Farewell to Lester Lalla, Headmaster of St John's Preparatory
At the close of Easter Term, the St John's community gathered to say farewell to Lester Lalla, Headmaster of St John's Preparatory. Mike MacFarlane, Second Master and now Acting Headmaster, noted that according to Lester's own guidelines on staff farewells, the occasion should technically have been nothing more than a tea at break. The policy was quietly set aside.
Lester joined the Prep in May 2020, arriving from St Stithians Boys' Prep, where he had served as deputy headmaster, into the full uncertainty of COVID. His first introduction to staff took place in the amphitheatre with chairs spaced two metres apart and faces partially hidden. That he was able to build the trust and cohesion he did, coming into an established community under those conditions, speaks to something essential about who he is. "Under his leadership, the Prep did not simply endure. It grew," said Dale Jackson, Executive Headmaster.
Dale recalled his first meeting with Lester over coffee. He had resolved to simply listen and get to know him before sharing his own views. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he found himself sharing his life story, his educational philosophy, and his unfiltered thoughts on what needed to be done from day one. It was an early lesson in Lester's most powerful qualities as a leader.
Lester is never the loudest in the room, but his voice is often the one that matters most. He listens attentively without rushing to judgement, and is willing to say, often while stroking his beard, "I'm not sure at this moment. I'd value some time to think it over." He leads with quiet confidence, his compass always fixed on what is best for the boys. He makes decisions not for the applause, but for what is right. He has mastered the art of saying no in such a way that at the end of the conversation, you find yourself agreeing with him. He carries knowledge lightly and disagrees without diminishing. Tom Batty's phrase, 'soft hands that don't move,' is one that Lester has made his own: firmness without aggression, authority without intimidation and boundaries without brutality.
He is deeply passionate about the education of boys. He understands the complexity of raising young men in a changing world and believes that discipline must be anchored in dignity, and that character is formed not through fear but through consistency. "Every morning began with a flat white in hand, contemplating the day's challenges ahead," said Sue Venter, his PA. His "Books, Biltong and Bowtie" get-togethers with Upper III became legendary, a reflection of a headmaster who builds genuine relationships with those in his care. Whatever their background, every boy found a place where he belonged.
He gives his staff genuine autonomy and the assurance of his full support, and his integrity remains immovable regardless of the complexity of the situation or the influence of those in the room. When he needs to make his position clear, those around him know it. He is a man who lives by his own encouragement to "be interesting and be interested," and who makes people feel that what they bring to the room matters. "You left no one behind," said Dudu Mashele, Deputy Head: Transformation and Diversity.
Dudu recalled an early campaign to get Prep staff to Monday morning hymn practice. "We came up with all sorts of excuses, like 'I need to take my cat to the vet' or 'I'm stuck in traffic,'" she said. "Lester drew a line in the sand, and if we missed it, an email followed." The Prep staff, she suggests, could now claim something approaching Cum Laude in hymn singing.
For all his quiet authority, Lester also has a great sense of fun. He had a starring role on Carte Blanche, after leading the Prep staff in a dance rendition of Jerusalema during the COVID era that found its way onto DSTV's Sunday night primetime slot. "There are many qualities one expects in a headmaster. Curriculum insight. Emotional intelligence. Strategic thinking. Prime-time choreography is not usually on the list," said Dale, Executive Headmaster.
His influence extends well beyond the school. As Vice Chair for Africa of the International Boys' Schools Coalition, he contributes to conversations across more than 600 boys' schools globally. As Chairman of the Summit Educational Trust and board member of Crossroads Remedial School, he brings the same values-driven approach to broader communities.
As St John's Preparatory says goodbye to an exceptional headmaster, Bishop's Preparatory School gains one. It is, as Lester would say, not how you start but how you finish. And he has finished exceptionally well.
