OBNews#6February 2020

Dear Old Boys

Christmas has come and gone, we have celebrated the matric results of our newest cohort of Old Boys, the Class of 2019 and the first half term of 2020 is already history.

As you may know, Robyn Gruijters has taken up her new post as Development Officer at Cowan House and Michelle Huntley moves to Harrismith when Pete takes over as head of Harriston School at the end of term. We welcome Taryn Murdey as the new Old Boys’ Administrator and Archivist and are most grateful to Belinda Boast, who has kindly offered to help with the planning and organising of the Gaudies on 17 April and Old Boys Day on 18 April (Please send in your RSVP’s).

Another common theme in the Chronicles of a century ago is the plea for contributions:

“Old Boys are always glad to glean from these pages the present doings of the school; but let them remember that we are also glad to know what they are doing, and more so when we have it in their own words. We appeal, therefore (and we have had some substantial support in advance), to all interested in the school, governors, parents, boys past and present, to help us to raise the Chronicle somewhat above the level of a desiccated diary”

This trend has not changed much since 1906. In this edition, some

MICHAELHOUSE OLD BOYS NEWS

of our authors, a few teachers, the CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and one PhD Graduate are highlighted. There are more men out there making a difference, but we can report only on the Old Boys’ achievements and events of which we know. Please send your stories to OldBoys@Michaelhouse.org.

While in Auckland last year it was a pleasure to meet up with Dave and Kevin Oscroft. Both spoke very highly of Peter Oscroft, our past Head of School featured in this edition.

James Thorpe returns to South Africa and introduces his Churchies team to Mzansi and Ali Barnes and you will be moved by the most remarkable story of Anthony Renton’s incredible recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury.

Finally one an amazing St Michael Awardee hangs up his stethoscope at the ripe old age of ninety!

Plans for the Old Boys’ functions in New York, Vancouver and Los Angeles are in place and I look forward to meeting our Old Boys there. If you are able to attend one of these events, please let the organiser know.

Until next time take care, have a blast and make a difference out there.

Kind regards

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New Old Boys’ Administrator

Head Boy: Peter Oscroft (East 1964)My father Basil, one of four sons of an Anglican Missionary in what was then known as Zululand, was head of East in 1928. I married Jacqueline (nee Girdwood), aka Nina, in 1972. We have a son Jonathan, b 1974, who was all set to go to Michaelhouse, until we transferred to the Cape. He went to Bishops and UCT, is a chartered accountant, married to Leza Kilfoil and they have 2 sons and a daughter. Our daughter Katherine, b 1976, went to Rustenberg Girls High and UCT. She is a professional physiotherapist, is married to Alistair Kane and they have 3 daughters. We consider ourselves extremely blessed that they all live in Cape Town, for now anyway.

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PhD Graduate: David SmedleyConservation

“Smallholder farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa are predominantly rain-fed and therefore highly vulnerable to variable rainfall patterns which are becoming increasingly severe as climates change. This interdisciplinary thesis investigated the effects of low cost water harvesting techniques, as methods for improving on-farm climate resilience, on-yield and hydrological ecosystem service provision at scale. It found that practices available to the poorest of farmers can improve productivity, even when exposed to unreliable rainfall, and positively impact water availability downstream.”

https://sustainablefoodtrust.org/articles/regenerative-agriculture-is-trending-in-south-africa/

Dr David Smedley with proud parents, Kate and Alan

Making a DifferenceMark Suzman (Pascoe 1985). CEO Bill Gates Foundation

I’m humbled, honoured, and hugely excited by the opportunity to step in as the next CEO of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s and continue to help advance our important mission to help ensure everyone in the U.S. and around the world has the chance to lead a healthy and productive life.

I had no idea what to expect when I moved to Seattle at the beginning of 2007 to join the foundation and build the policy and advocacy team for what was then the brand-new Global Development Program. At the time, we were a foundation of barely more than 300 people, all squeezed into a nondescript building on Eastlake Avenue in Seattle, supported by a small D.C. office and nascent HIV prevention programs in India and China.

Now, more than a dozen years later, we are 1,600 strong, working out of our prominent headquarters in Seattle and across offices on four continents. Since I’m more familiar to some of you than others, I wanted to share a bit about how I came to this place and why this work is so important to me.

