Showing 237 results

Interview with Gabriel Ally – 2010
Gabriel came to St David’s from Sacred Heart in grade 8. He felt that his years from grade 0
to grade7 at Sacred Heart laid the foundation for his success at St David’s and in general.
The emphasis at Sacred Heart was on the Marist education with brothers still living on the
property at the time. Brother Anthony was his headmaster in grade 1 1968 – 9 and he had
an older brother and sister at the school. The primary school went up to grade 6 with a
middle school approach in grade 7 which prepared him for high school. Tony Williams was at
Sacred Heart during this time, was the prep headmaster and also coached soccer
Gabriel initially looked at St John’s and Michaelhouse but eventually decided that St David’s
was the high school for him after meeting Mr Williams. Initially he was rebellious but went
onto the straight and narrow from grade 10. He remembered John Edward Ferreira asking
him who was going to be head boy, and laughing incredulously when Gabriel replied “Me”.
When he first arrived he came with an open shirt and had to borrow a tie from lost property
as Sacred Heart boys didn’t wear ties in summer. After one week at school all the grade 8’s
went on camp with Mr Busscheau, Mr Dugmore, Mr Smith and Mr Williams.
All the boys lobbied for the prefects to also attend the camp and in matric Gabriel organised
that and the prefects went along, got to know the boys and were therefore better able to
profile them selecting appropriate mentors. This was the big success of his year as head
prefect and improved the mentoring system. In his first year all the naughty boys were given
prefects as their mentors and Gabriel’s mentor was Kunda Nyatsaambo, deputy head
prefect 2006 and head of house, College.
Gabriel played 1st team rugby, cricket, some soccer, participated in athletics and inter-house
swimming. He was also a member of the book quiz team in grade 12. He participated in
SMILE and was involved with some projects facilitated by Mr Martins. He enjoyed interhouse
music but didn’t get involved with drama as he didn’t have the courage. However
once he got to university he developed a passion for drama and was involved in two
university productions.
Teachers who made an impact on him were Mrs Roman, his tutor from grade 8 to matric, Mr
Williams especially in his matric year and his favourite teacher was Mrs Khanyile who taught
Zulu.
Gabriel was mayor of the junior city council from 2009 – 2010, this was then the private
organisation separate from the city council. As Mayor he endeavoured to contribute to
society in the areas of environment and welfare as much as possible and worked with other
NPO’s to achieve that goal. Mrs D Webb was the co-ordinator at St David’s and other boys
that participated before him were Sean Jamieson and Antimo Osato.
As head prefect Gabriel instituted a new punishment for boys who failed the new boys test –
they had to write an essay about why they loved St David’s. The results were interesting with
the feeling of brotherhood, brother’s keeper and involvement which emerged. Gabriel
wanted to instil a sense of tradition, discipline and spirit, setting goals in matric.
Gabriel also spoke at Mr Selima’s farewell where all the support staff were invited, saying a
few words in Zulu. He got chatting to Richard Lubisi and became friendly with him and
stayed in contact whilst he was at UCT. When Gabriel started doing some consultancy work
for his brother and needed to go and visit squatter camps, Richard took him to ivory Park
which is the reason that Gabriel now has the job he has. Richard is also now working for
Gabriel’s brother.
Steve Bailey died during Gabriel’s matric year. His death affected every boy in matric and he
was sorely missed.
Gabriel was awarded full colours for academics, service, leadership and general honours. a
Marcellin Champagnat medal and a special award, the Rotary Club Award for service
beyond self. Gabriel recalls the good feeling when Tyson Sithole was awarded an honours
blazer and how supportive all the other boys were.
The matric dance was very special and he remembers the opening song was “Kiss of a
Rose”. Mrs Greensill taught Gabriel and Chad White, deputy head how to waltz.
On leaving school Gabriel went to UCT to study philosophy and economics on an Allan Gray
Orbis Foundation Scholarship for Entrepreneurship and Leadership. After two years he
decided to take a break from his studies and return to Johannesburg to pursue his goal of
becoming a social entrepreneur. He was an apprentice in a small business and gained
valuable experience and knowledge on how to start and run a business in 2013. This
opportunity gave him the courage to start his own recycling and advertising venture. He is
currently working to support this initiative and plans to launch his own in 2014.
Gabriel is still involved with St David’s and is assisting Mrs Voorendyck in Life Orientation in
term three with the matrics and will be guest speaking at the prize giving in January 2014.
JLE September 2013
The Challenge – Final Address – Gabriel Ally - 2010
Good Evening.
“Gabriel enjoys taking part in group activities, he is popular and a leader amongst his peers.
Occasionally he acts impulsively and upsets someone, but these incidents are few and far
between. It has been a pleasure to teach Gabriel, I wish him luck for grade One and I know
he will enjoy the challenge.” ….In 12 years, not much has changed has it?
I still find myself leading and, on occasion, being impulsive. I sure hope I’m still popular and
a pleasure to teach, and I’m sure there are a few people sitting here tonight whom I have
upset along the way. Of all these words however, the biggest truism lies in the observation
that “he will enjoy the challenge”; a challenge that has been riddled with dreams,
responsibility, tears, elation and honour; a challenge that is still in its infancy and one that will
continue unto death. This challenge is life. A challenge that I have had the esteem of sharing
with a brotherhood, a challenge that has been blessed by the presence of family and one
that has been made easier by its path through St David’s.
A year ago I embarked on a challenge set forth by you; the challenge of following in the
footsteps of St Marchelin Champagnat, Michael Carey, Graeme Gallow, Kylo Molefe and
James Rawson. In doing so, I have been humbled by the opportunity to represent this
amazing band of brothers, this family, this way of life that represents far more than an
education. I stand before you today as a product of St David’s, as a man, as a disciple of an
institution that is far greater than any one individual.
As I look out at the boys sitting before me, I am comforted by the knowledge that what we
have achieved as the matric class of 2010 will be forever ingrained in their character. It is
true that it takes a village to raise a child and a community to spawn a man, and I can say
with confidence that when you leave St David’s you can say, “I have the courage to be that
man.” Until that day however, never shy away from the challenge of Confortare-Esto-Vir.
As some of you may have seen, the Marist flag is flying at half-mast today in remembrance
of Brother Anthony who passed away this week. Brother Anthony bid farewell to St David’s
long before our time here, but his affiliation to the Marist Brotherhood never faltered. This is
true of all Marist boys. This is true of our brother Steve Bailey. Tonight we are graced with
his spirit and I know each one of you sitting here, particularly the matrics, will understand the
severity of my words when I say that: “life is too short, to say life is too short”. I thank Mr and
Mrs Bailey for joining us this evening and for blessing the Marist family with a man whose
impact and maturity extended far beyond his 18 years of life. Steve, we miss you and we
love you.
Every oak tree was once an acorn. Now I’m aware that I am well over 6 feet tall, a massive
acorn, but I still have a lot of growth to do, as do we all. There is a common trend that when
Marist boys find their niche in the world, they tend to tower over forests of men with humility,
simplicity and modesty. When I think of a Marist boy who is defined by these traits, I think of
my brother and companion Chaid White. Chaidy, it has been an honour to have served
alongside you. You were never afraid to step aside when I needed to lead, or to step in when
I needed to follow. That applies to the entire prefect group. To Brad, Matt, Trist and Bazza,
our friendships has been cemented by the trials we have overcome on the sports fields and
in the corridors, thank you.
The best part of being able to stand up here tonight is that I have an opportunity to publicly
express my appreciation to the staff of St David’s. I won’t miss Shakespeare or pythagoras,
but I am certain I will miss our loving and supportive teachers. Not only are we blessed with
an exceptional education, but we are blessed with role models and friends. To Mr Van den
Berg, Mr Williams and Mrs Roman, I thank you for your undying support and guidance
throughout my life at St David’s and I applaud you for the work you do behind the scenes to
ensure that every boy sitting here has an opportunity to flourish.
The motherly urge, alongside hunger and thirst, is known to be one of the strongest natural
urges of human beings. Every son and husband sitting here will know that mom is always
right. We are here tonight not only as products of St David’s, but as products of our parents.
I have been blessed with a father who has never faltered in wanting the absolute best for his
son and a mother who has successfully seen three children through matric. Tonight marks
the end of my mother’s 21 year stint of packing lunches, labelling school books, answering
matron’s phone calls and buying enough raffle tickets for 10 people. Mom and Dad, thank
you for guiding me through this challenge with such love and care. We must all acknowledge
that without the support of our parents and the greater St David’s community, our lives would
not be as blessed as they are.
A young lad was auditioning with his classmates for the annual school play. His mother knew
that he had set his heart on being in the play – just like all the other children hoped to - and
she feared how he would react if he wasn’t chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, the
young lad’s mother went to the school gates to collect her son. He rushed up to her, eyes
gleaming with pride and excitement. “Guess what mum!” he shouted, “I have been chosen to
clap and cheer.”
These words provide a lesson to us all. To my successor and his men, who will take on the
challenge of leading this school: Do not be fooled into thinking that leadership is position?
Each one of you has a role to fulfil, a role that will be defined by your attitude and goals for
St David’s. Being a Marist boy is an honour, but beyond that it is a responsibility. You have a
responsibility to maintain the standard set by the generations of men who hang on these
walls, a responsibility to build on the foundation laid before you and a responsibility to
become a solid platform for the boys who will clap and cheer for you along the way.
It has been an honour and a blessing. I thank you all for this challenge.
Gabriel Ally
Head prefect
2010

Interview with Frederick Barnard – 1989
Frederick first came to St David’s in 1985, midway into standard 5 as his mother had moved to
Johannesburg from Cape Town. The religious aspect of a Catholic school was completely new to him
coming from SACHS, a large government school. The classes were much smaller, the boys had to line up
in the prep school quadrangle, it was mid-winter and very cold.
The teachers he recalled were Trudy Elliot, acting head between Boswell and Davies, she was a strong
teacher who Frederick liked and inspired him. She retired at the end of 1988. Also in the high school there
was Brian Webster who taught Science and Biology and who was the water-polo coach; Mr Hall; and
Father Brewer was very influential, everyone appreciated him as a fantastic human being. Frederick came
to his funeral in 1999. A number of the boys’ parents lived and worked on the school premises such as
Father Brewer, Brian Webster, Mr Finlayson, Mr Castle, the headmasters and the estate manager. Having
the teachers around was a good thing.
Another big influence in Frederick’s life was FatherTom Nicolson, based in Cape Town who led him through
his first holy communion, married him and has baptised Frederick’s children.
Frederick found that he thrived in a smaller community together with boys from different backgrounds which
included black children too. It was the first time that Frederick had encountered boys from other
backgrounds and different economic environments such as Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. The country
was not very stable during the late 80’s and some of the boys had problems getting to school and Fredrick
remembered offering Sophiso Ngwenya (the first black head boy) to stay with him. It was a family
community which was strong throughout his childhood years and even later on. It was such an influential
time in a child’s life and left a lasting impression on Frederick when he was trying to figure out who he was
and what he wanted in life. Frederick is still in close contact with many of the friends he made during this
time.
In retrospect, the religious aspect of the school also influenced and affected Frederick in different ways.
Some teachers also had the ability to inspire and motivate him. Frederick’s parents were not very much
involved with the school and some of his teachers became role models, which is very important in a child’s
development.
As the numbers were low, there were only two classes in matric, everyone participated no matter how good
they were. The school was very liberal in its approach and as to what was right and wrong. During the time
of the riots the school took the stance in what was believed to be fair and not along government lines.
In those days the school did retreats and socials at the Rosebank Convent and, whilst Frederick was in
standard 5, prefects’ tea still existed. There was huge respect for the older boys and all the boys underwent
an initiation in standard 6.
There were outreach activities in the prep school, in the high school, Frederick participated in debating, the
Stock Exchange Investment Game, was vice captain of Benedict house with Wayne Muller as captain, was
a member of the 1st team water-polo. He was awarded academic colours and received an Art prize in
standard 8, Heather Joseph was his Art teacher. In standard 9, Frederick remembers that receiving his
honours blazer from Trudy Elliott in assembly was very special and being made a prefect.
Frederick helped prepare for and attended the matric dance in standard 9 and again in his matric year. It
was a highlight and was held in the school hall which was decorated by the standard 9’s.
After matriculating, Frederick went to Wits University to study for a BComm Law and Business Finance. He
was also awarded a CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst (USA) which he did by correspondence. He then
went overseas and did an internship with UBS in Zurich and London. On his return to South Africa he
started to work in finance and now has offices in Switzerland and Johannesburg with his company Avance-
Suisse which was established in 2001.
All in all Frederick felt that the time he spent at St David’s was hugely influential and if he was living here he
would send his son to the school without any hesitation. Frederick instituted the MOBS water-polo team
first playing at the Wanderers and then St David’s.
JLE November 2014

