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OWA NEWSLETTER May 2011

Founders Day

Thursday 1 March was a cooler day to celebrate Founders Day. The Matric class of 1961

enjoyed tea and a catch-up before the service, where Jeff Herringer (1961) addressed

the OWs, staff and school.

Brian Richardson (Board of Governors member and past parent) was

awarded the Nil Nisi Optimum award for his service to the school.

The new staff and pupils were “inducted” into

Westerford.

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After which the Matric class of 1961 enjoyed a light lunch with the staff, a tour of the

school and watched “The Westerford Story “DVD.

Some dates for your diary….

September 3 Saturday

– OW Winter Sports Day June 8 Wednesday Ouroboros Janni Younge (OW 1993)

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Some archive news…

Unbeatable cricket records? Mike Wilter (2002) recently contacted our Archives team to find out whether a significant cricket record dating back to 1965 had been equalled or beaten in the last 45 years. In 1965, Geoff Morgan of Hottentots Holland took nine wickets against Westerford in a single match - a record the school probably would like to forget! Geoff currently lives with his wife, Anne, in Westville, Durban and remains a loyal cricket enthusiast. While no archives could be found to show that Geoff Morgan's record has been beaten to date, the Archives team did find that Brendan Young (2010) took nine wickets for Westerford in a single match against the Western Province Cricket Club last year. Brendan is an exceptional cricketer who represented WP in all age groups, played for the Westerford First XI for all five years of his high school career, and was recently awarded a contract to play for the Dolphins in 2011. As he heads to KZN to further his cricket career, Brendan may very well be welcomed into the Dolphins team by none other than Dolphins player and Geoff Morgan's son-in-law, Jon Kent. We wish Brendan all the best for the exciting year ahead!

Doug Goodchild (1965) Doug sent in some old copies of The Westerfordian, Valedictory programmes and an old 1965 1st Team Rugby photograph. Thank you very much. He also gave us the following rugby news for the Historian in London.

Here is a bit of background to the 1st Rugby team 1965 which may assist Chris Greybe with his 1960-1967 documentary. 1965 was an exceptionally good year for the U19A team. As a co-ed school we had only some 43 individuals to call upon to make up the required A and B teams. If my memory serves me correctly in 1965 we beat and drew with Paarl Gym, Paarl High and an invitation team from Rondebosch Boys High - an unheard achievement for a co-ed school in that era. I remember Mr Van Huysteen and Mr Taylor being very proud of Westerford's rugby achievements that 1965 year. I heard in the later years that Rodney Bryant (Villagers) and Frans Oesgher both achieved their WP colours for rugby. Other names of note, however here my memory may be faulty, were Mike Steyn and André Gous. Allan Herringer was the captain of the U19A team for the entire 1965 season.

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SNIPPETS AND OWs IN THE NEWS The following e-mails were received from OWs with

news either of themselves or fellow OWs.

As well as OWs in the news…

Congratulations for the following OWs qualifying from the University of Stellenbosch. AG Scholtz (1994) BPhil (Sust Develop and Manag) PM Blake (1996) MA (after Honours degree) BA Barnes (1999) Med (Psych) S Solomon (2002) MB, ChB A Conrad (2004) MComm (AH) WS Felmore (2004) LLB (PG) EN Martin (2004) BAgric (Cellar Management) SC Sowden (2004) BComm (Financial Accounting) SA Taylor (2004) B Sport Sc Hons T Wentzel (2004) BA Hons I Burrows (2005) BSc (Sport Science) JT Granger (2005) BA in VA (Visual Comm-Design) J Hurwitz (2005) BPsig (Ed) DJ Mathew (2005) BA (Sport Science) LC Heyes (2006) BPhil (Sust Develop and Manag) KA Sephton (2006) BA (Value and Policy St) Opt 1 M Penny (2007) BComm (Management Sciences) TM Shaw (2007) BSc (Human Life)(Biol with Psy) Sonja Mercier (nee Clausen) (1960) I would love to read more about the lives of Old Westerfordians. It makes fascinating reading. I always marvel at the one particular 'thing' that is born into each learner, which enables him/her to contribute to our society in his/her own unique way and which makes them happy. My vocation was teaching - I loved my job and the thousands of children and students who passed through my hands. I should bump into more of them, but most of them have left our country. This is sad. In the Russian world, where I taught for 10 years, teachers are given much more credit than the student who achieves well. The teacher gets the acclaim in the first place, and then the learner. Also, the learners look after their teachers, until the day they die. Teachers have a very high status in Russia - but, of course, only the dedicated ones. And on 18 April, Sonja’s reply to a Music Café invitation…Your planned music evening to take place in the Noel Taylor Hall sounds really lovely and I'm really beginning to wish that I could live back in Cape Town again. I'll be with my daughter and son-in-law in Johannesburg for a while. So my news is about family and gardening. My studies of the Russian language - exams on 9 May - are getting too many interruptions, I'm afraid, but I'll still give it a go. This will be my major. I'm doing it just because I've always wanted to study again and I learned to speak it after a fashion, when working in the Russian part of the world. I made lovely friends there, and they inspired me. However, I'm yet to find out how it will be useful to me and others!!!

