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Reference code
ZA ZAR STDS 202000839
Title
Interview with Mark Forssman 1979
Date(s)
- 2012 (Creation)
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A4 transcript in MSWord Pdf file
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Interview with Mark Forssman – 1979
Mark was the first of the Forssman family to attend St David’s followed by his brother Bobby –
1980; Andrew – 1983 and cousins Billy -1987 (head boy); Jason – 1989 (deputy head boy);
Dale - (deputy head boy); Jordan -1996 – (head boy); Mark’s sons Tim – 2004 and Chris –
- Currently pupils at the school are Adrian, Andrew’s son; Blake cousin’s son; Aidan, Billy’s
son and then Jason’s son.
Mark started in grade 1 in 1968, although he doesn’t remember his first day he certainly
remembers his brother’s as he relieved himself during line up! Mark said they had been brought
up running free, no shoes and playing on the family plot and he does recall that wearing shoes
was a bit of a problem to begin with.
Mark remembers teachers, such as Mrs Napier; standard 2, Mrs Schaafsma; Mrs Kempster and
Mrs Kenezovitch who played the organ at his wedding. During his time there were still brothers
at the school, Br Anthony, Br Timothy, Br Bosco (Mario), Br Bernard, Br Aidan, Br Plesters who
was involved with the gardens. Trudy Elliott was a fantastic teacher and quite a character; Mrs
Klaasens – Afrikaans; Mr Neft; Mrs Lipschitz – Maths and water polo coach now living in
Australia; Sally Saunderson; William Smith – Science; Mr Vahey- Geography and Mr Lobo who
was Spanish. Mark recalled Peter Springer, Peter Habertson, a sports teacher who for some
reason disliked Mark, made life difficult for him and ensured that he wasn’t included in the 1st
team rugby photo even though he had played for the team on 5 occasions and Peter Swanson
who was an international Irish rugby player and the rugby coach.
Mark remembers when he was in junior school that he and some friends were tormenting a boy
near the road that ran between the junior and high schools. Br Anthony spotted them and called
them into his office. They shuffled in and Br Anthony, looking enormous stood there with his big
cane which he flexed against a chair giving them stern looks, they were terrified but he
eventually told them to get out and never to tease any other boys again.
In the junior school Mark was involved with swimming, athletics, soccer and tennis and standard
5, U13 rugby. He won the junior school tennis championships but never played again after that.
The boys were more or less forced to participate in cross country and they used to try all sorts
to get out of it! In the high school he played rugby, water polo, swam and was the B team
swimming captain and captain of the 2nd rugby team. He was awarded a scroll for water polo,
studies, merit and became a prefect. With 3 scrolls one was awarded an honours blazer of
which he was very proud.
Mark recalls boys hiding in the auditorium under the chairs and that going to sport events in the
old school bus was great fun. Disco’s were held in the basement room next to the tuck shop to
raise funds for the matric dance. These often ended up in chaos. Mark was a bit of a renegade
as his father used to organise a bus for him and his friends, Mark would set up a shebeen and
bought the booze from the compound.
Culturally there wasn’t much happening, no camps or anything special like that at the time.
The matric dance was held in the dining room with an Al Capone, gangster theme. The standard
8’s were the waiters. The standard 9’s decorated the room and were allowed to join in. Mark
remembers that the after party was held at Deon De Gouveia’s house which was across the
road from the school.
Academically Mark was average but a consistent student and achieved 6 C’s for matric. After
leaving St David’s he studied at Wits University but had a bad motorcycle accident on the first
day, missed three months and subsequently pulled out after the second three months. He
continued the second year but again pulled out, went into the army and eventually signed up on
the permanent force and became an air traffic controller from 1982 – 1987. Through various
circumstances he became involved in building and construction and now has his own company.
Many boys in Mark’s time left the country and others including a good friend who died fighting
on the border. It was a strange time which affected everybody. Things started to come right in
the mid- 80’s and Tim was born in 1986.
Mark organised an Argus ride in memory of Justin Bessler – the JB Express consisting of 120
cyclists raised R265 000 for CHOC. It was Justin’s dream to beat cancer and to ride the Argus
and raise funds for CHOC.
JLE April 2012
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Copyright St David's Marist Inanda
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- Forssman, Mark (Subject)
- Bessler, Justin (Subject)
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1979_Mark_Forsmann.JPG
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627.9 KiB
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August 24, 2020 1:26 AM