I grew up in apartheid South Africa as part of a politically prominent family that simultaneously fought the legislated crime perpetrated on people of colour while nonetheless benefiting from the comfortable lifestyle and opportunities offered to us as a white family and to me, personally, as a white male. Even as a child, I understood the unfairness, and it left me with a deep desire to use the advantages I had been given to help tackle injustice and inequality.

I started my career as a journalist, writing about the challenges of apartheid. I ultimately covered its demise and the election of Nelson

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Mandela as president before taking up posts in London and then Washington, D.C. (Those of you who have visited my office have seen copies of the ballot from that historic 1994 election as well as Mandela’s election poster.)

I loved my career in journalism, but I was constantly looking for opportunities that more directly impacted people’s lives, especially in the developing world. When an offer came to work for the United Nations in 2000, I grabbed it. I soon found myself part of the effort that became the creation of the Millennium Development Goals under the leadership of then Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

It was a time of great momentum in global health and development. It coincided with, and was amplified by, the creation of a new entity in Seattle – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. When the Secretary-General’s term ended in 2006, I found myself looking for new ways to keep making a difference for the world’s poorest. That brought me here, to the very foundation I am now so proud to be asked to lead. I can think of no better place to try to help change the world for the better.

In Education Professor Owen Skae : Tatham 1979-1981

Married to Vera, Children Shannon (24) and Kieran (21)

Since 2010, I have been an Associate Professor and the Director of Rhodes Business School at Rhodes University in Makhanda (Grahamstown). Our focus is very much on sustainability and responsible leadership as epitomized in our essence of ‘Leadership for Sustainability’. Being in a small rural city, that has many challenges; water supply, inequality and high unemployment, presents us with a microcosm of how business can make the world a better place. The highlight of being Director has certainly been obtaining AMBA accreditation, notwithstanding our small size; we were the 6th Business School in South Africa and 9th in Africa to achieve it.

My wife, Vera, is a learning support teacher at St Andrews Prep, my daughter Shannon is in her 2nd year of Masters at Rhodes and my son Kieran in the 3rd year of a BA at Rhodes.

After matriculating in 1981, I spent a year at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and then proceeded to Rhodes University eventually graduating with an Master of Commerce in 1998 and then an MBA from Durham University in England in 1990.

A short stint working in London, before returning to South Africa to work as a strategy consultant for Ernst and Young and then as Financial Director for my father-in-law’s group of companies across Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe taught me a lot about operating in tough business conditions.

Shortly after relocating to Durban in 1994, I was asked to teach temporarily at the University of Natal on entrepreneurship and it was at the point that I realised that my passion was in academia. So shortly thereafter, I joined the Department of Accounting where I was for 10 years, teaching budding chartered accountants.

During that time, I had been consulting for a UN agency and so after an opportunity came up to play a greater role in development of strategic approaches to developing country export competitiveness, I spent two years in Geneva, being fortunate enough to travel to many countries that I would otherwise never have got to go. Still the South African roots were calling and when I heard about the opportunity going at Rhodes Business School, I had to take it.

Whilst living in Durban, I became involved in the Old Boys’ branch structures and certainly working with such dedicated and committed Old Boys such as Kevin O’Brien, John Cheshire and Brett Davidson, was an incredible experience. There are many others too that are too numerous to mention, but this is where I really learnt the special bond that exists between us. I am very privileged to have served as Old Boys President from 2011 to 2013, sitting on the Board under the Chairmanship of Gary Ralfe, working with Jamie Inglis and Guy Pearson as Rector, amazing men.

I and my brother Russell (Tatham 1979 to 1982) were fortunate to go to Michaelhouse because my father, Rob, was a teacher there, being Director of Music. The education that I received was quite profound, but it was only later that I fully appreciated what it meant. It is hard to put it into words, but it comes to down appreciating the humility that comes from having an institution provide the best opportunity to be who you can be and not compromising on that.

I also serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of GBS Mutual Bank and am a Non-Executive Director the Good Governance Academy,

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whose patron is Professor Mervyn King. I mention this, because governance is needed more than ever, the tone of ethical governance being set in me from my school days.

Now and again, I get asked to write newspaper articles about business. In a funny way you wonder why anybody would ever seek your opinion; but it does confirm that business schools are vitally necessary in our society.

Some of these articles highlight problems that our country has experienced, so hopefully they have paid a small part in getting us on the right path of where our country can be.