The Westerfordian 1963….”We know that this exchange of news of old friends means much to so many – but do remember that it can be maintained only if some of you come forward as news scouts and writers of notes. If you want this section you must make it possible….. N.H. Taylor”

5 I'm looking forward to hearing the reports about the evening. Lovely, to have a dinner on offer like that and at a very reasonable price, too! You could sell books, there, too, as they do in bookshops overseas, where you have dinner, surround by books and music. Good luck to you all!

Ruth Stott (nee Taylor)(1961) It was lovely to meet you at Founders' Day and to link up with so many past pupils from the 60s era. What a bumper turn-out too! It was exciting to hear how they had jetted in from all 4 compass points on the globe. I have just written to thank Jeff and his committee for the incredible work they did in making the Reunion such a fantastic success. Denzil Feinberg (1961) Our reunion of about 60 of 160 matrics from 1961 was too marvellous, over 3 days. We do feel we were an especially lucky cohesive class.

John Price (1962) I was close friends with Steven Schulman and Neville Gericke. Any news of them? And I went out with Elaine Bouwer who was in Standard 8 at the time, those hundred years ago. Any news of her? We are starved for news being so far away, in Port Elizabeth, but have wonderful memories of the very good top class school. We did a lot of fund raising, built the hall and other things. It was a good grounding. Congratulations on all your successes. They don't come from idleness. The staff and pupils were always dedicated and I see that this has not changed. I'm in the Property Development business and real estate is my love, but I'm trying to retire. It's hard when most of one's assets are tied up in property, but it's been good to our family over the years.

Richard Brunt (1964) I was at Westerford from 1960 and matriculated in 1964. Yes, many moons ago! Noel Taylor was the Head in those days and I remember academics John Gibbon, Shirley Fitton, Sally de Smit, John Powis and, if my memory serves me correctly, there was Ken Beck as a Deputy Head. One of my old class rooms was in the old Homestead (think it was Std. 9). I am close to retirement now, having worked with Barclays Bank for 8 years, Truworths International for nearly 30 then deciding to take "early retirement" with a view to travel extensively with my wife. But this was not to be, as I was asked to "help out for a few months" at Western Province Prep. School in Claremont and now 11 years later I am still here as the Business Manager. It‟s a plum job, no real stress. Anyway, this December it‟s all over!!! My wife and I will then travel as we have children in the UK. We have three children, and by the way my two daughters were at Westerford (one was a prefect, Nicola Brunt in the late eighties) as well as having three grandchildren.

Ed McCarter (1965)

I was recently in Skype contact with Maurice Malan (Class of 1965) who lives in Canada and he passed on the OWA contact details. I am presently living in Pretoria and working as a Consulting Civil Engineer for the Aurecon Goup in the Water Engineering field.

Keith Porter (1968) I can recall going to art classes in the Old Homestead and planting grass on the fields for punishment for not doing my homework! Yes, I was surely one of the naughty guys! I recall names like John Burger, Freddie Franklyn, Reivu Prelaid (this spelling might be wrong) Ron Mallory, Maureen Doo, and my favourite mathematics teacher, Miss Fitton! I guess I was there almost at the beginning but I left in JC (standard eight) and continued at the Cape Technikon. I see there are plenty of photographs of the matriculant achievers but very few (if any) of the rest! Even though we weren't achievers, we were still Westerfordians, and very proud of it! I'm getting on in age now but nevertheless it would be nice to hear about some of those old school friends, and the mischief we got up to in the Savoy and the Scala! Not to mention Grosvenor‟s! Oh yes, those were the days!

Tim Overett (1969) It has been many years since I was able to visit and socialise with my dear evergreen schoolmates, so I thought a bit of a personal glimpse would be okay. Class of 1969, but not sure who our class teacher was that year! Lived in Uitenhage, Randburg, Durban and Cape Town again,

6 and left in 1998 to live in Australia. My eldest son, Josh matriculated at WHS in 1998, and my second eldest, Gary left at Standard 8 that year. Josh is a maritime draftsperson and office services manager for designers of ferries and leisure boats in Sydney. In his spare time he is a singer-songwriter. Gary completed his year 12 in Canberra and is about to be capped PhD in Software Engineering from one of Australia‟s leading universities (Australian National). He is a scientist with a robotics institute and reads papers around the world in his field, as Google will inform you. He is also married, with two sons, and living still in Canberra. Their younger brother and sister who went to Wynberg Boys and Girls Juniors also live in Canberra and have good careers. As an older migrant to Australia, my career lost a bit of steam compared to my years in Human Resource Management in S. Africa. But I now have the very interesting and rewarding work managing asylum seekers who headed for Australia via „irregular‟ maritime means, and are spending their status and visa processing time in detention. I am employed by the Australian Government. My home is in Canberra, but this work is on a tiny and remote island south of Jakarta in the Indian Ocean. Like many Australians, my work is FIFO, meaning fly in, fly out. Because most of our protection seekers are from the Middle East and Sri Lanka, one learns a bit about those source countries and how blessed one is to not have to live with a war going on, in or near one‟s country. I say woe to those who manufacture war or sell its resources. Amongst my other more interesting past activities, I have worked for an international organisation based in the Philippines, where I lived for nearly two years before returning to Australia. I have a lovely wife and eight-year-old daughter by marriage to keep coming home for during times off, as a bonus to seeing my own young people and grandchildren.

