Interview with Steve Muller 1953 Steve came to St David’s in 1941 even though there was no grade 0 in those days, and was effectively in grade 0 until 1943. His mother said he talked too much and obviously thought school would do him good, especially as his ... »
Interview with Steve Muller 1953 Steve came to St David’s in 1941 even though there was no grade 0 in those days, and was effectively in grade 0 until 1943. His mother said he talked too much and obviously thought school would do him good, especially as his older brother was there too. He thinks he is the only old boy to attend St David’s from 1941 until 1952 – check photo taken on steps by what is now Malcolm William’s office. All three of his sons attended St David’s and his youngest son, Gavin (87) was the first to complete 13 years, the other sons Graham and Brian completed matric in 1982 and 1980 respectively. His wife was the granddaughter of the first Marist pupil – Peter Busschau. The Brothers lived in a farm cottage, the land was all originally part of a Portuguese vegetable farm. Steve can still remember the brothers walking across the veldt to school. He was a boarder from standard 5. The senior school and boarding opened at the same time (1948?) The teachers, Mrs Kempster ran standard 4 and taught the boys how to write. Mrs Lidstone owned the ‘Hudson Terror plane’ and used to pick up boys in Rosebank, corner Tyrwhitt and Oxford where there was a Greek shop. The boys would travel with her along the then sand roads at a rate of knots. A number of boys used to hang onto the strap at the back. Brophy and Stirton taught the grades, Hoare standard 3, Kempster standard 4 and the Brothers taught from standard 5 up. Brother Paul was blind. He remembers Darko Vidas – a naughty boy. Mike von Guillieaume matriculated the same year as Steve, Vito used to call him ‘Baron’ as his family originally German and had a castle. Steve was not a great sportsman but participated in 1st team rugby. He was a good swimmer and joined in the field events for athletics but never got colours for sport however he achieved academic studies (60% in standard 9) and was a prefect. He was good at Mathematics and received the Br Paul medal for Maths which he still has. Steve questions the high number of distinctions pupils now achieve and remarked that a particularly bright boy, Anthony Radziwill only achieved 5 distinctions in the JMB matric. St David’s was always a big part of his life and still is. He enjoyed boarding, thinks it was the best part of his life and feels very passionately about the school. He remembers his father saying it was cheaper to send the boys to boarding school than keeping them at home, where they would have eaten them out of house and home! When he left St David’s he studied optometry at Wits University. He was an optometrist in Rosebank for 40 years and in town for 10 years before that and worked until he was 70. He had 3 sons and a daughter. The daughter went to Rosebank convent. Steve was chairman of the board of governors when, in 1981 Steve’s son was elected head boy, although Steve knew this he kept it as a secret from his son at the time as he wanted it to be a surprise. The board at the time was run by Vito, a farmer and Steve and optometrist. Steve was still chairman 1982 when Br Timothy left and the first lay teacher became headmaster. It was a difficult time, with both the parent body and many of the staff not being accepting of this change. Tim Marnewick was vice-chairman and kept in touch with Mr Murphy, who was originally interviewed by Br Timothy and Br Jude together with Steve. It was a tough time for the school and many pupils left. A combined staff room for the prep and the high school was introduced by Murphy, which proved to be an unpopular move with some of the staff. Mr Manolios, the then prep headmaster was fired, without consultation, by Murphy for inappropriate behaviour with mothers and a female member of staff. Murphy was also fired when he appeared as a wrestler on TV. Br Anthony went off to Cape Town to investigate. It also came to light later that Murphy was not as qualified as he had claimed. At the end of 1986 when things were more settled, Steve handed over to Kevin Brewer who was really good and has done a lot for the college. JE June 2011
Interview with Keith Farquharson- 1952 Keith attended St David’s from 1948 until 1952 and was a day boy who boarded for a couple of terms whilst his parents were overseas. Keith enjoyed the sport playing rugby and tennis but wasn’t particularly good at ... »
Interview with Keith Farquharson- 1952 Keith attended St David’s from 1948 until 1952 and was a day boy who boarded for a couple of terms whilst his parents were overseas. Keith enjoyed the sport playing rugby and tennis but wasn’t particularly good at swimming or cricket. His mission was to get his matric and go to university. He enjoyed the tours when the boys went to play rugby at CBC and St Charles, it was not a regular occurrence and was a treat to go away. Harry Best was the PE teacher in charge of general sports who introduced boxing to the school. He didn’t allow fighting but if the boys had an issue they would participate in a controlled boxing contest. Keith said that Paul Freemantle and Risi had quite a fight. Harry had a link with a boxing gym in the Johannesburg city centre and when Vic Toweel was contesting the World Bantamweight Title, Harry organised sparring partners for his opponent Jimmy Carruthers the current holder of the title. A number of the boys used to go and spar with Jimmy and were paid five shillings per round. Vic Toweel won the fight. As a day boy Keith was able to buy cigarettes for the boarders and recalls he charged one shilling for a box of commandoes. He also supplied the boarders with sandwiches. Brother Urban was principal but when he died in 1950 Br Edwin was appointed. Br Edward who was Spanish taught Maths, Br Benedict coached rugby, Br Thomas taught Science and coached rugby and although he also carried his cane in his cassock, was his favourite brother who took him to task on a number of occasions and took the class for the first period after the lunch break. He used to enjoy his tot and was in charge of the B dorm. Once a month on a Thursday he would have the day off and go shopping and bring home his tipple. He had to walk from the terminus in Dunkeld and once fell, breaking his arm which meant he couldn’t administer any form of corporal punishment. Of his fellow pupils Jeff Truby came from Barberton and would bring back miner’s fuses after the holidays. The boys used to then make bombs with the Sparklets soda siphon refills and Hugh Miller, who was a keen chemist blew up the steps by the tuck shop and was put on probation. Charlie Gilfilllian had a bad stutter and was never asked questions in class. Ray Gibson and Mike Forrester dropped out. They were