The Bagpipe 2014 No. 35 Jack Newton (M34/36) SAC in big boxes. We tried them on but felt asks: Anybody beat my very cool underneath, so one suggested we age? Mullins House 1936 get girls’ panties. What, wear panties? Girls and am still going strong. were considered very derogatory in those I just had my 95th b/day. days so that idea was condemned and jock Just proves my point, straps had to fill in. You must realise no the more b/days one has, underpants were available in those days. the longer you live!! Naughty joke: The girl asked what you wear (Mac: well, of the current underneath, so the brave guy said: “feel”. So she did contributors, you beat Jim Howell by & said “How gruesome”. So he said “Feel again and a matter of a month!) grew some more”. Rob Fletcher (E38/40) writes: The I strongly suggest you get the book “Thus Came the Bagpipe No 34 inspired me to write English” by Dorothy Rivett-Carnac, Magistrate of to you all as well. I know Brian Grahamstown, for the library. Lovely interesting 1820 Hobson and admired his story about the Settler OA. I met interesting SAAF pilots during the war. wonderful SAC. Brought up in the poor farming Alf Kingcome was one. He and I won the U16 tennis community my father decided I’d go to SAC, not Queen’s doubles. Why and how we beat Dudda Ford and Collet College, where all my cousins were. Rev Kitcat was his - talented sportsmen. Dudda served 4 double faults when minister so knew well the son, Godfrey, who looked after the DSG crocodile came past!?! All were pilots with me at SAC. Killed hero in Italy in a tank rescuing his distinction. I’m doing my best to get 5 young Fletchers friends – lovely chap! Knew all the younger generation there. Great bursaries available with only a J.C. I got my as I’m pushing 90 in good health, history and genealogy pilot’s licence but crashed a Kitty Hawk “faulty” later on - my hobby. You’ll excuse perhaps my confused writing. so crutches. Think SAC still the best. Dup Murrell, Danie Dad, he informed Bishop Armstrong, Head of SAC, I need Craven, Drac Lucas – (the hardest cuts in the school), not learn that long dead language, Latin, but had to learn Currey & Charles Fortune what more could you ask for? to box. So there I was fagging for Mickey Bryant whom I Jim A Howell (E34/38) writes: This letter is not really was so scared of, popular boxing champ and great rugby drafted to be a contribution to The Bagpipe but more to wing. He treated me gently as I ran away from Twigg thank you, over some years, for sending me a copy of who hit me three times as I had not seen him yet. Now this fascinating publication. (Mac: what makes it fascinating you never run away as I’ll hit you if you do so!! Probably is the reminiscences of those of a bygone era such as a bit timid. yourself!) He and Peter Bunton, Nor am I entering myself for any Guinness Book of Vet of Elephant Park of Records as the oldest surviving OA but I may be entering Glen Trollope, whose this unenviable category. father had to calm the Many of the entries are from people whose parents elephants with oranges as weren’t even born when I was at College. I continue to they charged all human get birthday cards from the Headmaster. How does he beings - a deed well know I am still alive?! (Mac: because you haven’t notified accomplished. Left SAC in JC (Std him otherwise!) 8). How many are we? As dad Only rarely is there a letter from a near contemporary said before I become cannon but one such is Brian Hobson’s on page 1 of No 34 and fodder, I must farm for 2 years with I remember nearly all of those mentioned including Crack him. So joined SAA, became a fully qualified Hurricane Shot Jack Brunette. fighter pilot. One of the interesting things I did at SAC: I College was pretty spartan in those days. I don’t think and seven others unpacked the kilts when they came to we realised we were in a world depression but the EP 1 farmers’ sons were surely better felled, developed an acute subdural haematoma. We informed. We had a food strike regarded the Settler’s Hospital in those days as a one in Espin led by Cullingworth way ticket to the next world. I hope it has improved. and Roly Whittaker – born And I remember those awful picnics to Stone’s Hill – rebels and heavy smokers. oranges, sardines, bread. At mealtimes the boy who Drac’s wife was supervising the divided the butter in 3 or 4 took the last bit. A tickey kitchen in those days. Incidentally it bought