Interview with Franco Lambiase – 1976
Franco came to St David’s as a day boy in 1970 from Bramley Primary School after his family
had emigrated back to South Africa from 18 months in Italy. Arriving in standard 6 he found St
David’s to be a very strict school with mainly brothers teaching. Having come from a nonconformist
environment Franco found St David’s to be regimental and it was difficult for him to
adapt.
Brother Anthony was the headmaster until 1975 when Brother Timothy took over. The brothers
he remembers include Br Bosco (Mario); Br Bernard; Br Aquinas, Br Timothy, Br Aidan the
bursar; Br Ronald and Br Andrew (Drac). Of the lay teachers he remembered Mr Saunders -
Afrikaans, Mrs Zent the librarian who gave him writing lessons and Heather Joseph was friendly
with William Carew (Bubbles), Trudy Elliott, - English with whom he kept in touch.
Franco wasn’t very sporty but played 3rd team rugby and hated swimming. He was there when
the new Science wing and auditorium were opened in 1972. Franco was quite artistic and was
awarded a trophy for Art and also did the decorations for the matric dance – a medieval theme.
Academically Franco did not excel but managed to pass his matric.
After matriculating, Franco went on to Wits University where he studied Pharmacy. He ran a
pharmacy until 1993 when he finally gave this up to become a confectioner and now runs his
own business making specialty cakes. He makes cakes for magazines, wedding expos and is a
member of the Cake Decorators Guild. He judges for Angela Day the mince pies, hot cross
buns and Christmas cakes.
Franco is not a member of MOBS but participated in last year’s St David’s Christmas market.
JLE February 2013

Interview with Eric Ambrosioni -1966 & Rohan Erleigh – 1967
Both Eric and Rohan were boarders. Eric’s two half brothers Edward Barale and Italo Barale
also boarded and Rohan had two brothers follow him. They knew each other through the
boarding and played in the same rugby, cricket and athletics teams. Goodenough, a kitchen
hand could outstrip every athlete and broke the school record running barefoot. The highpoint in
cricket was when professional, English cricketers came to the school, Ken Palmer and Peter
Stringer who lived at the school and Donald Wilson who got married here and lived above the
chapel. On Saturdays if any major cricket team was playing, the boys had to dress up in full
uniform and walk to Wanderers wearing straw bashers..
They recalled an American field scholar, Philp Marsden who could throw a tennis ball higher
than the tennis captain could with his racket. Julio Cesneros’s father was the Spanish
ambassador, who assisted in bringing the Spanish football team, Real Madrid to South Africa.
The Springbok, Ray Bischoff swam against the Dutch and broke a South African record. The
cycling team was started with Deon and Brett Sacks and Rohan remembers his bike breaking
down near Gilooley’s Farm. There was also a model airplane club, all the planes took off and
then crashed! A Tiger Moth was donated.
Cadets were also started in their time and Eric was one of the first five cadet student officers.
There was a Southern Transvaal Schools Drummer competition and the school won the bass
and tenor drums section beating 700 other schools – who weren’t there!!!
The drama society was initiated together with Parktown Convent and was oversubscribed!
There was a debating society with Dave Lyons, Pat Noble and Andrew Lindiker and debates
were always held on a Sunday at the convent. There was also a dark room where some of the
boys developed their photos.
Gertie the 3 ton utility truck used to convey pupils to various sports events and was eventually
sold and replaced with a new school bus that was painted blue and was involved in an accident
after the first three weeks, the driver being Zebron.
Mrs Buckley-Jones was the much loved matron who however made them write tests whilst in
the sick bay. Mr Drummon-Bell was the Music teacher who produced the “Pirates of Penzance”.
Eric remembered a teacher called Mrs Cane, at Marist Borthers Koch Street Johannesburg, (the
primary school to both Marist Brothers and Inanda) who used it (the cane) with gay abandon.
The first lay teachers in the high school were Mrs Buchan – English, very English, unattractive
but kind, Mrs Pretorius – Afrikaans, she was good looking but unfriendly, Mr Ward – Maths, Mr
Hewitson – Art. Eric remembered a pupil from Greece who chatted in class and when Mrs
Pretorius asked him what he had said Eric told him to say “Ek is jou lief”!
There was a Science lab but when they left it was replaced by a newer one and Eric’s two
brothers – Orcellis – donated two glass windows.
For two years during the mid 1960’s, the brothers hired a catering manager and his wife, the
Coopers. They had a corgi which started off thin but ended up as a blimp! The boys used to
regularly raid the kitchen. Flat bed trolleys were used to carry food, boxes etc and the boys used
to pile onto them and ride down the inclines resulting in quite a few stitches.
Eric was designated, together with George Da Matta to act as cinematographers for the film
every Saturday night. Someone had to collect the 16mm films and they were given pocket
money to get the bus, however George’s father would fetch them and take them to his café to
gorge on fish and chips etc and then after to collect the films in the centre of Johannesburg.
They then caught the bus back to Dunkeld and had to lug the box of 16mm films to school.
The first Spur restaurant opened in Rosebank and several boys were caught bunking in the
Spur and in Ken Rosewall’s snooker saloon. They recall that disputes were resolved between
the boys behind the games room next to the tennis courts.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Champagnat they made the great trek to Cape Town, all
the buses broke down and all the schools ended up at St Joseph’s.
They remember the land bought by the school and the boys of 1966 planted the grass on the
rugby field and cricket pitch.
There was no real communication then, only the telephone and radio. They had vague
memories of the assassination of Kennedy and the attempted and actual assassination of
Verwoed. They had a day off school due to the “Bay of Pigs”. They did remember the stance
taken by the Catholic schools with regard to admitting black children which wasn’t popular with
the government.
Both Eric and Rohan have been back to St David’s for a 40 year reunion and would be
interested in supporting the publication of the book.
Individual memories of Eric Ambrosioni:
Eric’s mother died then his father and in Standard 8 his step brothers came to an arrangement
with the school to enable him to stay there. He had no bad experiences although Brother
Ignatius would lash you for no treason.
Joe Mulaneu lived at the bottom of the bottom field and Eric lived opposite him. He remembers
fooling around with him and hitting him with a metal rod, subsequently their parents banned
them from seeing each other. They later became good buddies and Joe became a
paediatrician.
After the Saturday cinema one night he raided the kitchen, realising a brother was there he tried
to get rid of the evidence and a paw paw rolled down the hall and he was caught by Brother
Liam.
He also remembers going home in the first term and crying about being bullied. His brother
advised him to put a shoe in his pillowcase and wait until the bully fell asleep and then whack
him with it. The bullying stopped after he tried that out.
When he finished school he wanted to go to varsity but, having no family to support him, he
ended up in a bank and was then balloted into the army in which he stayed for three years. He
then went into the oil industry and was seconded to the UK and his company was bought out by
BP. He was repatriated and offered a package in 2004, bought a pasta machine and became a
pasta maker his wife having bought an Italian deli. He made pasta for the deli and sold to other
delis and shops in the Cape Peninsula. He sold the pasta machine at the beginning of the year
to his nephew, another Marist old boy Ted Barale who owns Piccolino in Fourways. He is
married to Louise and is the father to two daughters.
Eric’s brother Italo (1953) married Myrna Morgan whose brothers went to Inanda, Harold and
Ronny who became a Marist Brother.
Individual Memories of Rohan Erleigh:
His parents lost everything they had in business but insisted he went to a private school. They
had an old car, a 1947 Plymouth and he was so embarrassed he told them to meet him outside.
Rohan was an altar boy.
After finishing school Rohan went gold mining outside Sabi, gold was then at $25 per ounce. He
subsequently went into the navy for his national service and made a naval career. He studied
for a BSc at Stellenbosch, rose to the heights of naval captain becoming a military attaché and
retired in 2000 after a final posting as officer commanding the navy’s training base on the west
coast. He spent time on the maritime border during the war in Angola.
He married a Morgan girl and is father to two sons and a daughter. The Morgan boys all went to
St David’s and Ronnie Morgan became a Brother.
Old Boys they are still in contact with:
Jo Stravino, Dereck Schoombie, Peter Moni, Eddie Assad (orthodontist) Peter Struthers
(maxillofacial surgeon) Michael Ford, Clive Bergman (singer), Tony Walker brother of Jeff
Walker (Master of the John Ross), Strati Malamoglou (Dyna Chem), Steve Taylor (sub-ed
Times ltd), Charlie Platt, Patrick Nobe, Brian Jarvis, Kevin Peel, Terry O’Mahoney, Emilio
Iglauer, Anthony Barale (doctor in Canada).
JE October 2011

Interview with Duncan Hunter – 2006
Duncan’s first day at St David’s was in grade 4 and he remembers it as being completely different from his
previous school in that there was a feeling that excellence was important along with discipline. He found it
to be a rather overwhelming experience.
The best part of school for Duncan was having his mates with him most of the time, in class, during breaks
and then playing sport in the afternoons together. Duncan is still in contact with them and even now, almost
ten years later they all miss sitting on their specific bench in the quad during breaks. Other aspects he
enjoyed were all the sport on offer and the fact that his whole year was very much planned in advance by
somebody else. There was a lot less to worry about back then!
As with most boys, Duncan did not enjoy the homework and the studying for exams.
An occasion that stands out was the new boys “initiation” and prefects’ test that they did when they arrived
in the high school. Having to remember all the prefects’ names and various other random facts about the
school was, looking back, quite funny. Another weekly event the boys had when they were in matric was
the prefects’ assembly. Duncan can remember some of what was said being hysterical and probably not
repeatable! Another event which stood out was the time the boys travelled down to Durban for the Westville
gala over the Midmar weekend in 2002. They were quite out-classed at the time, but the schools’ swimming
went from strength to strength after they had seen the level they needed to be at to compete across the
country.
One of the funniest things the boys used to do at break at one stage during high school was to play an
interesting variation of soccer. The person who scored used to have to try to run away from everyone as
the aim was to all “pile on” the scorer. It made no sense then and still doesn’t but most of the grade used to
get involved. They also played various other versions of rugby and soccer throughout their time, most of
which were banned very quickly.
There were many teachers over the years that made lasting impressions. That is one of the qualities of the
staff at St David’s; they take a genuine interest in the boys they are teaching. In the prep school, Mrs
Everson made a lasting impression in terms of her guidance and some of the perspectives she shared. In
high school, Mrs Kennedy taught Duncan’s Maths class for three years and he ended up in her matric
class. She got to know the boys over the years and on top of being an excellent teacher she supported
them and gave them guidance when needed. On a personal level, Duncan was involved in tutoring Maths
classes during university which he felt was due to Mrs Kennedy.
Duncan swam and was in the A team swimming throughout prep and high school. He played water polo for
the 2nd team, rugby for the 2nd team and thought that the annual Midmar trip with the swimming team was
always memorable. The Ken Short Shield under 14 water polo tournament played in East London was also
a great trip. On a provincial level, Duncan was selected for the Gauteng lifesaving team.
Duncan was a prefect and deputy head of College house in 2006 and his twin brother was also prefect, so
two out of twelve wasn’t bad going for the Hunter family. Duncan received specific honours for academics
as well as general honours and also won various academic subject prizes over the years, the last being the
Maths prize in matric. He also received team awards for swimming and water polo.
Duncan remembers the last day of school quite clearly. He and the matrics organised a braai in the
morning in the quad to celebrate. One of the guys ended up bringing a whole bunch of chickens with him
that they let run around during the day. This was a great source of entertainment for all the boys. The same
day his twin brother, Malcolm climbed out of the window of Mrs Kennedy’s 2nd storey Maths classroom and
climbed down the side of the building. Mrs Kennedy got quite a surprise when Malcolm came back up and
knocked on the door asking to be let in!
After matriculating, Duncan went on to study Bachelor of Accounting Science at Wits University and then
completed the requirements for CA (SA) in 2013. He is currently a manager at PWC London in the
assurance practice.
Duncan is a member of MOBS and visits the school when he can.
JLE March 2015