Margie Cowlin (nee Travers-Jackson (1971) Emailed after the 1971 reunion….John and I are happily settled in Simon's Town - and have been for nearly two and a half years now, with no plans to relocate any time soon either!! (I hear a distant rumble of disbelief?!) Our daughter, Lisa is married to a wonderful Kiwi, Steve; they have been in Singapore for nearly three years now and have two (you know, the usual) most fabulous daughters, and our son, John is married to an equally wonderful Afrikaansmeisie van Pretoria, Sonja, and thankfully live here in Cape Town and have the best two little boys in town - no bias at all, you understand.

Leesette Turner (1979)

sent this news of Tracey Derrick (1979)

DOMINO TOURNAMENT 26 February 2011 on the SPORTS GROUND HERMON at 17.00 The Domino Effect is a public art project facilitated by Tracey Derrick and Chris Murphy, initiated by VANSA, Visual Art Network of South Africa on the theme „2010 Reasons to Live in a Small Town‟. The tournament has been realised with the community and will include: The Domino Dancers, The Steel Band, The Golden Voices, Songs by Guma and a domino toppling spectacle. The domino competition has local Junior and Senior Teams. There is a photographic fanwalk linking the two sides of the village across the main road, and a domino playground. Blog (follow The Domino Effect leads): http://vansa2010reasons.blogspot.com

Margie Hiscock (nee Hilton 1979) I have had numerous queries as to why we mention only some OWs in the newsletter (and mostly the more „famous‟ some). So in an attempt to answer, I am using myself as an example! I can only publish news that I receive (famous or not), so send in yours. Here‟s mine

7 Ek het Jokkel (Physical Education) geswot en is „n ware Matie! I did my teacher‟s diploma at UCT, taught, travelled, married and had two children (a daughter, now Gr 11, WHS and a son, Gr 8, RBHS). In the process I discovered that my passion is not teaching, but rather connecting people, organising, sorting, and supporting the education process in other ways. I have worked administratively at UCT and Cedar House School and now find myself loving my role at Westerford. I run, read, quilt, laugh and spend a lot of time in my car!!

Janni Younge (1993) I, Janni Younge (nee Donald), a Westerford graduate (Matric 1993) , would like to invite the Westerford community to her production Ouroboros on Wednesday 8th June at a discount price of R80 for adults and R60 for scholars. Ouroboros, the extraordinary puppetry production by one of South Africa‟s leading creative teams, comes to the Baxter Theatre for a limited season from 1 to 11 June. Directed by 2010 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Theatre, Janni Younge, with master puppeteers, Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, this tale of dreaming and the cycles of life has been created with evocative imagery. At its heart, it is a love story between a dancer and a poet finding the courage to commit. Using the uniquely transforming powers of the puppetry medium, these two characters are able to appear as several versions of themselves. Audiences witness the unfolding drama of their lives from birth to death. Their interactions form a web of relationships, revealing the interdependence of the past, present and future.

Cue Newspaper said, “It is these images and a sense of the stories they depict of inhabiting a space beyond time, that stay with one long after the show is done,” while Artsblog described it as “Poignant, visually lovely, beautifully crafted”. This production marks the first collaboration between Jones, Kohler and Younge, who has joined the Handspring Puppet Company as Associate Director. This year at the 65th Tony Awards, on June 12 in New York, Handspring Puppet Company will be honoured for their hit play War Horse which is currently running on Broadway.

All Westerford graduates and their families can access the discount for Wednesday the 8th June – by calling Computicket (0839158000) and quoting the code: 0100. Any queries contact Bridget mccbridget@gmail.com or call Bridget/James at Handspring on 021 709 0516. Block bookings for students are available in the day on Tuesday 7th at 11:00. Bring your students to this daytime show which includes a puppetry demonstration and a Q and A with the cast and Janni. For block bookings please contact Sharon at the Baxter Theatre – 021 685 7880

Jonathan Faull (1994) Jonathan graduated with a master‟s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance in May last year.

James Bissett writes…Nazlia Peer (1994) phoned me to tell me some of the news of her family.

Her brother, Riyaad Peer (1996) is happily married to OW Yumna Bhabha (1996). Last

week-end the entire family was celebrating as younger sister, Aliyah Peer (Grade 11, 1999) married Rémy Moreira (1996).

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Andrew Faull (1997) (BA 2001, BSocSci (Hons) 2004, MPhil 2006) We all have strong opinions on crime and policing but most of us know very little about the lives and experiences of those in the South African Police Service. Andrew, after being persuaded by career counsellors not to join the SAPS after school, sought other ways to pursue his interest in police. He recently published a book, that seeks to give South Africans insight into the lived experience of policing South Africa. “Behind the Badge.” The book is composed of excerpts from interviews with police who share their personal experiences of life in the SAPS. It covers a wide range of themes with policemen and -women speaking frankly about their reasons for signing up, experiences under apartheid, the psychological toll of police work and the impact on their family lives, and sharing insights into ethics, torture, corruption, sex and power. Andrew currently works as a researcher in the Crime & Justice programme at the Institute for Security Studies, and hopes to begin his PhD at the London School of Economics in September 2011.

