Westville High School Class of 1962

Westville High School Natal South Africa

The 2012 Reunion of the class of ‘62 50 years on

Westville High School Natal South Africa

School Badge Shield: quartered by the red cross of St. George. 

Griffin combining intelligence with strength

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Book of Knowledge

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Lamp of Learning

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Outspan Tree: the first ox-wagons stop after Durban in Jan Hofmeyr Rd

Motto Incepto Ne Desistam 'May I not Shrink from my Purpose" “Never give up” or “Aanhouer Wen” WHS was established in 1955 & divided into the Boys & Girls High Schools in 1965

For those who are keen Googlers it is worth saying that if you Google Westville High School you get more than 2 million references. There seems to be a very active Westville High School in Vermillion County, Illinois.

School History 

1861 German immigrant farmers operated a school on the main DurbanPietermaritzburg Road, in the area named Westville. Named after Sir Martin West, the first Lieutenant Governor of Natal.

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1935 the Westville Kindergarten School a private school opened in the Church Hall under the leadership of Miss Gladys Carr

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1941 this school moved to Bernard's House, an old house situated on 6 acres on the present boys’ school site. Bequeathed by the Bernard family.

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1945 the co-educational Westville Government School opened as a provincial institution and operated at primary level only until 1955. In 1955 a group of 21 pupils formed the first Standard Seven (Grade Nine) class of the then new emerging Westville High School

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In 1949, Bernard's House was demolished to make way for the new school buildings which were opened in January 1950. These buildings today form the inner quadrangle of the school.

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The secondary school initially co-existed with the infant and primary classes, but in 1961 the last of these junior classes were accommodated on the WHS site and as a separate junior school was formed on a new site in Westville

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In 1961 work began on what was later to be called Commons Field and a pavilion and scoreboard were erected on Bowden’s field.

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In 1962 work started on the school hall and in this year WHS produced the top pupil in the matric examinations - we became the 4th group of matriculants.

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In 1963 work on the building of a new Westville Girls' High School commenced and WHS split into the boys' and the girls' high schools at the end of 1964,.

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The Headmaster who laid the foundation for the separate boys & girls high schools & guided WHS into full secondary status was N. W. “Eggie” Bowden (1955–1963). The main school sports field was named after him. He went onto become the Head of Teachers Training College in Pietermaritzburg after WHS

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In 1963 the three-story complex overlooking the tennis courts was started and this was the beginning of a building program which developed at a rapid rate of expansion over the next ten years.

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Hector Commons became the new Headmaster of WHS & WBHS in 1964 1967, the year in which the School split into two single-sex schools.

Commons' years as Headmaster ended when he was promoted to the Headmastership of Maritzburg College.

SCHOOL SPLIT  No detail given of WGHS due to the move away from old school grounds – the current Headmistress is Miss Mary Johnstone 

D. C. Thompson, 1968–1970, C. D. Harcourt (1971–1973), P. C. Doyle (1975–1983), R. W. Couzens (1983–1989) and K. Elliott (1990), E. W. Maddams (1991–1997) each served subsequently as Headmaster of WBHS

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During the Madden period WBHS became a Model C School with the parent body having more say in the development of the school.

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The Ted Maddams’ Media Centre and modernisation of the computer facilities happened during this time.

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In 1998 Trevor Hall became the first WBHS Old Boy to be appointed Headmaster of the School. Under his leadership the development of an upper level of Bowden's Pavilion took place, which has provided a domicile for the Westville Boys' High School Association.

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In 2002 the Pharos Sports Academy was launched, introducing a new sports curriculum into the school to overcome the disadvantage of being a day school only.

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A multi-purpose centre has been built on three of the four tennis courts adjacent to Commons Field to cater for school assemblies, timetabled sport, afternoon sports practices, indoor field hockey, tennis and four cricket nets (two for bowling and the other two have bowling machines), choir festivals, dramatic productions, a gymnasium and offices.

Some photos which have come to hand!

Matric Classrooms

Assembly in The Quadrangle Â

School grounds

Head Boy and Head Girl and others

Between lessons

Nine lovely ladies

Six cool guys on a field trip

Music was never far from our hearts

The school play - Anastasia

Dowager Empress and the Pretender

The ‘New’ Tuck Shop

Westville High School Teaching Staff 1962

Wynne Bowden Headmaster Latin

Frans “Ben” Schoeman Class Head & Afrikaans

Phil “Dwalas” Kemp Afrikaans & Athletics

Hector Commins Vice Head, Maths & Rugby

Bradley Perrott Science

Jean Carey Biology and Hockey

Mrs. Nancy Thompson Head & English

Mike Martin Latin & English

Ron Warner History

CLASS OF 1962

Top L/R: Alan Liversage, Dan Remenyi, Peter Corrigall, Mike Meehan, Geoff Austin Second Row Down L/R: Derrick Planting, Jennifer (Shadwell) Heher, Jane (Castleden) Cruickshank, Karen (Miller) van der Riet, Virginia (Waller) Milnes, Sheila (Dawes) Krogh, Lynette Bonfa, Carol Hoyle, Alan Sudar Third Row Down L/R: Esther (Goldstein) Ossin, Kathy (Cradock) Jones, Moira (Stern) Da Costa, Maryanne (Dargie) Unstead, Mrs. Nancy Thompson, Miriam Ballin, Vivienne (Platt) Thorpe, Brenda (Catto) Meinecke, Allison (Ross) Toombs Front Row: Victor Dennison, Michael Saner, Peter Schollick, Peter Munro, Clive Stuart

CLASS OF 1962

Top L/R: Michael Smallbones, Anthony Williams-Jones, Alan May, Nigel Addyman, Martin Adams Second Row Down L/R: Keith Palmer, John Kemp, Peter Lovejoy, Frank Graham, Peter Hastie, Tony Thompson, Michael Jewitt, Barbra (Little) Millican Third Row Down L/R: Barbra (Anderson) Lundie, Nikki (Mets) Elpick, Ann (Sherratt) Moudave, Gillian (West) Botha, Frans “Ben” Schoeman, Terry Hayward, Pat (Driffill) Pearce, Marjorie (Frank) Phillips, Andrea (Aiken) Cocking Front Row: Ken Davies, Michael Thackwray, John Cooper, Victor Fenn, Dave Trezona

A few notes

This virtual book has been compiled from information supplied by Derrick Planting, Mike Meehan, Jane Cruickshank and Viv Thorpe.

Jane led the search which created the current class list. Derrick lead the production of the history of the school.

According to our best estimate there were 59 of us in the Matric class of ’62 and all the names are in the class list at the back of this document. Our information is that four class members have died and these are marked on the list with RIP. There are about 8 class members for whom we have no information at all and of course we would be delighted if anyone can provide any information about these ‘old’ colleagues.

Members of the Class of ’62 were invited to write a page about themselves. The idea was to give a tiny insight into the 50 years of our lives and also to supply a photograph so that we could see how we look now. Some of us have changed much more than others. No guidelines were offered except that only one page was required. Thirty nine class mates supplied a one page information sheet and three In Memoriams, were written, one for Lynette Bonfa, Alan May and Peter Schollick. No editing has been done.

The statements received are really great. Some have more photographs than others and some are written in the first person and some in the third. It is hoped that if members of the class of ’62 who did not write one of these, on seeing them they might be prompted to send one now. The book will be kept open for additional members of the Class of ’62 until after the actual reunion.

Finally this virtual book will be updated with photographs taken during the reunion itself on 16th and 17th May 2012 in the Berg at Cathedral Peak Hotel.

Please contact me with any comments or suggestions.

Dan Remenyi dan.rementyi@tcd.ie

WESTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MATRIC CLASS 1962 Please help update these records. Email addresses are urgently required.

Information as at 18 Feb 2012 MARRIED NAME

1 2

NAME Martin Adams Nigel Addyman

Country of Residence South Africa South Africa

3

Andrea Aiken

Cocking

Australia

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Barbara Anderson Geoff Austin Miriam Ballin Ute Beier Lynette Bonfa Jane Castleden Brenda Catto John Cooper Peter Corrigall Kathy Cradock Kenneth Davies Maryanne Dargie Sheila Dawes Victor Dennison Pat Driffill Victor Fenn Marjorie Frank Frank Graham Esther Goldstein Lyd Gorven Peter Hastie Terence Hayward Gilad Hodes Carol Hoyle Mike Jewitt John Kemp Barbara Little Alan Liversage Peter Lovejoy Keith Macfarlane Alan May Liz May Colin Mc Lean Mike Meehan Nicki Mets Karen Miller

Lundie

Vath

Cruickshank Meinecke

Jones

Unstead Krogh

Pearce

Phillips

Ossin Weight

Millican

Norton

Elphick van der Riet

South Africa South Africa Possibly Israel Unkown RIP South Africa Australia UK South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa Australia Possibly Australia South Africa Sweden South Africa Possibly Canada South Africa South Africa South Africa New Zealand RIP Possibly USA South Africa Possibly UK South Africa Unknown South Africa South Africa RIP South Africa Durban South Africa South Africa South Africa

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

Peter Munro Keith Palmer Derrick Planting Viv Platt Dan Remenyi Ali Ross Michael Saner Peter Schollick Jenny Shadwell Ann Sherratt Mike Smallbones Moira Stern Clive Stuart Alan Sudar Denton Thackwray Anthony Thompson Dave Trezona Helen Waller Gillian West Anthony Williams‐Jones

Thorpe

Toombs

Heher

Milnes Botha

UK South Africa South Africa South Africa UK South Africa South Africa RIP South Africa USA South Africa UK South Africa USA Unknown South Africa South Africa South Africa Possibly USA Canada

MARTIN ADAMS

1962

2012

After being at Westville primary my twin, David and I went to Kearsney College. I came back to Westville High in the second term of matric, a year older than most of the class, which meant I was focused on getting through at the end of the year and didn’t have the benefit of long term friendships at Westville High. The best parts were living at home after private boarding school; the co‐ed environment; playing rugby, extra biology lessons, and achieving my goal of passing.

The navy took up the next 9 months at Simons Town, Saldanha Bay, and Gunnery school on the Bluff and a stint on the President Kruger out at sea joining in the combined manoeuvres with the Portuguese and British Fleets. There was one memorable incident during refueling at sea, when the pressure gauge on the President Kruger’s end of the refueling pipe “failed” and the beaming face of the Admiral on the bridge was suddenly obscured in thick black crude oil, as was the rest of the ship, and on a day when the sea was like a glassy blue mirror!

My main interest is Agricultural machinery. My career started in the Family run firm, G.North and Son, starting at Field Street, in the Spares department. Over the years I worked at Northdene, Bethlehem and Pietermaritzburg branches as well as spending time at the Welger factory in Germany, and at Watveare, in Ivy bridge, Devon with Freddy Goodfriend.

In about 1973 I started at head office in the Field Street building doing Research and Development for sales to keep up with the rapid development of farm machinery from hand operated, animal drawn to tractor drawn and self‐propelled, computerised machines. I’ve been very lucky to have had several overseas trips to Agricultural machine shows and factories around the world. In 1982 G. North and Son was sold and this pre‐empted a huge change for us. I worked at Cliffs Engineering in Brits and then after another difficult time, started at H.M.Leers in Chloorkop , happy to be back in Agricultural machinery field. When the opportunity came to move back to KZN as manager of the KZN branch of Rovic and Leers based in Pietermaritzburg, we very happily moved and 20 years later will retire at the end of September 2012 after 46 years in the Agricultural machinery field. Woodwork is my new hobby and I belong to the Woodworkers Guild in PMB. I married Hazel in 1974 and we lived in Glenwood and then Manor Gardens; in 1982 bought 52 Acres on the Mooi River but with our move to Pretoria North sold and had our real “maPlotter” stage on a black turf plot at Haakdoornboom! We moved to Howick in 1994.