Interview with Dr Theo van den Handel - 1982
Theo is one of 4 van den Handel brothers – Alan matriculated as deputy head boy in 1974, Rik
matriculated as head boy in 1976, Theo matriculated as head boy in 1982 and Jan Willem matriculated
as a prefect in 1987.
Theo remembers his early years at St David’s as great years, however, he was just an ordinary boy in the
prep taking part in all the sports but never really shining. But he blossomed in the high school and loved
school and being a member of St David’s.
Theo feels that St David’s has always been a good school because it was smaller in numbers and the
boys were treated as individuals. Sport was a huge factor at school as it served to bind the boys together.
St David’s did well on the sports field despite our small numbers and when we were defeated we knew
how to take the defeat. The boys always bounced back. Theo feels that although the school has grown in
numbers today the same still holds today whereby the boys still love their sport and give it their all.
Theo started at St David’s in 1971 in grade 1 and felt at home as his two older brothers were already at
school there. He remembers teachers like Mrs Hildyard, Ms Joseph, Mrs Knezovich, Mrs Anderson and
Mrs Walsh. In standard 7 he and Jan Willem left St David’s to live in Holland with their Mom. After just a
year there they returned to South Africa and the two youngest boys returned to St David’s.
He entered standard 8 on his return and felt as if he had never been away. He enjoyed his sport
especially athletics, swimming, water polo and rugby. Theo still maintains that sport being compulsory at
St David’s is an excellent idea and does give the school a wonderful spirit. Theo was appointed head boy
in 1982. This was a significant year in the school’s history as it was the first year that the school had a
lay headmaster. Mr G Murphy was the first lay headmaster and Theo remembers him well saying that the
boys liked Mr Murphy mainly because he was very into the sporting side of the school and encouraged
the boys especially in rugby. He says he got on well with Mr Murphy and followed his advice.
Theo enjoyed his years in the high school and felt that with teachers like Mrs Elliott, Mr Colia, Mr
McFadden and Mr Boswell the boys were given a good sound education.
As mentioned Theo is one of 4 boys in the van den Handel family. The eldest is Alan who runs his own
construction business in Plettenburg Bay. He is married and his son Nicholas now works with his dad in
the business. Rik lives in Dallas and is an chemical scientist. He is married and has a son Ryan. The
youngest brother is Jan Willem who is married and in the process of moving back to Johannesburg from
Cape Town for business reasons. He has a little daughter.
Theo is still in touch with Graham Muller who is a GP in the UK.
Theo and his wife Sian have moved to Plettenburg Bay where they have set up a practise together, Sian
as a dermatologist and Theo as a medical practioner. Theo has taken a great interest in HIV and while
living in Johannesburg he worked on a regular basis at Baragwanath Hospital. He is now is provincial
programme manager of the Western Cape branch of Right to Care which specialises in HIV and TB.
Theo has 37 doctors working under him and he himself travels to Beaufort West and the surrounding
area for 2 to 3 days each week running clinics and educating the public and also the people working in
this very important programme.
Mrs van den Handel has moved down to Plettenburg Bay to be near the family and they are now able to
spend quality time with their two sons Rhys and Luc, both of whom were at St David’s while living in
Johannesburg. Since the move both boys are enjoying their new school Oakhill in Knysna, but they still
miss their friends at St David’s
Interview: 13 May 2011

Interview with Doug Wickins 1962
Doug started at St David’s in Std 3 in 1955. He originally went to St Peter’s in Merrivale and
moved to Parkhurst where he spent 1 year in Std 2 at the local primary school. His mother was
a devout Catholic with 3 sons, Doug being the eldest. He and Anthony started in 1955 and Barry
a year or two later. Doug was happy at Parkhurst and didn’t want to leave and his introduction to
the school was delayed, as he and his brothers contracted scarlet fever, and were quarantined
for 3 weeks. Br Edmond, the principal introduced him to Alf Smith and Michael Fine (“Savage”)
and took him to Mrs Batten – standard 3. Mrs Batten was a real toughie, told him to sit where
she could see him. She sat on the teaching platform, teachers had a leather strap and he can
remember her whacking all the boys in her class. In spite of this introduction he thoroughly
enjoyed his schooling. At the end of standard 6 his father died, his uncle came to stay in the
house; accommodation was limited so in standard 7 arrangements were made for him to go into
boarding. This he regards as the best thing that ever happened to him. He spent 4 years
boarding and really enjoyed it.
There were 16 brothers then, all quite young, many in their twenties and Br Anthony was about

34. They played sport together. There were 60 pupils in a class but by matric the number had
    reduced to 17 with other pupils either failing or being expelled. One of the problems was that Br
    John was Spanish and Br Charles, French-Canadian and understanding them was rather
    difficult. The language was an issue and there was insufficient opportunity to interface with the
    brothers individually.
    Doug loved boarding and enjoyed school even more because of it and regards the school as his
    Alma Mater rather than university.
    Doug was in a very spirited class with 8 boarders, the remainder being day boys. Among them
    were Darko Vidas, Alex Quail, Alec Smith, John Dayley. Br Edwin (Jack Bones) was principal
    until 1956 and then Br Benedict (The Beak) until 1959 followed by Br Anthony in 1960. He was
    terrified of Br Edwin who was related to the MCGurk family, but revered and respected him, he
    had arthritis but in spite of this he trained boys in rugby. He was eventually promoted to Brother
    Provincial. Br Benedict loved rugby and cricket. Br Anthony was, in his opinion, the best
    principal the school ever had.
    Br Anthony’s nickname was Aungess – Oranges which he could never pronounce properly. His
    favourite sayings were”nothing without work” and “he who plays hard, works hard”. Initially he
    appeared arrogant because of his demeanour but once everyone got to know him, his popularity
    soared. He had a great sense of Christianity hence Slough, and was a teaching principal,
    teaching Science and Maths. There were 450 boys in the school at the time and, although there
    was a bursar, he ran the entire school.
    Mrs Kempster taught under Br Edwin Standard 4, she used the stick and became the first
    headmistress of the junior school succeeded by Mr Manolios, then Mrs Schaafsma. Mrs
    Janusch, a scot married to a Hungarian was an absolute tyrant. He remembers boys such as
    Congo Brian Roberts who came from the Belgian Congo, Doc Livingstone – Rhodesia, Chicken
    Venter, Brian Emerick. The school’s reputation was well established with 180 boarders with 4
    dormitories.
    Doug once lead a boycott of sausages in the dining room, Br Dennis was on duty that particular
    evening and Br Michael wanted to kick him out but Br Anthony saved him. Four boys were
    expelled. Two brothers Peter and Jeremy Forder, Warrington and Hartman decided to run away.
    They got out and went to Sandton, however they were rounded up and expelled.
    A barber used to come to cut the boys hair, The boarders had lunch 12.45 to 1.15, then again
    out of class 2.45 for tea followed by sports practice, shower, study, 6.30 – 7.15 supper, study
    until 8.15 and lights and radios off by 9.15.
    Doug participated in all sport, played cricket but he preferred swimming, played rugby, hockey,
    and athletics and joined in debating. There was tremendous competition between St David’s
    and Observatory. The cinder track, now prep playing fields was regarded as the best in the
    country for the Catholic inter-high athletics. Doug was also made a prefect. Doug recalled an
    incident during an athletics event when Br Charles was measuring the distance that a javelin
    had been thrown when another landed immediately behind him fortunately just missing him.
    People often used to stop at the side of the road to watch the cricket. A sad incident occurred
    when Paul Barrenbrook was killed, in a freak accident whilst he was standing on the bicycle
    wheel of the ice cream cart which was hit by a passing car.
    The school had a good relationship with Parktown Convent rather than Rosebank and often had
    joint functions.
    He helped build a stage and got the wood. The stage was very, very heavy. Technical drawing
    was a subject and because of this they were allowed to use the workroom. There was very
    nearly a nasty accident when Darko got his tie caught up in the planing machine. It took all, his
    strength to keep his head away until someone could switch the machine off.
    Doug recalled President Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962 and listening to
    a radio that Darko had, as they all waited to find out if the world was going to be plunged into
    the first nuclear war.
    He remembers his last day at St David’s, it was in December and there were 4 or 5 boys left
    writing their last matric exam. His 17th birthday was on 29 November and he wrote his first
    matric paper, English 1. He felt that he never left the school and attended many rugby matches,
    swimming galas and athletics meetings. A number of them went to Wits and kept in touch. They
    always had the idea of forming MOBS. Tonetti, Mike von Guilleaume, Steve Muller, Trevor Blow
    (first chairman MOBS, a lawyer).
    He recalls the appointment of Murphy who was welcomed with open arms and was given a lot
    of support by the old boys. That was until he appeared on TV as a wrestler and then it was
    revealed that his credentials were not based on fact as they were presented. Steve Muller, Br
    Jude and Br Timothy originally interviewed him.
    He remembers Darryl Boswell as a good head and Gary Norton as deputy. He was also fond of
    Br Edwin, Quinas and Tometti.
    He studied for a Bachelor of Commerce at Wits and went into marketing and advertising. He
    was interested in investments and on retirement became more involved and now thoroughly
    enjoys it,
    Both Doug’s sons, Gregory and Michael, were pupils at St David’s and in class with Mike von
    Gulleaume’s children. His grandson Thomas Weedon has just joined the school. Greg’s
    youngest son is registered to come here. Vito Rugani founder member of MOBS had three sons
    here.
    Forming MOBS there was tremendous argument between them over what was then known as a
    federation of Marist old boys. St David’s was seen to be better, with young upstarts and elitist.
    Initially they set up the old boys for St David’s only and refused old boys from other
    Johannesburg Marist schools. Now anyone can join if they have been to a Marist school. There
    was a special badge for the federation emanating from St Charles Durban. A group of them
    went down to a number of conferences.
    Doug was chairman of the old boys, chairman of the PTA and vice-chairman of the board of
    governors. Steve Muller was the first chairman of the board of governors and MOBS was
    formed in 1965.He worked together with Kevin Brewer fighting to get subsidies from the
    government. St David’s was the first independent school to admit blacks.
    He remembers Darryl Boswell as a good head and Gary Norton as deputy.
    JE June 2011

Interview with Derrick Schoombie – 1967
Derrick came to St David’s in grade 1 as a day boy living just down the road with his family. On his first day
he sat next to Gabriel Simaan and Peter Wright with whom he is still friends. Mrs Brick was their grade 1
teacher. He remembers Br Mario; Br Vincemt; Br Andrew “Drac” – all the boys were scared of him but
loved him and he drove the school bus to all the sporting events; Mrs Knesovitch who had three sons at the
school; Mrs Buckle who taught English and Mrs Hartmann who all the boys were in love with.
St David’s was a small school with about 300 pupils and Derrick knew everyone at the school. Br Anthony
was the headmaster for most of Derrick’s school life who was a strict but lovely man who really changed
the school for the better.
Derrick loved his sport and was an active sportsman playing 1st team rugby and cricket and hockey from
standard 8 and played for the Transvaal B and Sub Union rugby team once he left school. He participated
in three SA Marist school cricket tours and was chosen for the Marist side for two of the three years
attended. He knew Willy Castle who was also a member of the 1st team rugby and in a class below him. In
his final year, Derrick was captain of 1st rugby; vice-captain 1st cricket and vice-captain 1st hockey and a
member of the schools swimming team.
Derrick recalled the school musical “Pirates of Penzance” produced by Mr Drummond-Bell. Derrick
participated although he was not a good singer. He took Val Jackson as his partner to his matric dance.
Derrick was very happy at school, became a prefect with Peter De Kock as head boy in his matric year. He
was vice-captain of Benedict house, was awarded an honours blazer and received scrolls for prefect, rugby
and cricket and was awarded the Victor Ludorum in his final year at the school for study, sport and
leadership.
After achieving a university pass for matric, Derrick spent 9 months in the army and then went on to Wits
University, where he studied for a BComm degree, and thereafter completed his CA and a Diploma in
Taxation. After completing his BComm he was articled to Vaughan, Key and Payne which is now Price
Waterhouse Coopers and after qualifying as a CA, Derrick and his wife travelled around the UK and Europe
in a VW combi for 16 months living on $10 per day. On his return to SA, Derrick and his brother Clive joined
their father in a small auditing practise until 1983 where after he and Gabe Simaan formed a small
pharmaceutical company called Garec (a combination of the names of Gabe and Derrick) which company
was later acquired by SA Druggists and now forms part f the Aspen stable. Derrick now works for Actavis
Inc, part of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Derrick will retire in July this year.
Derrick is a member of MOBS but has no sons at the school having fathered three daughters (with one of
them now teaching at St David’s; however his two grandsons will become pupils at St David’s. Derrick’s
younger brother Clive matriculated in 1968 and died in 2011 having fathered three sons who all attended St
David’s for their entire school life.
JLE May 2015