several pineapples and 60 years later I bought was Scopie, initially before Roly Whittaker some on the side of the road. Sour as hell. Maybe we rechristened him, owing to his habit of should send some farmers to Hawaii to learn from Dole? spreading his gown in a synchronous The Bagpipe triggers endless memories but an enduring manner. (Mac: I have always wondered impression (from the magazine) is how much expanded at the origin of “Scopie” – Drac was a and improved College is as an educational establishment. much more obvious appellation.) Teachers? Ernie and Dup Murrell – the former very Theft of tuckboxes was quite prevalent and so was sarcastic, Harco Iwema, Pud Lawrie, Bunny Gore-Sellon bullying and anti-semitism. A Jewish lad whose Hebrew with his trousers always at halfmast, Drac (good maths name was Tarshesh, anglicised to Livingstone, was teacher), “Pansy” Armstrong a Greek-Latin scholar but chastised by a 6’ lout called D*** from a well-known did he really understand the often thick as two planks EP commercial family in Grahamstown. schoolboy? Lazy some of them! Charles Fortune in his Disputes were settled in the Fives Court Harlequins jersey! I think he played for their 12th team. and I remember Johnny Kirkpatrick Anyway, happy New Year. (younger brother of Duncan) giving A tribute to Denys Arderne Biden (Upper House 1937) me a severe beating. Funnily 21/02/1921 – 13/02/2014 appears on the College enough, I won the middleweight website. boxing competition at Sandhurst Colin Brayshaw (A48/53) writes: Mac, having in 1942. It was a shadow of retired as Senior Partner & then Chairman of the “real” Sandhurst Deloittes I have been very lucky to have subsequently and termed the served as a director, and nearly always as chairman 162nd OCTU of the Audit (HAC). We Committee, on had done an some thirty companies Infantry listed on the JSE. A OCTU at the number of these were Cameronians some of the biggest barracks in companies in the Lanark then country. However as I the armoured course at Sandhurst before being approach 80, I am now commissioned into 44th Recce Regt (56th London Infantry running down my Division). In ’43 – ’44 we had seven officers from SA in business interests. that regiment – 6 UDF. I was in the British Army. I have also been One of us was C.D.F Osmond (Peter), (M35/39) ex involved with education SA Armoured Corps – a tough character who became a having served as a trustee close friend – killed near San Gemmano near the Gothic on the Wits, College and Line. Years later Penny – your former archivist – was Michaelhouse Foundations. instrumental in putting me in touch with some relatives Some might ask how come (Palmers) as I had a picture of my late wife Nola and me Michaelhouse - well only standing by his gravestone in Gradara War Cemetery. because their Foundation Pre-antibiotic (even pre Protosil) era, there were a liked to have some members who had not been to the number of fatalities. One Mullins with a mastoid abscess school to add another dimension to the Foundation’s which even Dr Leith (ENT surgeon in PE) was unable to thinking! save. His son Bob Leith – another friend of mine died, I I guess the difference between when one was at College think, while on flying training. My closest friend, Frank and now is the much improved creature comforts Ritchie, was killed at Chinsi – a poorly conducted battle – especially accommodation, food and hot water in while serving in 1st City / C.T.H in 6th SA Div. Mickey abundance. All that has not changed much are the Bryant, another tough customer & good boxer, ended classrooms which probably now could do with an upgrade up as you could have guessed leading a partisan band in but armchairs are not necessary! Northern Italy - killed in an ambush. “I have a rendezvous Barry (Eric) Mosley (X47/49) writes: Just to let you know with death at some barricade.” that I have received the latest copy of “Bagpipe”. I was “Tighty” Little drowned when his ship hit a mine in a very intrigued about the letter from John Gie, Merriman. Yugoslav inlet. Also John Adams and so many others. I knew him whilst I was in Merriman. He was a great Another unfortunate death was Shuttleworth in a fight chap and in many the House comedian!! Also Ken (unequal contest) with C********. He hit his head when Gough. I knew Ken at Waterkloof House Preparatory 2 School and we were together in Merriman. Ken was I have very fond memories of my days at College.