Our 4 sons are Rob, married Robyn and their children are Chloe 8 and Nathan 5 and live in Moura, Queensland; Steven lives in London; Jonathan, with Sally in Cape Town; Graham about to get married to Nicci in Durban. I’m now looking forward to retirement and a change of daily activity. I may even try joining a bowls club and watch more Top Gear! ~*~ ~*~

NIGEL KEITH ADDYMAN

Career path to date and still going: I spent the last three terms of Matric at Westville so had a short time with you. I had always wanted to be an engineer and graduated in 1969 from Natal University with a B Sc Mech. Eng degree.

Undertook my national service after varsity when I was sent to the Navy. As a degreed engineer, I was made an officer straight away and had a relaxing year at Government expense. I eventually ‘retired’ as a volunteer after 20+ years. Very sociable years of my life they were as my physique testifies.

I joined the SA Railways basically because they paid me whilst doing National Service. I ended up working 11 years with them with fairly rapid promotion for that organisation. Was involved in procuring all of the initial container handling equipment throughout RSA and was responsible as site engineer for the provision of the cargo handling terminal in Richards Bay from 1977 till 1980 when I resigned to go consulting at Keeve Steyn and Partners. First off to Secunda when Sasol III was being constructed then at head office in Johannesburg where I was responsible for the Lethabo Power Station stockyard design, procurement and installation amongst other materials handling projects. Ended up as Associate Director responsible for mechanical discipline department.

I was head hunted to work for the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in 1990 where I worked for 17+ years before being retired in January 2007 as Mechanical Engineering Manager. I have however worked ever since, firstly in Johannesburg for 13 months as project manager at Sandvik Materials Handling Africa for the provision of 10000t/hr stacker/reclaimer at Saldanha Ore Terminal, 16 months as Pr Eng for Richards Bay Minerals, 23 months at Bosch Projects in Durban responsible for the conveyor components for the expansion of the Ubombo Sugar Mill in Big Bend, Swaziland and now for last 3 months as Senior Mechanical Engineer for LES in Burswood, Perth on a 4 year extended business visa. Retirment, what’s that!

Family: Married Lynette Dawn Blase in 1974 when at tender age of 30 and have 2 children, Stephen Grant aged 33 and Mandy Louise aged 30. Stephen who is a breakdown truck operator based in Pitermaritzburg, has been married with no children and Mandy, who is a pre‐school teacher and lives at home with Lyn in Richards Bay, has still to experience that delight. Thus there are no grand children in our lives.

Being in the engineering business, we have had many homes and Lyn has had lots of experience of holding the fort back home whilst I have been away on business. Had three homes in Pretoria area and five in Richards Bay where we have lived off and on for 25 years.

The photo is of the family at Durban’s new airport, the day I left for Perth. The beard is a carry over from my Navy days. My means of transport here is

a bicycle so am losing inches if not weight. Life here in Perth is totally different and quite an eye opener. Seems to good to be true, too comportable and affluent when compared to back home.

I doubt that I will be able to get to the Matric re‐union so wish all well for 2012 and especially for the celebration preparations and activities. ~*~

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GEOFF AUSTIN Geoff was the eldest of 5 children ‐ thee boys and two girls.

He was an accomplished sportsman and scholar at Westville High School, and went onto study for a BSc in Maths at The Univ of Natal and a BCom at UCT He married Janet in 1969 and Candy their daughter was born in 1981 whilst he was operating as a management consultant and visiting lecturer at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, UCT & Wits Business Schools.

Geoff then joined a large retailing group as CEO in 1983 and he married again in 1984 ‐ he had two more girls Katherine and Jessica with wife Dede.

Geoff became Chairman and CEO of the retailing group, and the in 1990 CEO of Namib Breweries, CEO of Tourism Durban in 1993 and CEO of an Aviation Company in 1999, before retiring in 2003.

He also during this time tried his hand as a Dairy Farmer in Mooi River.

Geoff continued with his sporting prowess during this period, completing 8 Duzi Canoe Marathons, 10 Umkomaas Canoe Marathons, 2 Berg River Marathons & 1 Comrade Marathon.

He also earned his Pilot’s License at 44 and owned and flew his own Beech Bonanza, plus he became the honorary life member of the Johannesburg Canoe Club & was Chairman of the Buzzards Cricket Club for 10 years.

Geoff is retired and still following sport and drinking beer in PE The Austin Brothers: Chris, Quentin & Geoff ~*~

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In memory of LYNETTE BLUMENFELD (nee BONFA)

Lynette Bonfa was the academic star in our class. Not only did she achieve an A for everything she did at School, she also came first in Natal in Matric in 1962. Throughout her degree she continued with first class passes for everything she studied.

Lynette completed a degree in Sociology and Social work and then joined the social services in Durban. She worked in Durban and HwaM for a few years.

Lynette was as remarkable in her social life as she was in her academic life. She related easily to everyone, white or black, clever or not. She was always ready to help anyone in any way she could. Her mother had a pale blue Ford Anglia of which Lynette had the use. Lynette would pack the car up with friends and acquaintances who did not have transport and carry them all over the place. She was always easy to talk as she was a very good listener.

Lynette married Jesmond Blumenfeld who was an economist. They had two children David and Sharon. Jesmond had appointments at UNISA, Rhodes and WITS. The Bloemenfelds moved from appointment to appointment usually staying in university housing.

While at WITS Jesmond had a favourite aunt who left him in her will, what he himself described as “a considerable amount of money”. He decided to invest this in his further education and he was accepted to take a higher degree at Oxford in the UK. Thus he and Lynette and the two children moved to Oxford.

While in Oxford Lynette became ill for which she was hospitalised a number of times.

Eventually Lynette decided that she would be better able to recover by returning home to Natal.

Lynette passed away in 1977 in Durban.

She is still remembered fondly by her many friends Written by Dan Remenyi

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ANDREA COCKING (nee AIKEN)

A short biography ‐ after matric went to University of Pietermaritzberg, obtained BA. While I was in PMB joined the skydiving club. Arrived in Australia 1969 and got my skydiving instructors rating. I lived in Brisbane for a year, and then moved to Sydney. Worked in various jobs, either as a casual teacher or clerical work while travelling round the country teaching skydiving. Was having too much fun to pursue a career. Then I worked in film production and advertising.

Married Russell, a Scot, and had two boys. Marriage and children meant it was time to grow up, and the long hours and time away from home involved in film production was not conducive to child rearing or my stress levels. I then worked as credit manager for a nationwide tyre company for about 7 years, until I decided that getting ulcers minding somebody else’s money was not the way to go. I then started teaching communication at a Technical College of Further Education. Decided I needed a little further education myself, so completed a DP Soc Sci by distance through the University of New England. Loved the residentials and being just another student for a few days ‐ nobody's mum, nobody's wife ‐ just me.

In 1987 we moved to Budgewoi, on the Central Coast (about 120kms north of Sydney), where we are surrounded by water ‐ the sea to the left of our house, Lake Budgewoi in front and Lake Munmorah behind ‐ all a 5 minute stroll from the front door. So fishing, boating, surfing and scuba diving were our weekend activities. I taught Management, Marketing and Economics in the Business faculty at Ourimbah campus. I took mostly night classes which I loved as all my students were adults, all in employment, and studying to earn diplomas that would further them in their careers ‐ a pretty motivated bunch, and no behaviour problems. The bureaucracy was another thing!

I finally retired in 2008. Retirement is just great, and I'm loving every minute of it. My days are taken up with yoga, lawn bowls, aqua‐arobics, spending time with my 3 &1/2 year old granddaughter, and, most importantly, socialising with a bunch of wonderful friends who I am privileged to have in my life. I am also a volunteer community speaker for the Cancer Council, which is very rewarding. In 2010 I took a Diploma in Environmental management and twice a year I run a six week "Greenskills" course, underwritten by the Wyong Shire Council and a private business College. It is aimed at raising environmental awareness and promoting "green" business practices for small business owners and their employees in the local shire. Keeping physically active has kept health problems at bay and keeping the little grey cells ticking over means I know what to do with my car keys when I eventually find them.

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JOHN COOPER

I signed articles with Murray Smiths and qualified as a CA after a scenic tour of the accountancy system During this time I met and married Pam Shorten from Zululand.

We have three offspring: Justin, a CA working as Financial Director of a company in Florida USA. He is married to Anthea and they have two boys. Debbie our daughter is a qualified solicitor who runs her own legal practice in Marlow Bucks in the UK, and she has two girls.

Cliff is married to Sara and is a senior Mathematics Teacher at a great private school in Kent UK‐ they have two girls.

After leaving the Profession I worked for Huletts then Triang Pedigree where I became managing director. At 32 I joined the Hepburn Family business, and was appointed Group CEO of Industrial Investment Group‐ had a wonderfully rewarding time there.

During this period I and three others did an MBO and acquired control of Harcourt Group, which had businesses in Building Supplies and Plastic Fabrics. Again a very rewarding experience and the development of a fantastic network of friends and colleagues. We sold this group to a management and empowerment consortium in 2006.

Pam and I live in Berkshire UK and have been here with good access to our family for twenty years I am unfortunately receiving intensive medical treatment, and we will therefore regrettably be unable to join the Reunion.

We send our fond regards to all and look forward to seeing the book of contents.

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JANE CRUICKSHANK (nee CASTLEDEN)

JANE CRUICKSHANK (NEE CASTLEDEN) was born on the 15th July 1945 at home in Plymouth, England. She had three brothers, Michael, Ian and Anthony. In 1947 the family immigrated to South Africa and they moved into their home in Wedge Road, Westville in 1950.

Westville at the time was a village with few tarred roads, or street lights, and their swimming pool was used by the Westville High School pupils until the municipal swimming pool was built.

Jane started at Westville Government School, which went up to Std 6.

The school operated from the present Westville Boys High site with classrooms on two sides of the eventual quadrangle ‐ there was one field (now the Boys High swimming pool).

The school grew with extra classrooms, a library, staff room, tuck shop, etc which were added, extra land purchased, bush cleared and sports fields and tennis courts were built, moved and rebuilt. Luckily the school was blessed with hard working and dedicated staff, so that the pupils were given a solid and well‐rounded education.

The school hall was only built after 1962.

The 1962 class was the fourth Matric class and Jane was one of a number of pupils who attended Westville School together from Class 1 to Std 10. Jane’s mother designed the school badge, tie and various combinations of the Outspan Tree, Griffin, Book of Knowledge and Lamp of Learning were placed on the lounge carpet for family input on the eventual combination.

In 1963 Jane entered Natal Training College in Pietermaritzburg where she studied as a Mathematics and Arithmetic teacher. Brenda Catto, Gillian West and Lydia Gorven also started at Training College and to their delight, the following year "Eggie" Bowden, ex Westville High’s Headmaster was appointed Rector. Miss Carey, Westville’s Biology teacher (now Jean Nuttall) joined the college staff. Jane’s teaching career took her to Estcourt High School, Westville Girls High, Parktown Boys High, Port Shepstone High and then KZN education department.

During this period she married George Cruickshank in 1969 and produced two boys and a girl.

The children have now all married, with two of them moving to Australia and there are six grandchildren, five boys and a girl.

Jane is now a contented, busy pensioner involved in a number of Maths projects, plus enjoying dog agility sports with her border collie.

Jane and George are looking forward to down‐sizing from their lovely Port Shepstone home of the last 32 years. ~*~

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BRENDA MEINECKE (nee CATTO)

My early schooling was in Durban North and in 1959, when we moved to Kloof, I started at Westville High in Std. 7. They were very happy years, borne out by the fact that friendships formed then are still as important as ever, despite being so far away. I left school wanting to study accountancy but my father ‐ an accountant himself! ‐ thought I should become a teacher instead. So 1963 was spent in Pietermaritzburg, first at Training College and then a switch to Natal University for the remainder of the year. But I was still far more interested in the commercial world and in 1964 started working for the Durban City Treasury, studying part‐time and eventually working as a bookkeeper for two accountancy firms.

