ was. Residents ‘dugout’ was an underground room dug out of the earth in African Street and Milner Street, even as far as the and covered with wooden beams and a layer of earth to railway line, had been telephoning the police to report protect the occupants from damage caused by enemy a big explosion at St. Andrew’s. The next day “the shells falling and exploding.) Tony Findlay’s acting was explosion at St. Andrew’s” was the talk of the town and magnificent, holding the whole play together with that the Headmaster, Fred Spencer-Chapman, sent boys up sublime ‘Don’t bother and down Milner and African Streets delivering letters about that’ British explaining that the noise would happen at the second calming attitude. performance of the play. At that performance The The ‘noises off’ Centenary Hall was packed and the actors and their were a surreptitious producer received the ecstatic standing ovation they and brilliant build deserved. up to the climax More than 50 years later I was chatting to some fellow of the play. Gassie old Rhodians and one happened to remark that he had approached Lieut. remembered going to see a play called “Journey’s End” Dodds, Skipper of the Sea with two pals during his time at Rhodes. The play had a Cadet Detachment and obtained the services truly thunderous ending. Further, he was a bit vague. I of a sea cadet with his bo’s’n’s whistle; from opined “Centenary Hall, St. Andrew’s College, 1957?” Major D’Lisle OC of the Army Cadets, he obtained the and my query was affirmed with delight. We then heard services of the pipe band’s bass drummer and a side that as the three were walking back to Rhodes, two of drummer. He even approached the Commandant of the them noticed that the third was muttering to himself and Army troops stationed up the Cradock Road who willingly looked rather weak and wobbly when they passed under supplied a soldier with a bren gun and some blanks. The a streetlight. They took him straight to the Sanatorium audience in the Centenary Hall had their concentration and the Matron proclaimed, “This lad is suffering from on the talk of the officers disturbed by shrill high whistling SHOCK!” and demanded to know where he had been. sounds which became deeper in pitch as they grew They explained and the Matron calmed down, thanked louder (courtesy of the Sea Cadet with his bo’s’n’s pipe) the two and insisted that the one in shock spend the night and ended with a hefty thud followed immediately by in the Sanatorium where she would take care of him. He a short echoing rustling sound (courtesy of the Army would be fine in the morning, which he was. Cadet Bass and side Drummers). One did not have to Henry Gascoigne-Smith, be a rocket scientist to realise that these were the sounds A Master Craftsman in the fine art of Dramatic made by shells when they hit the earth. Sometimes the Production sounds were quiet and far away and ignored and sometimes loud, greeted Brian Wakeham (X63/66) writes: Currently enjoying by the Senior Officer with retirement. I have been involved with my local Parish a nonchalant, “Oh, that Church since 1983 and have been Parish Treasurer was a close one.” But since 1986. I have also been Churchwarden since 2009. the noises were giving the Meg became a Licensed Lay reader in 2015. audience the creeps. Surely I have two gorgeous grandchildren Henry (4) and it was only a matter of time Hannah (2) courtesy of my eldest son, James, and his before ... partner Bethan who live in Lancashire. My younger son, …C R A S H… Michael, will shortly qualify as an IFA in London and my

7 daughter, Alexandra, is working for one of the largest and mostly - extremely amusing. (Mac: and all entirely SPV and Asset Management service providers to the truthful?!) I would love to quote from some of them, but PPP / PFI infrastructure market in London. I am asked to keep this submission short. I am a Trustee of Friends of Amasango UK (www. This is one of the more amusing and informative amasango.org.uk), a charity set up to raise funds for the quotes received – author Anonymous. Amasango Career School in Grahamstown and I visit the '67 shutter-hand, steel fixer, handlanger to site surveyor school when I’m in Grahamstown. on elevated motorway construction, Johannesburg. Over the years '68 v brief stint at Wits and then stumbled into IT. involved with the UK Discovered mind altering substances. OAC & GUST I have '69 - '79 increasingly bohemian lifestyle, increased met many OAs. I have investigation into mind altering substances and amoral finally managed to living: Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville, etc. Managed to hold relinquish the treasurer various jobs in IT. role of the UK OAC '79 woke up one morning and thought WTF? Decided (been there since 1976) to clean up my act, drop the illegal substances, and get as I felt it was time to with the programme. Moved to the UK… London. pass the baton to a This little exercise is recommended to any Old younger OA. Later this Andrean of another era that has accumulated a good year I will relinquish the email network of Old Andreans from their era. treasurer role of the GUST Any Andrean from the 65 – 68 era, who would like - Grahamstown United Schools Trust – to participate in our communication network – please (been there since 1991). I will remain as a email, mentioning house and year matriculated, cliveed@ trustee of the worthwhile charity. gmail.com, I have been a regular visitor to SA and College since