Interview with Derek Mandy – 1963
Derek thought that school was one of the best things that ever happened to him and enjoyed his
time as a boarder at Inanda. His parents lived in Brakpan, hence he was a boarder from
standard 5 but was at CBC Boksburg before. His parents wanted him to participate more at
school. He felt that it was all pro’s regarding boarding – companionship, structured study, food
wasn’t too bad, sport at weekends and he played rugby and was vice- captain first rugby,
hockey, soccer, volleyball, athletics and received the open 880yds trophy. The only con was
the dorms – 40 beds in each. In standard 8 his brother Dudley was prefect of Derek’s dorm. His
main complaint was that there was a total lack of privacy, they were noisy and no radio was
allowed after lights out. The brothers had a room in the corner.
He was reasonably good at sport and was generally in the A team.
Academically he achieved a second class JMB matric, he wasn’t a boff but didn’t struggle, with
the exception of Maths due to the brothers teaching and a university student eventually helped
him with the subject. He received the SA Marist award in 1963 and was head prefect and house
captain for Benedict, vice-captain first rugby, secretary of Sodality and chairman of the MDC.
Derek, as were many of the other boys, was unaware of what was happening in South Africa,
they were apolitical and had no knowledge of apartheid. It had no bearing on their lives. He
does however recall that the government were not too happy to allow new brothers into the
country.
He remembers his first day or two and was initially homesick but soon settled in and it helped
having an older brother there. He remembers Brother Anthony, “Oranges” as being quite a
character.
His older brother Dudley was head boy in 1961 and who is now living in Texas. One day he was
called out of class and in front of the school, with the matrics in a semi-circle, they were told that
his brother was going down to Natal to become a Brother, this was just prior to writing matric.
Having written matric, Dudley gave it all up and reunited with his girlfriend.
His last day was a happy one it was time to move on even though he was unsure whether he
had been accepted at university. He also had originally wanted to become an American field
student but he couldn’t do that and study in the US, he eventually went to UCT to study
psychology but ended up studying law. Derek is the father of two sons who went to Bishops and
a daughter who attended Herschel. Had he been living in Johannesburg he would have sent his
sons to St David’s. He served Bishops Council for 10 years and was chairman of the parents
association during this time. Derek has competed in 27 Cape Argus events and is a keen
mountain biker. He has recently retired and is looking into getting involved in some charity work.
Due to his location, he lost contact with his contemporaries. He did attend two reunions, one
after 25 years with a number of old boys from Johannesburg who had not seen each other since
matric. The next one after 30 years, he was the only old boy not living in Johannesburg who
attended. He felt that perhaps the reunions should be less structured with more time, not like the
dinners of the past. He would be interested in the book and would be prepared to pledge/buy a
copy.
JE October 2011

Interview with Dennis Adams – 1959
With a great start to his school career Dennis missed the first day of school in 1948 as his
mother was mixed up about the dates. His father was a KES old boy but as the family lived
down the road from the school it was an obvious choice. Initially he was taken to school but later
rode his bicycle for most of his school life – up what is now Rivonia Road – the school being
7/10 of a mile away! The family had many friends with children at the school and his mother
served on the ladies committee for most of his school life.
The school had expansive grounds, but was running out of space and Dennis remembers that
the big break for the school was acquiring the neighbouring land from the McGill-Love’s on their
deaths. He recalled McGill-Love driving a rather large and expensive black car, an Armstrong
Sidley (he thinks), which impressed him no end.
Dennis enjoyed the junior school and the teachers included Mrs Brophy, Mrs Stirton and Mrs
Batten, none of whom took any nonsense from the boys in their charge. One, they nicknamed
“turtle dove.” In his opinion Mrs Kempster who was his teacher in standard 4, was the best
teacher, very strict with a pen in one hand and a strap in the other. However, she got the best
results and paved the way for high school for Dennis and many of the boys. The brothers took
over from standard 6. He remembers (could he ever forget!) Br Urban, Br Edwin, Br Benedict,
Br Gerald, Br Anthony who taught Maths and Br Bonaventure who was a fun guy who loved
sport. The best was Brother James who had just arrived after teaching for 20 years in China
and, if any lesson became boring, the boys just had to ask a question on China and the time
flew!
Dennis was mostly involved with swimming and life-saving which was introduced in 1958. He
avoided rugby by becoming a linesman. He remembers many trips in Gertie, the school bus,
which accommodated one team at a time - no seat belts in those days!
Dennis recalled the polio epidemic in the early 1950’s. School continued there was at lot of
pressure about all children being inoculated but a number of children including Dennis and his
siblings were not inoculated.
On the cultural front, he was part of the chorus in “HMS Pinafore” and the “Pirates of
Penzance”.In 1953 he was in the choir that went to Selbourne Hall where they were the first
boys’ school to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” with Mr Drummond-Bell conducting.
Dennis achieved a high academic standard throughout and was first each year until standard 4
when he slipped back a bit. From standard 7 until standard 9, competing with other Marist
schools, he won prizes for Scripture and a few other subjects. In 1958 the matric results had
been very poor, no-one really knew why but it was endemic in many of the private schools.
Because of that, Dennis studied Bookkeeping at home as a 7th subject to clinch the first class
matric which he achieved with a distinction in Maths. The minimum marks required were 1250
for 6 subjects and 1350 for 7. Dennis’s brother and sister didn’t fare too well academically and
were transferred to Damelin to complete their matric.
Dennis became a prefect, captained Osmond and was awarded full colours.
Dennis remembered his matric dance which was held in the boarders’ dining room, the boys
wearing their school blazers and the boys had decorated the room themselves. He had an
arrangement with a girl he swam with and they used to accompany each other to various school
functions. There was a band and punch which he recalls (or probably hoped) was laced. It was
good fun.
Dennis didn’t really expect too much out of school, it was something that one just had to do. The
best thing is that you were all in it together, there were small classes and he was unaware of
any bullying but teasing, yes. The most important thing that he was aware of was that if you
didn’t do it yourself then it didn’t get done. There was no special motivation and one stuck to the
syllabus and text book without any huge incentives, but “we all seemed to do OK in later life”
On leaving St David’s, Dennis went to Rhodes where he studied for a B Com CTA. Afterwards
he completed 9 months in the army and then went on to complete his CA(SA) and was articled
with Whiteley Brothers which is now part of Deloittes. He ended up with Barclays in 1968 then
Nedbank from 1970, initially in their investment bank, Nefic and later in Nedbank Group as chief
accountant and from 1997 he became the financial controller. At retirement he was then
involved with the restructuring of the group’s pension funds and is still a trustee. He, Peter
Loffell and David Hartman (MOBS) all worked for Nedbank and retired on the same day.
Dennis’s grandson is a pupil at Hyde Park High, his granddaughters are at De La Salle and
Parkview Senior. He is in close contact with a number of people he met whilst at Rhodes. He
met his wife, Jenny there. They were in adjacent residences, Botha and Olive Schreiner and his
mother and Jenny’s aunt were good friends. After a six year courtship and 46 years’ of marriage
by 2012.They are still going strong.
Dennis has been actively involved with the Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust since 1984. He
gave up History in standard 5 as he found it boring, but eventually woke up to the fact that
having lost 3 parents in 2 years he had missed all the history he could have gleaned from them.
He started joining some tours of the area, which awakened an interest in the history of his part
of Johannesburg. He became a guide and researcher and has published a couple of books on
the subject and is involved with a weekly radio programme, together with Flo Bird on Radio
Today.
JLE 2012

Interview with David Phillips – 1960
David lived in Hyde Park and started at St David’s in grade 1 in 1948. Hyde Park was very
agricultural in those days and only underwent development from about 1954. He was a day boy
and used to cycle to school on the dirt roads.
David skipped grade 2 but then failed standard 9. He was absolutely devastated to fail but in
retrospect there was good reason for that as there were family problems at the time which he
could not handle.
He recalls Mrs Kempster in standard 4, she was an institution in herself and one didn’t mess
around with her. From then on school became a bit more serious and he remembers the strap
was used in punishment. The brother he remembers as being his favourite was Br.
Bonaventure. He saw Br Anthony at a function at the school about 30 years after he, David had
left and was so impressed that Br Anthony remembered him by name.
If there was any advantage to being a day boy he recalled that the boarders always seemed to
be hungry and were always around when the sandwiches were taken out. He enjoyed being
able to go and talk to the brothers about anything and everything. Coming from a home with an
older father who was 67 when he was born the age gap came into play and he related more to
the brothers especially with matters such as career guidance.
He hated homework with a passion. There was only one negative experience that he could
recall and that was when he was about 13, 14 drinking from one of the water fountains when a
Bulgarian pupil (Thomas Munnick) pushed his head down and he broke his two front teeth with
which he has had problems to this day.
He was an athlete and very much into running and came second in the mile. He has been a
runner ever since until about 2 years ago when his knees started to give him problems. He also
played rugby for the 3rd XV.
He was very happy at school and only cried on the first and last day. The school was a haven to
him, he had no worries and thought that the brothers were really good guys and that had all
come to an end. He then went to Wits to study a BA but ended up studying for an LLB and
became a lawyer specialising in litigation and property. He began his articles in 1964 and retired
in March 2011. When he has the time his hobbies are fishing and hunting and looks forward to
spending quality time with his grandchildren.
He was involved with a class reunion in October 2009. Harry Rosmarin is the one who keeps
them all in touch. He sees Tony McLaughlin who is sadly not interested in the old boys. He is a
member of MOBS and would be willing to participate in any pledges or donations towards the
publication of the history of St David’s.
JE January 2012

Interview with David Baker – 1967 Standard 8
David came to St David’s in 1956 from the Loretta Convent in Pretoria. His father worked for Greatermans
and was transferred to Johannesburg. David is a Catholic and was one of 5 children.
As a grade 2 pupil the school appeared to David to be very grand, holy and very orderly. Br Anthony took
over as headmaster in 1960.
David’s family lived in Rivonia and his father dropped him off in the morning together with his bicycle which
he rode home in the late afternoon. David was predominantly interested in the sport and couldn’t wait to get
out onto the sports field every day. He enjoyed athletics and rugby most of all and remembers being told of
the assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd during rugby practice. (6 September 1966). David was not
academically the best student.
The sports fields were where the swimming pool and the prep playing fields are now until the farm
Zyferfontein was purchased and new fields were laid out. One of the teachers had a Pekenese dog which
she brought into class where it sat on her lap.
There were no school camps in those days but Champagnat day was celebrated. There was a chapel
upstairs, David was a member of the school choir and on one occasion, together with another boy, had to
sing a solo at the big cathedral in town.
He has memories of the brothers in their cassocks carrying an air of Catholicism and religion with them
outnumbering the teachers and David remembered the soft and serene matron Mrs Buckley-Jones with
affection. David has fond memories of his schooldays at St David’s, was sad to move and regarded his
upbringing at a school of the calibre of St David’s very highly.
After matriculating, David went to Simonstown, joining the navy for a year where he received hi s military
training. He then joined Nestle as a trainee representative and worked his way up the sales ladder, studied
marketing and earned his diploma from the Institute of Marketing Management. He then moved on to the
head office and became product manager for Milo, Nescafe, Hot Chocolate and core brands for Nestle SA
working there for 10 years. In the meantime, his father who was running a printing business, Multiprint
Studio, asked him to join him and, on the third occasion David accepted. Coming from Nestle David had a
superb grounding for starting out on his own but initially disliked his new role in downtown Doornfontein, a
far cry from his plush corporate offices in Randburg.
However, in the past 35 years the company has developed into one of the best printings companies in
South Africa winning 15 Sappi Printer of the Year Awards including the double gold, achievement award
covering the whole of Africa. It has evolved into a wonderful journey culminating in winning the “Oscar”
equivalent award in the printing industry.
David is married with two daughters and 5 grandchildren. He said that one didn’t realise until much later
how much grounding one was given at a wonderful institution like St David’s and he is very grateful for the
time spent at both St David’s and Nestle.
JLE May 2015

