Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
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TERM 2 2016
Chairman’s Address—Old Boys’ Day by Neil Taylor
Mr Headmaster, Chairman of WHPS Council, Mr Robin Buckley, President of the Old Boys Association,
Mr Don MacRobert, Staff, Members of the Old Boys’ Committee and last, but certainly not least, WHPS Old Boys, it is
indeed an honour and a privilege for me to be making a speech to all of you at this, the inaugural
WHPS Old Boys’ Day and I would like to welcome each and every one of you to this event which has been arranged
by the School in honour of our Old Boys. As I am sure you probably already suspect, one of the main reasons for
hosting this Old Boys’ Day is to afford us the opportunity to re-engage with each of you and to bring you up to speed
with the goings-on at the School, to remind you about our Old Boys’ Association and to briefly talk about the role,
purpose and activities fulfilled by the Old Boys’ Committee which represents the Association.
As I am sure many of you will freely admit, the School has changed a great deal since you were knobbly-kneed
schoolboys here and may even have changed quite a bit since your last visit here as an adult! Our Headmaster will
shortly be providing you with an interesting update on the School, the details of certain recent projects undertaken
here and his strategic plan for the future.
Old Boys’ Association
This then affords me an opportunity to speak about the Old Boys’ Association and the Old Boys’ Committee. As was
the case when most of you were at WHPS, all Grade 7 boys (Standard 5 boys for those of you who are slightly older!)
attend a School Leavers’ function in around November of their final year, during which they are presented with their
Old Boy ties and are then inducted as members of the Old Boys’ Association. I am pleased to report that this tradition still continues to this day with the Grade 7 leavers attending a dinner with their parents, members of Staff and
certain distinguished guests.
All of our Old Boys are members of a very unique institution since, to my knowledge, we are the only prep school in
the country which has such an active and vibrant OB’s Association which, interestingly enough, was formed way back
in 1964, some 52 years ago this very year!
Having been a member of the Old Boys’ Association for 32 years this year, and a member of the Old Boys’ Committee
for about 27 of those years, I believe that I am particularly well-placed to comment on the role that the Association
and Committee plays in the life and soul of the school.
As I indicated a little earlier, all boys who have been at the School for 6 months or longer become Old Boys and
members of the Association. In addition, former WHPS parents and members of Staff may also be invited to become
“Honourary Old Boys” where they have been and continue to remain very involved in the School and events and
functions hosted by the Committee. All of these members are welcome to become more actively involved in the
running of the Association and can do so by joining the Old Boys’ Committee.
continued / ...
Inside this Issue
1 //
Chairman’s Address - Neil Taylor
5 //
More on the Old Boys’ Day and Reunion—Headmaster, Mark Whitelaw
6 //
Old Boys’ News
Old Boys’ Cricket Day
Saturday, 26 November 2016
08:00 for 08:30— 15:30.
Contact John Allen on 082 491 2925
if you would like to play.
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Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
Chairman’s Address
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Old Boys’ Committee
We currently have an OB’s Committee of 23 men, from all walks of life, who attend around 5 Committee
meetings per year, the main purpose for which is to (a) provide them with updates on the School and its
strategic plan; (b) discuss and plan for events and functions to be hosted and run by members of the Committee;
and (c) plan for, discuss and arrange periodic appeals to the wider WHPS, Old Boy and parent communities in
order to raise additional funds for the Old Boys’ Bursary Fund that it manages.
Old Boys’ Bursary Fund
This Bursary Fund may, following an application and vetting process, be accessed for the provision of bursaries to
boys whose parents can no longer afford the expense of keeping their sons at WHPS and who would otherwise
have needed to remove their boys from the School. It is always such a pleasure to be of assistance in this regard,
and the Committee was proud to have been able to provide a number of bursaries to deserving boys over the
last two decades and, indeed, has offered bursaries to two deserving boys for the 2016 school year, which total
in excess of R77,000 in financial support.
Strategic Guidance and Advise
The Association’s interests and input are represented on the School’s governing Council by 3 representatives
from the Committee who have voting rights on Council. These representatives are each appointed for a 3-year
term by members of the Committee and would typically be comprised of the Chairman of the OB’s Committee
and two other nominated representatives. The Council is the main decision-making body of the School and
typically meets about 5 times per year in order to deal with strategic, non-operational matters concerning the
School and/or other important issues which have been brought to Council by the Headmaster and senior
management team.
In addition, the Chairman of the Committee is also a member of the Schools Executive Committee (“ExCo”)
which meets on a far more regular basis (around once every 6 weeks during term time). This body is comprised
of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council, the Chairperson of the Parents’ Association, the Chairperson of
the Finance Committee, the Headmaster and the Bursar. This body acts as a sounding board for the Headmaster
and Bursar and regularly provides useful guidance and advice in relation to matters affecting the School, its
operations and management. ExCo also regularly makes proposals and recommendations to Council for its
consideration and final approval.