Roy Hulton (Espin 1964) writes: The class of 1964 has 2000 and currently aim to go annually to coincide with also been active in keeping in touch with all our OA’s the November reunion weekend. It seems my proposed whilst we were are in lockdown, thanks to Adrian Van 2020 visit will be snookered by COVID-19 but I hope to Selm & Steve Bassingthwaite. be back in 2021 all being well. It has been very interesting hearing all their stories of Gerald Buisman [E62/66] writes: Last year, Liz and College and our school mates and what they did whilst I visited New Zealand along with a friend. We showed at school and thereafter. Keep up the good work guys. the friend round central Singapore in whirlwind fashion It has also been very sad to note how many of our between flights. In NZ toured around North, South colleagues have passed on, not only this year, but in past and Stewart Island. Fantastic country with incredible years, but I suppose we are all reaching that dreaded age! scenery, wonderful friendliness. I and I am sure the rest of our class survivors, are All superbly civilised without looking forward to the 60th re-union and will make every being flashy. Since then life has effort to be at College in 2024. been dominated by Covid-19 Enjoyed the Headmasters report on the racism issues, house arrest. Luckily, we both and stress that All Lives Matter. have a list of things to do Not enjoying the recent ban on alcohol that we are slowly working AGAIN! through. We have been able If we are going to to avoid complete boredom, be a country that but miss family, friends and does not tolerate "rondloping". booze, then we Clive Edmundson (E62/65) writes: Theo Taylor should also cut off the right hands (E63/66), a while back suggested guys inform other school of those state looters who have mates from their era at College about their general life destroyed this country’s economy! experiences since leaving College:- their bachelor days, (Mac: you first have to get their hands initial career moves, varsity, marriage(s), subsequent out of the till...) career moves (good and bad) , chance meetings of other Looking forward to visiting the OA's, famous people encounters, (name drops allowed), family in the UK, when we are allowed geographical moves, kids, divorce(s) if applicable, to travel, & hope you all remain safe & free of grandchildren and present state of health and place of this terrible virus. abode. Kept brief (not more than a page) and generally Andrew Cuthbert (X60/64) writes: I was in the pipe amusing. band at College: lead side drummer. I was in Merriman We emailed a list of OAs that had been compiled and left in 1964. by John Rutherfoord (E62/66) and myself over some I left for the UK in 1971 and am still here. I trained years. The “Bios” received back and circulated have as a teacher and then as an actor at RADA. I acted at reached nearly 30. Not a bad response from 60 odd College, in 'Our Town' in 61/62. OAs circulated. They were all excellent, informative For some years I worked on stage, radio TV and

8 film. For the last twenty exotic compound have you been dissolving the drains odd years I have taught with today Faraday?”. voice and text at RADA, One story I forgot to mention concerns old man at the moment via Zoom. I have Sutherland’s son (whose Christian name escapes me) a flat in London and a house in (Mac: Bob) when he took us for prep in Upper. He was Swanage in Dorset where I'm a pipe smoker and could remove his entire smoking spending lockdown swimming paraphernalia from his pocket, fill the pipe and light it - in the sea and walking in the fields. all with one hand - while continuing to mark books with the other. Mac: The 60 to 64 year group New boys would be reduced (as indicated by Roy Hulton to gazing on in slack-jawed above) earlier this year set up an amazement! email group to maintain contact. Mac has compiled Andy Quinan: Other some of the responses into the following, edited to avoid memories include a police lawsuits! This may have led to some slightly disjointed van racing up Somerset responses.) Street with siren wailing Richard Maske: Andy Collett’s story about Ash in the middle Brooker (falling out of the window) reminded me of a of the night, story about him (Ash) as well. We were on a hockey going to tour by train to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg in 1962. DSG to Ash allowed us to order beer shandies as long as we catch people setting off did not drink the beer and the lemonade separately!! crackers. We had used tackie lace John Fogarty: Two masters I remember in graphic fuses so we were in bed by the time they pitched up. detail were the ancient brothers Dup and Ernie Murrell; An interesting thing about Grahamstown was the huge both of whom had served with distinction at Delville cement water channels that ran through the town. It Wood in WW1, where the 1st South African Infantry meant that you could walk from College to the movie Brigade took a real pasting. One had been gassed and house in the middle of town without being seen at the other had a wooden leg - and you could hear them street level. I remember that we were at the movies one coming (wheezing and clomping along) from a mile away. afternoon and a master sat down close to us so we had (Mac: not actually wooden, but he had a very noticeable to spend the whole movie lying on the floor. limp!) No chance of them catching you sneaking a quick Doc Winckworth: From Mullins we - John Barnett