I was determined to travel, but achieved that in a very different way from how I had imagined it. Marriage didn’t feature at all in my thoughts! But at 18 I met Hartmut, a German from Hamburg and soon after my 20th birthday we were married. It has been a varied and interesting life ‐ I have been married to a ship’s agent, a dairy farmer and a retailer ‐ fortunately the same husband! ‐ for 46 years.

During that time we have worked together in the various enterprises ‐ a ships’ agency in Durban, a smallholding near Nottingham Road and a Spar franchise in Howick. In 1995, after selling the business, we decided to follow in my sister Pam’s footsteps and emigrate to Australia. Not an easy decision when you are in your 50s, but it has been an interesting and exciting adventure and we are very happily settled here.

We live in Brisbane and have three daughters ‐ Karin (43), Liesel (40) and Ingrid (35). There have been times when they have been spread around the world ‐ in Wales, Germany, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and the USA ‐ so we have had ample excuses to travel.

Currently all three are with us in Australia ‐ Karin nearby, Liesel in Canberra and Ingrid a 2‐ hour drive away. The careers they have followed are diverse ‐ Karin became a legal secretary and subsequently graduated in Linguistics, Liesel is a manager at Ernst & Young and Ingrid has the unusual profession of genetic counsellor. We have 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters ranging from almost 16 years to 5 weeks old. Retirement a few years ago gives us time to enjoy the grandkids and also to travel Australia in our motorhome which is great fun.

So our lives are full and we still have a long list of places to see and things to do ‐ we often wonder how we ever found time to work! ~*~

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PETER CORRIGALL

I was born at Kokstad, Eastern Cape and my parents moved to Cowies Hill in about 1953 when I started at Westville School. The photograph is from 1954 taken at Westville School.

EDUCATION: I completed Arts and Law Degrees (Attorneys’ Admission) and later completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Real Estate Economics and admission to the South African Institute of Valuers, and to the International Institute of Valuers.

WORK/CAREER: I moved to Johannesburg in 1969 to get wider commercial legal experience and later was appointed Legal Advisor to a Listed Construction /Real Estate group .and subsequently became Director and Shareholder in a large property group .My involvement with large regional shopping centres –Kempton City, Eastgate Shopping Centre and Ponte City took me on study tours to Europe, Brazil, US, Canada and Australia.

In 1986 and after too many years of a hectic corporate lifestyle I sold most of my interests in property and my wife Joan and I relocated to Durban where we operated 2 hotels and a number of night‐clubs, jazz blues and other live music bars and enjoyed promoting and hosting many top performers including Chix Velasco, Passage Through Africa, Darius Brubek, Marc Dube, Basil “Mannenburg”Coetzee, Winston Inkunku, Urban Creep, Just Ginger and several others.

In the last 10 years I have concentrated on operating the 66 room Riviera Hotel and more on tourist accommodation and investing on the stock market but still enjoy live music especially blues and jazz and have taken to regular golf My daughters, Mary (an Arts critic/journalist) and Joanne (a doctor) live in Joburg and Cape Town, and my stepson, Paul and stepdaughter, Lisa live in Adelaide, Australia

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KATHRYN JONES (nee CRADOCK)

I was born 16 January 1945 in Durban, big sister to Kenwyn. We lived on the Bluff until I was in Std 4. We then moved to Botha’s Hill and I attended Kloof Primary School. Jenny Shadwell and I became friends at Primary school and our friendship has continued through the years.

High School – I had many happy years at Westville High, but never really got involved in sports etc – my excuse was that I had to catch the Railway Pullman home to Botha’s Hill, which took ages.

After Matric, I studied Radiography at Addington Hospital, and had to then work for 2 more years at country hospitals. This took me to Scottburgh, Eshowe, Ladysmith, and Edendale at ‘Maritzburgh.

In 1968, I decided to go overseas to the UK by myself (my girlfriend decided to get married instead). I spent 7 months there, which included a 9‐week camping tour of Europe. Fabulous – quiet Kathy had spread her wings.

I met Llewellyn 3 weeks before my overseas trip, and he was at the airport to meet me on my return. We got married on the 30 August 1969, and moved straight back to London.. Llew had a bursary to study Computer Science, and I worked as a Radiographer at University College Hospital. We then got the chance to go and live and work in Paris for a year. I was pregnant in Paris and Kevin was born just after we got back to South Africa.

We lived in Pretoria for 9 years (where Melanie and Claire were born), Sandton for 16 years, and now Cape Town for the past 15 years.

We have three children, Kevin (now 40), Melanie (now 37) and Claire (34). Kevin is married to Belinda and they have two little girls Hannah (9) and Rebekah (6). Kevin is studying Paediatric Neurology at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, and will then go on to join a research group studying childhood epilepsy. Melanie is a Vet, but is busy with a business recycling food waste as a sideline.

Claire has just got married to Merrick, and she is our creative one, who writes and sings and paints, but works as a scriptwriter. She is a very serious Christian, and looking after the less fortunate is very important to her.

Llewellyn was trained as an electrical engineer, but has run many companies successfully in Johannesburg and Cape Town. I worked at Edenvale hospital in Johannesburg as a radiographer for 11 years, and retired in 1996 when we moved to Cape Town.

Llew and I are now both retired and enjoy traveling, especially to visit our grandchildren in Canada. Our whole family are Christians, and are very involved in church life in Cape Town and Toronto. We have had an interesting life together, and are very blessed. ~*~

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MARYANNE UNSTEAD (nee DARGIE)

I was born in Cape Town and when my father was transferred to Pretoria and then to Johannesburg I went to the Lereto Convent, where I learnt to knit socks, and then to Maryvale Convent, where I learnt the importance of reciting poetry. It was quite a shock for me, a convent girl, to be enrolled at the coed Westville High School.

I started a BA degree at Pietermaritzburg University and then moved to Howard College where I could go home when I wished and could have my washing done at home. In 1966 I did a Post Graduate Education Diploma and the following year began teaching matrics at Grosvenor Boys’ High School. I was petrified but found it a happy and very rewarding experience.

At university and when I was first teaching I did part time market research to earn money to buy a rabbit fur coat which Tony, my husband to be, thought was unnecessary. I planned to wear it when we went overseas, a day after our wedding. We worked in London for a year and I wore the coat on many occasions. My first market research assignment was on the Point Road residents and Point Road Prison. Market research had “hooked”, fascinated and saddened me. For more than 40 years I frequently went back to doing qualitative research, making use of my psychology major. I found this type of research challenging, always interesting, and a continuous learning experience. I learnt to do a research project from the initial contact with the client to the writing and presentation of the report. I realised that everyone from the late night cleaner to a top businessman or cabinet minister has something of value to contribute.

For some time I also taught at Glenoaks Remedial School which I found very challenging. It involved constant learning on my part and full time interaction with my pupils whose ages ranged from 16 to 20 years.

I met Tony, my husband of 43 years, on the side of the main road near the Gillitts station.

My father recognised him and stopped to help this impoverished articled clerk whose car

refused to run on the smell of petrol fumes. We have two wonderful children who have brought us much joy and at times frustration.

Over the years I have also occupied myself making bobbin and needle lace, doing many types of embroidery, tapestry, blackwork and making teddy bears. We live in Johannesburg and have lived in the same house for 36 years. Tony retired a month ago and we hope to spend many more happy times together. I wonder how long it will be before he is bored and goes back to work. ~*~

~*~

KENNETH RAY DAVIES

I was born in Durban on 30th July 1945, living in the Berea until 1949 when the family moved to Westville.

Attended the now Westville Boy’s High from Class 1.

My mother’s dislike of driving resulted in a move to Sherwood ( A compromise between the Berea & Westville), and a daily bus trip to school during my high school years, but back in Westville for the past 25 years.

On matriculating I joined the City Treasurer’s Department as a Trainee Accountant, and later transferred to the Real Estate Department, where I completed my commerce degree.

In the late sixties and early seventies, together with my wife Barbra, spent a total of a year travelling around Europe and the UK, criss‐crossing the USA and Canada, camping in sub‐ zero temperatures in the Rocky Mountains & recovering in Hawaii before returning to SA. In 1972 joined a firm of Town & Regional Planners & Development Economists, as a Property Valuer/ Development Economist, working with Planners, Economists, Architects & Engineers to ensure (in theory at least), what was planned was actually financially viable. Very much doing the same thing 40 year later, and fortunate enough to be on the teams for major developments in Kwa Zulu Natal, with the odd trip to Gauteng (Gautrain) and Eastern Cape (Coega).

Completed a two year Management Development Program at UNISA, followed by a Masters Degree (MBL), and spent many years lecturing in the evening at the then Technikon Natal (now University of Technology) and the odd semester at the University of Natal (now UKZN), wrote notes for UNISA’s National Diploma in Property Valuations and was External Examiner at the Technikon & Universities of Natal and Cape Town.

Barbara and I have been together for 49 years, have two children who matriculated at Westville and went on to study at Natal University (Gareth Architecture and Jon Economics & Finance).

In 1980 started a Property Consultancy (Research, Valuations) with two Chartered Surveyors from the UK, opened an office in Johannesburg and commuted for many years, but once our partner in Johannesburg departed to the UK we took the decision to remain in Durban and enjoy the good life. We were together for 25 years before he succumbed to cancer.

For many years (decades) was a keen runner, entered and complete three Comrades, but after a knee op, stay fit with sessions at the local gym most evenings and an early morning Sunday swim at North Beach. Relatively recently took up golf, usually teeing off just after sunrise on Saturdays. During the rugby season will be found at the “SHARK TANK” and braaing after the game.

Retirement is not on the horizon (Barbara insists), just longer holidays to see family in Australia and New Zealand or friends/ family in the UK. ~*~

~*~

SHEILA KROGH (nee DAWES)

My parents had a small crops farm at Cowies Hill and I started at Westville School in class 1 and went through to matric as the school developed from a primary school to a high school.

After school I trained as a radiographer at Addington hospital [as did Kathryn Craddock ] and we both worked at Eshowe hospital afterwards for a period [myself for 14 months] About a year later I sailed to England with Karen Miller and Pat Driffel—hitchhiked around Europe ‐Karen came back early and Pat after1 year.

I worked in various hospitals in London—then another trip around Europe [ scooter, train and car ] Worked in London again , then moved to the country and shared a cottage in Lady Fox’s feudal village for a couple of years.

Back home after nearly 5 years away. Met and married Brian and moved to Joburg.

We emigrated to Australia in 1974 and after travelling around a bit settled in Brisbane and then Mt Nebo. I worked as a radiographer for a year and then worked for a friend, cutting out western red cedar bases for him to attach leather straps and make high heel sandals [wedges] – I was the band‐saw queen!! Eventually Brian and I ran the shop in the cbd while another friend [Peter] made the bases. After a while we opened our own shop with Peter and Meisha was born at the end of 1976.

I did a 3 year course in acupuncture and practiced in that, colonic irrigation and massage for a few years while changing dwellings a few times. Eventually I had to go back to radiography as I had a largish mortgage to pay off and needed a consistent income. I worked in a large hospital in Brisbane for 13 years till my house was my own. During this time I visited England with Meisha [my brother lives in London] and to LA to visit an ex‐Durban pal, and survived 2 bouts of cancer.

Meisha moved to Melbourne to study osteopathy and I sold my house and with a friend [Shirley] bought a house in Maleny—a lovely small town on the range west of the Sunshine coast, north of Brisbane. We live on 1/12 acres and Meisha, partner Jem and my grandson Luke [4&3/4] have renovated the stables to live. It’s a beautiful area and we’re quite content here.

