Interview with Joe Stravino 1963-67
Joe (Guiseppe) originally came to St David’s from St George’s where he was a boarder in what
was then Rhodesia. When his parents moved to Johannesburg, Joe joined St David’s. He
remembers being very nervous on his first day at the school but always felt comfortable there.
St George’s was a Jesuit College and very strict, St David’s was more relaxed and he made
friends more or less immediately. He did get into trouble sometimes and recalls that his whole
class was once sent to the headmaster’s office, however he felt that the discipline was well
balanced and fair.
Jane Owen was his first teacher who taught a number of subjects and was a good
sportswoman.
Joe was the school cricket captain, played 1st team rugby and was an athlete. He played in the
provincial side - Transvaal Nuffield and was only the second boy from Inanda to do so. He
enjoyed all the sports tours with the school and went on the Marist Cricket Week tours and
rugby tours. He also remembered that he and other pupils planted the cricket pitch under the
supervision of Mrs Simaan.
He remembers Br Bosco, Br Anthony, Br Andrew and the cricket manager and coach Br
Michael.
Sport rather got in the way of academics but Joe managed to be accepted at Wits to study for a
Civil Engineering degree which took him 4 years even though he didn’t get a great matric pass.
Joe is still in the earth moving business, BLC Plant Company specialising in earth moving and
construction equipment which he buys, repairs and sells. He currently has a staff of 300. .He
helped to move the ground for Strevino Park at St David’s and has done some work for the
Alexandra community and the Catholic Lebanese Church free of charge.
Both his two sons came to St David’s during the time of Murphy, Freilick and Davies. The boys
battled and eventually one son went to St John’s and the other to St Andrews. When Paul Edey
was appointed headmaster, things changed and his grandchildren, 3 boys will be attending St
David’s and one Guiseppe, age 6 is currently a pupil.
Joe regularly comes to the school and walks his dogs and has a good feeling coming back. It
was a great thing coming to St David’s and he will treasure this forever.
Some of his contemporaries he remembers are Derek Schombie, Kev Hussey, Len O’Haughey,
Mike Smith. He also remembers Peter Owen – 50’s a Nuffield Cricketer and Luke or Mike
Chandler.
JE September 2012

Interview with Michael Richardson – 1971
Michael came to St David’s as a dayboy living at home. He was lucky that he had such an
active sport life and close group of friends that he stayed at school every day until about 5pm
and often they were at one another’s homes – so in fact he had the best of both worlds, a
dayboy living like a boarder
Memories of first day at St David’s – the teacher Mrs Lego very kind, his school uniform was too
big, he was all enthusiastic to play games with friends
Memories of last day at St David’s – sorrow at leaving such a close group of friends. Leaving a
cocoon of life that embraced all he had done up till then – now it was into the big wide world –
but excited about army service and university.
Teachers who left a lasting impression were Brother Andrew (Dracula - Maths) Mrs Richardson
(English – my Aunt)) Brother Bosco (Science).
Michael was involved in all the sport he could play – cricket, football, swimming, athletics, rugby,
hockey, and tennis. He played 1st XI and XV cricket and rugby and swam for the school in
breaststroke and relay and held records in athletics, javelin, high jump and long jump (for a
while) and introduced the fosbury flop to the school high jump. Michael has great memories of
the cricket tour to the Cape in standard 8 as part of the inter Marist tournament and of winning
the 200 metres and high jump at a few inter-catholic highs athletics events. Michael was also
selected for the Transvaal schools U15 Cricket team.
An event which stands out was his first century, the day he was picked for the 1st XI, opening of
the cricket oval playing a Wilf Isaacs XI with international cricketers in it and opening the
batting!!
One his worst moments at school was getting caught drawing a picture of the teacher in an
uncompromising position and getting a caning in front of the class.
Other amusing memories are of racing for prefects tea to get the avocado sandwiches; getting
his best friend into trouble by giving him the wrong answer when he had been sleeping in class
and was asked to answer; sneaking into class late behind the teacher’s back only to have the
headmaster walk in behind you.
The matric Dance was fabulous, Michael was lucky to have a girl-friend at that stage who was
everything he wanted – beautiful, bright and a dancer! The decorations and the theme were
stunning and the boys were so proud as they thought they had done the best dance ever.
Michael most enjoyed the sport, friendship and some of the teachers: All the sport teachers
Brother Michael, Mr Greenway, Mr Summers and Brother Andrew but he least enjoyed Latin,
end of year exams, and caning.
Michael was a prefect and was awarded honours for athletics, cricket, was Victor Ludorum, and
in the Maths olympiad final round.
After leaving St David’s served time in the army gymnasium and paratroopers; he went on to
study Medicine at Stellenbosch and specialised in Obs Gynae in the UK. He worked in a
practice in UK for a few years then joined the pharmaceutical industry in R&D and is currently
head of drug safety with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Michael also gives research support in cystic
fibrosis charity and drug rehabilitation
Michael did not have any sons at St David’s and last visited the school 5 years ago.
Michael had 2 brothers at St David’s as well. Bryan and John Richardson
(john.richardson@sbcglobal.net)
Bryan Matriculated 1967 John Matriculated 1965.
Some random info: Originally the school grounds only extended as far as the road going down
past the swimming pool, - what is now the main entrance was the rear entrance and was the
boundary fence of the school. The PTA negotiated for about 5 years in the early 1960s to
purchase the house and all the lands which extended the school all the way down around the
bend on Rivonia road. The new cricket oval was created in front of the pavilion which was
inaugurated by Archbishop Boyle in 1970.
Later the school sold off the lower portion for development and housing which has probably
funded the school since then. The grounds were bought for under quarter million rands and God
knows what they have made from that very wise purchase. (Can you imagine how many fund
raisers we had in those days to get the funds).
The original cross country race on sports day used to start from the main gate (original main
gate) and head off towards Sandton (pre Sandton City) all the way down Rivonia Road, along
Katherine Street, Wierda Road (When it was still Wierda Valley and had small holding houses)
up along Pretoria Ave into Forest Road up past what was then the Inanda Polo Club, along Fifth
Avenue then up Boundary Road and into the athletics field through a gate which was then on
Boundary road and finish around the 400 m track to the finishing post. There used to be a full
athletics track around the original cricket oval with stands etc.