cigarette behind the squash courts, as and I - would duck through Hugh Cobbald's garden were “Plattie” Green and I across the road and into the ditch. This conveniently by Mule de Lisle in ‘65. came out near the Albany? Hotel where we could play We got six each from snooker and have a quick Eric Norton (he could drink. I couldn't afford beer draw blood with the so drank gin and lime which first stroke) and were was cheaper at 12c. gated for a term (and (Mac notes that after a we had to say “Thank career in teaching, Doc you Sir”). Winckworth bought a Ash Brooker used pub in KZN…) to sit on a shooting Ross James: Yes stick and his classroom I can tell you about Graham floor was a mass of pock- Dods. He lives alone here in marks and wood splinters. Kidbrooke retirement Drac (after Dracula) Lucas had taught my father and village. I see him my uncles, at which time his nickname was Scopie (after each month at our telescope - because he was so tall). It was only when Kidbrooke communion service in the delightful tiny he got old, stooped and more scary that the soubriquet chapel in the grounds, He is well- for his age- has terrible changed. hearing even with hearing aids, and when Jean took his Loved your story about Ash Brooker and the car away from him, bought a motorised "wheel-chair shandies. Old man Sutherland (whose son was a deputy scooter" on which he travel 3 kms to the Mall along a housemaster in Upper) used to drive the entire boxing provincial road to shop and return. (suspended now with team and our kit to the EP Schools Championships at the Covid) Feathermarket Hall in PE in the back of his open bakkie. He and his late wife were my Mullins HM for the last Can you imagine the health and safety furore that would six months of 1959, and he taught me – tried - in the prompt in this day and age? "Naval" classroom. Gum Gay taught Chemistry and christened me Yes I knew about the Blaauberg Bungy jump for his 90th Faraday. He used to walk into class and say “What plus family which was well publicised here in Hermanus,

9 but I did not know of the Skydive. (Mac: for his next act, he gymnogene, both taken from nests. did a tandem sky-dive on his 95th birthday!) I just know Though I’m embarrassed now by what a frightening sight it was my exploits as an egg collector, it to have him tear towards has left me with a love of nature you as a centre forward and the bushveld, something on the hockey field and I very much miss living over then as goalie have the ball here in the UK. BTW if you nearly take your head off. too hanker for the bush, Whew. there are twice daily live safari Ron Forbes: Well drives on camera streamed done Snake (Mac: van from Sabi Sands/Timbavati on Selm, for the uninitiated!) for a site https://wildearth.tv/safarilive/ starting the ball rolling on this trip … a fun distraction for adults and down memory lane! Not sure about grandkids alike during this time of anyone else, but I’ve sometimes struggled to lock downs. put a face to a name …and then images usually Thinking of Ingleside, I’m slowly filter back as I read the exchanges…! Guess that reminded that the young English recall is slow because one tended to know those in your master who has been mentioned, own house, class or sports teams first, and then the larger was Roger Freebairn. He was than life school characters often more senior to one…. an Armstrong assistant master, but there were many other contemporaries we did not a moral tutor (?) attached, with really know that well, who were just as integral a part Axel Ohlsson, to Ingleside. Although he never taught of the remarkable institution of College, which shaped me, I am indebted to him for the mentoring advice & our lives, for the better or worse and which we all now inspirational help he gave me when I was going through remember in our different ways…….. a bad patch while at College. After he left College he Clearly some of you learnt returned to teach at his old school Oundle in the UK. more in those Tasmer carpentry He married the German au pair who looked after the lessons than I did, although I children of a fellow teacher. Christiane is fluent in about do remember the glue smell! 6 languages so they make quite a formidable linguistic Your Bisley uTube would couple! I’m godfather to his son and I’ve kept in touch much interest Hugh Anderson with him and his family & see them from time to time. (A61/65), who founded a Roger became a house master, head of English and then successful architectural deputy head, I believe. He’s retired and in his 80’s not practice in Glasgow in the greatest of health, but, until relatively recently, he (haadesign) which remained an enthusiastic sportsman, including as a UK specialises in office and veteran champion on the fives court! … I public service space too remember those ferocious doubles & interiors etc. Hugh matches with Eric Norton & Etienne has recently retired on the Espin court! and, having missed SA, I also remember those (who has just spent 7 months or shall remain nameless) who so contemplating his navel & painting and writing, on preferred the gamble of spending a Karoo farm at Kruisrivier near Calitzdorp! Hugh can hours trying to catch a falling jacaranda explain more, so I’ve added him to the email list! blossom from the trees outside the I’m reminded of others with talent besides Hugh, Armstrong/Espin dining halls, in the who always seemed to win the art prizes for Armstrong. belief that it was sure to mean