I’m looking forward to catching up after so long. ~*~

~*~

PATRICIA PEARCE (nee DRIFFILL)

I was born in Durban, 30th August 1945 and went to Berea Road Junior Girls School. In 1953 my dad took us to England for a year to meet his family and my brother John and I went to school in Holbeach (Lincolnshire) where my grandparents lived.

I was due to go to Durban Girls High in std 6, but fortunately for me Wynn Bowden became our neighbour and he persuaded my parents to rather send me to Westville High, for which I am forever grateful to him. I really enjoyed my high school days and look back with very many happy memories.

I always thought I would like to be a teacher, but changed my mind in matric and did a Private Secretarial Diploma at Durban Technicon. My first place of employment was with L H Marthinusen as a junior secretary. After a few years made a move to work for Brian Woodroffe where I ran his office and was girl Friday. I really enjoyed the variety of work and the happy atmosphere.

In 1967 I set sail for the UK with Sheila Dawes and Karen Miller. We spent a few weeks in London then 7 months hitch hiking through Europe. Mainly staying in Youth hostels but also did a bit of camping. On our return to London, I did a bit of temping then Sheila and I spent two fantastic weeks over Christmas and New Year skiing in Austria. After which, I traveled around the UK visiting family before sailing home on my own.

I then worked for Manufacturers Life Insurance doing underwriting for about 20 agents. It was during this time that I met and later married Des Pearce (ex Westville High boy) on 1 August 1970. I was very happy there and only left when I was 8 months pregnant. Kerryn was born 7th August 1972 and that was the end of my working career. I was very happy

being a home executive and never bored. I played tennis, squash and learnt to play bridge and also joined a book club, besides being a full time mom and got involved with all Kerryn’s activities.

Des worked for Legal and General Insurance and in 1974 they transferred us to Benoni for 5 years and then to Port Elizabeth for 10 very happy years. Then finally back to Durban where we have lived for the last 24 years in the same house.

Kerryn also married a Westville High old boy, (Hank Delen) and they have lived in Adelaide, Australia for almost 9 years. They have two beautiful little girls, Cleo 6 and Jade 4. They are very happy there and have made a wonderful life for themselves. Fortunately we do manage to see them quite often. I have had 8 trips and they have been home a few times.

I still keep myself very active with tennis, walking on Umhlanga beach, bridge and took up bowls about 18 months ago. Never imagined myself playing bowls but decided to join Des when I saw how much fun he was having. We are both very fortunate to be fit and have good health and still happily married after almost 42 years.

I am so looking forward to meeting up with my class mates, many I have not seen for 50 years and thank those who worked so hard to make this all possible. ~*~

~*~

MARJORIE PHILLIPS (nee FRANK) I have been married for 44 years to Roy, now a semi‐retired attorney, who, incidentally, was a member of the first Matric class at the school in 1959.

My family moved to Westville from Bloemfontein and Bulawayo in 1957, but I attended Maris Stella, where I wrote Matric in 1961. But, due to spending more of my time in the swimming pool than studying, I failed to obtain a University Exemption, so then attended Westville for a repeat year in 1962 (so I didn’t really get to know many of you all that well), where I still swam, but was successful the second time around! ‐ so this is my second 50th reunion!

I hung up my costume in 1963 and went to Natal University in Durban, where I obtained a Social Science degree in 1965. I taught for two years (without a UED) – at Kokstad and Westville Girl’s High, before marrying in 1967. I have been very fortunate not to have had to work throughout our marriage, but have ‘dabbled’ in various teaching activities over the years. My two main interests outside my family, are Women’s Institute ‐ I have been a member for 40 years, and held various offices, and uShaka Sea World, where I have been a volunteer guide in the education section for the last 20 years ‐ I am involved in working on courses with school groups and with the general public, doing presentations to outside

organisations and going on ship cruises up the East Coast. Both of these activities stop me from ever being bored, keep the brain cells working, and keep me out of Roy’s hair!

Although we both grew up in Westville, we moved to Durban North after marrying – closer to the sea for keen fisherman Roy! We lived there till 2000, when, all the children having ‘flown the nest’, we decided to down‐size, and now live in a complex in La Lucia Ridge, where we can simply ‘lock up and go’ whenever we like! As a result, we have been very fortunate to have been able to travel to many parts of the world – with Rotary, or just us two, or to visit Derek and Sally wherever their respective jobs have taken them.

We have 3 children and 7 grandchildren: Kevin (42) is married to Pippa. They have 3 children –Katie (11), Craig (9) and Josie (4). Kevin is a qualified attorney, although has never practised as such – he is, at present, the General Manager of an office equipment company. They live in Durban North.

Derek (41) has 2 children from his first marriage – Cayleigh (17) and Gareth (14). They live just near us with their mother. Derek is an Electrical Engineer, and he and Marianne (his 2nd wife), are now living in Johannesburg, although they have lived in several countries all over Africa.

Sally (38) is married to Chris. They have 2 children – Dylan (10) and Jemma (7). Sally is an H R Manager with an International Hotel chain, and they are currently living in Doha, Qatar.

We are planning to be at the reunion, unless I get a sudden call to do ‘granny duty’ in Qatar, in which case, I wish you all a very special occasion, and hope to catch up at some other time. ~*~

~*~

ESTHER OSSIN (nee GOLDSTEIN) Primary School

1962

Caricature who did this ?

After matric I completed a Social Science degree at Natal University with the intention of working in Personnel Management. My parents had moved to Pretoria at the end of my second year and I was fortunate in securing a vac job in the Personnel Dept. of the OK Bazaars Pretoria. Having graduated the following year I joined the OK Van der Walt St Pretoria as a Personnel Clerk. This position gave me an excellent foundation in labour legislation, conditions of employment etc. I remained in Pretoria for approximately eight months. I was then transferred to the Germiston branch as a Staff Manageress, as it was termed in those days.

It was during this period whilst working at the OK bazaars and living with an aunt in Johannesburg, that I met my husband David. David is a Doctor of Metallurgy and was attached to the National Institute of Metallurgy while doing his Doctorate at Wits. He subsequently joined Afrox where he remained until his retirement six years ago. He is very involved with our local Shul (Synagogue) and spends a great deal of time in religious learning. We were married in 1969.

Our son Terence was born in 1971 at which point I resigned from the OK and busied myself with being a mother selling Tupperware and houses. I really enjoyed the Tupperware but hated the property sales and was a pathetic Estate Agent!! I subsequently joined Pick n Pay in 1979 and was the HR Manger at the Norwood Hyper for 21 Years. Some memorable experiences of the Hyper include cowering under a till with a petrified customer during a robbery at the tills as well as being picketed by the union during a very ugly strike! Generally I loved being in the store and watching people grow and develop. I then moved into full time training and was based at the Pick n Pay Training Institute in Fourways for six years I took mandatory retirement at sixty and continued training in a consulting capacity until February this year. I have decided that one needs to know when to bow out gracefully while you are still able!! I I will therefore be looking for something meaningful to do later in the year once we return from a trip to Israel which besides being the Barmitzvah of a cousin’s grandchild, is also a reunion with many dear members of family.

Terence is married to Ilana and they have a five year old daughter. Terence and Ilana are both advocates practising at the Jhb bar.

Our daughter Marice was born on 1973. She is married to Evan and they have a little girl of eight months. Evan is an attorney and Marice a trainer and teacher. Since the birth of her little girl she has busied herself with extra maths lessons besides being a full time Mom which she says is the best job in the world.

Our “Laat Lammetjie” Ilan turns thirty this year. He is married to Melissa who is a teacher.

Ilan is an Electrical Engineer and works for Discovery Insure. We are so lucky to have our children near us and thank G‐d for them and our precious granddaughters with whom we are blessed to spend a great deal of time.

We are also blessed still to have my mother of nearly ninety three near us and thank G‐D although in pain is learning bridge and Hebrew and loving both! She is a true inspiration for all of us and wears a granny bracelet with the names of her nine grandchildren and nineteen Great Grandchildren ‐ a life truly blessed. ~*~

~*~

LYDIA WEIGHT (nee GORVEN)

I first attended Westville High School in the 6th grade, which was known as Standard 4. We had Mr Mathee as class teacher. He had only one leg.

I was in a class of brilliant learners. I was not really keen on schoolwork, although I loved English, thanks to Nan Thompson.

After school, I qualified as an English teacher, continuing my studies through Unisa. I still study my subject every day.

I was described as ‘unconventional’ by my grade 11 teacher Mr Miller. I taught for 3 years, then travelled through Australia and New Zealand for a year. Thereafter I married and had twin sons.

I taught at Excelsior Place of Safety for 10 years, a 10‐year course in psychology! Two of my students went on to become murderers. One was the notorious Charmaine Phillips.

When the school closed I started making T ‐shirts for dogs and was the first in the country to introduce them at markets, pet shops, vets and parlours. I have also spent 20 years on and off in the UK pet‐sitting.

I have travelled extensively.

I have also been in the business of making sportswear. I now work freelance as a proof‐ reader/editor, correcting mainly academic work, but also editing articles, web pages, magazines, books, etc.

I am very proud of having attended Westville High School under the sterling Mr Bowden. Mr Commons must take much credit for my Math results.

Unconventional? You tell me!

~*~

~*~

PETER HASTIE

Peter Hastie was born on 30th October, 1945, at the Florida Road Nursing Home, Durban, the only child of local parents, who lived in Durban until he turned 9 years old, whereupon the family moved to Westville. Started at Westville in Standard 3, through to Matric.

Learning was never easy for him and he used to marvel how most of the class, particularly the girls, used to sail through, so effortlessly. Nevertheless, those days were really special for him because his class comprised such wonderful people who meant a lot to him. Our Headmaster and Teachers were exceptional professionals and by the Grace of God and a little help from his friends he matriculated! He still sees Mrs. Thompson from time to time, who prevailed with his English!

He studied Law at UNISA and U of Natal and practised as an Attorney and Conveyancer in Durban until 1977. In 1969 he met Lynn and they married in 1970 and have been blessed with 4 children (a girl and boy born in 1972; a girl and boy 10 and 12 years later) Only their eldest son is married giving them 3 beautiful granddaughters.

In 1975 Lynn and Peter were born again and God called them into full time Ministry with effect from 1978. In 1985 Peter and Lynn were led to start a local church in Pinetown, Ethembeni Christian Church, which they still Pastor today. They meet in Pinetown Girls’ High School Hall and have their offices at home. Like so many of us, their road has not been easy, but God has kept them and no doubt always will.

It is going to be great to re‐establish contact after all these years.

~*~

~*~

TERRY HAYWARD

I was born in Boksburg on the 3rd June, 1944, and lived in Benoni until I turned 7, when the family moved to Bulawayo in the then Rhodesia. I attend C.B.C. until the family moved back to South Africa in 1959 and then I concluded my schooling at Westville. In 1962 I attended the Durban Campus of the Natal University to study law. I was admitted to the side‐bar on the 4th March, 1968, and practised law in Durban and Westville until 1987. I married Rita Hayes in November of 1968 and we had 2 children, Carmen who studied Industrial Psychology and Human Resources. Our son, Adrian, studied Nature Conservation and worked first at the Weenen Game Reserve before being transferred to the Mkhuze Game Reserve where he worked until he married a Canadian Lass and went to live in Canada last year. Carmen with her husband and 2 children now live in New Zealand and Rita and I live in a ‘granny flat’ with them.

I sold my legal practice in 1987 to study Theology in response to a call into the ordained ministry. Rita and I were sent to the Federal Theological Seminary (St. Peter’s College) and I was ordained in December of 1989. I worked as Chaplain to the Westville Hospital and Chaplain at the Westville Prison until the end of 1993 when I was transferred to St. Elizabeth’s church in Westville as Curate. Thereafter I served as Rector at St. Augustine’s church, Queensburgh, and also later at St. Michael and All Angels in Merebank.