Phillip Young (2000) He is an electrical-mechanical engineer managing an extension to a hospital in Nairobi at present.

Robin Barnes (2001) Robin is teaching in Phuket and thoroughly enjoying it. He commented that he doesn‟t know why he didn‟t go into teaching initially. Stephen Young (2002) He is in his final year of a learnership at Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School and studying a B Ed through Unisa.

Amy Halliday (2002) I'm sure many of you have heard me going on at length about the V&A exhibition *Figures and Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography* in which I have been involved as an assistant (mostly on the catalogue) to the curator (who doubles as my supervisor at UCL). After months of hard work and creative planning, the exhibition opens on Tuesday 12 April. It's been an amazing experience to witness it coming together all the way from initial concept through to something so dynamic and multi-faceted (its incarnations include the exhibition, a public and schools programme, catalogue, international conference etc.)

Figures and Fictions features works by some of the most exciting and inventive photographers living and working in South Africa today, from established veterans like David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo and Santu Mofokeng, to a new generation of photographers like Zanele Muholi, Sabelo Mlangeni, Mikhael Subotzky and Husain and Hasan Essop. The exhibition presents the vibrant and dynamic photographic culture that has emerged in post-apartheid South Africa, responding to the country's powerful rethinking of issues of identity across race, gender, class and politics. At the same time, providing an historical backdrop to the exhibition, the V&A will be holding a small (free) exhibition of David Goldblatt's earlier work, from the '60s to the '80s, called 'Lifetimes: Under Apartheid'. [And just in case you haven't heard of Goldblatt, he's the guy who has been photographing South Africa for 50 years. Amongst other things, last year his work was exhibited in a solo show at MoMA, and he won a Cartier Bresson award. That's basically the Nobel prize of photography.]

Anyway, I just thought you may be interested in seeing the exhibition, or attending some of the surrounding events (such as the photographers' panel discussion on Tuesday, or a free guided tour etc). Before you visit, you may like to watch a couple of short (5-8min) documentaries about the curator (about her own journey as a South African, and a brief introduction to photographic history in

9 SA) and some of the photographers, which were filmed in South Africa and are freely available on the V&A channel *(this is also a vicarious way for those of you not in London to get a glimpse of the exhibition, and see what these great photographers are up to!):* *http://www.vam.ac.uk/channel/search/south%20africa/* For more information about the exhibition, including info on each of the photographers, see:* http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/photography/figures-fictions/* And, to book a ticket for the panel (Tues 12 April, 6.30-7.30pm) 'The Ethics and Poetics of Photographic Depictions of People' with photographers Jodi Bieber, Pieter Hugo, Terry Kurgan, Sabelo Mlangeni, Santu Mofokeng, Roelof van Wyk and Graeme Williams, see: *http://www.vam.ac.uk/channel/search/south%20africa/* Despite invariable visa issues, these photographers have made a real effort to get to London, so I am shamelessly advertising the panel as I feel they deserve a good turnout! And if all that isn't enough, the scones at the beautiful William Morris tearoom at the V&A are among the best in London :)

Nicola Sienaert (2003 Head Girl) UCT news…. “Fourth year MBChB student Nicola Sienaert cleaned up at the recent health sciences undergraduate prize giving, with a haul of eight medals and prizes. These were the Class Medal for Pathology, Integrated Health Systems; the Class Medal for Becoming a Doctor; the Class Medal for Integrated Health Sciences; the Arderne Forder Book Prize for the MBChB student who has shown the most improvement in Medical Microbiology; the BJ Ryrie Book Prize for meritorious work in Anatomical Pathology in third year MBChB; the Raymond Zetler Book Prize for the MBChB student with the best examination results in third year Chemical Pathology; the Golda Selzer Prize for achievements in Virology in second-and-third-year; and the Stanley Philip Neumann Memorial Award. Sienaert took the long route to medicine, first completing a BA (cum laude) at UCT and then doing a gap year in France before coming home to start a MBChB. “I spent eight months in Paris, juggling two jobs,” she says, “I taught English at a pharmaceutical company during the day, and in the late afternoons and evenings I worked as an au pair looking after two Parisian children.” Starting a new – and long – degree at the age of 25 takes some doing. “There are quite a few mature students in the class, and I think we all experience some degree of stress (financial and otherwise) associated with committing to such a long and demanding degree at an older age. But there are also advantages. My previous degree afforded me the time and maturity to be sure I wanted to study medicine, and made me better able to cope with the demands.” Ben Joffe (2004) Ben has been studying for the past academic year, doing research for his PhD in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Colorado.

Sarah Goosen (2004) I write as a representative from the M(Arch) class but also as an Old Westerfordian (2004). This e-mail seeks to request any help or contribution from Old Westerfordians with generating funds for the Masters 2011 academic trip, more elaborately detailed in the attached document. Our class also has OW Mark Horton (2005) and in our undergraduate class were OWs Firaaz Booley (2005) and Marco Coetzee (2002) so we have a strong link back to Westerford High School.

