MICHAELHOUSE • MARCH 1984 S. Michael's Chronicle MICHAELHOUSE, BALGOWAN 3275 NATAL • MARCH 1984 Printed in the Republic of South Africa by The Natal Witness (Pty) Ltd, Pietermaritzburg, Natal governors Visitor: The Bishop of Natal, The Right Reverend Michael Nuttal Mr A. Anson Lloyd (Chairman) Mr D.W. Strachan (Deputy Chairman) Mr J.D. Wilson Mr G.F. Walker Mr R.K. Collins Mr W.B. Kramer TheHonMrJusticeM.E. Kumleben Mr B.E. Hersov Mr A.C. Fleischer Mr W.F. Lambert Mr D.A. Guthrie Mr D.L. Stewart The Revd R. van Zuylen Mr A.J. Ardington Mr A.R. Evans Mr I.N. Matthews * Mr J.H. Hendersor Dr G.A. Hosking Mr P.C. Francis Professor C. Webb RECTOR Jardine, N.B., BA (Hons) (Rhodes), BED (UNISA) SENIOR MASTER Pluke,J.H.# BA, UED (Natal) ASSISTANT SENIOR MASTER Duff A.E.G. MA (Rhodes) HDE (UNISA) STAFF Aitchison, R.W., BA (Hons), HDE (Natal) Ashmole, W.E., BA, UED (Rhodes) Buckley, J.M., BSc (UCT), PGCE (London) Carter, A. L., PrEng, BSc (Hons) (University of Wales) Cele, L., HPTC Channing, P.M., B Econ (Rhodes) Cook, A.W.H., BA (Hons) (Rhodes), HED (UNISA) Cox, R., BA HED (UCT) Currie, R.A., B Comm, HDE (Natal) Dennyson, P.E., MA (St Andrews), Dip Ed (Edinburgh) De Villiers, E.R., BA, UED (Rhodes) Earnshaw, S.B., Cert Ed (Northern Counties), Dip PhysEd (Carnegie) Goulding, M.T., B Sc (Eng) (Wits), HDE (Natal) Hall, R.H.W., BA, UED (Natal) Hall, Fr Stephen, GOE (Kings London), OBL/OSB Hart, T.G., BA (Hons) (Sheffield), PGCE (London) Hennessy, R.W., BA (Stellenbosch), BED (Natal) Heymans, C., BA (Phys Ed) (Pretoria), HDE (Natal) Human, F.J., BA, UED (UOFS) King, K.A.J., BSc (Rhodes), PGCE (Cantab) Lavender, P.G., NAD (PE Technikon) Lavender, B.A. (Mrs), BA (Natal) Lewis, D.M.R., MA (Cantab), Dip Ed (Oxon) Lowe, J.P., BSc (Natal) Miles, D.B., BSc, UED (Natal) Miller, J.W., BA (Phys Ed), HPTC (Rhodes) Naidu, A. (Mrs), LSED (SCE), Dip in Lib Sc (UNISA) Naidu, B.R., BA, UED (UDW), LSED (SCE), Cert in TV Production (Wits) Patterson, G.D., M Phys Ed (Stellenbosch) HED (Natal) Pluke, B.l. (Mrs), Dip Ed (TTC Bulawayo) Reynolds, B.C., BA (Natal), BED (UNISA) Rogers, A.J., BA (TCD), PGCE (London), BED (Natal) Sowden, K.D., BED (London) Tasker, D., FTC (London), LRSMUS LTC (London) Thompson, M.E., MSc (Natal) Thompson, A.A. (Mrs), BA, UED (Natal) Walshe, L., BA (Hons), Dip Ed (Melbourne) Van der Walt, W., BA (Stellenbosch) Willis, J.C. d'A, BA (Hons), UED (Natal) Winckworth, S.N., BSc, BED (Natal) PART-TIME STAFF Carter, A.L. (Mrs), BA (UNISA), SRN, SCM Currie, J. (Mrs), MCSP Dennyson, N. (Mrs), BSC (Potchefstroom), UED (Natal) De La Hey, S.J. (Mrs), BA, HDE (Natal) Duff, A. (Mrs), BA (UCT) Heymans, M.J. (Mrs), BA(UNISA), HDE (Natal) Hart, Y. (Mrs), BA (Wits) Jardine, J.R. (Mrs), Dip PracSee (Rhodes) Lewis, F. (Mrs), BA (Natal), STD (UCT) Stephenson, A.R., BA, LLB Tasker, M. (Mrs), L UCT, LRSM Winckworth, F.M. (Mrs), BA (Wits), TTHD (JCE) Van den Haak, A. (Mrs), B Soc Sc (Natal) ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Medical Officers: Drs Hyslop, Smyth and Landman Bursar: Major A.B. Butler Sanatorium sisters: Sr M. Preboy, SRN, SRM SrH.R. Thompson, SRN Sr A. Sowden, SRN, SCM, Dip Comm Health Estate Manager: J.B. Morgan Works Manager: V. Kirsten Projects Manager: R. Harris Tuck Shop Manageress: Mrs B. Earnshaw Tuck Shop Manageress: Mrs A. Sowden 1 Swop Shop Manageress: Mrs A.A. Thompson Catering Manager: K.A. van den Haak, ING Assistant Caterer: Mrs A.C. van den Haak, B SocSc Matrons: Mrs V. Kirsten Mrs. J. Hall Rector's Secretary: Mrs D.M. Mulinder, BA Assistant Rector's Sectretary: Mrs C. Hulley Bursar's Secretary: Mrs P.A. Bryson Assistant Bursar's Secretary: Mrs S. Roll Academic Secretary: Mrs J.G. M. Gettliffe Chief Cashier: Miss M. Wellbeloved Kiosk Cashier: Mrs J.G. M. Gettliffe Senior Bookkeeper: Mrs V.M.L. Tarr Assistant Bookkeeper: Mrs D. Palmer Community Officer: J.D. Wilson, BA, LLB Community Office Secretary: Mrs G. Rouillard S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE Editorial Committee: Mr A.J. Rogers (Editor), M. Kidd, N. Robinson, M.R. Duffy, A.F. Pennington, S.L. Carter, D. Fleming, D.R. Baker Editor (Old Boys' Section): Mr J.D. Wilson COMPLIMENTS Photographs: Mr A. Carter, A. Rissik, S. Woodland and Members of the Photographic Society Drawings:R. Baber, J. Niehaus, D. Fleming, C. Napier Mr D. Ryan of The Natal Witness School Prefects Back: J.G. W. Hammond; S.G. Armstrong; N.R. Webb; W.G.R. Elliot; M. G. McLeod; D.G. Briggs Front: D.E. Malcomson; M.N. O'Connell; Mr N.B. Jardine; R.D. Hickman; D.F. Duffus. 