I consider myself lucky to have worked with and come into contact with the people that I have. One never stops learning.

Becoming a member of the 7 Continents Marathon Club is a personal highlight, and something that I put down to the discipline of my Michaelhouse school days!

Old Boys at MichaelhouseDavid Pachonick joined the Michaelhouse Intern Programme this year. David has for a while been coaching junior cricket and we welcome him onto the staff team. David, as the youngest Old Boy on the Staff, is seen here with Peter Stevens, the oldest OM staff member and stalwart teacher of mathematics, water-polo and rugby coach. Peter has also been an outstanding group leader on the C Block Journey and this year will be his 10th Journey, a record he shares with Alan Smedley.

Peter recently made headlines when he featured in News24 for his role in supporting a young rugby enthusiast from Lidgetton. Read the full story in the link below:

https://m.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/rugby-is-his-lifes-passion-20200217-2

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Old Boys In the Literary WorldWe know of a number of Old Boys who have turned their hands to writing, Wilbur Smith (Founders 1949) being probably the most famous. John van der Ruit and the Spud series were prominent more recently. However, others include Hedley Twidle (Mackenzie 1997) who wrote a dictionary of Michaelhouse slang words while still at school. Does anyone have a copy?

Iain Guthrie (Founders 1986) allowed his diary, written and hand illustrated during his school years, to be printed and sold to raise funds for the establishment of the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve. In 1986 after a memorable Natural History Society camping trip to Botswana, led by Mike Goulding, Dave Pickstone and Blaise Reynolds, Iain presented each member of the expedition with an illustrated journal of the camp. I have no doubt that Jabu Leslie, James Quin, Chris and Rob le Sueur Philip Stanistreet, Chris Heath, Justin Earle, Charles Tonkinson and Mark Stiebel still proudly own their rather yellowed, dog-eared but treasured copies. More recently Iain has been working on an illustrated edition of the Birds of Balgowan.

Copies of Iain’s book Free Bounds are still available from the old Boys Club.

Brian Kramer’s personal memoire, “I Believe in Angels”

Brian Kramer is one of the older living Old Boy – now in his 90th year - he was also on the Michaelhouse Board of Governors. He holds Michaelhouse very dear to his heart and it features prominently in his book ‘I Believe in Angels”, which records the life of Brian and his family. Brian led an exciting life, well-travelled, well-connected, successful, not afraid to stand up to authority – a life that most people wouldn’t fit into five lifetimes.

Describing his life experiences, he touches on schools and his beloved Michaelhouse, family, sugarcane farming in Zululand, the sugar industry and its politics, meeting people of note, notes on natural history, travel experiences, game farming and tourism, flying experiences, and importantly, his passion for music and the stage. He is an accomplished pianist. The book sells for R150 and can be obtained from Keith Sanderson on kwsanderson@telkomsa.net or call 082 8723983

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Michael Cassidy

Michael Cassidy’s Memoirs – Footprints in the African Sand

Michael Cassidy (Pascoe 1950-54) has just brought out his memoirs, entitled “Footprints in the African Sand.” This intriguing and highly readable memoir tells his life story beginning with growing up in old Basutoland, and has fascinating chapters on his childhood and school days, with two chapters on his Michaelhouse days which included a fair amount of pain plus many very positive influences which majorly shaped his life and future destiny.

The story unfolds his Damascus Road experience at Cambridge, his seminary years in the States, and his call to form an evangelistic team to minister the gospel in the cities of Africa. This led to the formation of a mission team called African Enterprise, which started in South Africa and then spread around the continent with ten teams now operating in ten different countries. City-wide missions are recounted with fascinating personal stories and sometimes amazing impact.

But of course living in South Africa, Michael’s major challenge was facing how to carry out this ministry in a context of wicked injustices inflicted on people of colour by the Apartheid system.

Michael Cassidy worked tirelessly since the 60’s to bring church leaders together cross-denominationally and cross-culturally to engage in this dialogue. He reached out continuously to political leaders to build bridges. Michael launched many different inter-church conferences and important peace initiatives. Finally, he facilitated the involvement of the Kenyan negotiator Washington Okumu who, after major international mediation attempts had collapsed, brokered the peace agreement by which civil conflict in Natal was averted and we had our first peaceful democratic election.