My role as the Chairman of the OB’s Committee is a particularly interesting one because we are fortunate
enough to have Committee members ranging in age from their early 20’s to men well into their 70’s. What is
also superb is that a fair number of our former Chairmen have continued to remain involved on the Committee
and it is not unusual for me to be chairing a Committee meeting with no fewer than 5 former Chairmen present.
Events and Functions hosted by the Old Boys’ Association during the Year
As most of you probably already know, the OB’s Committee is responsible for arranging and hosting a number of
different events and functions during each school year which are intended to encourage and strengthen
friendships, camaraderie and a better understanding between different parts of the WHPS community. It also
launches periodic appeals in order to raise additional funds for the Old Boys’ Bursary Fund that it manages.
We look forward to welcoming you back at some or all of the various events and functions which are hosted by
the OB’s Committee, including:
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our AGM and annual Old Boys’ Soccer Day which are held on the same day in June or July of each year. At
the AGM the Chairman and Treasurer would typically provide a detailed update and summary of the year
and the state of the Association’s finances. Nominations to the Committee and the re-election of
Committee members usually take place at this meeting. The Soccer Day is, as the name suggests, a
round-robin soccer tournament where OB’s represent their high schools.
the annual WHPS Prawn Braai, which usually takes place in October of each year and during which around
90kgs of fresh prawns are cooked by our experienced team and served with wonderful accompaniment
and sauces to attendees who are seated at tables around the School’s pool area;
the Memorial Day service, which takes place on 11th November in each year and at which the School and
OB’s Association honours past and present soldiers who fought for South Africa in its various armed
conflicts;
continued / ...
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Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
Chairman’s Address
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our annual OB’s Cricket Day, which takes place in late November in each year, and at which the Committee
and certain invited OB’s play against the School’s First and Second XI cricket teams; and
every 2-3 years, the WHPS Whoop-Up, which is a production historically put on by the OB’s, but which
includes participants from past and present Parent, Staff and the OB bodies. The Whoop-Up, as it is well
known, involves acting, singing and dancing (well, at least a form of each of them!) and is a great deal of
fun for all involved.
Functions and Projects for the Future
With the involvement and assistance of members of our Committee in 2013, we were able to attract around 168
Old Boys from all over to world to the School’s 90 th anniversary Old Boys’ black tie dinner. The School’s 95th
anniversary will be taking place in 2018 and, as a Committee, we have committed to doing our level best to
ensure that we have over 300 Old Boys at that function and, if at all possible, around 500 Old Boys at the
School’s centenary celebrations, which will be taking place in 2023. It would be much appreciated if all of the
Old Boys here today could assist us to achieve these goals.
The Committee is currently considering and will shortly be finalising an Old Boys’ fund-raising proposal for a
“bricks and mortar” project for the School. The plan would be to launch this project and allow us a sufficient
period of time within which to raise sufficient funds for such project, so that the fund-raising could be well
underway (and the building project perhaps even completed) by the 95 th anniversary celebrations. Proposals
currently being considered are the erection of a set of formal school gates at the main entrance to the School or
certain extensions and alterations to the Eddie Barlow Cricket Pavilion.
Some of you may have noticed that the focus at this year’s Old Boys’ Day has been on the school leavers from
the 1946, 1956, 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 years. While Old Boys from all years are invited and
encouraged to attend Old Boys’ Days, the School and my Committee would be grateful to receive your assistance
with ensuring that Old Boys from future target years are made aware of and encouraged to attend these events.
The Headmaster and I would also like to see a steady growth in the number of Old Boys attending Old Boys’ Days
in the future. We should accordingly be grateful for your assistance to encourage other Old Boys’ attendance at
this event going forward.
The Old Boys’ Database
The ongoing success and longevity of the Old Boys’ Association and its Committee is dependant upon young
blood being introduced to its ranks as time progresses and on the not-so-young blood continuing to remain
involved. One of the biggest challenges for the Committee is being able to stay in touch with the young and
older Old Boys, regardless of where they are based.
In order to assist us in staying in touch with each of you, I would also like to encourage you (a) to periodically
keep an eye on the Old Boys’ page of the School’s website (www.whpsschool.com) which will provide you with
news and details of future events; (b) to make use of the “update your details” form which can be found on the
right hand side of the Old Boys’ page on the School’s website, so that we have your most up-to-date email
address and cell phone number on our database; and (c) to stay in touch with us by sending us periodic updates
on some of your news and plans for the future.
Provided that we have your current contact details, we will endeavour to send you advanced notice of the various OB functions and events I told you about, and will also be sending you a termly newsletter, called the “Old
Boys’ Chronicle”, all of which will, for practical reasons, be sent out by email.
Conclusion
In closing, on behalf of the Old Boys’ Association and my Committee, I would like to thank Alison Redgate and
Luanne Evershed from the School’s Marketing Department and the School’s Matron, Denise van der Merwe, and
her Catering Staff for their assistance with arranging this event and preparing a superb lunch. I would also like
to extend a sincere word of thanks to everyone who attended our Old Boys’ Day.