Interview – Peter Habberton – Staff 1975 - 80
Peter grew up in Benoni, son of an Anglican minister who was forced to leave South Africa in

1967. As a consequence, Peter finished his schooling and university education in England
      returning to South Africa in 1974. As a member of the Wanderers cricket club at the time he
      learnt that Peter Stringer the current St David’s cricket coach was leaving. He went to see
      Brother Timothy and was subsequently employed as cricket coach and P.E. teacher in
      October 1975.
      Br Timothy gave Peter and his new wife Jackie 3 rooms upstairs overlooking the cricket fields
      in what is now the CEO’s house. Their daughter was born there in 1978. Peter had a dog
      called Shane who went with him everywhere and tracked down his son, aged 2 when he once
      went missing walking out through the school grounds to a nearby shopping centre.
      Peter taught Physical Education from the prep through to the high school having a PE degree
      from the UK. He then started to teach English and became part of the school’s management
      team together with Trudy Elliott, the then head of English. Peter coached the 1st team cricket
      and 1st team rugby and was in charge of athletics. Later on Peter started the Art department
      also painting the scenery and sets for the annual matric dance.
      There were still many brothers teaching including Br Timothy, Br Mario, Br Bernard, a keen
      photographer and artist, Br Aidan the bursar. Br Jude was the Brother Provincial. Br Anthony
      was no longer around but popped in occasionally. Other teachers were Ken Lipschitz, Maths;
      Tom Macfadden, History; John Vahey, Geography ; Heather Joseph taught in the prep school
      together with Willy Castle and Terry O’Mahoney both of whom joined as students whilst
      studying at JCE. Willy eventually took over the prep soccer. Terrry O’Mahoney, coming from a
      strong Marist family was a fellow student who went on to St John’s. In 1980 Peter Swanson
      was the assistant coach for rugby. Mrs Gilroy, Br Timothy’s secretary, ruled the roost in the
      admin block.
      In those days the school had fewer pupils and not many resources but managed to climb up to
      the A league and become competitive especially in the Catholic schools league. Peter
      remembered an occasion when Walter Cronje was victim of a dirty player on the Observatory
      side. The player had been sent off, was allowed to return to the field again and immediately
      homed in on Walter tackling him and rupturing his spleen in the process.
      The land was sold off where the Inandas now stand but it was believed that the money was
      used not only for St David’s but other Marist schools. However, there was a good spirit in the
      school with a very supportive parent community. There were on average 27 boys in a class
      and Br Timothy was a firm but understanding headmaster.
      Some of the boys he remembers are Mike Peel, a brilliant cricketer now living in the Nelspruit
      area who is now an environmental scientist. He was the first of Peter’s charges to get into the
      Transvaal Nuffield cricket team. Sasha Martinengo who now presents motor racing on Super
      Sport was in the prep school in those days
      JE October 2012