10 The School of Architecture of the University of Cape Town, has a tradition where the final year Masters students get the opportunity to plan and organise a mid-year trip to a destination of their choice. The intention is two-fold: for the benefits of academic exploration and socially, where the group of 20 students navigate a new environment with the eyes of young architects. The Tour serves as an architecturally and culturally educational experience, which will strengthen the student‟s comprehension of his personal and professional position in the world. Recent years „ classes have travelled to places such as Johannesburg and Maputo. The trip is planned with a specific architectural interest in mind. It is documented and explored throughout the trip. As has become tradition, a form of feedback is presented, and made available as a report to all relevant parties and fellow students. These reports can range from photo essays, to journal articles, to short films. The importance is on representing the findings as lucidly as possible, so to share easily with students, colleagues, sponsors, et al, on return, and also archived for future academic use. The 2011 Tour proposes travel for 2 weeks to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Zanzibar‟s Stonetown. Details regarding the itinerary are still approximate, and also largely depend on the amount of funds we are able to generate for the trip. Our goal is to publish a record / journal of our architectural experience on our tour to Tanzania to share with all our sponsors, fellow students and colleges as well as contributing to the academic archive of the Architecture Department at the University of Cape Town. We will also host an exhibition showcasing, through different media, our experience with the greater Cape Town community. All sponsors will receive recognition in our published piece and branding exposure in the document which will be distributed among the greater Built Environment community as well as branding exposure at our exhibition. The extent and scale of exposure will be proportionate to the donation received by you as a sponsor. If you would like to organise something specific in exchange for sponsorship, please do not hesitate to ask. To give you an idea of what kind of exposure you will receive, the class of 2010 produced a short film depicting the works of Pancho Guedes in Maputo. The film was the winning entry in the 2010 Cement and Concrete Institute's Moving Spaces student film competition. The film was screened at an exhibition at the Iziko National History Museum as well as the Labia theatre. The sponsor's branding appears in the credits. You can view the film on http://soaplog.net/2011/02/04/a-procura-de-pancho/ Our goal is to get 100 companies within the built environment and educational spheres to sponsor us R1000 each, covering the cost of R5000 per student. But any amount would be greatly appreciated and if you are willing and able to give more obviously that would be great. Our banking details are as D.A Pope Account number: 275341410 branch code: 02-05-09 branch name: Standard bank Claremont. If you would like to confirm the legitimacy of our proposal please contact the secretary of the Architecture Department at UCT, Nicole Walker Tel: +27 (0) 21 650 2374 Fax: +27 (0) 21 650 2383 E-mail: Nicole.Walker@uct.ac.za Internet: www.apg.uct.ac.za

Nicole de Cooker (2007) I matriculated in 2007 and studied Marketing at the AAA School of Advertising. In 2010 I graduated with a BA in Marketing Communications. I did an internship at Ogilvy Cape Town and now work in the Media Department as a Media Planner.

Richard Dean (2008) This is the first time since I left Westerford in 2008 that I am actually giving news. Perhaps the newsletter will be interested to hear that in the two-man band Refrigerator Club I am recording our first album that will be released later this year. The album is being recorded in Sedgefield, South Africa. The following is a link to our released songs: www.soundcloud.com/refrigerator-club

Jessica Kew (2008) Jess Kew of Brothers Sport Strikers was spotted by The Peoples Post during the Princess Pro Series hockey tournament. See below (OW Bursary winners) for more from Jess…

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Jean Westwood writes…I thought you would like to know that Sheryl Rajpaul (2010) and

Ursula Westwood (2010) have each been awarded a Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for study at

UCT. “Surprise honour for top matriculants 9 March 2011 Seventy first-year students could not have begun their studies at UCT on a better note than receiving the Vice-Chancellor's and Achievement Scholarships honours they hadn't even applied for. The Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, amounting to R25 000 each, have been offered to 40 freshers in recognition of academic excellence in their matriculation exams. These scholarships are across faculties, and have been awarded in four categories: to 10 top students who registered from the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED); to the 10 top students that hail from schools that fall under the former Department of Education and Training and former House of Representatives Education Department in the Western Cape; to the 15 best students that registered from the Department of Education (except WCED); and to the five top students who did the national Independent Examination Board exams.”

NEWS FROM OW BURSARY WINNERS

Niall Bruyns (2001) I won the OW bursary in 2001. Brief catch-up: - Cape Tech, National Diploma Hospitality Management 2002 - 2004 - City Lodge Group, 2004 – 2006 - Student, promoted to Reception and Night Audit then to Food and Beverage Supervisor. V&A Hotel, 2006 – 2008 - Food and Beverage Controller, promoted to Assistant Restaurant Manager, and then to Food and Beverage Services Manager - Cape Milner Hotel 2008 – current. Food and Beverage Manager, promoted to dual role as Deputy General Manager & F&B Manager I often think back on our days at Westerford with fond memories. I greatly enjoyed my time there and my achievements and pursuits at the school greatly affected the way in which I grew quickly through my chosen industry. At Westerford I was on the EXCO for CCC, being Chairperson of various societies including finally the Film Club.