2 Contents School News ...........................................4 Academic..............................................15 Chapel Notes..........................................19 House Notes...........................................20 Speech Day............................................29 TheSchlesingerTheatre.................................35 Sport.................................................44 Literary..............................................77 Societies.............................................81 Old Boys'Section .....................................97 3 News A TRIBUTE TO ROY GATHORNE In January 1954, a quiet, unassuming young man joined the staff of the school he had grown to love as a schoolboy in the pre-war years. Initial appear- ances proved to be deceptive, and it rapidly became apparent that he had brought with him an array of talents, a superb sense of fun and humour, and a sense of duty that would enable him to make an ex- ceptional contribution to Michaelhouse over a period of thirty years. In the years between leaving school and his return, Roy Gathorne graduated from Rhodes University, served in the Artillery, returned from Italy to complete an MA at Rhodes, and taught at St Andrew's College with considerable distinction for eight years. It was during this period that he rep- resented Eastern Province at cricket and hockey. Many years later Charles Fortune made the remark that, if Roy had not been such a dedicated and self- less teacher, he would almost certainly have played forthe Springboks. On his arrival at Michaelhouse, Roy started off at The Cottage and then, in rapid succession, served as House Tutor in Farfield, West and East. In January 1956 he was appointed Housemaster in East, a post which he filled for 14years. When one considers the wear and tear involved in living amongst a group of lively young men, this fact alone is an indication of his dedication and resilience. The boys in his care rapidly came to respect his fairness, enjoy his sense of humour, value his judgment, and appreciate the high principles by which he lived his life. All remem- ber those blue eyes, which would sparkle when amused but which were equally capable of freezing an errant young man in his tracks. This weapon was generally reserved for those who had been devious, underhand or unkind to their peers. Roy proved to be a teacher of exceptional talent. His teaching was enhanced by a fine command of the English language, not all of it completely orthodox! Roy started as Head of the English Department, but it was as Head of the History Department that he will be remembered. It is a pity that all young History teachers could not have been apprenticed to Roy: they would have learnt the virtues of meticulous preparation and lucid exposition; they would also have learntthe importance of returning tests and es- says promptly. Throughout his career, all work had been marked before the next period with that class. One thinks back to an occasion when Roy was Act- ing Rector and also teaching his normal timetable. Work had been set to occupy his classes while he attended a Board Meeting. That evening, a friend found Roy at his desk, practically grey with fatigue, and urged him to take a night off to relax. Roy's re- sponse was to mark all the essays on his desk, an act which epitomises his iron will and self-discipline. Sport has always played an important part in Roy's life, not in any obsessive way but because it is fun, a means of relaxation and a point of contact with others. Roy is a superb striker of a ball. Many will remember the shouts of glee emanating from the squash courts as he played a sizzling drive that struck the front wall a few millimetres above the tin and then sped on its way to die in the back corner. Wrong-footing an opponent on the tennis court would lead to a merry chortle and a wicked twinkle oftheeye. Roy would bethefirstto admitthat he is a determined competitor; he firmly believes that one 4 should play to win, but woe betide anyone, whether team-mate or opponent, who is guilty of sharp prac- tice. Playing to the rules is not good enough. In his book, games are to be played in the right spirit. While Roy is a fine all-rounder, his main contribu- tion has been to school cricket. He coached 1st XI cricket for seven years at St Andrew's College and twenty-two years at Michaelhouse. During this time he produced many outstanding cricketers. How- ever, his contribution was not confined to the teams he coached. Roy was thoroughly involved in Nuf- field Cricket, being a Natal Schools' Selector from 1958 to 1982; Manager of Eastern Province and Natal Nuffield sides on many occasions; a South African Schools' Selector; and Manager of the very successful South African Schools' side which toured England in 1968. Members of Caversham will think back to the many hours of pleasure and com- radeship they have enjoyed with Roy.