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 ... »
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
