St John's College looks forward to welcoming our Old Johannian community back for Gaudy Day on Saturday, 20 June 2026.
The day begins with the Old Johannian Mass in the Memorial Chapel, where the Golden Eagle Award will be presented to this year's recipient, before we face old rivals St Stithians Boys' College in our traditional Pink Derby. The Prep boys will also be facing Saints Prep on the day.
The Pink Derby is a fixture close to our hearts, and its roots lie with two Old Johannians. In 2013, Alex Kuttschreuter (Thomson 2013) and his brother Luke Kuttschreuter (Thomson 2008), who had lost their mother to cancer, began what would grow into the Pink Derby we know today.
The first Gaudy Day was held on Ascension Day, 16 May 1912. Fr Nash suggested that the annual reunion day be called a "Gaudy", explaining that the name, given to college commemorations at Oxford, comes from gaudeo, meaning "rejoice". More than a century on, we continue to gather in that same spirit, and there is no better occasion to walk the grounds, reconnect with fellow Old Johannians, and celebrate our shared love of the College.
The Old Johannian Lunch will be served on Long Walk from 12h15. Please confirm your attendance via the button below for catering purposes.
Tea and coffee will be served from the Henry Bennett Pavilion all day, alongside the usual derby day fare by our Parents' Association and Pret a Manger.
Old Johannians will take on the College in basketball, chess, debating, squash and tennis. A College Art and Media Club Photographic Exhibition will be on display in Pelican and David Quads, the Museum will be open, and historical guided tours of St John's will depart from Pelican Quad. The School Shop will be selling an array of St John's merchandise on Burger Field, and The Johannian Club will be open all day for some respite, with the Boar's Head Bar opening at 12h00.
There will be a shuttle service available to transport Old Johannians from the Main Arch to Endean Field.
Parking will be available at St John's College as well as on designated fields at King Edward VII School, off St Patrick Road. We encourage our visitors to use an e-hailing service where possible to reduce congestion in and around the campus.
We will continue to update the programme below as further information becomes available, so please check back regularly.
GAUDY DAY PROGRAMME
08h00 Coffee and rusks in David Quad
08h30 Old Johannian Mass in the Memorial Chapel featuring the Old Johannian and College Choirs, and the presentation of the Golden Eagle Award
09h45 Tea in Pelican Quad after Mass
10h00 Tours of St John's to explore the 'old and the new' will depart from Pelican Quad
10h00 Take a walk through the College Museum alongside the Main Arch, which will be open until 12h00
10h00 Old Johannians vs St John's debating in Amphitheatre
10h00 Old Johannians vs St John's Tennis at the Tennis Courts
10h00 Old Johannians vs St John's Squash at the Barrow Squash Centre
10h00 Old Johannians vs St John's Chess in the Library
11h30 Old Johannians vs St John's Basketball
11h40 First XI Hockey vs St Stithians College on the Astro
12h15 Old Johannian Lunch on Long Walk overlooking Burger Field
12h30 St John's Pre-Prep Dads and Lads Game
12h40 Old Johannians vs Old Stithians 7s on Burger Field
13h10 St John's Prep vs St Stithians Boys' Prep on Burger Field
14h00 First XV vs St Stithians College on Burger Field
For all sports fixtures, visit http://sport.sjc.co.za/