Interview with Dave Lyons – 1965
Dave was a boarder and his headmaster was Brother Anthony. Brother Aidan, the only South
African brother was the bursar and 50% of the teachers were lay teachers. Dave came from a
farming community in White River with Middleburg High being the only high school in the area.
He initially went to a primary school in White River and then came to Marist Inanda. His father
had been a pupil at Observatory and his grandfather, Koch Street.
There was only one other local boy, John Davis and he was aged 12 when he became a
boarder. He arrived not quite knowing what to expect of boarding school, he was confronted by
city boys who were street-wise and the discipline was quite extraordinary and extreme. In his
first year, Std 6, Brother Conrad was a very good teacher and empathic man but most of the
other brothers were quite hard and mean. He had Brother Vincent the following year,he recalls
Brother Liam and Brother Andrew was his boarding housemaster and Geography teacher. All
the brothers carried canes, some were quite vindictive and could victimise a pupil, and
remembers being caned in his pyjamas holding onto some taps. The biggest thing you could get
caught for was smoking a texan by the change rooms, aids, drugs were not around. There was
alcohol but none of them were really interested, the boarders made their own entertainment and
fun.
The study routine was very heavy and the programme was as follows: up at 6.00am; study 6.30
– 8.00; breakfast 8.00 – 8.30 followed by school and sport and then more study.
All the boarders used to latch onto day boys for sandwiches at break time and Peter Foden had
particularly nice sandwiches! Boarding school food was the norm and it was great to go home
for some good home cooking. There were 80 – 90 senior boarders and some juniors. They used
to sit 6 - 8 per table for army style food. A big thing was the pat of fresh butter in the mornings
and each boy took it in turn to cut it into equal amounts. The one who cut the butter was last in
line so he didn’t cheat. There was rice pudding and bread and butter pudding and on special
occasions (sports day, rugby match) they had a “beano” with roast beef, roast spuds and cool
drinks.
He participated in rugby but due to chronic back problems he had to stop and then played
cricket, hockey and squash. He joined the debating society which he eventually headed up.
Naturally they chose only to debate against girl’s schools such as St Mary’s and Rosebank
Convent.
A highlight in Std 8 was M’Frau Pretorius who was very well endowed and, needless to say he
loved Afrikaans and a glimpse of a genuine female figure. They had lay teachers for most
subjects but the boarding masters were all brothers, 13 – 14 of them and they all lived on site.
He recalls that the school had taken ownership of the property next door the year he left and
Dennis Tomacelli, head boy lived in a house with a swimming pool on the school boundary.
Dave failed matric but passed Latin, Geography and English, he was not an academic. He has
an indifferent memory of Brother Anthony although he thought he managed the school with a
vision.
He has no fond memories of the school and regards those years as an episode in his life which
he got through quite well. It was a type of schooling he didn’t respond well to, it was too
disciplined and regimental and the only real benefit was being taught to be self-disciplined.
Being at boarding school, meant that you grew away from home and were forced to become
independent. He finished his matric and moved on and is not involved with the school at all. He
was a small chap when he left but grew after leaving school.
Dave didn’t qualify for university and there were no jobs in White River or on the farm. He did
military training after school in 1966 and was a member of the Citizen Force until 1976, serving
in Angola where he became an officer and eventually finished in 1980 as a major. A
contemporary of his from St David’s,Fred Klippen servbd in the same regiment. They used to do
3 months camps and 3 months development training and he only started to become aware of
politics after P.W. Botha once came and addressed the troops and was unaware of apartheid
until in business in the 80’s.
He sold Callguard Security 10 years ago and is now known as Group 4. In the final years Rand
Merchant Bank had 20% stake in the company and only two people had degrees in the entire
company, being the financial director and the HR director. He employed 6000 staff and all his
managers and directors benefited from the sale of the company. He is now involved with Lupo
Bakery providing specialist bread to companies such as Mugg & Bean, Spur, Spar and Burger
King. He found in the mid 2000’s that he had a very quick and easy adaption to business, and
still enjoys sharing and mentoring staff believing that you should empower people on every
level. Recognition,respect and reward being his motto. Although Dave and his wife Janet are
not involved in any charity they do actively support a number of child orientated charities such
as the St Joseph’s Home and SOS Village. He and his wife travel extensively and his most
recent trip was motoring through Europe with his E-type Jaguar. His passion is motor sport and
he probably has one of the biggest specialist car collections in the world.
JLE October 2011

Interview with Darryn Haltman – 2008
Darryn Haltmann came to St David’s in grade 4 and remembers the anxieties and excitement of
walking into the school leaving his mother and meeting his soon to be friends.
The teachers he remembers are Mr Rod Smith, Mrs Glanville, Mr Reichart, Mrs Fleming and
Mrs Marais.
He enjoyed the sport and played 1st team rugby and cricket and was involved with soccer and
athletics.
He was most unhappy when they lost any of their sports fixtures, but thoroughly enjoyed the
rugby tour to New Zealand and Australia.
Darryn participated in the Advanced Maths programme and felt it was especially helpful for both
1st and 2nd year Maths and Stats at university.
He is still in touch with a number of his school friends and they are all members of MOBS.
He is currently studying for a Bachelor of Business Science: finance and accounting at UCT. He
was awarded a faculty scholarship and has appeared on the Dean’s list and received the
Kopano award for academic excellence.
JE May 2013

Interview with Darrell Caister – 1986
Darrell remembers his first day at St David’s . He came from the Waldorf school and was placed
In grade 4 although unbeknown to his teacher, he couldn’t read or write, and didn’t know the
alphabet. He spent a week in his class before being caught out, he watched the other boys and
turned the correct pages etc but one day he was asked to read out loud by his History teacher,
Mrs Napier. He refused and was caned. He was then sent back to grade 1, the second term
grade 2 and eventually managed to get back into grade 4. Because of this he was bullied and
picked on, however in standard 3 he was awarded the highest marks for Maths. He will never
forget that History book or Mrs Napier who was eccentric and used to allow a group of 3 or 4
boys to jump on the bonnet of her car when she arrived in the morning. She would then scream
around the U turn (next to Mike Greeff’s house), then brake hard by the fence next to Rivonia
Road and all the boys would fall off. This was of course great fun.
Mr Manolios was loved by everyone. Mr Cotze the standard 5 teacher was feared by the boys
but he was always fair. Mr Findlayson taught History and during an incident in class he threw
the blackboard duster at one of the boys, missed and it hit another boy and cut his head. The
boy in question was enraged and big; he picked up Mr Findlayson and threw him out of the
classroom. Br Ephraim taught JP Maths, Br Timothy had just left – he used to click his fingers
loudly and pointed. When he jacked a boy he would put their head under his desk and when he
used the cane the boy would automatically bring his head up and thereby receive a double
whammy. Willy Castle was his class teacher in standard 4 and Darrell used to get caned for
being naughty.
Mr Murphy was one of the headmasters during his time and he was well liked and admired by
the boys. He built up camaraderie between the matrics and the sports teams; he was a strong
man and a leader.
There was a high turnover of teachers in the high school apart from Trudy Elliott and Mrs Collier
both head of department. The appointment of Darryl Boswell as headmaster was very
contentious as there was a lot of support for Trudy Elliott especially from the boys. The boys
nicknamed Mr Boswell “little Darryl” and during a photo shoot, Darrell was standing behind him
and nudged him causing his toupé to move! In spite of this he still became head boy. Despite of
the turnaround in the number of headmasters, there was a good spirit and, many of the boys he
was at school with then get together every Thursday.
Darrell was involved with water-polo, swimming, athletics, and rugby until standard 9 when he
was badly concussed. He was also a member of the junior town council. Darrell never needed
an alarm clock as he lived across the road from the school and every morning awoke to the
rugby team running past with Willy Castle singing war cries.
He remembers first becoming aware of apartheid and its implications when he and a group of
boys including Vusi Shongwe (whose boys are at St David’s now) went to the movies. Vusi was
refused admission because he was black and all the boys refused to go in. No government
school was multi-racial in those days and he thinks that one of the reasons he became a
conscientious objector and didn’t serve in the army was because he attended a multi-racial
school.
His class in matric was small with about 40 boys as many boys had left. He recalled that that
was the year that hockey was first introduced as a sport. His last day was particularly sad as he
was suffering from meningitis and spent the day in Father Brewer’s bed trying to write an exam.
He was accepted by Natal University and studied law, then started his own business becoming
an entrepreneur. He ran 5 companies, sold them and went into something different again. When
he first moved back to Johannesburg he tried to get his son Dominic into St David’s but was told
he had applied too late. However Father Brewer, who was a delightful, compassionate man,
intervened and insisted that he be admitted. That was the catalyst for Darrell getting involved
with MOBS. He was chairman of MOBS for 4 years and remembers the building of the pub in
the pavilion when the PTA eventually had to bail MOBS out. His other son Grant is currently a
pupil at St David’s and he has a daughter, Bernice.
Darrell has a farm in Mpumalanga, near Pilgrims Rest which houses a school originally built by
German missionaries. He has helped to rebuild the school and supports it on an annual basis. It
is in an informal settlement and whereas before they had to rely on volunteer teachers they now
have 2 permanent teachers supplied by the government.
Darrell has in his possession a rugby jersey blessed by the Pope.
JE February 2012

Interview with Daniel Shepherd – 2005
Daniel came to St David’s from Craighall primary and admits to finding it quite scary at first,
seeing all the new faces and finding himself in a much larger better equipped school
environment. He came together with Kelsey Stewart and Ryan King so wasn’t entirely alone. He
really enjoyed the Glenmore orientation camp in grade 8 led by Rod Smith and made new
friends.
Daniel recalled that his class of 22 pupils was quite extraordinary and they gained 88 out of 112
distinctions in their matric year.
He enjoyed sport and played hockey for which he received half colours, played tennis and did
some recreational swimming. Daniel believes that his life was much richer for the experience of
meeting different people, through the sport which was compulsory he was forced to mix with
people he otherwise would never have known giving him a different perspective of life.
Daniel enjoyed assisting with the Science programme tutoring pupils from Alex high school and
also participated in the Smile programme.
He just missed being awarded an honours blazer for academics but was awarded half colours
for hockey and service.
The teachers he remembers are Reyno Reichert who really motivated all the boys to do well in
Maths and in fact many of them eventually took 3 Maths subjects. Deanne King also helped him
to do well in matric.
He achieved 5 distinctions in matric, writing 8 subjects and then went on to Wits Medical School.
He is currently doing a two year internship at Baragwanath Hospital. It’s hard work and very
long hours but he is gaining experience in many disciplines which is invaluable. There are other
St David’s boys with him such as Jonty Kourie, Matthew Barendse and Warren Meir. Kelsey
Stewart (deputy head boy for 2005) is doing his internship in Pietermaritzburg.
Daniel’s brother Michael is currently in grade 10 at St David’s. Daniel believes that if he has a
son he would send him to St David’s or another Marist school.
JE August 2012

Interview with Cynthia Hildyard - Staff 1970 – 1985
Cynthia taught grade 2 while at St D’s. Those were the days of ITA spelling which did not work
well and was later dropped. It was a very different school while boarders were here. Lunches
consisted mainly of roasts and vegetables. Matron Buckley-Jones had her room next to the old
library (now the Music centre).
Brothers she knew whilst she was teaching were Br Anthony the headmaster, Br Bosco (Mario),
Br Aidan, the bursar, a very quiet man, Br Andrew (Dracula), Br Bernard – excellent at
photography and art, Br Ronald who left very quietly, Br Mario a Mexican brother taught Maths
but the boys found it very difficult to understand him.
Old Boys she remembered were Kevin Carter who was with Ken Oostebroek when he was
killed while photographing the riots, Alexis Apostolides who had growth behind the eye and went
to America for treatment, the Slaven brothers Andrew, John and Jeffrey.
Cynthia has two sons who attended St David’s. John matriculated in 1974 and Mark in 1978.
Interview: Monday 11 October 2010 GA