Of course there is Dale Elliott, who has made such a they’d pass their exams with successful career from his abilities (hi Dale!) and the late flying colours, rather than and very talented John Halford, also an architect who bother about studying!.... did a lot of casino work for Sol Kerzner including at Sun and sometimes it seemed City, I believe. Sadly he died way too young. to work… or maybe they In my time at Prep and then the earlier years at College, were just a lot intrinsically cleverer than I was! I was an avid egg collector as were Hugh, Thomas Mills, My wife Anthea & I have lived in the same picturesque John Unite & others. We’d ride out to neighbouring village of Ham (140 inhabitants) in Wiltshire since 1981. Albany farms at the weekends. To my shame, our prize We have 4 kids (3 in the UK and a daughter married to haul was to fish 2 eggs , using a hanger and rugby sock an Ozzie in Melbourne) and 10 grandchildren. Somewhat contraption at the end of a long pole, from a Black Stork foolishly I got involved with another villager in rescuing nest halfway down the cliff at a place called Visgat. In the local village pub from developers after it’d been shut our second year Thomas reared, in the loft above the for 3 years. (Mac: funny how two of the brighter lads of Ingleside box room, a crow (or was it a raven?) and a our years have ended up selling booze! Not to mention

10 those who make it.) Post a complete make over and role in WW1 - when refurbishment we reopened in June last year. It’s been skilfully steered to do so great to have the pub back at the heart of the community, by the more savvy boys with an excellent chef and now 8 en-suite bedrooms. in the class. Apparently The lockdown could not have come at a worse time for after one particularly a fledgling business and just as the reputation of the pub long session a boy put was gaining traction. We’re now mothballed till we come his hand up and asked out the other side of the present challenging times. When “Sir, while you were life is back to “normal” (whatever & whenever that might single-handedly winning the be) all OAs, if you are ever in the UK, are most welcome First World War, what were all to come and stay or enjoy a pint or meal at the other soldiers doing”? He got suitably discounted rates! We’re pretty a good thrashing for his troubles, much located in “England but said it was well worth it. Central” and are a There were two brothers (I think their name was great location from Porter) who had managed to secure a couple of adult which to tour being black shouldered kites which they kept in a cage in the within reach of the house basement. Presumably with Gum’s permission; Cotswolds, Salisbury, you couldn’t make it up? They used to feed them bits Winchester, Oxford of Dassie which they shot with an air rifle in a krantz etc. somewhere off the Craddock Road (again, how?). I look forward to One day when quite a crowd had gathered between sharing a pint with any of Kettlewell and Merriman to watch the feeding - and you who might pass by the one lad had placed all his books on a stone drain Crown & Anchor… cover nearby - the male bird (Mac: news just in is that suddenly lifted its the Crown & Anchor in tail and extruded Ham has in fact reopened after a stream of lockdown and they now have a new website: https:// foul-smelling www.crownandanchorham.co.uk/ green shite all Ron says all OAs most welcome whether to dine, over the poor spend the night or just enjoy a pint!) unfortunate’s John Fogarty: You’re quite right that the house schoolwork! Needless system rather narrowed our circle of contacts and that to say he received the it is therefore sometimes a bit of struggle to fit faces to full sympathy of the names. In that vein your stories about egg-collecting gathered throng. exploits remind me of a series of exchanges with Rick Rick Hudson: Yes, I Hudson (Merriman) that we had outside the full email do remember Barry & Brian circulation. I’ve pasted some extracts in for the possible Porter. The elder, Barry, enjoyment of others. Your Thomas Mills story squares was large, and crazy about with his. animals in any form. Snakes, beetles, I also had Drac Lucas for maths and he often used to bugs, anything that moved. I recall the black say “I remember your grandfather Archdeacon Fogarty” shouldered kites. They were kept illegally in the trunk and I never quite plucked up the courage to say “Actually room - Barry had somehow got the key. But the house Sir, he was a bishop (of Damaraland, now Namibia)”. Sister (Spencer) discovered them and had the padlock Drac was a very good maths teacher and singlehandedly changed. No problem - Barry carefully removed the wire responsible for me getting a half-decent matric grade in mesh from the small window, broke a pane of glass, the subject. rescued the birds, replaced the pane and puttied it in I too remember how he made us sit in the same places place, and then screwed the wire back into place. When and how, when on the first day of term I was sitting next Sister open the place a few days later, expecting a smell to Tom Fenwick, he asked us for our Christian names and a couple of dehydrated birds, there was nothing. and I said “John” and Fenwick said “Thomas” and Drac She was PO'd no little. (to much hilarity) responded with “Well, you two will The Porters, incidentally, were the grandsons of the have to move places”. So he wasn’t a completely dry old Harold Porter, who founded the Nature Reserve near stick after all? Hermanus that bears his name. Talking as we were earlier about elderly staff who There was also a lad named Mills (Tim?) in Merriman taught more than one generation, do you remember who kept a pet crow for a while. (Mac: no, it was Colonel Murray (father of Anton Murray, who was my Eugene, brother of Tom Mills, who was in Armstrong.) junior house master)? Well he taught my Dad too, at It had bonded to him, and was free to fly around. It which time he apparently displayed the same tendency would sit on the Centenary Hall roof ridge and wait for we knew - of drifting off into convoluted stories about his him to come out of Kettlewell at lunch break, when it

