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Interview with Tim Johnson – 2003
Tim first came to St David’s from Buccleuch primary in grade 3. His sister was going to high school and the
timing was right for him to change. Tim thinks that St David’s was the only school that he and his parents
looked at. It was difficult at first as all the boys were a tightly knit group and had all started together
however he got to know Michael Thomas and he is currently still his closest friend and they have tendered
for the MOBS home together.
Tim was not really into sports but enjoyed the extra-curricular sport which helped him break the ice with the
other boys. He eventually dropped cricket and concentrated on swimming and played some soccer in the
winter. From grade 5 his swimming became full-time and he got to know Willy Castle well. The prep
swimming team was very successful and unbeaten in grades 5, 6,and 7. In grade7, Tim together with Kyle
Biller went to Germany with the Wanderers swimming club and swam in an international gala. It was a
great experience and they joined in some serious training sessions.
In the high school Tim also played rugby and thoroughly enjoyed it being a member of both A and B teams.
His main sport was still swimming which he took very seriously training both at school and after school and
made both Provincial and Senior National teams. He also was a member of the water polo team, qualified
for the Provincial team and was captain of the 1st team in matric. Sadly he missed out on the rugby tour to
Argentina having given up rugby for swimming.
Tim continued his water polo at Wits University and went to Australia representing Wits University at the
university games. He plays for MOBS and participated in the fund raiser in memory of Justin Bessler.
Of the teachers In the prep Willy Castle was an iconic figure and Tim believed that he helped push him
beyond his boundaries in terms of sport. Tim has remained close to Rick Wilson and found him to be a
genuine, sincere person. Mandy Everson was a particularly good teacher. In the high school, Rod Smith
was a real character; Debbi Cameron cared so much about the boys; Lizanne Nagy held her ground even
though the boys gave her such a hard time and Dave Smith was also a character with a good persona.
Father Brewer held Mass in the old chapel and Tim remembers kneeling on the hard wooden benches and
also that Father Brewer had a scottish terrier and Mr Van Der Merwe a border collie. Paul Edey stands out
as headmaster and as a very good History teacher. Tim thought it was his most interesting subject because
of Paul’s energy and enthusiasm. Tim left St David’s in grade 10 as he wanted to be independent; he went
to Kingswood in Grahamstown but didn’t last long. There were problems at the school but Paul accepted
him back unconditionally. After that experience Tim thought he was number one as headmaster and he
also had great respect for Malcolm Williams.
Academically Tim felt that he could have applied himself a bit more but his real passion and time was
dedicated to sport. However he was in the top class most of the time in high school with Art becoming his
favourite subject and loved the practical aspect of the subject. He was interested in and enjoyed Maths,
Annabel Cotton made Physics exciting and Dave Smith was always entertaining in Geography.
Tim became a prefect and was awarded an honours blazer, specific honours swimming and water polo and
general honours for sport, leadership and merit. He also received many awards for sport and at the annual
prize giving in 2003 was awarded the Reeves Trophy for senior swimmer of the year and the Clark Atwell
Trophy for water polo player of the year.
Special events that Tim remembers are when Marcellin Champagnat was canonised in 1999 and a huge
joint mass was held with all the other schools. His matric dance wasn’t that memorable but the fireworks
evening was, from the beginning on the most favourite evenings when the school took on a different
persona. Champagnat day was always good fun and he remembers the “tug of war” in the prep. Ash
Wednesday was also memorable and although Tim wasn’t Catholic he was exposed to religion and the
Catholic ways and tradition and found it interesting although it was never imposed upon him. Reverend
Bruce was also significant and Tim always enjoyed his lessons which always had a story or strong
message.
The mixed swimming and inter-house night galas were always great fun especially with the girls around.
Tim enjoyed the inter-house plays and always played a minor role. Inter- house events were always fun.
After matriculating, Tim went to Wits University to study BA Architecture and won the People’s Award in his
2nd year for design of a Transvaal home using steel. At the end of the third year they had to do a Gap year
and Tim spent the 1st year in Johannesburg and then went onto London for a further year. He then studied
further for another 2 years doing his BA Hons and then Masters - MArch.Prof. and his thesis focused on
Joubert Park and the Johannesburg Art Gallery.
Tim’s current employer taught him at Wits and offered him a job at her practice, Sarah Calburn Architects.
He deals in mainly residential tailor made houses for specific clients. He has also started his own company
Greenspace Studio and his aim is to be involved in medium scale social and commercial buildings.
Tim is a member of MOBS and has participated in the matric rite of passage.