Neil Taylor / Chairman, WHPS Old Boys’ Association
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Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
Old Boys’ Day and 2011 Reunion
Work hard, play straight, my son
- the world will wait on your command.
Work hard, play straight my son—
And take on the wisdom the world needs,
When you are a man.
Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
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From the Headmaster’s Desk
Dear WHPS Family
We enjoyed a wonderful week culminating in our inaugural Old Boys’ Day on Saturday 28 May. It has been a
busy week with Pre-Prep Grandparents’ day, Art Alive selection, rugby against The Ridge and the Old Boys’
reunions.
The 2011 Old Boys’ cocktail function, on Friday night, started off our reunion weekend. This Reunion of boys
and parents brought back many happy memories. Looking at these boys it was difficult to believe that five
years have flown by. This was an evening of re-acquaintance, reminiscence and laughter at the memory of
things that had happened during their years at WHPS. Our Deputy Headmaster, Rob Neilson, delivered a
humorous account of the 2011 boys’ experiences at WHPS. Followed by the Chairman of Old Boys’, Mr Neil
Taylor, who encouraged the young men as they prepared to begin a new chapter of their lives to stay
connected with the Association.
On Saturday, we hosted our friendly rivals from The Ridge for rugby fixtures. Our association with The Ridge
goes back in our history being one of the first Johannesburg schools we played sport against. Over the years
a close bond has developed between our schools, the boys, parents and staff. Once again, we experienced
the comradery between the schools as we played our fixtures in an excellent spirit. I publically wish to thank
the Headmaster of The Ridge, Richard Stanley and his entire school for the manner in which they compete,
participate and develop bonds and friendship with the members of our school. I take this opportunity to
congratulate our boys on playing their matches in good spirit and our parents and staff who did an
exceptional job of hosting and welcoming The Ridge.
While the rugby was being played, our inaugural Old Boys’ Day started with a Thanksgiving Service in the
Ruddell library conducted by Father Andrew Nel. Approximately 40 people attended this service where
gratitude was expressed for the guiding hand that God has held over our school, to those who have learnt
and those who have served here at WHPS both past and present. Father Nel spoke about the healthy soil at
WHPS, which enables young boys to put down their roots and absorb the nutrients and goodness from that
soil.
An excited buzz permeated the atmosphere at WHPS on Saturday. The Old Boys’ enjoyed tea at the Eddie
Barlow Pavilion, followed by an informative tour of their prep school Alma Mata, supported the rugby, were
entertained by the Percussion Band at half time and then off to Wilfs to enjoy a quick refreshment. After a
busy morning the Old Boys were more than ready to be led into the Old Boys’ Dining Hall for their reunion
luncheon by a traditional piper from the Caledonian Society.
The meal was excellent, the refreshments flowed and the stories and happy memories of their time at WHPS
were shared. Everyone seemed to enjoy their walk down memory lane. The stories ranged from very happy
memories, to feelings of homesickness, difficult times with academic or sporting challenges, caring and
nurturing teachers or reminiscing about what seems today to be harsh treatment. Yet, on the whole every one
spoke of happy days and formative experiences at WHPS. After all that is what we are trying to create for our
boys today.
Our aim must always remain one where we strive to develop, nurture and formulate the character of our
boys in an environment where risk and reward are encouraged in a safe and secure place. Where resilience
will be encouraged, together with our drive to develop esteem, creative thinking and confidence that does
not transgress into arrogance but has a compassionate mind-set that favours the desired attainment of
significance beyond mere success.
As the sun set and the last Old Boy walked out the school gates, I found myself already looking forward to
next year’s event. All old boys are welcome, however, we will be striving to get more old boys from the ‘7’
years – 2007, 1997, 1987 and so on!
Mark Whitelaw / Headmaster
Old Boys Chronicle Term 2 July 2016
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Old Boys’ News
Eathan Bosch
was selected for the SA U19 Cricket Team to Tour Sri Lanka, for the 1st Hockey
Team and awarded the Sunfoil Dolphins KZN Inland U19 Player of the Season Award.
(Hilton College)
Luyanda Cingo
was awarded his Bronze Standard President Award and was awarded a
Commendation in the 2nd Term. (Hilton College)
MJ Grobler
was awarded a Commendation in the 2nd Term. (Hilton College)
Stephan Liebenberg
was selected for the U14A Hockey Team and for the U14A KZN Inland
Hockey Team. He was awarded a Commendation in the 2nd Term. (Hilton College)
Sakhe Nzalo
was awarded a Commendation in the 2nd Term. (Hilton College)
Johan van der Merwe
was selected for the U14A Rugby Team and awarded a
Commendation in the 2nd Term. (Hilton College)
Damon Wheals
was selected for the 1st Hockey Team and for the u18B Inland Hockey Team.
He was awarded Colours for Hockey. (Hilton College)
Jano van Zyl
was selected for the 1st Hockey Team. (Hilton College)
Leftheri Zigiriadis
Jason Song
was selected for the U15A Rugby Team. (Hilton College)
was awarded Academic Honours during July. (Michaelhouse)