11 would swoop down and land reunions with various friends this last trip). on his shoulder. Bonus points For me College was certainly full of characters and for that. How it could recognise mad people like Arse Clapham whose ‘left field’ brilliance its owner from among 400 identically led to things like that marvellous cracker stunt and others dressed pupils, in a crowd, is a mark of its keen whose talents came creatively to the fore in later years eyesight at 100 yards. far more so than that of us boring prefect types. John Fogarty takes up the narrative again: I did know Regarding crows and mad hobbies, why was it that about Dale Elliott’s post College artistic life, because my Merriman attracted the best stories and that those of parents retired to Leisure Isle Knysna, where bullying seem to focus mostly on Upper? Was “crow” he maintained his studio. Mills in Merriman not Eugene Mills, Thomas Mills’ in Since retirement I’ve taken Armstrong’s brother? (Mac: yes, a quick check in the up stone carving and am lucky College register revealed that Thomas was in Armstrong, enough to have access to a local while his brother Eugene was in Merriman.) group that meets twice month One final story to finish with: Mule deLisle might not with a professional tutor. With the have been the one who fell out of the window but he improvement in skills however has come was certainly the one to present enough strange ever more indulgent purchases of beautiful behaviour. I can remember hand-made, tungsten-tipped chisels from a more than one Latin source in Kelso Scotland. translation class being My wife also has a lot of hobbies, but is very nervous interrupted with remarks about making the online purchases that have become like: “A certain amount of such a necessity since the lockdown. A s fleas is good for a dog, it a result I have been ordering stuff for stops a dog thinking about her, including clothing. I’m now being a dog. Now carry starting to worry that my online on Unite”. I have found profile is rapidly becoming one myself quoting that of an inveterate cross-dressing wise observation more hobbyist! than once. Despite egg collecting having By the become a pariah activity it way, another unfortunately still goes on. We amusing trip down have peregrine falcons that memory lane would nest every year at Symonds Yat be to our owning up to our various Rock, above the River Wye just up the nicknames during that time. Meantime it’s good to hear road from here. During the season RSPB names like “Snake” and “Bass”. Greetings to you all. members maintain a constant telescopic Yrs. Hugh (called “Lemming” by Dale Elliott, though vigil from the soaring public lookout point. Another great I don’t know if anyone else called me that.) place to visit up this way with the grandkids, Ron. Mike Classen: I remember Very adaptable birds they are though. Apparently he (Mule de Lisle) walked there is at least one pair that nest on the vertiginous very upright & there was a n towers of the Severn Bridge, where the floodlights afford urban legend about Mule having them a 24-hour hunting window; an all-day motorway walked 10 miles or so in WW2 catering service for raptors! with a bayonet stuck in his back! I do remember Roger Freebairn and - as I previously He taught me Latin for 2 years recalled - those ferocious fives doubles matches. & if ever there was a dry subject, Glad to hear that you’re settled in Ham and have this was it. Mule used to say that when very public-spiritedly rescued the local pub. We have an we started studying for exams, we old friend who lives in Pewsey, so maybe I will get the should start with Latin as it chance to drop into your establishment one day for that would “expand’ our minds to suggested “dop”. prepare the brain for work to Hugh Anderson: Yes, I do now live up in Bonny come. One thing that Mule Scotland but have recently enjoyed an extended stay in did for me was to instil a S.A., although I never got quite as far as Grahamstown. great interest in ancient I find my reactions to Grahamstown and College Roman history, which I still mixed, and this in spite of, or because of, having a have to this day. When I first number of my extended family either hailing from Albany visited Rome in my early 20’s, the first thing I did was to or St Andrew’s. track down all the ancient Roman monuments I could I enjoyed my time at College and certainly benefitted find. Thanks Mule! (Mac: After an article in Country Life hugely by it, but, for whatever reason, I find it difficult last year which had a feature on the College Pipe Band, to revisit those days (although I did have very happy I received a couple of emails from his widow, Marybeth