Interview with Craig Sagar – 1973
Craig doesn’t remember his first day at St David’s but enjoyed the sport and the interaction with the
teachers. Teachers who left a lasting impression were Mrs Schaafsma and Br Andrew (Drac) and in
particular his Maths lessons.
He played rugby, cricket and participated in the hurdles event in athletics. He also got a mention for
achieving Springbok Scout level and then the Chief Scout Award.
On leaving school he studied for an degree in agriculture at the University of Pietermaritzburg and then
went on to obtain a CA(SA) and qualified in 1985. He is married with two sons who attended St Charles
College a former Marist school. He is currently a partner with Deloitte & Touche, Audit, KZN living in
Pietermaritzburg.
Craig last visited St David’s in 1975 to play tennis and is in touch with MOBS.
J.E. October 2013

Interview with Craig Roman – 2004
Craig first came to St David’s from the Arthur Matthews primary school in Maraisburg into grade 6 in 1998
when his mother Julie was appointed as a teacher here. His brother Rodney also joined the school and
matriculated in 1999.
His recalled that his first impressions were one of awe in terms of the facilities and in the ways things were
run and organised. There were similarities with his previous school but expressed in an entirely different
way.
When Craig arrived the new hall was being built and the ablution blocks were still in what is now the main
quadrangle and Strevino Park was still in existence.
Craig fitted in easily as everyone was very caring and friendly. His first room teacher was Bev Geldenhuys
who assigned Richard Ramsden as his mentor. Craig already knew Bradley Marais as they had grown up
together. He recalled Mr Castle as being awesome and in spite of him, he survived the prep!. He relished
the sport and found the staff to be very involved and soccer in the prep school was always fun and
competitive. He went on some school tours and remembered one with Mr Midgely in grade 7. The general
camaraderie was good and the boys all worked together. Craig participated in cricket, soccer and athletics
and was involved with club soccer after school.
When Craig moved up to the high school, rugby took over as his main sport, a change which he enjoyed.
standard 6 or grade 8 was awesome but scarey with the matrics towering over one like giants. The
transition from the prep to the high school went academically well but, after being the cream of the crop and
now finding oneself at the bottom of the ladder was a rude awakening.
Craig went on the annual grade 8 camp to Glenmore led by Rod Smith which was great fun with all the
team building exercises. Craig played 2nd team cricket, was rugby captain of the U14 team in standard 6
and 7 and for the U15 and U16 teams. He also enjoyed mostly field sports in athletics. He also participated
in other extra murals such as SMILE, debating for a short time and inter-house plays.
Of his teachers, Mrs Marias was always a second mother to him; Mrs Nagy made Maths fun; Ms Nolan was
very supportive; Ms Voorendyk was always there when he needed someone to talk to , she was very
supportive, but realistic with her advice. He learnt a lot from Mr Ireland; Mr R Smith; Mr Macmillan, Mr
Thompson and Mr Buys especially with regard to rugby. Craig played provincial rugby for the Gauteng
Lions U16 and U18 and also in the primary section U10, U11 and Johannesburg 11.
Being appointed head boy was an auspicious occasion and presented new challenges for Craig. The
position itself, which he regarded with awe, the expectations everyone had of him plus the fact that he was
a year younger than his peers. He found it to be his most challenging year and in spite of personal
problems, he found he could focus on his role as head boy and it allowed him to concentrate on the small
daily victories. He was obliged to attend numerous functions including sporting events representing St
David’s and enjoyed the interaction with pupils and staff. There were some very pleasant aspects attached
to his position and he attended a number of matric dances and was involved with the prefect exchange with
St Teresa’s and Kingsmead.
Craig was awarded general honours and his honours blazer, and won the Buckley-Jones Trophy for
Afrikaans.
Mr Edey was headmaster and Craig enjoyed a good relationship with him. Mr Edey gave an amazing input
into his life which Craig can’t put a value to. Everyone had a tremendous respect for Mr Edey, for his
enthusiasm, support and caring, he motivated everybody.
After matriculating, Craig went on to study for a BSc Mech. Eng which was a very different time in his life.
He admits to losing focus during his first year and during his third year he was excluded and went to work in
the business environment. He was involved with ER24 services for schools and also in the manufacture of
smart carbon. He learnt a lot from this experience and initiation into the world of business. He dealt with
various individuals such as leading businessmen and government officials. Unfortunately at a year-end
function there was an accident with a gas explosion and Craig injured his leg which led to him to go back to
university to complete his degree. After finishing his degree, he went on to start up a pest control company,
“Bugs Away “with a friend and his father. The company is still going strong but again personal circumstance
led Craig to rethink his life strategy. Envestpro offered him a position as a financial advisor in the company,
he hasn’t looked back since and enjoys his new role.
Reflecting on his life so far, Craig has realised that throughout his entire childhood he led a very busy,
structured existence, learning life lessons along the way. How to lose but keep his dignity, it opened his
eyes to different aspects of life, gave him confidence and affirmed his personal values. Craig is grateful for
the time he spent at St David’s and would like to send his sons to the school.
Craig is now married, has two sons and is keen to become an active member of MOBS. JLE March 2014

Interview with Costa John – 1973
Costa remembers his first day with the fish pond at the entrance to the junior school which
seemed like a mystical treasure.
He enjoyed his school days, the structure and deep teacher engagement. As a day boy he
went home every day but felt that the boarders seemed to bond better.
Anne Buchan was a teacher who was caring, articulate, highly structured and inspirational.
He didn’t enjoy the corporal punishment which he felt was a troubling practice all the way to
matric.
He remembers an unhappy moment, confronting the school over incidents where his
brother’s poor Geography grade was made his problem, the next year, and later when his
younger brother was unfairly singled out for punishment.
A good memory was when he set a new school sprint record as an 11 year old when South
Africa went metric and all records were being set for the first time.
Costa enjoyed the sport and played soccer, cricket, rugby and was an athlete. There weren’t
any sports camps in those days. Costa was a member of C.L.G., the debating society,
Science club and 3rd team rugby.
The matric dance was a proud moment with beautiful decor, wonderful catering and was still
a black and white formal event. There was an all-night after party that ended the next
morning with many of the boys enjoying breakfast in Rosebank, still in tuxedos and evening
gowns!
Costa was elected head prefect in his matric year, received his honours blazer and scrolls
for Merit, Studies, and Debating and was awarded the victor ludorum..
His last day was poignant and he realised he would sorely miss the rich mosaic of academic,
sport, faith-based activities and the maturing phase from a child to a young man in the army..
After matriculating, Costa went into the army for a year then studied for a BCom and MCom
at Wits University followed by a Phd in the USA.
He is currently CFO of a San Franciso software company. He is a member of the Red Cross
disaster response team with service at Ground Zero (Terror attack) 2001, Katrina
(Hurricane) 2005, Joplin (Tornado) 2011.
Costa last visited St David’s in 2013 when he addressed a high school assembly.
JLE July 2013

Interview with Conor MacFadden – 1991
Conor began his career at St David’s in grade 0 in 1979.His first classroom was where the old swimming
pool used to be and Mrs Walton was his teacher. He was also taught by current teachers Willy Castle,
Carol Ansell, Heather Joseph and Belinda Marais.
The clergy still played a major role in the school at the time with Father Plestus being exceptionally kind
and caring. Father Brewer was also very special, a mentor and very close to many of the boys. He stood up
for the boys and operated in his own area within the school which meant he wasn’t always popular with the
teaching staff.
Conor was a member of The Bishops and his housemaster, who taught History was Mr Howarth.
The most significant memory he has is of the soccer tour to Belgium in 1985 with two teams, the U10’s and
U12’s. South Africa, because of apartheid was a pariah country and it was unusual to play any sport with a
foreign country. It was an amazing experience touring Belgium for 2 to 3 weeks and a very significant one
for the boys. Because of the rarity of such tours at the time, the SABC decided to do an insert on one of its
programmes Video 2. Martin Bailey was the host and came on the tour with the boys. Conor has a copy of
the broadcasted footage.
Conor also participated in cricket and rugby as well as soccer. He was the junior school cricket captain and
played rugby in high school. Other pupils such as Ivor Rugani played provincial cricket and Brad Rains
provincial rubgy in 1991. They both have sons at St David’s as does Conor. Conor also played golf at the
Wanderers. There certainly wasn’t the variety of sports that are available to the boys today and everybody
had to participate. Hockey had been introduced but was quite contentious at the time.
Conor remembers being a co-worker and was part of a group who visited Brother Anthony’s mission in
Kuruman.
The boys attended the matric dance from standard 9 and it was held in the school dining room. It was much
lower key than today with the boys decorating the venue themselves.
After matriculating, Conor studied law at Wits University and joined Bell Dewar and Hall which recently
merged with the Canadian firm of Faskin Martineau. Conor, a partner is involved with corporate and tax
law.
Conor has a son Liam at St David’s who is currently in grade 1 and is happy to see the Marist tradition
being carried through to the next generation.
Conor is a trustee of the St David’s Foundation and is a member of MOBS.
JLE September 2014

Interview with Christopher Stanley – 1973
Chris joined St David’s in 1968, standard 6 as a boarder. He remembers his first day vividly with
his mum and dad unpacking his things and making up his bed in the rather large dormitory. It
was quite daunting not knowing anybody other than his four other brothers also joined the
school, with his younger brothers becoming day boys as the boarding closed after 1972.
Some of the teachers and brothers he remembers are Mrs Haines, Mrs Hartman, Br Bosco, Br
Anthony, Br Aidan, Br Timothy, Br Andrew and Br Bernard. They were all good teachers and he
recalled that everyone was terrified of Br Andrew nicknamed “Drac” who was a good Maths
teacher.
Chris enjoyed his time at St David’s and being a boarder meant that he was able to really
participate in the sport playing 2nd team rugby and cricket. He also swam in the inter-house
swimming gala but wasn’t in the team. The boys sometimes used to play golf at the Wanderers
on a Wednesday and one of Chris’s memorable moments was when he beat Fulton Allem.
Discipline was strict but even so some boys used to bunk out regularly. The boy in the next bed,
Mark Agar used to jump out of the window after lights out and returned at about 2am and never
got caught. The boys only got one weekend off a term and had some visiting Sundays. The food
wasn’t too bad but rather predictable. Chris also enjoyed mowing the school lawns with the
tractor.
He remembered doing a skit with some of the boys at the Sandown civic centre.
Academically Chris did very well until standard 8 when he became lazy and as a consequence
didn’t get a very good matric.He initially went into the navy and did his year’s national service
before going to Wits University to study for a BComm. He didn’t complete his degree and got
married in 1977 and went to work in Secunda on the Sasol 2 Project. With hindsight he regrets
not completing his degree. He now runs his own business selling printing, stationery and office
products.
Chris has one child a daughter now aged 15 who attends Fourways high school. He often visits
the St David’s to watch the rugby and has been to several MOBS dinners and will be attending
the 1972 reunion in November this year.
He is still in touch with many of his contemporaries – Billy Cotton , Harry Curtis and Terry van
Heerden who all came from Zambia, George Nichas, Trevor Maher, Ross and Gary Hunter,
Nolan Springer, Trevor Maher, John Williamson, Martin Rumpelt, Mike Mac Farlane and Vince
Mahoney.
JLE October 2012

Interview with Christopher Emmanuel - 1994
Chris feels that school was the best and worst time of his life. He left St David’s as rather
insecure. The one thing that St David’s did not do is discover his singing talent - he is about to
release his first disc. He feels the brothers did well in introducing children of colour into the
school. He enjoyed having black children in his class from grade 0.
St David’s has helped him to where he is today and he feels that the boys leaving school now
are far more emancipated, more free, than his class was when they left St David’s. He feels that
the reunions are an excellent idea and it is a good way of integrating the older old boys with
those who have just left.
Chris was a prefect and head of The Bishops in Matric. On teachers through the years:
Mr Kotze – very strict and used to use the ruler often.
Mrs Schaafsma – he will never forget her
Ms Henning – she was inspirational and a wonderful person
Mr Rankin – Maths corporal
Mr Girdwood – was a brilliant English teacher
Mr Lambe – The Bishops housemaster
Mrs Marais – a lovely person
Mr Norton – the best teacher he had at school
Interview: 13 October 2010 GA