Interview with Peter Stringer – 1966 – 74 - staff cricket coach
Peter played professional cricket for Yorkshire and was brought out to South Africa by the Wanderer’s club
who paid for his airfare and he had free accommodation at St David’s. He travelled here by sea on the
Union Castle line. The first stop was Southampton to Las Palmas and Cape Town, then with the “Blue
Train” to Johannesburg. The return fare was R480 then when the Rand was two to one Pound. He coached
from September until the end of March each year until he moved to SA permanently in 1971.
Br Anthony was the headmaster and Br Andrew, who was Spanish, was in charge of the grounds and had
never even seen cricket played until he came to South Africa. Br Timothy was on the staff and Br Bosco.
Willy Castle was a pupil at the time. When Peter first arrived at the school, the dining room was full of about
16 brothers but by the time he left there were only about 4. A young brother came out and had never seen
cricket played before. After watching a practice one day he asked that the stumps be left and grabbed a
ball, kept on trying to bowl and then run after the ball. After about 10 minutes of this activity he brought the
stumps back declaring that this was a tough game!
Willem Van der Merwe was working at the school then and Peter remembers him seeing some renovations
of Rosebank where paving was being ripped up and replaced. He enquired where it was going and how
much they were paying for dumping it and arranged for it to be “dumped” at St David’s where he used
them. Willem also converted the dormitories into classrooms after the boarding closed and saved the
school a significant amount of money when he built the swimming pool stands.
Peter recalled a cocktail party at the school to welcome the new headmaster, Mr Murphy who claimed to
have played rugby for Lancashire. Peter used a facility next to the Lancashire rugby grounds and knew
many of the players and found it interesting that when Murphy heard this he quickly moved away and didn’t
wish to chat to him any further.
The initial fields were where the prep school playing fields are now. Lee McGregor who became a
Springbok swimmer was a pupil at the school. His father owned an earthmoving equipment company and
when the school purchased the Love farm, he purchased two old bulldozers which he serviced and, under
his supervision, were used to create the cricket oval. Peter recalled that Br Anthony asked how big the
Wanderer’s cricket oval was and made sure that St David’s was bigger. Wanderers enjoyed playing on the
St David’s oval.
At the opening of the oval in 1970 a professional cricket team was put together and played against the
school team. As it was so dry and Br Anthony being a perfectionist, he organised that the pitch was painted
green for the opening. The day was overcast and rain threatened but after the Bishop blessed the oval, the
sun came out and a wonderful day was had by all. Dicken Bird, the famous umpire was a member of the
professional team.
Peter saw the ghost rumoured to haunt the Love farmhouse. Peter was sleeping in the house before
leaving early for the Kruger Park with Don Wilson and Barry Leadbeater. He woke up sensing someone
was in the room, sat up and saw an old lady who just faded away. Chris Clifford who coached cricket and
taught Maths slept in the same room with his wife one night and she woke up screaming claiming someone
was in the room but she didn’t see the ghost.
Peter was Wanderers cricket coach for 42 years. He was also the convener for SA universities cricket and
coached the likes of Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes and Andrew Hudson. At Wanderers he also coached
Brian Macmillan, who went on to play for South Africa. On another occasion he was asked by the MD of
Whitbread if he would coach the Wits university team 2 days a week in exchange for a few free beers.
Peter remembers a large beer truck drawing up at the school with 30 dozen beers. Needless to say a
certain amount of partying was done and Br Anthony and Br Andrew also joined in.
The cricket at St David’s was good in Peter’s day and he remembers bowling St Stithians out for 17.
Harry Curtis was the fast bowler but had to play in tackies as he couldn’t get cricket shoes to fit him, size

15. Peter had some shoes made for him in Northampton, England and remembers paying R7 for them.
    John Peel, Terry Lavery, Chris Stanle, Glyn O’Leary, Peter Moni, Patrick Quarmby Frank Cattich, Greg
    Boys Varley, Mike Stanley and Alan Reeves were some of the school’s cricketers. Peter coached Alan’s
    son.
    Peter remembered the Marist cricket week. Joe Stravino was selected for Transvaal, became captain and
    was vice captain for the A side Nuffield cricket. Mike Smith who came from an Italian family was also a
    keen cricketer.
    Peter started the rugby in the primary school and coached the Peel brothers for 3 years. The team played
    U13, U14 and U15’s and they didn’t lose a game until grade 6.
    Peter often looked after the boarders and played indoor soccer with them in the old tuckshop.
    When Peter first came to St David’s, it was considered really far out, there was no Sandton and Rivonia
    was a village. The chapel was upstairs and the swimming pool was where the after care is now. Piet the
    school cook was the “Boss” who ran the school kitchen. He used to take the pumpkin and butternuts seeds
    and send them down to his family in Natal. He was a big man and if he lost his temper all the staff scattered
    and ran out of the kitchen.
    Peter finally left St David’s because he clashed with Br Timothy the then headmaster, swimming and rugby
    were his sports. Peter went on to King David’s, Victory Park for 20 years and has been coach at Trinity
    College for the past 12 years. He left SA in 1980 after his mother died and opened up a butcher’s shop with
    his brother which is where he met his wife Maureen and they married in 1985.
    Ronnie Carr was also a cricket coach at St David’s for a number of years. He owned a butcher’s shop in
    Darrenwood but got tired of it and asked Peter to help him become a coach.
    JLE October 2013

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