Jessica Kew (2008) I was honoured to receive a bursary from the OWA after I matriculated in 2008. Below is a brief description of what I have been up to since then: Academics : I was enrolled into first year MBChB (Medicine) at UCT in 2009 (I am currently in my third year). I was on the Dean's list for my results in the exams at the end of first year. I was involved in tutoring maths as part of volunteer work for SHAWCO Education in my first year in 2009. I have done presentations with a colleague at several meetings incl. Groote Schuur Thursday meeting, August 2010, Allergy Society of South Africa journal club meeting, August 2010, Paediatrics Refresher Course, held at the Vineyard Hotel, February 2011 Sport: I have played for the UCT 1st outdoor and indoor hockey teams since 1st year in 2009. I represented Western Province in the u/21 A and Woman's Peninsula hockey teams in 2009. Extra-curricular activities: I was a class representative for MBChB in 2nd year in 2010. I am involved in volunteer work with the kids' ministry at Common Ground Church.

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NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL

Nik Rabinowitz (1994) was invited by the Students’ Jewish

Association (SJA) and The Music Art Drama Dance (MADD) Society to

entertain the School with his comedy act. It was a highly enjoyable

break. Laughter being, after all, the best medicine!

Hockey Astroturf Opening Good wishes and/or donations were sent in from the following OWs…

Joan Freislich (1963) Rob Rouessart (1999)

“The prospect of hockey in the sun makes my mouth water - after the Loooong winter in Oxford. Have fun and enjoy - regards from Wim Roselaar - first team 1957”

“Thanks for the invite, Margie, I will try to be there. You don't want me in any hockey team... Margie Cowlin 1971” “Hello Margie - won't be able to make it as I'm in Jo'burg, but thanks for the

notification. It's always good to read about what's going on at the old school! Regards, Claudia Boffard”

“Just wondering if some pics showing the location and construction of the astro could be put up on the website?* I am very keen to know what it looks like, but am not in SA (still pursuing studies in Vancouver). Also, some of the guys from the 1st Boys' Hockey Touring Squad of 1999 are keen to sponsor a square metre if not too late. Can you let me know who to contact about this if you get a chance. Many thanks, Andrew Hill (2000)”

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*We’re working on the photo gallery! Some of the construction photos are already up on the webpage. Keep checking!

“Please accept my apologies as I will not be able to be at the opening function. I trust all goes well. Please do give my regards to Rob Le Roux who is a dear friend and colleague in the teaching profession. (We taught together at the same school in Walvis Bay many years ago) Blessings Bruce Phillips (1970)”

“Great news for the school. Sadly I cannot make it as I am 2500km from the school, here in Limpopo. Bless you Fred Hoffman Principal THE KING'S COURT” “Unfortunately unable to attend. Hope it goes well Jennifer Poulter “

“My congratulations to the Headmaster and Management on the establishment of the Astro Turf Court and all success with the opening ceremony on Friday. Regards. Theo Neu (1958)” “Sadly, I'll be unable to attend the Opening ceremony of the Astroturf, living in Tasmania as I have for the last 24 years. I send my congratulations to the school and all involved in the project. My memories of planting the playing fields when I was a pupil in the 50s are still fresh in my mind and I was fortunate to represent the West Coast of Tasmania in the first Australian Masters Games in 1987 even though I hadn't played hockey since my student days in the early 60's. Have a great celebration and good luck to the OW teams vs the Firsts! Carolyn Loxton (1956)”

It’s never too late to donate! Good idea of Andrew’s don’t you think?

Why don’t more teams club together for a square or two?

Banking details :- Direct Deposits: WESTERFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Standard Bank, Rondebosch Account type: Current Branch code: 025009

Account no: 071510176 Swift address: SBZA ZA JJ (International Deposits) Reference: ASTRO DONATION Bursar - KW@whs.wcape.school.za Mrs K Williams

Tel: 021 689 9154 Fax: 021 685 5675

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OWs seen at the Music Café

Land and Kari Middelkoop (OW 1959) Patsy and Alan Menhinick (OW 1961) Jenny and Andrew Wilson, (OW 1961) Leslie McKenzie (OW 1957)

Leslie, Patsy and Alan

Alan, Patsy, Leslie, Jenny and Andrew

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WHERE ARE THEY? Richard Brunt (1964) is looking for these classmates - all 1964 leavers

Raphie Kaplinsky, who is in the UK and is a Professor of Economics at London University, James

Andrews, Paddy Lambert (her maiden name), Michael Rightford.

Matthew Stephen (1992) and other 1992-ers are looking for Simon Kidger (1992) also

in the UK.

Please let the OWA know if you have any details for any of these OWs.

OWs with children/grand children who also attended

Westerford We are establishing a register/record of current Westerfordians who have OW parents

or grandparents. Could you send in any details you have; we will need the OW name and

year and the name, year or current grade of the Westerfordians. It should make

fascinating reading and I’ll let you know. Maybe we could hazard a guess at the

percentage?

WEBPAGE The OW section of the Westerford Website is currently being revamped so keep

checking the changes. (www.westerford.co.za)

REUNIONS

If you wish to organise a reunion, please

contact the OW office as all reunion

plans that involve the use of the School’s

facilities must be arranged through the

OW office. Level 4 at Imhoff is available

free of charge.