You should be able to get a copy of Michael’s memoirs at any Christian book-store or at Exclusive Books or directly through African Enterprise at a discounted price plus postage. (shind@ae.org.za)

Craig Higginson (Founders 1989): The Dream House

Craig’s acclaimed novel now graces the shelves of the English Department where it is the set-work for a number of classes

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Visiting South AfricaJames Thorpe (Tatham 2002)

The Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) First XI visited Old Boy, Founder and CEO of Ballo, Alistair Barnes, at his start-up company in Cape Town recently. Old Boy, James Thorpe, was one of four masters who accompanied the team to South Africa as part of the First XI’s preparation for the upcoming GPS competition. Traditionally, Churchie tour South Africa every two years starting at Michaelhouse. However, this year the tour was based in Cape Town where Churchie played against Paul Roos, Wynberg Boys’, SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch and a Township Development XI. The Churchie boys were most impressed by Alistair’s business and several members of the touring party purchased some of his latest styles. Alistair spoke about his passion for the environment and outlined many of the challenges and opportunities small businesses in South Africa have to grapple with in 2020 and beyond.

James Thorpe and Churchies boys visit Ali Barnes in Cape Town

From Traumatic Brain Injury to BSc EngineeringAnthony Renton

Just prior to his final matric exam in 2009, Anthony Renton (Tatham 2005-2009) entered the Hill-to-Hill MTB race. A massive fall on the route saw him rushed to the emergency room with a severe head injury, which caused a traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and left him lying comatose in St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. A few months after the accident, Anthony had recovered just sufficiently to join Dave (Tatham 1973-1976), Ingrid and sister, Angela on their planned emigration to Australia.

However, Anthony’s future prospects seemed bleak at best. After scans and cognitive tests done in Brisbane, the Rentons were told to lower their expectations and to exclude any tertiary education plans for Antony. This did not deter the family and they embarked on a rigorous rehabilitation programme implemented largely by Ingrid and supported by Angela and Dave.

Dave Renton reports that ”The journey to recovery which started at St Anne’s and which included a team of Michaelhouse teachers who prayed over his bed, arm in arm, while he was still unconscious for those 2 weeks after the accident and extended to a massive network of prayer groups, initially with the MHS community, then later we had amazing support from our Church group of friends in South Africa and from St Marks Buderuim in Queensland. There was a global network of churches who prayed for Ant every week. Ingrid’s faith and total dedication in putting everything at the Lords’ feet with absolute belief that Ant would be as good as new when he was ready has astounded many and even changed my faith levels.”

For the next few years Ingrid worked daily with Anthony. With the help of some amazing rehabilitation support nurses and remedial

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doctors, the she re-taught him to speak, walk, read and study. She persisted day after day and neither gave up nor lost faith that Anthony would recover.

Back in South Africa, Michaelhouse submitted motivations to the IEB for Anthony to be issued with a Matric certificate on the basis of the marks he achieved at school. Finally two years later his was declared an exceptional case and UMALUSI issued the Senior certificate.

Anthony’s recovery has been remarkable, a wonderful good news story, ending with a BSc Engineering degree with Honours, a full-time job and recently his purchase of an all-electric Tesla (good choice!) ordered directly from Elon Musk’s factory in the USA!

Members of the Medical field continue to question Dave and Ingrid on how they achieved this remarkable recovery during the years of rehabilitation. Ingrid responds in her own words: “…never…never ever doubt the power of my Lord!

Anthony Renton in Brisbane. Young engineer and proud owner of a new Tesla

MarriagesThe old Chronicles make delightful reading and the 1906 edition has this quaint record of the marriage of a staff member:

“Mr. Ferrar was married at Xmas, and now lives under his own fig-tree, but within easy call of the school bell. We have known his wife long enough to appreciate his eagerness to make the engagement as brief as possible.”

• We know of only one of our OM’s who married during the Christmas Holiday and we wish Michael Griffin (West 2008) and Georgie (Marques), who were married in the Chapel on 28 December 2019, happiness under their own fig tree.

Engagements• Matthew Mackay (West 2001) to Samantha Wickham

Arrivals• Michael Schaefer (Farfield 1993) and Nicola recently celebrated the arrival of their new daughter, Stacey-Jane

• Gerry Noel (Tatham 2003) and Megan welcomed a daughter, Rumi Jacqueline on 4 February 2020

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Departures• Adrian Rogers (Past Member of Staff and Housemaster of Farfield)

• Anthony Hoon (Farfield 1946)

RetirementsDr Donald Clark (Farfield 1946, St Michael Award 2014) finally hung up his stethoscope at the age of 90 after more than six decades of selfless service to his community. We salute you, Dr Clark.