12 de Lisle, now living in Cape Town. Clearly she must western 6-gun (the key was huge!), aim it at its keyhole have been a Latin scholar too - her mind and memory and take about 4 or 5 large steps, stomp down on his were still razor sharp!) right heel and bring it down hard as he engaged the key Mike Graham: It was so good to hear from you (Mac: and opened the door. His heel had been hitting the exact Ron Forbes, that is) again after all these years. Please same spot on the concrete floor, probably twice, for accept my very belated thanks in your part in developing every term time day for 50+ years – and had created an my life-long love for birds. In our Prep school days you imprint over half an inch deep! The tragedy is that, when invited me to join you on an egg collecting expedition. they tiled the floor a couple of decades ago, they covered We found a bokmakerie nest in a suburban hedge and I this mark of Drac’s tenure. Should have at least put a can still remember what a thrill that was. I became an avid glass tile over it! (Mac: a real opportunity missed, sadly) collector at Prep and College and I loved the freedom Duncan Fraser (G66/70) writes: Sitting in London in the countryside away from all the College rules and watching the news. What can be done? Please see the “caste” system. attached Bloomberg article. (Mac: at the end of Duncan’s Some of the Merriman seniors had raptors that had to contribution) be fed. A couple of us spent our money on mouse traps bloom.bg/31mvg1L and for a while we earned some welcome extra pocket ANIMALS NEED OUR HELP. I wish to set up money - tickey for a mouse and sixpence for a large rat. Animalia, a new country for animals. A digital country, You may recall the fun we shared on an Exploration offering citizenship globally for a low-cost Society wilderness trail in Umfolozi Game Reserve with annual subscription. Axel. He was a fine man who I got to know a little from In return for their rowing and from sharing several holiday trips to the subscription, citizens will College fishing shack at Cape St Francis. receive a digital passport, I made a real arse of myself the first day at Umfolozi. a regular e-mail newsletter I had a new pair of binoculars. The ranger led us up produced in Pretoria, special to a waterhole where he said he often encountered offers for safaris, visits to white rhino. As we neared it through thick scrub I had game parks, and competitions. my binoculars glued to my eyes. I saw movement and Animalia will feature worthwhile information about a grey hairy rump and announced excitedly “RHINO”. animals, with an emphasis on art and photography. A Everyone howled with mirth as the warthog trotted off! world-beating animal information database. From Peter Levey: Yes I do believe the story of This is not some feel-good Disney concept but an Mule and the bayonet. He had a strange carriage that adult response to conservation - targeted at all ages. had to have been the result of a trauma of some sort. Animalia platforms will include a website, podcasts on I must say it took me a while to figure out who Michael YouTube, Instagram, Tik Toc, in addition to the email de Lisle was when I first read about him in the email newsletter. Teaching youth to care about blizzard caused by Snake. So thanks for clarifying. Mule wildlife. We will petition for animals a seat at I do remember. I took Latin through matric as a hedge the United Nations: where animal rights can against failing Afrikaans – never very good at languages be protected. at school. In our final year we had a new Latin teacher Animalia will build a database of called Tugs – which we found out were his initials. (Mac: information, emphasizing endangered TVG Smith) He was young – probably mid 20s – and species, with a South African focus. really brought the subject to life, although much too late Corporate citizenships and school for me. I managed to scrape through both the languages memberships will be offered, priced in the end. accordingly. Sponsorships and advertising I have seen Drac’s name come up a few times and, in opportunities will be available on the my book anyway, he was by far the best math teacher website and our emails. We hope to that I was ever favoured with. I did ad-math which we attract more than a million citizens. If each started at the beginning of our 2nd last year. He got us subscriber pays US $12 a month, that’s US through the whole 2 year matric syllabus in 2 terms, and it $ 12 million a year for animal welfare! was not even a push. He certainly scared most of us into Animalia has been introduced to behaving in class so we actually listened to him. He died SANParks, and I am now seeking to only a year or so after we left College and I remember elevate the dialogue. We must help the visiting him in hospital in PE pretty close to the end. He animals. I am hoping St Andrews and was very frail – and probably very old – but his mind was OAs will help to build Animalia. still razor sharp. I will be approaching DIRCO for its An interesting anecdote – or legend – about him. His help, seeking recruiting assistance from SA classroom was in the corner of the 2nd floor of Kettlewell embassies and missions. – and had been since about when Kettlewell was built. A key requirement is that the Animalia As someone mentioned, he was tall and gangling and project is professionally audited, to took very large and heavy steps normally. When he give assurance that all profits go reached the top of the stairs he would draw his key like a where they can do the most good.