Interview with Chris Marsay – 2003
Chris joined St David’s in 1991 going into grade 0. He remembers a party that was held the year before he
came to the school with all the cool guys lying on the nets in the playground and Chris feeling quite
desperate as he was unable to find the toilets.
He will be forever grateful to Mrs Ansell, his grade 1 teacher who picked up that he had a squint. He was
very fortunate as he had to wear glasses for two weeks and then have an operation to correct the squint.
He has some good memories of the prep school one of them being the regular April holiday soccer clinics
run by Willy Castle. The East London train trip for the soccer tour was an annual highlight travelling
together with four of his best friends from grade 0 until matric, Sean Schoombie, Glynn Allen, Robert Smith
and Jason Simaan. Everyone had to particpate in the sport in the prep school and Chris joined in with the
swimming, athletics, cricket and soccer. As he was young for his year this put quite a bit of good pressure
on him.
Chris recalls Mrs Walton, his grade 0 teacher asking him when his birthday was, he wasn’t sure but said it
was on a date last year but he didn’t know when it would be this year – a lesson well learnt that his birthday
would always be on the same day every year. The infamous Mrs Scaafsma, his grade 2 teacher who drove
an orange beetle, Mrs Hurley, grade 3 who convinced all the boys that she was a witch and lived in a cave
on Northcliff hill. Dave Hosmer who came from St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and taught them all some
sign language. Mr Mitchley, the first male influence and Mandy Everson who was one of his favourite
teachers. The boys were all very sad when Greg Royce announced at assembly that he was leaving and
going to St Peter’s. Chris remembers him saying that St David’s is not a good school, it’s a great school.
Chris was friendly with Andrew Castle and often stayed over at their home and he remembers always being
very much in awe of Andrew’s father Willy Castle.
Chris had a unique entry into the high school with his older brother Michael being a prefect in matric. The
grade 8 camp to Glenmore was very different with all the new guys and the macho guys. Chris was a
member of The Bishops, a fun house to be in.
Chris played water polo in the high school, was vice captain of the 1st team, is still playing for MOBS and is
still friends with Kyle Biller who is in teaching for all the right reasons. He was selected to play for the
Gauteng U14 team but was dropped because of new quota requirements but nevertheless it was an
experience to remember.
There was also the Argentina rugby tour in 2003 with Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh, which set the tone for rugby
that year. Rod Smith, Bradley Ireland and Graeme Mcmillan accompanied them together with Gary
Hodgson who co-ordinated the tour together with Clive Gladulich and got sponsorship from Microsoft.
There was a great group of parents with them and a Uruguayan exchange student Nick Rosenti. Everyone
wanted to host Nick or the two black members of the team.
Champagnat day was always a good day with cokes and donuts after mass at the pool, getting extra
pocket money for a free day from school and he was often part of the team playing soccer against the staff
or parents. He remembers the day Mandela came to St David’s in 2002 and the photo taken with him
together with the 2002 1st rugby team – very special.
Chris remembers Marius Buys with affection and recalls great school tours with him. He gave the boys lots
of responsibility and always said ”What goes on tour, stays on tour”. Marius started a Friday afternoon
activity “Power of the Pen” and all the boys who attended had to bring R10, wear a funny tie and go with
him to Sandton City and read poetry.
On a cultural level, Chris was involved in the production of “As You Like It” in conjunction with Brescia
House and directed by Mrs Wylde. Because of inclement weather, the unconventional production took
place in the hall performing from the entrance and not the stage.
Academically Chris did well and achieved 1 A, 2 B’s, 2 C’s and 1 D in matric, he was awarded general
honours and was appointed prefect. 2003 was a good year and the boys stood well together as a group.
Sport was particularly good with the Cricket team winning the Johnny Waite Trophy and the 1st team rugby
beating both Jeppe and KES at away matches.
After leaving St David’s Chris studied for a BCom at Wits for a year then moved to Varsity College, Cape
Town and completed two years sports management winning an award followed by a year at Damelin doing
a course in events management. He then applied to complete a post graduate degree in marketing
management at UCT and felt that he learnt more in that year than the preceding four years. He then
worked for Dream Lifestyles, owned by Gareth Simaan selling shares in a lodge and vacation lifestyle
products. In 2010 he joined the family business Marsay Equipment as marketing manager and hasn’t
looked back since.
Chris is a member of MOBS and of the MOBS water polo team. JLE
March 2014

Interview with Charles Rowlinson – 1972
Charles was a day boy and one of four children, his two younger brothers attending Marist and an elder sister
attending Parktown Convent, with a mother who was involved with catholics all her life. Charles’ mother joined
the Holy Convent Sisters as a young graduate teacher and ended up as headmistress of Parktown Convent.
Charles actually attended grade 1 and 2 at Parktown Convent before starting standard 1 at St David’s, Marist
Inanda.
Some teachers he recalled from prep school days were Mrs Scaafsma - standard 2, Mrs Janusch -standard 4,
Mrs Kenesovitch – standard 5 and high school, Andre Malan – Afrikaans in standard 7 -8, Bob Blyth – Maths,
Mr. Zach from Eastern Europe who taught History and was a great character and Mauve Hartman who taught
English.
Charles got on well with the Brothers – Anthony, Mario, Aidan, Andrew, Vincent, and Timothy, most of whom
also taught him at some stage in his 10 years at Inanda.
Charles recalls how he and his younger brothers, Greg and Anthony cycled to school from Craighall Park. He
states that many of the boys cycled to school and Charles remembered the bicycle shed which housed around
500 bicycles. Parents didn’t play such a big role in the school in those days and the boys were in fact very
independent and self-reliant. Charles and his brothers got to school very early each day playing soccer before
school. He recalls always busy with some sport or other during breaks. There was a very good and healthy
school ethic.
Charles thoroughly enjoyed Inanda and participated in most sports, rugby, playing in the 2nd and 3rd team,
tennis – 2nd’s and athletics he ran the 800m and long distance events. He recalled that 1972, his matric year
was actually a great year for the school, it was a top rugby school winning every game but one when they drew
with KES. He recalls the game very well, as the sun was setting. George Nichas, an outstanding rugby player
missed a rather simple kick to put Marist in the lead and win this game. The school also did very well in
swimming, athletics and tennis. Besides being well recognised as a very strong sporting school in this era, it
also produced outstanding academic results.
Having a boarding school meant than many boys came from the far reaches of South Africa and from
neighbouring countries.
Charles said it was great watching the 1st team rugby play and other special events. Nolan Springer was a
great sprinter, one of the greatest in Marist history. He was outstanding and broke every record.
Academically Charles was usually in the top ten. Charles feels that he was very privileged to have attended
such a school and is pleased that it is still today such a great school.
After acquiring a JMB matric, Charles went to Wits University on a part-time basis while doing his articles at
Ernst & Young, to study accountancy and after qualifying as a chartered accountant, undertook an MBA.
Charles’ own children 3 sons and a daughter didn’t attend St David’s as the school was going through a tough
patch at the time his eldest son was ready for school in the post Br Anthony period, so his sons went to St
John’s, Hilton and St Stithian’s. Charles was a long serving member of the St.Stithian’s council and became
chairman of the inaugural St Stithian’s foundation. He was very close to David Wilde the schools headmaster
and later school rector. He had contact with Paul Edey when he was setting up the St David’s foundation.
Charles has a background as an entrepreneur and is currently executive chairman of WIZZIT Bank, banking
for the unbanked which led to the creation of the globally recognised WIZZIT model which utilises cell phone
banking in reaching unbanked markets. Formerly he built up his own group from the age of 29, Renwick
Group, which became part of the listed group EDUCOR, where Charles was CEO and chairman. When
Charles left, after the group delisted in the early 2000’s he felt that he wanted to put something back and
wearing a social entrepreneurs hat, together with his partner, formed WIZZIT. He has also been C
chairman of the Rosebank Catholic church finance committee for the past 32 years and a member of the
archdiocese finance committee advising the Archbishop on financial, administrative and property matters for
the past 20 years.
Charles is a member of MOBS but is not as involved as he would have been had he been a parent at the
school, however he has been actively involved in organising reunions for 10, 20, 25, 30 years and now 40
years. He is pleased that 30 boys will be attending with 6 coming from overseas.
JLE October 2012

Interview with Charles Robinson – 1981
Charles first came to St David’s in 1973 as a day boy although he had boarded in the UK at the age of 5
and then again at Michaelhouse. He preferred day school as he spent more time with his family.
Charles enjoyed the sport and was captain of the 1st tennis team; captain of 2nd cricket XI; 3rd rugby XV; a
member of the athletics and swimming teams and was awarded a scroll for tennis. He recalls winning the
inaugural school golf championships at the Wanderers.
Charles remembers Trudy Elliott trying so hard. He remembers being initially told that he wouldn’t have to
learn Afrikaans as he had arrived from the UK, only to be told in standard 8 that he would need it for matric.
Charles hated exams. He enjoyed watching Br Timothy rant and rave.
He took a girl called Angela to his matric dance which was a low key event. He recalls being quite excited
on his last day at St David’s even though he still had no idea of what he was going to do.
On matriculating, Charles was exempt from army service as he was from the UK and studied for a National
Diploma in Hotel Management and at the Institute for Financial Studies. Charles is currently self employed
as a financial consultant and lives in Natal. He is married with two sons aged 17 and 14. He is involved with
church community projects.
He last visited St David’s this year for the first time since he left whilst he was in Johannesburg attending a
reunion organised by Sven Arp.
JLE November 2013

Interview with Charles Fontaine – 1966 (Standard 8)
Charles first came to St David’s in 1953 into grade 1 at the age of 5. He was a day boy and was living in
temporary accommodation with his family in the Rondavels on the corner of Boundary and Fricker Roads.
Charles’s father was Catholic and his mother Anglican.
He recalled his first day walking with his mother to school and an hour and half later running back home.
Needless to say he had to return and was very happy after that initial hiccup. Miss Brick was his grade 1
teacher and was extremely strict. Charles also remembers Mrs Kempster who also taught him. Mrs
Janusch was a dragon who was also extremely strict and rapped the boys on the knuckles with a ruler if
they displeased her.
Charles has memories of Brother Pius who looked after the really beautiful and magnificent gardens. Br
Edwin was the headmaster and Br Anthony from 1960. Charles was also taught by Br Timothy and Br
Vincent. Charles enjoyed Arithmetic as it was made very interesting. He has fond memories of matron
Buckley-Jones who was so sympathetic and kind to all the boys.
In the prep, Charles enjoyed the sport playing cricket, soccer, was involved with athletics, swimming and
bicycle polo during the holidays! The boarders’ dormitories overlooked the school swimming pool and the
boarders sometimes jumped into the pool from the windows on the first floor.
Athletics meetings were sometimes embarrassing especially if you were running last in full view of all the
boys and their parents. On one occasion Charles was training for the hurdles, wearing Mike Larkin’s spikes,
hurdled the wrong way and broke his arm. Mike and John Larkin were also pupils at the school; Mike had
poor eyesight and couldn’t drive because of this. He was in the law faculty at Wits University at one stage
and thereafter at UCT. Sadly he was murdered in Cape Town in the vicinity of UCT.
Mass was held regularly and, on special occasions like Champagnat Day, in the chapel which was very
homely with beautiful statues. Charles was also part of the choir in the production of “HMS Pinafore”.
Most of the day boys parked their bikes at the large bicycle shed which was reconstructed in 1955.
Charles’s worst moment at the school when he was involved in a fight on the slope near the tennis courts
with other boys around egging them on. He had never been involved in any other fights and didn’t enjoy
this one.
Charles was amongst the boys of the first standard 6 class to occupy the new block of classrooms next to
the new chapel. He moved into the other wing where Br Anthony’s office was when he was promoted to
high school. He liked Br Anthony whom he regarded as an incredible person. Charles was very impressed
when, at the 20th anniversary reunion, Br Anthony remembered both himself and his brother by name..
Sadly, in 1962 Charles had to leave to go to St Aidan’s, Grahamstown as his father felt that there were too
many non-Catholics at St David’s. Charles didn’t want to leave but his father had made the decision and he
had to adhere to his father’s wishes.
After matriculating, Charles went into the Navy to complete his military service based with the Naval
Gymnasium at Saldhana Bay in 1967. In 1968 he enrolled for a BComm at Wits University and qualified as
a chartered accountant with a post-graduate diploma in Business Information Systems.. He is currently a
partner with Harris, Dowden and Fontaine, having previously been a partner at Price Waterhouse and
manages the audit for St David’s and a number of schools. Charles is married to Elizabeth and they have
three sons, James, Christopher and Peter.
Charles is a member of MOBS
JLE March 2014