16

1961 50th Reunion The class of 61 has just held a most successful 50th Reunion with classmates showing fantastic school spirit by coming from the USA, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Holland and the UK. Although 19 of our classmates have over the years unfortunately passed away, 75 of the 90 that we were able to contact, attended one or more of the functions. I know that self praise is no recommendation but this is a very special bunch of Old Westerfordians in that our 25th Reunion was the first formal class reunion held and subsequently led under John Gibbon to the formation of the OWA . In addition the class have been responsible over the past 25 years for presenting an annual Bursary to the school which is surprisingly still the only one being presented by past pupils. Our reunion was spread over 3 days.

On the Thursday we attended what turned out to be a very special Founders Day Ceremony at the school and that evening a Cocktail Party in perfect weather conditions alongside the sea at the Waterfront.

Prudence Pienaar, Irene Voslamber, Anne Morris and Jean McIntyre

The Westerford String Quartet.

17 On Friday morning we gathered for a walk on the Mountain followed by refreshments at the Forresters Arms. That evening a Formal Dinner was held at Kelvin Grove before closing on Saturday morning with brunch under the chestnuts at the school. I know I speak for all of us when I say its been a memorable occasion made special by the teachers that attended and the fact that certain of our classmates that attended, we had not seen for 50 years. (Jeff Herringer 1961)

Current WHS staff James Bissett, Rob Le Roux

Deputy and Headmaster

Three of our teachers are seated in the 2nd row

6th position Ruth Suter, 8th Elise Claasen and next Cora Fox.

18

1971 40th Reunion Herewith photographic proof that our memories are indeed still intact and that favourite (?!) old songs never die!

For those of you who couldn't attend and therefore didn't have the assistance of the little name tags, the 1971 names from left to right, back row to front row are: Glynne Lee (now le Riche), Terence van der Poel, Beverley Treadaway (Keys) - all the way from England, Alan Williams, Russell Penny, Mike Todd - all the way from Joeys, Hugh Balmain (Knyvet-Knevett), Raymond Weinberg - all the way from Camps Bay!, Jeff Levy, Chris Hart, David Scher, Olin Frederiksen, also from Jo'burg, and Sue King (Meredith) - all the way from Australia, Jessica

Kranenberg (Myburgh) - all the way from Vermont!, Jacquie Israel (Berkowitz), Ingrid Smit (Dumminy), Andrew Stuurman- Stekhoven from Somerset West, Edith Phillips, (Henderson) out specially from England, Jacquie Post (Herbert), Margaret T-J (Margie Cowlin) and Pat Leng (Trish Hutton-Squire). The previous day saw some other old/new faces under the chestnut trees at school: Joy Knighton-Fitt, Jane Auld (Plantinga) from Banhoek, Stellenbosch, Sarnel Swanepoel (Holloway), Viv Lamprecht (Misty Creswell), Ruth Versveld (apologies, Ruth, your married name escapes me now!) Doug Voke - up from East London, Yvonne Kluk (Hurwitz), Susan Burke (Fox) and Desire Ginsburg (Payne). There were also plenty of apologies; those that spring to mind were from Ricardo Sieni (he had to go to Italy, shame), Ken Jackson (moving back to the Cape at the end of August, so we look forward to seeing him again in October!), Marilyn Meston (our Rotary Exchange student from Canada, who married a South African and now sports

(In the photo, clockwise from the bottom: Desire Ginsburg (Payne), Ingrid Smit (Dumminy), David Scher, Ruth Versfeld and Chris Hart.).

So, this is the motley crew who gathered for the fabulous lunch at Fairview on Sunday 1st May.

19 the surname Fourie - yay, Marilyn!), Graham Busch (London) and Adrian Lewis (who sent lovely pics of his gorgeous granddaughter in America), and Pete Benjamin was too busy helping his fiancé study for her MBA (in Australia? America?) My apologies if there were more that have slipped through my inbox. All in all it was a very happy week-end: Jeff managed to get us some rugby tickets and some of us thoroughly enjoyed watching the Stormers thrash the Sharks - Edith sent me a link with a fabulous photo of some of us at Newlands, but sending it on to all of you is beyond my IT knowledge! Perhaps you can access it on her facebook page. On Tuesday 3rd David Scher, Ruth Versfeld, Sue King, Jacquie Post - and Joan Pitcher! (now Wright) attended assembly, had tea in the staffroom, met the new Headmaster, Rob le Roux and had a very interesting tour of the school. Their webpage (www.westerford.co.za) is really worth a peek if you have the time. We also went up to the Imhoff Sports Grounds, between Newlands Ave and Rhodes Drive to see the rugby fields, tennis courts, new hockey astro turf and fabulous new club house - which cracked the nod from those present as a future venue for our re-unions. Jacquie B is heading off to join her family in Australia sometime later this year, but mention must be made here to thank you for hosting us in your home for so many years, Jacs! Future dates: As you know, those of us in Cape Town get together on the last Thursday of every October. Would it be easier to make it the last Saturday this, our 40th reunion year, to enable those of you out of towners to make it here for the week-end? Please let us know. Also, (and this is forward planning to the nth degree!), it has become tradition at Westerford for the matrics celebrating their 50th reunion to get together over the first week-end of March. Founders' Day is the first Thursday of every March and this involves a special assembly to commemorate founding/old Westerfordians (Victor, James and Doreen are among that number, along with Noel Taylor and John Gibbon, of course), a light lunch, tour and DVD, followed by the OW Sports Day and much musical and carnival-like festivities that afternoon. So, for those of you on distant shores, perhaps pencil in that first week-end of March 2021 for a South African holiday. You may remember that the weather can be quite sublime at that time of the year!