On retirement in October, 2010, Rita and I moved to New Zealand where I now am the assistant Priest at St. Peter’s church, Pakuranga. Rita and I have both written books which were published at the end of last year, my book being a novel and Rita’s a children’s book.

We have both caught the ‘writing bug’ and are nearly finished sequels. My author’s page is athttp://sbpra.com/terryhayward and Rita’s at http://sbpra.com/ritahayward

~*~

~*~

MIKE JEWITT

1962

Mike & Debbie

I was only at Westville High for my last 2 school years, so it is all a bit of a blur, changing schools and curriculum. Coming from an all boys school to coed was an eye opener of note and I was incredibly shy and petrified of girls (still am!).

After finishing in ’62 I spent the next 9 months as a guest of the state (army not prison), which effectively put paid to any motivation to study. I tried engineering at Durban Varsity but pulled out after a couple of years, unable to settle down to study. After working a few years as a technician on accounting machines in Durban, which included a stint in London, converting accounting machines from pound, shillings and pence to decimal, followed by the obligatory traveling through Europe and a visit to the States, I started making wood and metal lamps in my garage in Hillcrest. This grew into a furniture manufacturing enterprise which I owned and managed for 15 years, and entailed a move to new premises in Pietermaritzburg. The business was targeted by the trade unions in the late 80’s (I had a staff compliment of about 140), and we closed in 1991 after 2 very unpleasant years of industrial action. A couple of small businesses followed and I am still involved in Industrial property and micro finance. These do not occupy me full time so I consider myself “semi retired” which is a marvelous excuse to pursue hobbies and other interests.

I married Debbie in 2005 and live in Ashburton on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg with two terrorist cats, 7 ducks and 3 chickens. We get visited by (amongst others), mongoose, duiker, genets, and a whole host of snakes and bushveld birds. We would like to become self sustainable in terms of water, electricity and food, but then we would have to become vegetarians! You can’t eat a duck with name.

Debbie is a conservation scientist at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and will be studying for her doctorate this year. Her main focus is on preserving the natural habitat in which we live, so that hopefully there is enough of the world left for our descendants to survive.

I have three children from my first marriage, Julie‐Ann, Cathy and Paul, with now 5 grandchildren (twins to Cathy on 7th Dec 2011). Both Julie‐Ann and Paul are optometrists, (as well as Julie‐Ann’s husband Vic), Julie‐Ann and her family living in Brisbane and Paul in Oxford, and Cathy is a medical rep in Brisbane having qualified in genetics, although with new twins I think she might rethink the work story.

Interests include, photography, birding, sports and classic cars, with traveling thrown in for good measure. I still play league squash, but now have to use cunning and treachery to beat the youngsters, anyone under 50 officially being a youngster!

~*~

~*~

BARBARA MILLICAN (nee LITTLE)

In 1963 I attended University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and had a tremendously good year meeting so many people, mainly Rhodesians, who were such fun and seemed to have an endless supply of cheap cigarettes. My Dad posted me R1.00 a week pocket money, so a packet of Rhodesian fags was a brilliant asset with my thrifty budget! Gilad Hodes and Keith Palmer had taught me the smoking habit while still at school!

In 1964 I decided to complete my Trinity College of London L.T.C.L. Speech and Drama Diploma through the Durban Speech Academy, so I was qualified, teaching and earning at the age of 19. I taught at Davaar Kindergarten at the bottom of Moore Road in the mornings and Speech in the afternoons. On Saturdays I taught Drama. I think I earned about R100.00 a month.

When I was 21 I was offered the opportunity to go to Stanger on the Natal North Coast where 23 pupils wanted a Speech Teacher. I took the plunge and met all the school teachers, some of whom are still my friends. That was 1967 and in that year I met Neil who is 9 and 1/2 years older than I. We married at the end of 1968. In 1970 our son Bruce was born, followed by Leah in 1971 and Erica in 1972. Whew!!! A very testing time of my life!

Bruce is a Garden Landscaper and Home Decorator and is very very busy and very very stressed as he has a staff of about 40 indigenous folk, is a father of triplets (2 boys and a girl), and a lovely wife Vicki who is also working to keep the home fires burning. The triplets are 4 and are a real handful! Leah is a degreed school teacher at Stanger and for health reasons has not attained her full potential, but she is okay now, and may just be a late bloomer! She is fantastic with all age kids, and is so tolerant!

Erica has a self‐catering set up at Rosetta, and is also into Travel and Tourism.

When Neil was 40 we relocated to a small family farm just 15kms from Stanger, farming sugar cane which brought in a comfortable income. (Wish I could say the same now ‐ am afraid the profitability has declined drastically and the changing climate has also played a big role). Waking up so early on the farm encouraged me to register with UNISA and so I finally got my BA with majors English and Communication, doing most of my study between 4 and 7am. My aging parents were ever so proud that I had not let them down! I taught at Stanger Primary for a number of years and loved it.

However, some very spoilt Muslim kids and very incorrigible wild others led me to hang up my boots about 8 years ago. Since then I have facilitated adults in factories up and down the North Coast ‐ a great and fulfilling challenge.

We moved to the UMHLALI COUNTRY CLUB Housing Estate about 8 years ago and really love it here.

Neil plays a bit of golf and I play a little bit of golf! We both play Bowls and I especially have got

pretty involved, playing league and travelling to tournaments at other clubs in and around Durban.

It's a great game!

Our family are only about 30kms away so we see them often. Such a blessing!

~*~

~*~

PETER LOVEJOY aka PLUM

Born in Durban I started schooling at Westville Primary then moved to Sherwood Primary when the family relocated to Sherwood. Returned to Westville in Standard 5.

Married to local girl Jane and have a son, Simon, a graphic designer who has been in advertising in London for 12 years and Sarah, who lives in Rosetta and is sculptor on the Midlands Meander.

I retired in 2008 after 44 years in the sugar industry, including 25 years as company secretary/administration manager of the Sugar Terminal, whereafter the last 10 years was as Retirement Benefits Manager of the South African Sugar Association, acting as Principal Officer of their Pension, Provident and Retirement Funds.

There was a career break in 1970/71 when we spent 15 months abroad, touring the Continent on a Vespa for three months followed by a year in London, where I worked at Westinghouse.

Now enjoying retirement, with frequent trips to the Midlands, and a trip to the UK last year to see Simon. ~*~

~*~

KEITH MACFARLANE

Born in Durban 1945. Attended 5 schools including a year and a bit at Highbury as a border, before finally arriving at Westville Prep. In Standard ll.

I lived next door to the school and enjoyed the perks of living so close, which included rushing home for forgotten items like P.T.kit . I enjoyed most of what school life had to offer and was a keen participant in soccer, cricket and rugby.

Coming from a family who were all deeply involved in music including a mother who taught piano, it was not surprising that after leaving school I was encouraged to join a piano firm established by my uncle, Percy Cooke . After serving a four year apprenticeship in the piano business I decided to widen my horizons . The following years included a 5 year stint at Smith & Nephew Ltd as head of Production Planning, followed by a similar period in the garment and fashion trade during which time I served as National Sales manager for Linofra Knitwear and subsequently started my own business “INNOVATIVE FASHIONS “with a partner .

In my early thirties I finally decided that I needed to put to good use the years of experience which I had had in the piano business and within a very short space of time I enjoyed exclusive patronage from all the major institutions in K.Z.N. as well as teachers and musicians . To round off my knowledge and skills I worked for periods in the Bosendorfer Piano factory in Vienne and in Switzerland.

I met Yvonne (Halsted) when I was eighteen and we were married five years later. We will have been happily married for 44 years this coming 4th May. We have a son Lloyd of 41 years, a daughter Loren 38 years, and a daughter Cara‐Dee of 29 years. We have nine lovely grandchildren ranging from 2 to 17 years.

We moved to Cape Town 9 years ago and are extremely fortunate to have all three of our children living near us.

Music has become an important part of our lives and most of our friends are in some way involved in music. My early studies in Classical guitar have largely given way to Jazz which I play professionally with other musicians including my two daughters and a son‐in‐law.

We look forward to the time we will spend in the Drakensburg meeting with old friends and acquaintances ~*~

~*~

In memory of Alan May Dear Derrick It is going on for two years since Alan died, but unfortunately neither Irene or myself can remember the date. The head shot of Alan was when he first started at Rex Trueform and the other is with his colleagues in the design section just before Rex closed its doors in 2005.

Alan retired then.

Hope this helps you.

Kind Regards Lynn Lynn Ackermann was a colleague of Alan’s who kindly sent us this message and the pictures.

~*~

~*~

LIZ NORTON (nee MAY)

Liz left school and went into nursing which she hated. She left nursing after 9 months and then went into Business College which she also hated. Fortunately she managed to get a job, and from there travelled Europe before returning to JHB. In Johannesburg she got a job in the stock exchange, then came back to Durban a few years later and worked for Stock Brokers for what seemed forever.

In Durban Liz married Stanley Norton and they produced 3 boys.

They have a catamaran on the Med, which their eldest son runs. Their middle son has his own computer business, but won’t leave home because life is too good; and the youngest son lives in Ireland and also runs his own computer business.

50 years down the line, Liz feels she just muddles her way along spend time gardening, making necklaces or trying to play tennis.

The Norton’s’ travel to Greece and Ireland every year to see their granddaughters – amazing after 3 boys to only have granddaughters, which they say is rather pleasant for a change.

Liz is looking forward to seeing all the old Westville codgers again to just make sure she is not the only wrinkled granny (grandpa). ~*~

~*~

COLIN MCLEAN

1962

2012

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~*~

MICHAEL (MIKE) GAVIN MEEHAN

Career: I qualified as a Chartered accountant at age 20, too young to be granted the right to practice and thereafter joined Grindrod’s where I enjoyed 23 fascinating years in the shipping industry, rising to CEO of the ship owning activities and serving on the main board. I attended the Executive Program at Stanford University – California. I served as President of the SA Shipowner’s Association and President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce. In a career change, I formed and listed a private equity company, Trematon Capital Investments, in which I was involved for 3 years. I now consult on strategy, manage property investments, act as an independent non‐executive director on listed companies and am invested in a pipe‐ fitting venture with international prospects. Retirement is not on the radar – work holds too many fascinations and opportunities to let it go.

Family: My first marriage provided a son, Gavin who is now 37, lives in Durban and has two young girls – the only grandchildren at this stage. Vibeke and I have been married for 25 years this year and have two kids, Kirsten‐Britt (24, working in JHB) and Bjorn (22, at sea on an ex‐Abromovitch mega‐yacht). Home has been on the Berea with a few years in Umhlanga thus I have remained in the Durban area all my life – it has been good to me and it really is a great place to live.

Interests and Sports: The back injury I suffered at PT in standard 8 caught up with me in my thirties and lead to four spinal operations. Golf, yachting and squash, which all featured until then, are regrettably no longer options. I was actively involved in horseracing as an owner, breeder and director. Today the Sharks provide the thrills.

Westville High School – a reflection: To give something back after school, I was involved in the Old Pupils Committee and the WOPA Trust of which Wynn Bowden and I were trustees but we had neither the numbers nor the resources to launch this successfully without a benefactor, who was not forthcoming. With the benefit of a larger pool of members, the association has more traction now. When I look back on our school days, they were not the greatest of times (as our parents told us they were!) but they certainly were not bad either.

As only the fourth matric class, we were pioneers of a sort and we can be proud of the legacy we left the school. There is no doubt that the quality of the school, its teaching staff and the camaraderie of the kids in the class who are all now 50 years older, had a great deal to do with whatever success and happiness I have found in my life – thank you to you all. ~*~

~*~

KAREN VAN DER RIET (nee MILLER)

1962

2012

I was born on 5th February 1944 near Chicago Illinois USA and soon after we moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin. We lived in and around Milwaukee, where I attended six different schools, until 1953 when we emigrated to South Africa. We arrived in Johannesburg and lived there until the beginning of 1957 when we went back to the States for a visit. On our return, we moved to Westville and started school in July. Fortunately, in many ways, it turned out to be the best of all the schools!