Interview with Cedric Du Trevou – 1989
Cedric joined St David’s in standard 1 (grade 3) and his brother in grade 0. Cedric came from Sandown
primary school. His father was Swiss and his mother Mauritian. His brother was already at St David’s when
he left Sandown and, even being a quiet, reserved boy it didn’t take him too long to settle in.
His first teacher was Mrs Orford followed by Mrs Anderson and Mrs Hurley. He enjoyed the sport especially
tennis and remembers Mr Castle who coached soccer. All the boys were scared of him as he was very
strict and tough on discipline, however his bark was worse than his bite, he had a good heart and all the
boys respected him. Cedric recalls some camps whilst in the prep school and one camp in particular where
he got up to some mischief with Jason Benater and was suitably punished by Mr Castle. Jason and his
brother Lee are now Cedric’s brothers in law.
Cedric was average academically and loved to go home and get involved with electronics.
high school was very different from the prep, a big open space but he eventually settled in and began to
enjoy it.
He was a member of Benedict house and went on the grade 8 camp. It was a bad year for discipline in his
group and Cedric remembers the headmaster a Mr Murphy, the wrestler and a dictator of note. Mark
Reeves was head boy that year and Br Anthony came back until a new headmaster, Mr Frielick was
appointed. It was a difficult time for the school and Cedric experienced two more headmasters, Mr Boswell
and Mr Davies before he matriculated.
Cedric enjoyed the hockey, tennis and swimming but was not a member of any 1st team. He had acne and
was teased quite badly. He now really enjoys his sport and cycles, runs and swims on a regular basis.
There were not any cultural activities in those days but Cedric helped backstage with the lighting for some
school plays.
Of the teachers he remembers Mr Egan who came from the UK, he was obviously unsure of himself and
the boys used to make fun of him. There was an incident when one of the boys caused a minor explosion
destroying half a desk, Mr Egan got such a shock and fell off his chair. The boys got quite a shock too as
they were only expecting a spark and not such a big bang. There was a Mr Cotze who was very strict.
Heather Joseph taught him Art in the prep school and he recalls that she was a nice, genuine person whom
the boys could talk to up until matric, she always had time for them.
For the matric Dance most of the boys invited girls from the Rosebank Convent and Cedric recalls that his
partner ended up with 7 distinctions. The after party was held in Bryanston and there were a number of
boys rather the worse for wear the following morning. Cedric still cannot understand the need to drink so
much which is still prevalent today.
There were only two classes in his matric year. It was a tough time for Cedric as his mother was diagnosed
with leukaemia before his final exams and died a month later. The teaching staff were amazingly supportive
of the family and without their help he would not have coped.
After matriculating, Cedric joined Motorola and was sent to the technikon and for training in house and
overseas. After 8 years with the company he left and joined his father in the hotel business and the
Formula One Hotel Group. He is currently the CEO for Ecomotels a new more price conscious group of
hotels based near OR Tambo Airport.
Cedric married Marianna in 1998 and has two children, a daughter at De La Salle and a son in grade 10 at
St David’s. There was no doubt in his mind that his son should attend St David’s whatever the cost.
Cedric is a member of MOBS and can remember donating a brick for some fundraiser whilst he was a pupil
and is happy to assist MOBS when he can.
JLE April 2014

Interview with Bryce Wray – 2005
Bryce came to St David’s in grade 8. Bryce was formerly a pupil at King Edwards School being the third
generation of his family who attended KES and the school pavilion is named after Bryce’s uncle. Bryce
elected to attend St David’s for high school as he had already befriended Justin Rodrigues and Sibelo
Sithebe at junior city council. Also Paul Edey was the headmaster who had taught Bryce’s uncle and other
family members at KES and was highly regarded.
On his first day Bryce was fortunate, already knowing many of the St David’s boys from playing primary
school sport and James Morrison also accompanied him from KES. In spite of this Bryce was nervous and
concerned about the change from a government to a private school. His first camp was at Glenmore and he
recalls Mr Rod Smith making the boys stand outside in the rain.
Bryce was a member of The Bishop’s with Simon Fry as his housemaster. Bryce regarded him as a great
housemaster and History teacher who developed his passion for the subject. He recalls that Mrs Van der
Merwe was particularly good as his English teacher in matric and Mrs Kennedy for Maths. He also held
Alex Gitlin in high esteem through his contact with him playing hockey and still keeps in touch with him.
Bryce also coached 1st team hockey after leaving school.
Bryce always wanted to play hockey and initially Mr MacMillan was more pro rugby than hockey but this did
not stop Bryce playing hockey in grade 8 without having to play rugby. Bryce put a lot of time into his
hockey more so than academics. At that time pupils did not need to get such high matric marks to study law
at university although that is no longer the case. He played provincial hockey U18 until 2010 and was in the
Gauteng U21 side from 2006 to 2008 and was in the men’s Gauteng hockey team from 2009 until 2010.
Unfortunately currently pressure of work does not allow him to be as involved.
Bryce was fortunate to go on the hockey tour to Malaysia which was a great experience travelling with other
boys and experiencing a different culture. Bryce still plays hockey for Old Eds in the premier league with
Mark de Jager.
Bryce also participated in the school plays and public speaking and in inter-house debating in grade 8 and
9 and in grade 10 and 11 was involved with the SMILE programme.
Bryce decided from grade 8 that he wanted to become a lawyer. He believed the judiciary to be
independent and wanted to be part of such a legal system which is formulated on Roman Dutch law and
now influenced by the constitution. It intrigued him the fact that law ultimately influences everything.
Bryce received honours for hockey, was vice-captain of 1st team hockey and was a house prefect.
After he matriculated , Bryce attended..................................................University for a degree.
Bryce worked for his articles in 2010 until the end of 2011 with Hogan Lovells and then was retained as an
associate. He resigned in 2012 to pursue an opportunity to work in the commercial field. However he
decided that it wasn’t for him and Hogan Lovells gladly took him back. He now specialises in commercial
litigation for the construction industry and administrative law.
For Bryce the camaraderie with his grade was great and the loyalty they had for each other. He still meets
up with 8 friends from his year once a month and they are all very proud to be St David’s boys.
JLE September 2014

Interview with Br Sean Quinn – 1963 – 1968
Br Sean first came to St David’s in 1963 and initially taught a primary school class. He thinks that Patrick
Quarmby was in that class, also Ivan Bensimon and Ian Skinner who is now married to Patrick’s sister.
Other names were R Adair, Clive Schoombie, N Jarvis, T Tribe.
Through his involvement with sport coaching many other names came to mind: Terry Rosenberg; Terry
Lavery; Errol MaCauley; Lee McGregor; G. Simaan. The latter’s father Mr Nassey Simaan helped with
coaching rugby and Sean learnt a lot from him and became a fanatic of rugby. He also said that Br Jude
taught him a lot in Maritzburg too. It was a game Sean never played in Ireland where G
gaelic football and hurling were the sports. He took cricket teams and umpired, and took students out on
Saturdays and Sundays with the “Cycling Club”. He never managed to lose anybody, thank God, but when
he thinks of it now, it frightens him. They used to go a long way sometimes and once through the city to the
southern suburbs and beyond, unknown territory.
Sean thought that we would know that some of the names mentioned went on to play at a high level ; Terry
Lavery represented the Springboks and Sean met him briefly at White City athletics stadium in London. Lee
McGregor was a Springbok swimmer whose parents were good people who helped Sean in his transition to
“civvy life’.
Remembering the brothers was easier for Sean in many ways – Br Anthony, Br Aidan, Br Lewis, Br Neil, Br
Andrew.
Br Neil was the nephew of the Br Provincial, family name McGurk. He and Sean once cycled to Pretoria
and back, very tired and thirsty at the end as one could imagine.
Br Ignatius, Br Aidan Burns and Br Sean once walked to Post Shepstone from Hibberdene along the
railway line. They got a few rand from the bursar to buy some food and drinks which they lost on their way
to Port Shepstone. They went back down to the beach and retraced their steps to the shop and eventually
found the money on the ground next to the door. Lucky! They then hitched a lift back to Hibberdene and
two men in the car took them right up to the door. Lucky again!
Br Sean liked distance running, having run up World’ s View in Maritzburg many times but Br Ignatius (aka
Paddy Collins) took it to another level later running the Comrades many times and he is still running full
and half marathons in Ireland now about 74 – 75 years old!
Br Sean stopped playing rugby at 40 and took up running – he completed 2 marathons and numerous half
marathons, but not in the same league as Br Iggy! It might say something about their lives with the Marist
brothers, but what it says, he is not exactly sure.
Another person that Sean remembers with great affection was a Zulu man. Piet, a big man who was in
charge of the kitchen, he was always cheerful and tried to teach Sean a little of the Zulu language and
talked proudly of Dingaan, Cetswayo and Shaka. Sean looked him up many years later on Google. When
Sean went to the kitchen for coffee, Piet would always address him as nKhosaan and Sean regrets not
talking to him more.
One funny incident Sean recalled was when they tried to hear a world title fight from America on the radio.
They tried to get it by rigging up the aerial on the tennis court net at some ridiculous hour in the morning
and by the time they got the broadcast the fight was finished. He couldn’t quite remember who was fighting,
maybe Joe Louis or Floyd Patterson. There were, of course no replays in those days!
On a more personal level, Sean taught Geography in the secondary school from 1964. He can remember
threatening his students that he would cane them if they failed. He now thinks that was a stupid thing to do
but he had seen this in Ireland as par for the course. He had to cane about 4 or 5 students and was sick of
himself by the time he had done two. One student, Gabriel Simaan cried and was still crying when they
went to Ellis Park for an inter-school tennis match. Sean thought that Gabriel liked him as a teacher and
was friendly with Gabriel’s family and was disgusted with himself and his stupidity. He never used the cane
again in all his teaching life of over 30 years. They were a very good family and Sean still has regrets.
Sean finished his degree whilst working on a mine in Rhodesia and later did his HED again at UNISA. He
went down to Johannesburg to do some teaching practice for exam purposes and did it at St David’s in
familiar surroundings and all that went with it.
Sean has some fond memories and some questions he would like answers too, but the past is the past and
he thinks it is not good to dwell on it too much.
After Sean’s wife died in 1996, he was at a loss and very disorientated. He quit his teaching job in a Jesuit
school in the north of England where he had taught English and Geography to “A” level for 10 years. He
went to Southern Ethiopia with the VSO for 2 years to work as a teacher trainer. He then had work at the
University in Newcastle upon Tyne after which he took off with a backpack to SE Asia, Australia and New
Zealand - a bit old for it at 60 but he didn’t care. Sean loved Thailand, the people, the weather and food so
went back and stayed. Sean had a TESOL diploma and an MA in Linguistics from Leeds, studying whilst
working. He developed an interest in the English language but all he did was work doing seminars for
teachers helping them with their methodology and English.
Sean’s son (who was born in Rhodesia) and 3 grandchildren live in Melbourne, Australia and Sean visits
them fairly regularly.
Sean currently lives in Thailand and has done so for the past 11 years, about 350kms NE of Bangkok in a
very rural area with a good wife who looks after him very well. He did some voluntary work teaching for 3
years but then had enough and now reads, works on his wife’s small farm, cycles a bit and relaxes. I gave Sean Gabriel Simaan’s email address and he got in touch with him. Gabriel had no recollection of
the incident and said he was caned on several occasions but it certainly didn’t do him any harm. (JLE)
JLE November 2013