13 This what I am planning. opposite Lions at break-time and we could, when we Covid-19 has halted had money, buy a Rev ice-cream. Church, every day, progress, but I am still and twice on Sundays, and once a month a walk to the hoping to find partners to Cathedral - it was difficult to concentrate with so much set up and run Animalia. church at that age, but I enjoyed the hymns and the Let’s do it together and singing, to this day. Food was always a challenge - too not waste any time! much bread, jam and sweet tea and too little protein. We Bloomberg article - bloom. only got toast when Mrs. du Plessis (Tigers Matron) sat at bg/31mvg1L our table for breakfast. Toast was another highlight. We Africa’s wildlife tourism industry, which usually were always hungry - normal for young energetic boys. generates $29 billion a year and employs 3.6 million My mother devised a scheme to get some decent food people, is under threat as the coronavirus has brought to us - and I think that is why I grew so big and played 4 leisure travel to a near halt, a report published in Nature sports for Eastern Province & Border (swimming, water- Ecology & Evolution said. polo, rowing and shooting); my mother sent food parcels Many wildlife-protection services will struggle without to the Lions Matron, Mrs. Wilmot, and she shared same money from safaris and hunting, according to research with us (my brother Duncan and I). Not often, but a very by scientists from various universities ranging from South good strategy and it helped! Africa to the U.S. Hardest hit will be countries that boast Those were the best of times and the worst of times, the so-called Big Five -- elephants, lions, buffaloes, but the foundation for a meaningful life & future success leopards and rhinoceroses -- such as Kenya, Zimbabwe was duly laid through this school experience, by some and South Africa. Others like Uganda, where gorillas are very good teachers – deep seated values & behaviours a drawcard, will also suffer, the study shows. concretized to enable us to manage, as we do now in “Tourism helps governments justify protecting wildlife these tough times. habitat,” the scientists said. “It creates revenue for state I played a lot of sport and our under 13 rugby team wildlife authorities, generates foreign-exchange earnings, was unbeaten in 1975, coached by Lorraine Mullins. diversifies and strengthens local economies.” We had a great team, and played together for another About 50%, or $30 million, of the Kenya Wildlife 5 years at College, lost only 1 game under 15. So, sport Service’s annual budget comes from tourism, while that was a big deal, and I think important to release energy to figure is 80% in Zimbabwe and the same percentage, or support conformance. That taught me a lot about life and $52 million, in South Africa. Half of the budget of the leadership – defining purpose, planning, coaching, high Uganda Wildlife Authority is from tourism to view the performing teams & teamwork. And managing pressure mountain gorillas. & stress. Perhaps most important, about relationships “The crisis demands a concerted international effort and friendships. We seldom saw our parents, so those to protect and support Africa’s wildlife and wildlands and boys around us at Prep (and later College) were family. people that are dependent on them,” the report said. I did not realize it then, but this family of school friends From Tony Macrae (M76/80) in Dubai, May 2020: were important from age 7 to now, aged 57. Friends, Challenging times globally, we live in a VUCA world, a and their support, help us to survive & grow, especially world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. in these challenging times. Very few people are unaffected and most businesses are That brings me to my main point - based on my negatively impacted - so, what do we do to survive and experience, life is a lot about relationships, and some of then recover? And, perhaps, live a little differently? My my closest friends came from Prep, College & DSG. No- experiences may help you. one, when their time comes, says they wish for one more I attended Prep from 1971-75, I was 7 years old day at work. No, the dying & the grieving always talk when my parents, who lived in Port Elizabeth, decided about relationships, family and friends. Listen to Steve that both my brother and I should experience boarding Jobs daughter, and his words to her, when dying. The school in Grahamstown - as my Dad and his brother longest study on happiness ever conducted, spanning had attended College in 1949. I also think my parents 100 years, by Harvard University concluded that wanted a break from us - too much energy and me, too relationships, effective relationships, contribute to our rebellious. Probably gave our younger sisters, Shona happiness. This is supported by much research: people and Fiona, a break too! So, the adventure began in matter, and we need to spend time throughout our Lions House - no cell phones, no additional food (other lives nurturing these relationships. That is one route to than school supplied), no radios, no talking after lights happiness. You may not realise it at the time, but you will out, no ‘civilian’ clothes, regular beatings for non- value that school experience, and value the friendships compliance and around 5c pocket money per week if I for a lifetime. recall correctly. One basket under our beds containing all Currently, with all the challenges, we often talk about our worldly possessions. That basket was inspected by "resilience" in life and in business. Webinars are prolific the housemaster every Sunday night; it had to be very and often revolve around how to manage under extreme neat! The neatest got bonus points for their House – so, measures, like lockdowns. As individuals we clearly need reward management well understood. The highlight to be resilient. So, resilience, the ability to bounce back of our day was when the ice-cream cart would park from adversity, is very important. Like “learning” (which,