notorious for slipping out after late prep and had girlfriends down the road. The belief was that they were expelled, both of them played 1st team rugby and were sorely missed. B Cooper came from Hilton where he had refused to do any fagging for senior prefects and opted out and came to St David’s. Unfortunately boys coming home for the holidays had a vendetta against him and he often needed a group of St David’s boys to escort him home. A sad memory is of Peter de Silla vice-captain of the cricket team whose youngest son had a drug problem and ended up murdering Peter and his wife. Norman Lazarus had the nickname Oogies where he came from, Paul Freemantle started at St David’s in 1941 and his brothers Owen and Joe always attended the school. Dan Reeece was the 1st team rugby captain and is reputed to have set up the biggest Ponzi scheme in South Africa and attempts are still being made to extradite him from Switzerland. Cornelius Seeling used to build kites and in August would secure them to the rugby posts on the main rugby field. Peter Leigh whose father was the school doctor, Brian Stott, Victor Ludorum in 1952 was a casualty of the lightening strike whilst playing golf at Johannesburg Country Club. After matriculating Keith went on to Wits university and UCT acquiring financial qualifications and also became a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. His career was in the field of financial management working for Deloittes, Cooper and Cooper and was surveillance manager at the JSE for 10 years until the 90’s when he became the financial manager for E. W. Balderson. He lost contact with St David’s until 1963 when he and his wife played hockey for Maristonians and he renewed his association with MOBs. Keith and his wife Dorothy have a son and two daughters. JLE November 2012
Interview with Norman Lazarus 1944 - 1952 Norman’s parents lived in the Free State so he was sent as a boarder to St David’s in 1944 in grade 2. Mrs Litson was his first teacher.The boarders had very little to do with the day scholars except when they were ... »
Interview with Norman Lazarus 1944 - 1952 Norman’s parents lived in the Free State so he was sent as a boarder to St David’s in 1944 in grade 2. Mrs Litson was his first teacher.The boarders had very little to do with the day scholars except when they were given sandwiches which supplemented the boarding school food. When Norman started at St David’s the war was still on and he can remember listening to the announcement of the death of general Pienaar on the wireless with his family. When he arrived at the school in 1944, the school was still in its infancy. The bus ran as far as Rosebank and the school was in the ‘country’ surrounded by small holdings. The Polliack Estate was situated to the West. South of the school the field was in two tiers and at the Northern boundary was a farm and the rumor went around the that the lady who owned the farm would bequeath it to the school (this was partly true as the school bought the farm at a good price in the 1960’s). Norman did not enjoy his school days as he likened the school to an aloe – the nearer you got the more you were pricked. The school was run by brothers – that word usually means loving and within a family- the brothers showed no love for the boys and were punitive in the punishment. There were 4 dormitories- A to D. There were very strict rules – talking after lights out and untidy lockers- were very serious offences. Prefects were in charge and they were very cruel. They had to write home every Sunday and were allowed to listen to LM radio, to the hit parade – he can remember Frankie Laine being at the top of the charts. The boarders showered in the evening.There were only 2 baths.They were woken at 6am and the Catholics went to mass. While he was at St David’s there were mostly Catholics with 2 or 3 Jewish children of which he was one. While the Catholics went to mass the non Catholics had study period. Breakfast after mass was in the present college library where they sat at round tables of 6. There was no shortage of food but the helpings were small and the meals were rotated so you knew what you were having each week. Sago pudding was often served. There were 2 breaks in the school day where they played hopscotch, marbles and bok-bok. There was an infirmary and he enjoyed his time there when he had chicken pox as it was a very caring place. Sport was compulsory and he played hockey, soccer, cricket and rugby – at this stage there were no tennis courts. He played for the 1st fifteen in rugby and the team travelled down to Durban by train to play against St Henry’s. The train journey was eventful and the boys suffered defeat the next day after a sleepless night! Punishment was metered out before dinner in front of the whole school. You had the whole day to think about the impending punishment and the caning took place in front of everyone. Norman’s experience was that the longer one was at school the less you were punished because you became more adept. Boys were expelled for talking to girls over the fence and for stealing fruit from the nearby orchards. The brothers decided that the boys should learn how to dance and a dancing instructor from Arthur Murray Studios came to school. They were taught without partners so, when in the end girls from Parktown Convent (accompanied by the nuns) were selected to be their partners it proved to be very unsuccessful as the boys just weren’t used to the girls and they didn’t know what to say to each other! The brothers took the boys to the nearest cinema on the corner of Tyrwhitt Ave and Jan Smuts. The boys walked in a crocodile.This, however, did not last long as shopkeepers, who had fruit displayed on the pavements, complained that there was no fruit left once the boys had walked past! Norman was a day scholar in his matric year (1952). He got into trouble because the bus route ended in Dunkeld and he and another boy accepted a lift from a motorist. The brothers got to hear of this and it was said that they had brought the school into disrepute for ‘hitch hiking’. His merit badge was taken away but this was reinstated after the brothers asked his fellow pupils to vote on whether his badge should be handed back to him. Norman did not find the teachers to be caring but in some cases quite eccentric. Mr Hoare taught the non Catholics Scripture and he was always teaching them about George Elliott. He also made them learn the psalms off by heart. The cleverest boys were always made to sit in the front and the less bright ones at the back. On obtaining a first class matric, Norman studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand where he joined up with his school friend Peter Leigh, son of the school doctor. Norman left South Africa for America after Sharpville and Peter emigrated to Australia. Interview: Monday 1 February 2010
