The overdue 50th reunion commenced at 07h00 on Friday the 12th of July with a welcome assembly by the headmaster and boys in the amphitheatre which took us back to our Thursdays when Deanne Yates reminded those of us with sideburns that we should ‘eliminate the facial hair on the vertical side of the cranium’. We then moved to scones and coffee in the David Quad, followed by a tour of the Heritage Museum. Breakfast that followed at the OJA club, was attended by old boys and their wives. The paucity of attendees from ’72 was adequately compensated by the conviviality and enthusiasm of reformed friendships. The Executive Headmaster Stuart West, retired masters Mick Badham and Cliff Midgley together with the Head of Council, Thulani Khanyile and the Chairman of the St John's OJA Graham Kerr-Phillips were present. I thanked these 2 amazing, dedicated, brilliant teachers who have devoted their lives to boys like us, instilling a value system and code of conduct which has assisted all of us achieve our goals.
I made a brief welcoming speech to thank the headmaster and the other senior members of the college community who joined us and at my immediate impression was that the school is in extremely good hands under the leadership of Stuart, a great headmaster. It was rather strange to be in the company of a headmaster when some 55 years ago my abiding memory of our then headmaster was one of abject terror.
Some who attended had travelled from afar: Dave Ellington; Mark Goodale (and wife Norma); and Richard Snell from the UK; and some out-of-towners Steven Voget; Gavin Routledge; Rupert Worsdale (and wife Liz); Adam Langbridge (and wife Jean) and James Bourhill (and wife Jackie) together with Anthony Hare; Michael Davies (and wife Glenda); Graeme King; Rob Newsome; and Henry Adams together with my own wife Liz Woolford.
We enjoyed an interesting tour of the school with many new additions such as a new aquatic centre which was close to my heart as my own son Myles Woolford played first team water polo in upper 4, lower 5 and Matric and played for Gauteng. They were regarded as one of the greatest teams in St John’s history having lost only 7 games in 8 years as a team.
On Gaudy Day, we visited the Heritage site which captured the history of the school since its founding by the Community of the Resurrection in 1898 up to the present date. This was followed by a lavish “Adsum” tea and then onto rugby between the first team at the school leavers from the previous year and then a lunch with the headmaster in very relaxed surroundings under a marquee on the Burger field.
The usual Friday night before Gaudy Day dinner was in fact not at all usual but spectacular in terms of the décor, speeches and fare with the traditional Boar’s Head Carol followed by deeply inspirational speeches. The 2007 Headboy, Melvyn Lubega spoke with such confidence and fluency that's made me proud to be called a Johannian alongside him.
The highlight I think for me of the entire visit apart from reconnecting with all my old mates was the Chapel service which brought many tears to many eyes as the St John's choir excelled themselves. The music will remain in us forever.
Overall, it was a wonderful time to share our stories and to remind ourselves of the incredible privilege that we all enjoyed as part of one of the greatest educational institutions on earth!
On a sad note we remembered those old mates who passed on Neville Norton, Andrew O’Dowd, Nicholas Bodley, John Pym, Mark Pennels, Garth Dustan, John de Kock, David Ross, Merryck Catchpole.
I want to thank Kate Lowings for her unbelievable support and attention to detail in helping us put together this event and Kate, I hope you remain with St John's and will help us celebrate our next ’72 reunion, where we hope to swell the attendance.
Could we all continue to try and reach out to those who were unable to join us?