JLE December 2013

Interview with Malcolm Williams – Staff 1997 – 2013
Malcolm joined the staff of St David’s as deputy headmaster in July 1997 whilst Paul Edey, the headmaster
was on a pilgrimage. Malcolm came from Sandown High School where he was deputy headmaster having
also taught at King Edward VII High School for a number of years. Malcolm was St David’s 12th
headmaster and the second longest serving head after Br Anthony.
When Malcolm arrived, the sense of family and positive rapport between pupils and staff was very evident.
There was a strong focus on ethos and values which permeated the school. However the school had none
of the buildings it enjoys today. There was no hall, no pavilion, no media Centre, no astro and no Br
Anthony wing. The construction of the hall and 6 classrooms began in 1998. In 1997 there were 350 pupils
enrolled in the high school and in 2103, 563. The past four years has seen increased enrolment every year
averaging 28 pupils per class. St David’s has become the school of choice in Johannesburg with 90% of
the pupils coming through from the prep school. The school is also known as one of the top academic
schools in the country and has been acknowledged as one of the main feeder schools to Wits University by
vice chancellor, Adam Habib.
In 2002 Malcolm was appointed headmaster and was determined to change the profile of the school with
pupil leadership, celebrating individual talents, creating strength in academics, sport and cultural activities.
He did this moving the school forward in all areas with the firm resolve to achieve excellence without
compromising the core values and Marist ethos of the school.
Both Paul Edey, in his new role of executive head and Malcolm were involved with professional bodies
serving in various roles on ISASA , SAHISA and CASPAat provincial and national levels . Mike Greeff
continues the school’s involvement in Catholic schools’ organisations, MSC etc.
Malcolm is a keen sportsman and hockey player and did much to encourage development of the sport at St
David’s serving as coach and convener and member of the Executive of USSASA boy’s hockey. In fact, in
2001 St David’s hockey moved into section A of Aitken Trophy with the school now one of the strongest
nationally in this area. In 2003 St David’s rugby team beat KES and 1st cricket won the Johnny Waite
Knockout.
There has been tremendous growth in Music and Drama from almost nothing to the vibrant parts of the
school they now are, as well as being academic subjects, to add to the successes in debating and public
speaking. Academic records and excellence were sustained having pupils in the top 50 candidates for
matric since being incorporated into the IEB.
Key aspects Malcolm enjoyed seeing become part of the school include: the Marist principle of ‘Presence’,
with boys and staff supported in all areas of school life; Academic excellence, which has been sustained
over time and is measured by a range of outside benchmarks including the IEB examinations; the range of
academic enrichment initiatives being undertaken, including participation in IEB pilot projects; the growth
and development of a professional staff of high quality; a sports programme which enables the school and
the boys to achieve success at provincial and national level, and also provides opportunities for all; a highperforming,
broad-based, dynamic, and diverse cultural programme; increased pupil leadership
opportunities and mechanisms for recognition, particularly in the matric leadership group; structures
established to increase the level of involvement in outreach and partnership activities; the continued
strength of the Staff Sponsorship Fund; the expansion of the school’s pastoral care structures and the
house system; the excellent facilities, the most recent and visible of these being the Brother Anthony Wing;
the ‘Whole School Day’ programme; the effective partnerships with a number of non-government
organisations and the St David’s Foundation.
Malcolm thoroughly enjoyed his years at St David’s Marist Inanda but it was not a simple matter to leave
such a fine school,with its special Marist ethos. He was enriched by working with a talented, loyal and
energised staff who give everything for the benefit of the boys in their care, for each other, and for the
school. Many of them are good friends as well as colleagues. Malcolm enjoyed developing a strong rapport
with parents over the years, who so often go the extra mile for the school. The boys themselves always
inspired him with their huge commitment, their passion for their school and their tremendous sense of
camaraderie, which is something special.
Malcolm said it had been a privilege to be part of the growth of the high school, and the many innovations
which have been evident in this growth. St David’s truly offers a holistic education where every boy is able
to develop his talents. The school now has a strong national footprint across all areas of school life and the
boys and staffs are achieving much success.
Malcolm also believed that a measure of a school is how its pupils progress once they leave school. A most
pleasing aspect being the continued success of St David’s old boys at tertiary level and beyond. They have
excelled, and the old boys are clearly able to hold their own in their chosen spheres of life. Malcolm also
found it most gratifying in recent years to see the growth and energy present in the old boys’ association,
as well as the number of old boys who have joined the teaching profession over the past thirteen years.
Malcom firmly believed that the infrastructure at St David’s is well established and has an extremely
strong, professional and committed academic, administrative and support staff which he enjoyed being part
of and had no doubt that the school would continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.
JLE December 2013