The next stage was University of Natal Pmb campus where I graduated in 1965 with a BSc degree.

I decided to take a quick secretarial course and worked in my father’s business in the afternoons where I practiced my new skills. After a couple of years I moved on to a shipping company and worked there until 1972 when Felix van der Riet and I were married and settled down to manage

his family’s farm in Shaka’s Kraal, North Coast. Felix was a geologist before he was called to help his ageing father on the farm. We have two wonderful children, Paula and Luke. It was here that I first started pottery classes – in the beginning it was once a week, then two or three times and eventually by the end of the year we had converted the old laundry into my very own studio.

In 1989 the van der Riet family decided to sell the farm and we moved to Knoppieslaagte, north of Johannesburg, where we established our rose farm. We spent nine extremely busy, fulfilling years learning how to grow roses and other cut flowers ‐ supplying florist shops and the Johannesburg Flower Market. Tragically, in 1998, Felix was murdered on the farm. I decided to stay on and continued to run the business for a further nine years.

For the past five years I have been living in Centurion, Gauteng, and have taken up pottery once again. I am enjoying the new life of courses, workshops, making pots and meeting many wonderful potters. I am a member of the Bahá’í Faith and am inspired and motivated by its teachings.

Am really looking forward to the reunion and meeting everyone again after all this time. Thanks to the organising team for all your hard work. ~*~

~*~

PETER MUNRO

I was born on 2 February 1945 in Durban, the second in a family of four all of whom attended Westville High School. We lived in Sherwood and I attended junior school there up to 1957. I moved to Westville in Standard 6 in 1958 and enjoyed a good education and lots of fun and friends.

After school I entered into my father’s accounting practise and qualified in 1967. I met a delightful young lady called Ulla and we married in 1969. God blessed us with three children, a son and two daughters. We were very much involved with the Westville Baptist Church and later with the newly formed Westville Christian Fellowship.

In 1993 our oldest daughter moved to Germany with her new husband and our son left for the UK in 1999. We started visiting from time to time and, when our second daughter and her husband decided for the UK we thought it was time to follow. This we did in 2001.

We now live in a village called Rowledge, Farnham Surrey. A ten minute walk takes us into the English countryside, either farmlands or forest. We have eight grandchildren four of whom live within ten minutes drive from us. Our son lives with his wife in the cottage on the property of an old mill about fifteen minutes drive in the opposite direction. Our eldest daughter has four boys. They live about 40 miles south of Munich near the Alps and the Austrian border. We love our visits to that beautiful region.

All the best to all my classmates of 1962! ~*~

~*~

KEITH PALMER

1962

2012

K’s Baby

Keith married until '87, with 4 Kids 2 boys 2 girls (3 adopted as infants) Ten G'Kids 5 boys 5 girls After school he started working, and speculated in property part time, then full time in own development in Umhlanga. The 'new' property market died in '94 and he started a shoe factory, which he later merged with a large group. Keith then went onto his first love aero planes, and spent 4 years building one.

He developed diabetes in '85. He was allowed to fly Gliders but not powered aircraft. He used his condition to change the medical regulations for diabetics in aviation and became the first legal diabetic PPL pilot in South Africa. He saved SAA a fortune in training new pilots and was made an Honoury member of the "SA Society for Aerospace and Environmental Medicines". He was also invited to sit on the SA‐CATS‐MR (Medical Requirements) working group Then he had a stroke in '02 which totally stopped him flying and forced him to sell his aero plane. In '03 he had 3 heart attacks resulting in a triple bypass, and in '06 a major motorcycle accident and only got home 5 months later. During his hospitalisation stay he designed an aviation related product, and subsequently developed it, sold the manufacturing rights to a friend in the US and now receives a royalty – big market/ big win.

His eldest son is a highly accomplished sportsman lives in Perth, and has 2 children his daughter is similarly gifted (still at School) represented Australia in the Malaysian Games 2010 and now in the Australian Olympic training & selection squad.

His second son also has 2 kids, is based on his beautiful yacht in NZ, and has been sailing around the world E to W for 14 years. They have used a home schooling system very successfully and Keith meets up with them as often as possible.

His 2 daughters are Durban based ‐ eldest with 3 boys ‐ Youngest (natural) with 3 girls ‐ G'pa's girls.

Keith’s hobby and passion has been flying since leaving school (Models during school) with many tales and adventures to relate. He had planned to fly his plane to the USA in '03 (search ‐ sa2usa2003) ‐ A Stroke and Heart attacks put paid to that. His current interest is the PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) ‐ NGATS (Next Generation Air Transport System) ‐ SVS (Synthetic Vision System). He sees this taking over from the Car & Road system, leaving only EV's (Electric Vehicles) for local convenience ‐ it's coming maybe in the Great G' kids time.

He currently lives in Durban but could be off to the USA soon – Carpe Diem ~*~

~*~

DERRICK PLANTING

DERRICK PLANTING, born 17 November 1945, at the Park Lane Hospital in Durban, brother to Telma (4 years older) & Carl (2 years older) son of immigrant parents Dutch father & English mother.

Lived and grew up in Westville Park Drive and attended Westville School, firstly at the town hall and then at the new co‐ed school, now the boys high school, from the grades through to matric.

School was confusing as the girls were smarter and prettier than the boys. Despite this, those days were great due to special friendships and good teachers ‐although we did not realize it at the time. Interestingly he had a girlfriend at school called Wendy Chapman from a family of five children who lived at “Maweni” in Winston Ridge.

When he took off to Stellenbosch University after school to study a BSc in Chemistry and Anatomy he met the lovely Rosemary Webster, who was from a Benoni family of six children. Strangely enough her Grandparents sold “Maweni” to the Chapmans. Derrick & Rosemary left Stellenbosch, moved to Johannesburg and started the next generation. They have lived in 9 homes, 4 provinces and produced 4 children (2 boys & 2 girls) plus have been blessed with 10 grandchildren from the three married children. Their “laat lammetjie” is a doctor and she is presently doing her internship.

His business career spanned 30 years in the corporate world with ICI, The Reed Group & Chemserve (AECI/AA) before moving to CT 16 years ago and running

his own head hunting, consulting and private equity business –he is still looking for the one big break. He is however thankful for extended family and friends which are more permanent blessings.

The road has not always been plain sailing with some broken bones, deaths of loved ones and a bout of cancer which seems to be at bay, so every day is a new day and their family motto of “Carpe Diem” holds good.

He is looking forward to catching up with “old” class friends and their partners and hopes he can recognize them and vice versa !!!

~*~

~*~

VIVIENNE THORPE (nee PLATT) Vivienne Thorpe, b Durban 11 December 1945 Childhood home: 2 Selbourne Road, Cowies Hill Schooling: Westville School, later Westville High School Tertiary Education: B.A.Hons (English); U.E.D., University of Natal, Durban; Argus Cadet School, Cape Town.

Work Experience: Journalist on The Daily News; teacher of senior English and History at state and private schools in South Africa, and at private schools in Botswana, Swaziland and Greece.

Married (for forty years!) to Christopher Thorpe, also in Education ; two children, Jacqui, working in publishing in London; James, working in IT in Pietermaritzburg; two granddaughters, Emily and Sarah (the light of our lives!)

So, what have I been up to in the last 50 years? I have been moving ‐ in all senses of the word.

After working as a news reporter on The Daily News, I took the money and ran overseas for eight months, touring extensively with friends in Europe, the UK and Ireland. Then it was back to the workplace again but this time the workplace was a classroom, where I discovered to my surprise and delight that teaching can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling of experiences, and that children everywhere are simply ‐ children. As Chris climbed the corporate ladder our ongoing moves provided us with a unique opportunity to exchange news and views with folk from different cultures and walks of life in our own country and abroad. In this way the last half‐century has been a fascinating voyage of discovery for me, a journey which has brought us, eventually, to Howick in the midlands of KwaZulu/Natal.

In September 2007, after occupying 19 homes in 40 years, Chris and I came to rest in Amber Valley. Chris continues to teach, while I involve myself in the many activities of the Village; jointly, we run a very popular monthly Pub Quiz for our fellow residents. And it is here, ironically in what is termed a retirement village, that I am learning that retirement does not involve a giving in but rather a reaching out, and I am reminded of the exhortation of Ulysses as he urges the ageing companions who have agreed to accompany him on one last voyage: “ .. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield!”

Carpe diem! ~*~

~*~

DAN REMENYI

Having left Westville with no idea of what career to follow, except not wanting to undertake accounting training which my father was very keen for me to do, I had a number of totally forgettable jobs while accumulating the funding I needed to acquire a degree in Economics and Political Science at UND. Having obtained this degree and learning that it was the sort of education which helps one live without the income other qualifications, such as accounting, offer I had a few more jobs before undertaking an MBA at UCT. In 1973 I started working with computers and since then have kept an interest in the management of information systems. I am sometimes asked which computer to buy and I never know, or how to fix someone’s PC and I haven’t the faintest idea how to do that either.

In 1978 while visiting London I was offered a job in managing consulting and training and moved.

Ten years later I started a doctorate and having completed a PhD I have split my time between various universities where I have been supervising research and teaching research methods on the one hand, and working in the publishing and training world on the other.

Sue and I were married in 1984 when I was still a youngster at the age of 40 and we have two daughters, Louise 23 and Kate 18.

We live in a small village or hamlet in South Oxfordshire where we have been for 25 years.

We have 2 chickens, 2 ducks and an antisocial cat which has ripped the living room furniture so much that we want to replace it but feel that we should wait until the cat has deceased or as Monty Python would say has become an ”ex‐ cat”.

The photograph shows us at the end of a holiday in the tropics waiting on a raft for a bus – one that flew, at 0530 am. It is a couple of years old.

Sue runs a conference business from home and I work at a variety of universities as a visiting professor and I write books about research. My work with universities takes me to quite a few different countries one of which is South Africa and so I am in South Africa 2 or 3 times a year where I enjoy keeping up with “old” friends.

I sometimes think about Westville High which was for me an interesting environment in which to grow up. I have mixed views about the teaching and also about how we as students responded to our teachers’ attempts to engage us with the subjects we covered. I now enjoy teaching but I work with small groups and do quite a lot of one‐to‐one work by supervising research.

I have no intention of retiring until I am dispatched in a little urn to be spread into the wind.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could recognise each other but I am not holding my breath on that one!

~*~

~*~

ALISON TOOMBS (nee ROSS)

Born in Cape Town on 19th September 1945, my schooling started in Pinelands. Our family emigrated to Canada after the Nationalist government came into power in SA and we spent 3 years in Vancouver before returning to SA and moving to Natal.

I started at Westville Primary mid‐way through Standard 4 and went on to complete my schooling at Westville High.

Following matric I went to UNP to study, with the aim of teaching Geography and Maths. During my first year I was selected to go to the USA as an AFS exchange student. I spent a very happy year living with an American family and attending high school near Pittsburgh. After returning to SA I resumed my studies in Pietermaritzburg. After completing second year I started to have health problems and as a result didn't complete my degree.

This bothered me for a while, but actually hasn't had any negative impact on my life. In fact there have been more positives than negatives! I would have been a grumpy teacher if I had completed my final year, instead of a very happy computer programmer /systems analyst and I would not have met my husband! In 1967 it was found that I had a congenital hole in my heart that was becoming problematic as it was enlarging. How lucky was I that it hadn't been discovered earlier ‐ I would have spent my childhood not being allowed to take part in sport nor have ballet lessons! In March 1968 I had successful open heart surgery at Wentworth Hospital. From then until age 60 I had few cardiac problems, but had a pacemaker implanted 10 months ago.