14 according to Dewey, is a combination of experience plus We all have a duty to save the planet, let us start now reflection), we can learn to be resilient, and that is what - the 'new normal', post-pandemic, is a great opportunity you are doing right now during this difficult time, learning to do things differently. We all know what to do, we just how to cope with ‘pain’, in every respect - which will need to do it! It is called "execution". help you in the future to understand, absorb, grow and Good luck., and take care, succeed. Therefore, my view is that we should accept & Bruce Whitfield (X81/85) writes: Talk about terrible embrace the pain; we only learn & grow when we are timing! My first book, The Upside of Down, was launched uncomfortable and, on this planet, we will always face problems. Every day, problems big and problems small. That is my experience. And we will struggle, and fail, & ultimately solve these problems and grow and develop and evolve. That is how humans evolve - look at the South African Elon Musk at Tesla (inter alia), a brilliant mind, challenging, tweeting some crazy stuff, failing and succeeding - but ultimately getting stronger and, in my view, contributing to our evolution. Humans are problem- solving machines, no question, we are programmed that way - so we need to get used to that, embrace it, it will seldom be easy, but it will set us free to live more fully. We only die once, but we need to live every day. In the meantime, I suggest find ways to have fun - we should never be boring because the world is full of opportunity & adventure. Be curious, it may have ‘killed the cat’ but not us. My wife Claire, sons Michael (7 years old at that time) and James (5 years old at that time) left South Africa in 2004 and lived in the Sudan, the largest country in Africa. Also, the most volatile. What an experience - we learnt a lot about other cultures and other people, & about each other, and our family bonds grew stronger; could possibly have gone the other way, but happily married now for 34 years. We lived on the edge (Sudan had been at war for 25 years), right on the edge at times, learning and growing and having fun. Why not seize the day, carpe diem, no regrets - and a lot of US dollars! Which are now saved, and very helpful in these uncertain times. Saving money is good, no question. This experience & beyond (Saudi Arabia followed), enabled me to advance my career & enabled the Boys to become truly ‘global’ citizens, and we now live happily in Dubai, amongst 160 different nationalities - who all in the week South Africa went into hard lockdown and have something special to contribute. Diversity is good, thousands of copies sat gathering dust in shuttered for many reasons, including higher productivity. bookshops around the country for months. Mercifully, A thought; think about the power of the word ‘AND’. as the lockdowns eased, sales picked up and the spectre Replace the word BUT wherever possible with the word of an ignominious pulping session disappeared. Readers ‘AND’ e.g. we can work hard AND we can have fun. We were keen for a sense of optimism in the can suffer AND we can be happy. That is my experience, gloom and doom of a flailing domestic life is not linear. No silver bullet exists. economy in in the midst of a global Finally, I have learnt to ‘play the cards in front of economic meltdown. From crisis me’; whatever reality confronts us, we must face it and comes opportunity however and deal with it. And play the cards to the best of our ability. the next book(s) are in the early Avoidance is one option but usually it is better to face the stages of development! John Axe and issues, the problems, and solve them. My approach & Bob Sutherland would be advice: ‘know yourself’ (Socrates, the Greek Philosopher astonished that a publisher said that “the unexamined life is not worth living”), would print anything ‘manage myself’ (be responsible and be disciplined), I wrote! But it is ‘get to know others well’, & ‘take time to build effective thanks to the likes relationships’ - it is called 'emotional intelligence' or EQ. of them that College Observe the leaders of the world today, what they say boys across the ages have been able to do things they and what they do & evaluate their emotional maturity. I never imagined they would. conclude, you can do better.

15 Alexis McNaughton (A01/05) writes: Naturally, our industries in different parts of the world before turning skydiving business in Jeffreys bay has had to temporarily my sights on Sandhurst. I began my commissioning close. Regrettably, I have had to kiss goodbye the wife course on the 18 May 2020 and almost immediately and dogs (for now) and set sail to the UK. (Mac: safer was transported back to the dorms and corridors of than flying!) I purchased a £300 “banger” from an old St. Andrew’s. The daily rigorous inspections from our army friend to get around, and thanks to help of some Colour Sergeant (Irish Guards) were almost identical old colleagues I am working as a site manager alongside to those performed by dorm prefects in Grades 8 and the military on a Covid-19 Self Test site in Stroud. I am 9 (down to the 90 degree angle of toothbrushes). The proud to help the fight against this dreadful pandemic attention to traditions such as Matric lawns have parallels and look forward to my return to South Africa and family. here where privileges are restricted in Junior term but are Alexander Atkins (X07/11) writes: That first day on gradually allowed as you advance through. And the focus the parade square, I had a flashback. I was standing on on pride in the expansive history is paramount in both Lower Field, dressed in my shirt and kilt, tie tucked in and institutions. St. Andrew’s has always been extremely cradling my battered rifle, while the voice of a corporal proud of the sacrifices made by its students in wartime from the SADF cracked as he called the time. But then – the plaques and memorials dotted around the school I opened my eyes and in front of me was not Lower bear testament to that. It is inspiring to know that many of Pavilion as expected, but the grand pillared entrance hall them came through these halls at one time or another and to Old College. For this was no longer SAC Cadets, but I am humbled to follow in their footsteps. (Mac (having the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where officers of the last word!):the great institutions all rely heavily on the British army have been trained for over 200 years. maintaining strong and good traditions. Sometimes these My path to this institution has not been as direct as may seem arbitrary and anachronistic, but they build the some: I matriculated from St. Andrew’s in 2011 and, kind of spirit and attitude shown in your final sentence.) after finishing university, worked in a variety of roles and

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