FarewellsAs you may know, Robyn Gruijters has taken up her new post as Development Officer at Cowan House and Michelle Huntley moves to Harrismith when Pete takes over as head of Harriston School at the end of term. We welcome Taryn Murdey as the new Old Boys’ Administrator and Archivist and are also most grateful to Belinda Boast, who has kindly offered to help with the planning and organising of the Gaudies on 17 April and Old Boys Day on 18 April (Please send in your RSVP’s).

Robyn Gruijters, off to Cowan House Michelle and Peter Huntley, off to Harriston

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Old Boy EventsBotswana 8 February 2020

The Rector, Antony Clark and Xillen van Rooyen met with a gathering of Botswana Old Boys hosted by Mike Roberts.

From Left to Right: John Wilson, Brendan Garcin, Anthony Garden, Antony Clark (Rector), Mudiwa Mwayi, Mike Roberts, Chris Manger.

Not in photo: Neil Mosienyane and Kweku Bortsie

UK Old Boys’ Committee. February 2020

From Left to Right: Sean Lumley, Rick Peacock-Edwards, Ryan Maree, Rory Mckenna

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Durban 20 Feb 2020

Back from left: Jonno Pretorius, James Macquet, Brett Davidson, James Greig, James Wilson, Warwick Riebeck, Chris Hall-Jones, Simon Grout, Brent Maartens, Larry Southwood, Craig Sugden, Peter Lambert.

Seated: Steven Boast, Iain Lambert (Capt), Nigel Williamson, Rob HarveyFront: Dave Lambert, Wayne Witherspoon

Old Boys Day 2020

Old Boys DayFixtures vs Northwood

Gaudy Dinners

Upcoming USA and CANADA

Old Boys & partners are invited to join Old Boys’ Club Secretary, Paul Fleischack, as he visits a few of our Old Boy hubs in the USA & Canada. Paul will be sharing news from Balgowan, as well as updating Old Boys on some projects and advancements

for the Old Boys’ community.

NEW YORK 19 March 2020 | Time: TBC | Venue: Manhattan, New York

RSVP: Peter Campbell (Founders, 1998 – 2002) on peter.james.campbell@gmail.com

VANCOUVER21 March 2020 | Venue: Sylvia Hotel

Drinks from 17h45 | Dinner from 18h30 (For your own account)RSVP: Bill Galloway (Pascoe, 1961 – 1964) on wrgallo@shaw.ca

LOS ANGELES27 March 2020 | Venue: Thorrington-Smith Home, Malibu

17h30 for 18h00 | Snacks & DrinksRSVP: oldboys@michaelhouse.org

19 MarchNEW YORK

21 MarchVANCOUVER

27 MarchLOS ANGELES

From the Archives Our latest matric results, the seventh successive year in which our boys have earned an average of at least two subject A’s per boy are cause for celebration. However, this has not always been the case. Just over one hundred years ago, the Chronicle of 1914 reports on the matric results as follows:

“In the Cape Matriculation Examination, our candidates suffered, in common with those of other schools, from the rigorous treatment meted out to them by the examiners in Dutch. Higgins, Nunn, Walker and Young obtained their aggregate of marks for a pass, and were ruled out in the Dutch paper only. In the Cambridge Locals, the Juniors, by no means a strong contingent, fell short of last year’s results, while the Preliminary successes were a distinct advance on previous years.

Cape Matriculation examination: Second class: 1 boy. Third Class: 3 boys.”

Better news was reported in the 1906 Chronicle:

“The last shall be first. It was announced on the eve of Prize Day that the Natal Rhodes Scholarship for this year was awarded to C. G. Roach, to whom accordingly we offer our heartiest congratulations. Roach leaves behind him a creditable record of deeds done in form and field during his six years’ stay in Michaelhouse, and we hope that the future will bring him still more glorious laurels to wear. He is the last link that connects us with that previous state of our existence when the school was in Maritzburg, and figures as a very tiny boy in the photograph of the Migration Group. Our very best wishes follow him to Oxford, and we feel sure that he will prove himself a worthy addition to Exeter College.”

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