Interview with Nick Pruim – 1984 Nick attended St David’s from grade 1 to matric and absolutely loved the school. He was a day boy as there were no longer any boarding facilities. In 1982, the headmaster was the infamous Mr Murphy who was a part-time ... »
Interview with Nick Pruim – 1984 Nick attended St David’s from grade 1 to matric and absolutely loved the school. He was a day boy as there were no longer any boarding facilities. In 1982, the headmaster was the infamous Mr Murphy who was a part-time wrestler. He was watching a TV programme called “Nite Owls” about what people in SA do at night. Mr Murphy was televised walking into the ring masked and wielding a hammer. He called an assembly the next day to explain himself and said he would no longer compete as a wrestler. Apparently Mr Colia and some other masters checked up on him and found out that he continued to wrestle. Mr Murphy also supposedly played rugby for Ireland. He was replaced in the third term by Brother Anthony a previous headmaster who, together with Brother Timothy was a strong headmaster. Mr Freilich then took over in 1983. One of Nick’s sons goes to SACS and they saw Willy Castle at the water polo there. He remembers Heather Joseph, Trudie Elliott, Glenda Anderson, Darryl Boswell, Colia, Ross Howard, an Australian and Finlayson who recently taught his son at SACS. He still sees Adrian Franklin who was vice-head boy, Reece Carr, Jason Goodall, Garcia (85), Peter Wharton-Hood, and Craig Brewer. He remembers one of the first black pupils at the school, Solly Mapanya whose father was a well known businessman. The boys all gathered around him on the soccer field, now the astro turf, in amazement. He is godfather to one of Nick’s daughters. He remembered Gary Beuthin, 3 years above him who was expelled but allowed back by Murphy and was expelled again a couple of months later. He was bright, sporty but a psychopath. Nick played 1st team rugby in standard 9 and part of matric and then dropped to the 2nd team which he really enjoyed. He also participated in A team swimming, water-polo and tennis. Academically he achieved a reasonable matric with university entrance. He was head boy for his year with Adrian Franklin and Greg McLeroth as deputy head boys. He recalled his last day as having mixed feelings. He learnt to tease and be teased there was a certain feeling between Marist boys. Being a small school they had to work hard to do well in sport, pull together. There were then only 280 boys in the senior school. Discipline was at times harsh with corporal punishment but also respect. He never forgot getting 6 of the best from Mr Murphy for mimicking a teacher in class. After leaving school, he lasted 1 year at varsity, worked at the stock exchange for eight years as a trader then travelled for a year. On his return he opened PD’s in Illovo and turned it into Stabella in the Thrupp’s Centre. In 1994 he went to Cape Town and opened a place in Greenmarket Square, Peitit Pains which was a great success, ran it for 13 years and sold it in
He also got involved in the cleaning business and had a contract to clean Cape Town for 8 years and in that time Cape Town won the cleanest city award. He realised that he had got involved in too many things, fishing being one of them. He then sold the shop, got out of the cleaning business and concentrated on the fishing industry with which the family has been involved with for generations. They have their own boats and buy in lobster to export to Japan and China. He also has an interest in renewable energy which is a long-term project and is busy with a wind farm. Following on from working with communities at school, he buys fish from local communities and assists with advice regarding equipment etc. The company also assists the subsistent fisherman with paperwork and not charging registration fees for forming co-ops. Better equipment helps them get up to a certain level and the company, Calandria, in turn gets a better quality product. For the small quota holders, they no longer give one lump sum but pay monthly in advance so that they can plan their lives better bringing financial stability. The company also pays the salary for one school teacher at Paternoster and usually gets involved in all the small towns they deal with and try to employ people in most of these towns in their operation. Nick has 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys. There was a reunion 5 years ago with a dinner at the school and he would definitely attend more reunions. JE October 2011