In 1969 I moved to Pietermaritzburg as a trainee computer programmer, after spending a couple of years in the laboratory at Bakers Biscuits. My husband, Alan (from England) started work at Alcan on the same day as I did. We married in 1970. Alan was transferred several times and we lived in Johannesburg and Cape Town before he was sent back to head office in Pietermaritzburg in 1983. By that time we had three children ‐ Ross (born in 1974) is married to Kristin and living in New York, Lesley (born in 1975) is living in Cape Town, but is planning to move to London shortly, and Robyn (born in 1982) is married to Neil and living in Stellenbosch with our grandchildren Grace (2) and Benjamin(1). I am a besotted 'Danny'!

I worked until I turned 50 and Ross and Les had completed their studies and Robyn was in matric. When Alan retired after 35 years with the company we moved to Hermanus in 2004. We had spent so much time in the Cape, when all of our children were completing degrees at Stellenbosch University, and decided this was where we wanted to be. Alan is a golfer and the Chairman of the board for the Overstrand Hospice.

I now play golf (enthusiastically even if often not very skilfully!), am a Hospice companion and look after the Hospice website.

Sadly we won't be attending the Reunion ‐ we have just returned home after spending Christmas in New York , are travelling to 'Maritzburg in July to attend a wedding, leave next week to travel up the Garden route with my cousin visiting from Edinburgh and there is the possibility of another trip to New York and London later this year. Reading all the 'life stories' and searching through school photos has been such fun (thanks Derrick and everyone who is working so hard to organise the reunion) I will be with you in thought and look forward to hearing all about the weekend. ~*~

~*~

MICHEAL SANER I was born 2 June 1945 in Johannesburg. In 1950 I went to St Peter’s Preparatory School in Rivonia for 1½ years. The family was transferred to East London in 1951 and I went to De La Salle College and then Selborne College to 1959. We were transferred to Natal in January 1960 when I was enrolled at Westville High School. I had to repeat Std 9 (passed but apparently not good enough!) and completed Matric in 1962.

I played 1st Team tennis and 2nd Team cricket at Westville, and I seem to remember (of all the things I miss, I miss my mind the most!) participating in athletics in the sprints as well as javelin.

Then on to UND to graduate (B.Sc. Geology) in 1967, followed by employment with large international mining companies such as Rio Tinto, JCI, Phelps Dodge, Gold Fields, Gencor (now BHP‐Billiton), as well as smaller ones (Selection Trust, Southern Sphere are examples). I became registered as a Member of the Institution of Minerals, Materials & Mining (UK) in 1971, as a Chartered Engineer (UK) in 1976, a Fellow of the Southern African Institute of Mining & Metallurgy in 1977, and a Registered Natural Scientist (SA) in 1984.

This all gave me a broad experience in all facets of the international minerals industry, including field exploration, project assessments, feasibility studies, mine and technical project design, investments, and financing. I have been on my own – self‐employed ‐ since 1994 as an independent consultant to the minerals industry. This background and experience has allowed me to travel on business to about 20 countries, which has been most enjoyable.

I married in 1970 in the UK, but we divorced in 1975. Our daughter, Stacey Jane (born 1972) now lives in Bournemouth UK with her family including my grandchildren Jamee Jade and Leo Michael.

I married Wendy in January 1977, and we are still very happily together these 35 years later!

(Wendy was the bookkeeper at one of the companies that we both worked at). We have a son Roger (now 33), a daughter Heather (now 30) and another daughter Lyndi (now 27).

Roger is married to a Canadian Danya, while Heather is married to Douglas Neary. Doug is also a Westville Boys High old Boy!

We have been living in Linden in the north‐west suburbs of Johannesburg since August 1979, where we still are.

I am currently driving and developing three projects (1 in Malawi, 2 in Richards Bay) to separate and refine rare earth chemicals and compounds (these are in high demand in modern economies). I am also busy developing a megawatt‐scale solar power plant so that it will produce power continuously for up to 7 days (= 24/7 guaranteed power!).

We are certainly looking forward to the Reunion!

~*~

~*~

In memory of PETER SCHOLLICK

Peter Schollick arrived in South Africa in 1959 from the United Kingdom. His family settled in Cowies Hill and he attended the local school.

Peter was the best academic performer among the boys in the class of ‘62.

He was a bright and cheerful person who had a wide range of interests far beyond his school subjects.

He and I shared one important characteristic which was that both of us were hopeless at any athletic activity. I could count on being last or second last whenever we ran during our PT lessons depending on whether Peter was there i.e. I could just about beat Peter in a race. However when Peter attended university his attitude towards athletic pursuits changed and he attempted for a wager to run the route of the Comrades Marathon. He only made it as far as Kloof which is to my mind a considerable achievement. Peter was also involved in some playful pranks during these days. While engaging in some daredevil jumping contest he fell and seriously injured his leg.

Peter completed a B Com at UND with the intention of entering accounting training. But shortly after graduating he moved overseas to live in England. He took a job in finance which involved some considerable amount of travelling.

Unfortunately his leg injury continued to affect him. Eventually he was diagnosed with cancer emanating from the leg injury.

Peter Schollick passed away while living with his parents at the age of 27.

He is remembered fondly by his brother Adrian and friends.

Written by Dan Remenyi

~*~

~*~

JENNY HEHER (nee SHADWELL)

Life is pretty hectic at the moment with family visiting from overseas and our having to accommodate ourselves to having Ralph, our 24 year old son, living at home. It is difficult as he is mentally handicapped as a result of brain damage sustained when he had severe tick bite fever just before he turned 2. We believe it was only through prayer that he lived. He lived and worked very happily for 5 years at a home in Belville, but a change in management resulted in a very different ethos and Ralph became very difficult to manage. Most of the other residents are Down Syndrome and not as physically strong and a lot more amenable than Ralph. Our big search is WHERE to place him as there are few facilities for those on the Autistic spectrum. I wonder if any of you have Special Needs children … or have worked with them?

Well that is where my life is at the moment: retired and enjoying our beautiful surrounds and vibrant Cape Town cultural life, but very challenged.

Briefly I was born in Bethlehem. We moved to Port Shepstone where I attended St Dominix Convent. At the age of 10 I had to adjust myself to co‐ed life at Kloof Primary. Kathy Cradock and I soon became friends. After Westville it was Natal University to major in English and Speech and Drama at the Durban campus, then UED at the PMB campus. I seized the opportunity, much to my parents' horror, to go rock climbing and parachute jumping. At the end of that year Tony Heher and I got engaged and married at St Agnes Church Kloof in 1968. We lived in Pretoria where Douglas was born in 1969. Then it was off to the University of California, Berkeley for 2 years where Tony started a PhD (which he later completed at UND). Besides enjoying life in California, I kept busy doing my English Honours with UNISA. Sue was born in the USA towards the end of our stay in 1971. This made her an American citizen which proved very useful in her career.

Altogether we spent 30 years in Pretoria. I taught English at both Boy's High and Pretoria High School for Girls. Then it was a 16 year stint at St Mary's DSG as head of English during which time I enjoyed a Visitorship to England where I was welcomed at 9 different Private Schools. Eventually my lungs became so bad I had to be Medically Boarded ‐ a very traumatic process. Fortunately Unisa came to my rescue by wanting me to mark for them. Before coming to Cape Town we spent 3 years at Hillcrest where Tony was CEO of the Sugar Association in 1998. Before this he was MD of a company in the AECI/ICI group for 16 years.

Life in Hillcrest was very relaxed as we were on home ground again, but when the post of Director of Innovation at UCT came up, we accepted immediately as we knew the Vera School in Cape Town would provide a good home for Ralph. He was at that stage commuting to school in Pretoria, which had become increasingly stressful.

So here we are twelve years later. I felt a bit like a fish out of water at first but with Kath introducing me to Book Club and Garden Club and attending many of the U3A interest groups, I soon began to feel at home. I have my own Poetry and Drama group and both lead and participate in the small groups at Christ Church Constantia. I enjoy the yearly UCT Summer School lectures which Tony now attends with me.

I have been lucky enough to enjoy quite a few overseas trips courtesy of Sue, who served as a diplomat in the Middle East for 6 years, and with Tony on a couple of business trips. Sue is Vice President of Performance Systems Development in Ithaca in upstate New York. She and Walt have a son Luke, now 19 months. Douglas is Project Manager for DRA in JHB and is currently in charge of building a R4b copper mine in the Congo. He and Esmé have two girls, Megan (7) and Sarah (4).

I wish you all a wonderful time at Cathedral Peak. It has a special place in our hearts as it was where Tony and I first became a couple on a Mountain Club expedition up the Tseke Tseke and where we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary.

~*~

~*~

MIKE SMALLBONES

Born 6 November 1944 in Johannesburg, my parents moved to Amanzimtoti soon after I was born and this is where I started school. We moved to Westville at the beginning of my Std 5 year with Mr Hodges as class teacher. (who can forget his green “fort”, his dripping pipe, not to mention the smudged ink in our returned books dispatched down the shoot and the wonderful Humber Snipe!) Our home during my high school days was in Acacia Avenue, Westville.

Not really sure what I wanted to do after school, I ended up with a degree in Psychology and History from UND, thinking I may teach. (I never did!) Some time later I added a BTh from Unisa. I started working with Scripture Union (Some may remember Schools and Varsities Camps) for what I thought would be a 5 year stint in 1970, with the idea of teaching after that. Some 42 years later, I am still in Scripture Union! In 1971 I married Elaine Aitchison (ex Durban Girls High). Elaine is a passionate teacher of mathematics and interestingly has worked closely with Jane Cruickshank in maths related projects. We have two children, Marion and Gareth (who coincidently is good friends with Viv’s son James.) We have three delightful grandchildren, thankfully all in SA – one in Cape Town and two just 10 minutes away here in PMB. My career with Scripture Union has been extremely interesting and varied, with time spent in Cape Town, Pretoria and 15 glorious years running a holiday and educational centre in Underberg, where I also dabbled in a bit of farming. The last 8 years has been spent training Scripture Union staff, mostly nationals, in sub Saharan Africa. This has meant a fairly intensive and not a little exhausting travel regime to some 20 countries in Africa, many of them a number of times. As can be imagined, I have had some very interesting experiences – some actually a little too interesting! Elaine and I spent 4 years living in Nairobi, Kenya but returned to live in PMB earlier than anticipated to care for aging parents and, to be honest, we could not resist the pull of the grandchildren who were beginning to arrive. I have also had the privilege of travelling quite widely around the world in connection with my work, for holidays and study. My contract with Scripture Union ends in March this year and I am looking forward to having a bit more time to spend with my grandchildren, as well as getting involved in a charity in PMB which is involved in justice and related issues. Over all, a very rewarding career and there is little I would change even if I had the opportunity to.

My present interests, apart from my family, are the Anglican Church I am quite involved in, my garden, woodwork (when I have the time) and music, particularly classical. I play the piano and used to play the pipe organ for our church in Himeville, something I really miss, having learnt the instrument when I was at UND after leaving school. I also read a lot – pretty widely, both serious and novels to relax. My family gave me a Kindle for my last birthday – the best gift ever! ~*~

~*~

MOIRA DA COSTA (nee STERN) After leaving Westville High School an unbelievable 50 years ago, I completed my degree in English and Speech and Drama at University in Durban. Then it was time to travel abroad. I set off with my dear friend Lizzie to experience the “swinging sixties” in London. We shared a flat and had a great time. Totally unexpectedly coming out of the tube one morning I bumped into Peter Da Costa. I had known Peter (ex DHS) in Durban but had not expected to meet up with him in London. I later learned that Peter had arrived for the World Cup in 1966 and remained ever since. We were married in London in 1969 and have remained happily married ever since.

