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Interview with Nicholas Ansell – 2003
Nick spent many years at St David’s from the age of three until he went to a pre-school run by a Mrs
Gibson. Nick’s mother Carol was a teacher at the school and therefore he spent a lot of time there. Robert
Gibson, Andrew Castle and Nick were all born within three months of each other, going to pre-school
together then Limberlost near Dunkeld West. They all started in grade 0 in 1991 and Ryan Norton, Walton
and Kirchhoffer joined them.
Nick and Andrew Castle went all the way through to matric together and became friendly with the sons of
other teachers, Mrs Marais and Mrs Roman. The grade 1 teachers were Rose, Ansell and Steernberg with
Carol Ansell moving up to teach grade 2 in 1993. Carol is currently a specialist teacher at St David’s
assisting the weakest and the strongest pupils in literacy. The office which was Nick’s nursery is now used
by the therapists.
The grade 2 teachers in 1993 were Ansell, Walton, Rose and Schaafsma. In standard 1 Mrs Sherratt was
Nick’s teacher, in standard 2, Mrs Sandy, in standard 3 Mrs Whitfield, in standard 4, Mrs Geldenhuys was
his home room teacher followed by Mr Thackwell in standard 5, Mrs Anderson was the Religious Education
teacher and Mrs Everson the English teacher. Mr Mitchley was the Science and sports master in senior
prep for standards 4 and 5 and interested Nick in the cricket scoring which he continued through high
school. Mrs Clover (Library) taught the boys how to find information and in those days it was using the old
catalogue card system. Mr Sloan the Geography teacher in standard 4 and 5 motivated Nick to enjoy and
understand Geography and a Mr Hayter. Mrs Bowles was strict and instilled discipline, she had a range of
books in her classroom and when one boy ran away he assumed the identity of one of the characters in a
book, that of an aborigine. Mrs Middlewick was the choir mistress and Nick and Andrew played the leading
roles in one of the school productions. Heather Joseph taught Art was like a second mother and was
always great fun.
Willy Castle was like a second father and Nick knew the ground staff well; George the tractor driver, Julius
and Phineas who all knew him from when he was a small boy. All the little boys used to hitch a ride on the
tractor and the school was their second home. Nick also remembers the smell of the stove, which was fired
by coal in the old kitchen. Nick used to sit in the kitchen when he was small and eat with Julius, Enoch and
Mabel.
Of the brothers, Br Anthony used to visit a couple of times a year. Brothers Vincent, Jude, Aidan and Mario
also came to the school regularly. Br Mario in fact employed Nick’s mother Carol. Father Brewer was down
to earth and strict and had a room upstairs near the chapel. He took the boys for holy communion and
coached soccer.
In the high school there was Mr Buys, Mr McMilllan who taught sport and Geography; Mr D Smith,
Geography, Mr and Mrs Andrews; Gary Norton who used to entertain the grade 1’s and 2’s with his snakes.
Paul Edey the headmaster was firm but insightful, teaching History when Nick was in standard 7 and
coached rugby. Nick enjoyed Rod Smith in standard 6 as his English teacher and Mrs Cameron, Mrs
Marais, Mrs Roman, Mrs Shumyn, Mr Burr, Accounting, Mr Craven, Zulu, athletics and rugby. The biggest
influence on Nick was held by the teachers who taught sport in standard 6.
Nick recalled the Glenmore camp in standard 6 and being a good time, rather like the army but great fun.
Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh was head boy and it was the first year that St David’s beat KES in rugby for many
years. Nick competed in the inter-high relay and College house still holds the record for the relay. Nick also
was awarded a team award for his cricket scoring and in standard 5 achieved an honours award.
Nick remembers his matric valediction, the grade 0 party coming to big school, first communion, the
Glenmore Camp, the death of James Garden’s brother and being upset when Mr Royce left.
Nick was hugely disappointed when he was not elected a prefect and didn’t achieve 1st Team rugby as he
fractured his spine and took up canoeing. He was however awarded a Champagnat medal. It was his first
lesson in life to learn that things don’t just get handed to you, and he learnt to be humble.
After matriculating, Nick studied at Wits University for a Bsc Physics and Mathematics and then changed to
a BSc Urban Planning in 2005 and graduated in 2008 with honours. During 2009, 2010, 2011 Nick worked
6 month shifts in the USA in state summer camps and eventually was promoted to programme director in
2011 to 2013 (2012 – 2013 full time)but had to return to South Africa when his visa expired.
He is currently working for Raven Town Planners and intends to study further for a masters in
environmental and sustainable cities next year.
JLE November 2014