Gauteng Chapter

Theo Neu (1958) writes…

The OWs of 1958 residing in Johannesburg celebrated Founders Day at an Italian

restaurant overlooking the dappled evening lights of the leafy northern suburbs.

Between all the hubbub of

the patrons in attendance,

we were able to reaffirm

our proud allegiance to

Westerford and wish the

School all success for the

academic and sporting

year. At the same time it

was great to be together

and share in the great

memories of Westerford.

We had a 100% attendance but our numbers have shrunk marginally with three

colleagues having moved away from Gauteng.

L to R; Theo Neu‟s wife Marie, Honi Brian (OW), Peter Wilson (OW) .

Theo‟s hand with the glass of wine is on the extreme right!

20

2006 Jarrod Lewin’s email address was incorrect in the last newsletter. Apologies! Please

contact him with regard to the reunion. jarrodl@gbcsa.org.za

2001 Kerry Howieson (2001) would LOVE to organise the 10 year reunion. Please contact her

Kerry.Howieson@1stcontact.com or kerryhowieson@hotmail.com

1970

We are in the early stages of planning a get together to celebrate approximately the

year we all turn 60 years old. For many of us our last images of our friends from school

were pigtails, flat tummies, and lots of hair. As we look forward to the "perks of being

at a pensionable age", please join us over the weekend of 21 - 24th September 2011, to

reminisce and call back the past – much laughter is certainly guaranteed. If you know of

any OW's whereabouts, please could you e-mail Margie at OWA@whs.wcape.school.za or

myself on bevandmike@telkomsa.net. The exact details of the format of the weekend

are very much still in the pipeline, but in the meantime please diarise those dates.

Please note it is a long weekend in South Africa, which will hopefully help with travel

arrangements. We are looking forward to a bumper fun-filled weekend, which can only

happen with your help and input. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Bev Stein (nee Fowles 1970)

1962 50th Reunion 2012

Founders Day in 2012 is Thursday 1st March. Contact Clive Snowball (1962)

snowball@xsinet.co.za or Di Marais (1962 nee Tripconey) di.marais@uct.ac.za

Please alert any other 1962ers that you know of, so that we can add them to our

database.

Rick Winterbottom (1962) sent in

these photographs…

21

WESTERFORD HIGH SCHOOL - MATRICULATION 1962 * = In Form 10B

Back row (l to r): A. Greenblo, P. Rogers, R. Abraham, S. Schulman, P. Mann*, C. Snowball*,

A. Gillman, D. Howarth.

7th row: H. Conradie, J. Whitwam*, G. Petersen*, R. Winterbottom*, D. Miller, A. Stewart, M.

Boyle*, J. Luker, A. Gorrie*, U. Seeberger*.

6th row: C. Twine, M. Roberts, N. Gericke*, T. Eeches, G. Lawrence*, J. Joubert*, M. Pedder*,

R. Linton*, P. Toms*, K. Hart.

5th row: Y. Sass, M. Sulston, J. Gage, V. Wasserfall, B. Reynolds, M. Sapsford, G. Annetsburger,

B. Fox, J. Philips*, E. Jarvis, D. Crawford, J. Allen, M. Saffery.

4th row: S. Houba*, A. Callanan*, G. Klein, E. Rees, D. Tripconey*, Y. Marling*,

22 R.Whetmore, M. Pittuck, G. Edwards*, M. Simpson*, B. Smith*, U. Roberts*.

3rd row: Mr Field, J. Westman*, H. Peacock, L. Derman, N. Zweng, ? Chiat, B. Hall, M. Doo, M.

Hardman, L. du Toit, H. Isaacs, A. Blane, J. Ross-Munroe, N. Dixie, L. Cowley, Mr Tarr.

2nd row: Mr Barker, Mr Gibbon, Miss Collet, Mr van Wyk, Miss Sheara, Mr. Kirsten, Mrs

Sheara, Mr Taylor, Miss Fitton, Mr Nebkin, Miss van den Hoever, Mr Miller, Mr

Oosterhuizen, Mr Hartley, Mr Borches.

Front row: P. Zibarras*, C. Baard*, G. Gee*, D. Pond, T. Durr, M. Gerlings, J. le Grange*, K.

Solomon, J. Price*, E. Lyons, J. Tabakin*, R. Pieksma.

THE OW TEAM

Dave Thompson Margie Hiscock (1979)

Teacher in Charge of OW matters Secretary/Archivist

dt@whs.wcape.school.za owa@whs.wcape.school.za