Peter joined a group of fellow South Africans who were setting up a new Insurance company. This meant that we left London, somewhat reluctantly, to live in Wiltshire. While the office was in the town of Swindon, a rather unremarkable former railway town, we chose to live in a small village nearby in a beautiful cottage. It was a storybook cottage with thatched roof and roses climbing up the stone walls. Both my children were born there, Steven and Kate, now both grown up and with their own families. We learnt a great deal about village and country life, the friendliness and also the enmities that had existed over the years. Many of the inhabitants had been born and lived in the village all their lives.

Some of the older people had never been to London and couldn`t think of any reason why they should go. My favourite character was Swotty who cycled through the village in a baggy coat with two pockets, one filled with bones for the dogs and the other with sweets for the children.

Outgrowing our cottage we moved to live outside Oxford which meant good schools for the children and Peter still able to commute to Swindon. A take‐over of the company meant a career change for Peter who became an Oxford College bursar and also meant that we were staying in Oxford.

I have been involved with teaching in one form or another through the years and have enjoyed them all in different ways. I taught English in London at a Grammar school in the East End. Then when my children were young and we were living in Wiltshire I got involved with the Playgroup movement. As there were no nursery schools in the county playgroups were essential to provide for the 3‐5 year olds. I chaired the Playgroup Association in Swindon and also ran classes for supervisors and staff. It was enormously rewarding. In Oxford I took a course in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and taught for many years at a Further Education College. It was also rewarding as the students were so keen to learn. I learned too from the students who came from countries all over the world. I also continued an interest in children`s books and helped to set up the Oxford Children`s Book Group, a part of the Federation of Children`s Book Groups. This involves getting authors to visit schools, organising storytelling sessions and also conferences.

We are both now retired and plan to remain in Oxford. We still enjoy playing tennis and go the theatre and cinema often. We have a dog and enjoy walks in the countryside as well as eating out in good restaurants. I am still involved with my Children`s Book Group. My greatest interest and joy, however, is my grandchildren. Two girls 6 and 4 and a little boy of 2 with another on the way. Looking back on the fifty years since matric , my life has been full and I know I`ve been very fortunate.

The one on the way is the reason that I won`t be with you all this May but I have enjoyed reading about you all and am very much looking forward to hearing about the reunion. ~*~

~*~

CLIVE STUART

After matric, and not really knowing what to do, Clive followed his Dad into employment with the Durban Municipality. It was difficult combining full time work with compulsory part time studies for a B.Com degree, and surfing, so the inevitable “fail” that followed at the end of the first year came as no surprise. Undaunted, he decided to continue, (work & studies, not the surfing) and from there on managed to pass every year. After a wasted year in the army, Clive chose to stay on in the Municipality, progressed upward through the ranks, met his first wife, and produced a daughter, Robyn.

Around this time Clive decided that his future lay outside the routine world of municipal finance and he embarked on a MBL degree at UNISA. (Can you believe taking on more part time studies?). Over the next 4 years Clive also took the opportunity to get divorced, then married again, changed careers into manufacturing, moved cities, and still managed to get through his MBL in the standard time.

Then followed an opportunity to change careers yet again, this time into management consulting, and Clive joined Pim Goldby (later becoming Deloitte and Touche) and moved yet again, this time to Johannesburg where he became a partner in the firm and leader of the consulting practice in the then Transvaal. Somewhere around here he was blessed with the

birth of his son, Michael from his second marriage, he set up his own management consulting practice, the inevitable divorce followed, and he changed careers once again, this time into medical aid administration.

Not surprisingly Clive met the lady who was to become his third wife during this period, got married again, and it seemed like he was about to start leading a stable life when the dreaded year 2000 approached. So Clive changed careers again, this time into IT, when he joined his ex‐wife’s business as the MD. (Can you believe going back to work with an ex‐ wife? But then can you believe his current wife tolerating it?)

Obviously it couldn’t last long and after a couple of years Clive was back in medical aid administration, his third child Leya was born, and then in 2004 he made what he thought was his final career change; he bought two adjacent farms, and got his family involved in developing them as WagonDrift Game Lodge, erected game fences, built roads, 2 family houses, guest accommodation and introduced a variety of plains game.

Although Clive still owns the farms, the call of commerce was too strong and Clive is currently at Aon, the largest insurance broking company in the world, where he is the CIO for the Sub Saharan Africa Region. Surprisingly Sharon is still married to Clive, Leya is now 8 years old, Michael has recently got married to Charisse, and Robyn and her husband Anton have adopted a baby girl, Jemma ‐ Clive’s first grandchild. Clive says it’s been a great life, with a wonderful and tolerant family, he is still very healthy, and he is looking forward to the re‐union. ~*~

~*~

ALAN SUDAR

After graduating from Natal University, Durban, with a B. Comm. Honours degree, I obtained my C.T.A. by studying part time while serving articles to Wolpert & Abrahams, eventually merging with Arthur Anderson, at that time the world’s largest accounting firm.

Three years later, I couldn’t resist my destiny any longer and joined our family clothing manufacturing company in Durban. The business had grown substantially, with plants in Durban and Mauritius. After we sold out in 1977 I tried my hand at consulting for a few years, and in 1980 immigrated to La Jolla, California with my wife Carole (Cooper) and our three children Richard, Jonathan and Lauren, whose ages at the time ranged from to 7 to 3.

Well, today – 32 years later ‐ we live in the Beverly Hills area in forced retirement less than a mile away from Richard & his wife Allyson, (they are both attorneys), their eight year old son Zachary, and their six year old daughter, Natalie. Our younger son Jonathan, (an executive with Four Seasons Hotels) is currently living in Costa Rica with his wife, Ananda and their Israeli‐born son, Ari (who is almost 17 months). Our youngest, Lauren, is an attorney who lives in L.A with her partner Tiffany (also an attorney!). Tiffany is pregnant with their first child, a baby boy due in September.

So much for the beginning and the end, (well hopefully our current situation & not necessarily the end).

The middle, like most is a story of working hard, playing a little, and trying to raise three kids under totally different circumstances than what we all had the good fortune and privilege of growing up. Bringing up kids in the USA was trying, as I suppose it is in the rest of the world today. While my wife Carole did such an incredible job of running our home and raising our kids, I tried to support the family and provide for their education with various clothing plants, which out of necessity and markets forced me to commute daily in ever‐increasing distances, eventually culminating in a 3 hour daily roundtrip commute.

Finally, as each of our children completed their graduate and post graduate studies, Carole and I undertook our second immigration and moved from La Jolla to Los Angeles – only 2 hours north but a world away – to join Richard, Allyson & Lauren. For the first eight years in L.A. I was involved in a custom furniture manufacturing operation serving the hospitality industry.

However, since April of last year, I have been trying to learn how to retire gracefully with lots of walking, carpooling, babysitting and watching sports (when not carpooling or babysitting). ~*~

~*~

DAVID TREZONA I was born in Florida, Transvaal on 16th April 1945. I started primary school there. My father was transferred briefly to Bloemfontein where we stayed for 6 months, and then another transfer took us to Umbogintwini on the Natal South Coast. I started at Westville School in Standard 4 in 1956. (Actually in 1955 where my parents decided that it would be good for me to attend the last 4 days of that school year)! I enjoyed athletics, doing well in both the 400 and 800m track events, and long jump and javelin in field events. I was proud to represent my school in swimming and I played 1st team cricket.

We had an unforgettable trip to Margate in our Std 9 year, with many memories of McLean’s bombs, tents being collapsed in

the caravan park, and a small car being carried into the foyer of our hotel, (which shall remain un‐named), much to the owner’s surprise the next day!

Std 9 also saw the formation of the “Savages” as a band consisting of three guitars and a set of drums, trying our very best to emulate the Shadows. Unfortunately our instruments and equipment left a lot to be desired. At no stage did we threaten the Shadows’ position on the Charts! We were not really into Elvis or Cliff for that matter, as instrumentals did it for us.

In my matric year I met a young girl, also at Westville School, a few years my junior, who would later become my wife of 44 years. I married Carolyn Gore who lived directly opposite the main gate of the school. We married in 1968 at St Elizabeths’ Church in Westville and built our first home in Chelmsford Park, Gillitts. We produced 4 beautiful children – Clive, Kim and Andrew all two years apart and a “laat lammertjie” Heather seven years after Andrew. They have given us 5 beautiful grandchildren – Michael 13 and Amy 10 born to Clive and Tracey; Matthew 11, is the only child of Kim and Gillon. Daniel 8 and Tyla 5 are Andrew and Vicky’s children.

After matric, I spent 1963 at the Army Gymnasium in Pretoria and returned to Durban where I spent the following 3 years doing a Civil Engineering Diploma at Durban Technikon. I started my working career at Smith and Nephew in Pinetown in the R&D department developing new adhesives and industrial self‐adhesive tapes. Eight years later I moved into production management at various factories producing hospital disposable products. This saw us move as a family to Harrismith in 1986 where I managed a new factory producing the above products under the then government’s decentralized policy in Qwa Qwa. When these incentives were withdrawn in 1994, we elected to stay on in Harrismith and start our own TV business. I had been instrumental in bringing M‐Net to the town so was awarded the Multichoice Agency which we still run today. The last 6 years has seen us diversify into our own Wireless Internet Network, and operate as an ISP in the Eastern Free State, and Central and Northern Drakensberg Region. We are also selling and installing solar water heaters which we import from China.

We are very blessed to have all of our children living near us in Harrismith and they are also directly involved in the businesses we run. My lovely wife Carolyn, busies herself not only with running our home, but excels in sewing and quilting. We are most fortunate to live on a farm some 10km out of town, where our youngest daughter Heather, runs her riding school and keeps cats, dogs, chickens, pot‐bellied pigs, Shetland ponies and livery horses.

We are really looking forward to being part of the 50th reunion later this year, and meeting many of you not seen for that number of years.

WESTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Westville High School was one of the great successes of South African education. This was not only academically but also in a number of different sporting activities.

In 1962 Lynette Bonfa had the best overall Matric results in Natal and Viv Platt scored the top mark in History in the province.

In sport many names come to mind of outstanding athletes. The Class of ’62, included Geoff Austin, Terry Hayward, Barbara Little and Jane Castleton.

Westville High School had more than competent rugby and hockey teams and a talented swimming squad.

There was an active debating society and a ‘culture vouchers’ who invited Alan Paton to the School, put on a performance of Anastasia and set off for a walking experience in Unfolozi.

Two Westville High Schools Success attracts more pupils and Westville High School was so successful that it out grew the space available on the original site. Thus in 1965 it was decided to split the school and two new entities, Westville Boys High and Westville Girls High, were created. Westville Boys High retained the original site.

Aerial photographs of the two Westville Schools follow.

From the aerial photograph of the boys school below some of the new developments of that site may be seen.

WESTVILLE BOYS HIGH SCHOOL 2012 - estimated enrollment 1,400

WESTVILLE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL 2012 - estimated enrollment 1,200 Established in 1965

Some Photographs taken at the WHS 50th Reunion Cathedral Peak 16‐17 May 2012

Dave, Keith, Yvonne and Lyn

Karen, Pat, Chris Viv, Maryanne and Tony with Lyn and Peter in background

The Plantings at WBHS

WBHS Tour

Colin enjoying the Savages

Pat, Des, Llewelyn and Kathy

Director Mike directing bowling competition

Stan, Mike J, Debbie, Jane and Pat

Stan, Sheila, Rosemary and Derrick

Resurrection of the Savages Band

Rousing applause and media coverage swamp the Savages

Stirring music by Mike

Barbara, Mike M, Jane and Vibeke

Stan, Karen, Barbara, Carolyn, Jane, Yvonne, Derrick, Sheila, Rosemary, Mike M and Mike S

Famous picture taken by John Hone WHS

John Hone’s write‐up of the famous photo in Cathedral Peak Hotel foyer

Group photo at WBHS with the Principal

Jane visiting Mrs Thomson in her 93rd year

The Old Girls

The Old Boys

The Whole Gang