Potchefstroom High School for Boys
Potchefstroom High School for Boys | |
---|---|
Location | |
North-West 2531 South Africa | |
Information | |
Type | British public school |
Motto | Crest |
Established | 1905 |
Head of school | J. Van Vuuren |
Staff | 36 (excluding faculty) |
Grades | 6-12 |
Gender | male |
Number of students | 500 |
Color(s) | Gold, Blue |
Hostels | Barnard, Buxton, Granton, Milton |
Sports | Rugby, Cricket, Hockey |
Publications | The Mooi |
Website | Link |
Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a high school situated in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa.[1]
Historical Perspective
School History
With the Transvaal under British control, Lord Milner, the Colonial Secretary at the time created educational facilities (known as the Milner Schools) for English-speaking pupils. The site for the school had been an infamous concentration camp during the 2nd South African War. The first school on the land was for the children interned in the camp. On 31 January 1905, accompanied by the band of the Border Regiment, Sir Richard Solomon, Lt-Governor of Transvaal opened Potchefstroom College upon instruction from the then Education Department, the school was renamed Potchefstroom High School for Boys. "College" is a boarding school based on the English boarding schools system.[2] Founded by C.D. Hope (who was also the first principal of Pretoria Boys High School as well as Jeppe High School for Boys), the original structure had been built long before and had to close during the Anglo-Boer war. The school-building itself was designed in Cape Dutch architecture design as was prominent in style during those times which has since been declared a local heritage site. There are 3 boarding houses: Granton (Oxford Blue) (1909), Milton (Cambridge Blue) (1910) and Buxton (British Racing Green), which was constructed much later. The fourth house, Barnard (Royal Red) is the 'Day-Boy' house. These later buildings did not follow the traditional Cape Dutch styles and were built more suited to the period they were built in. The school's motto, Iustorum Semita Lux Splendens (Latin), was adapted by the founder C.D. Hope, from Proverbs 4:18, and means "The path of righteousness (alternately: the just) is (as) a shining light."
During the 1905 hunting season, just before the first Springbok team went on their rugby tour, the headmaster C.D. Hope was given the horns of a springbok by his brother-in-law. These horns, mounted, are in the school’s museum and a springbok head forms part of the school’s badge.
Past Headmasters
- 1905–1926: C. D. Hope
- 1927–1940: F. G. Tyers
- 1941–1955: A. D. MacDonald
- 1956–1975: W. J. B MacFarlane
- 1976–1988: H. D. Ackermann
- 1988–1994: T. J. Blake
- 1994–2009: M. C. Cartwright
- 2009 – Present: J. Van Vuuren
Schooling
Academics
Sports
The school has a reputation for being very sports-orientated as every student is required to participate in at least one sport during each sport's season. Since the schools inception "Boys High" has produced many internationally recognized sportsmen. A wide variety of sports are offered at the school of which the more popular ones include: rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and swimming. Beyond this, each student is then required to do athletics at inter-house level.
Apart from the local schools Potchefstroom Boys' traditional sporting rivals include Pretoria Boys’ High, King Edwards, Jeppe Boys, Parktown Boys and St Stithians each year.
Cultural
The school's cultural activities are run with the school's teaching staff in collaboration with the students, activities such as plays and public speaking occur regularly.
Alumni
Old Boys Society
The school's alumni is formed of old school members who join the school's Old Boys Society.[3] This is often referred to as Old Mooi because of the schools close proximity to the Mooi River which bisects the town of Potchefstroom. Among other tasks, the society is responsible for the over-seeing of the school and helps with the SGB (Student Governing Body). The society is also responsible for meetings and student reunions.
Notable Alumni
- Parkrun founder: Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE
- Former Editor of the Pretoria News and author, Wilf Nussey
- Celebrity Chef: Dean Uren
- Atlanta Olympic silver medalist: Hezekiél Sepeng
- Springbok Rugby Players: Wilf Rosenberg & Jeremy Nel
- Leopards (rugby team) player Reagan Anderson
- Transvaal & Natal rugby player: Ian Grant
- George Sombonos founder of the Chicken Licken (restaurant) chain.
- Scottish Rugby International and assistant coach to the Springbok Rugby team Matt Proudfoot
- Western Transvaal rugby player: Ashton Townshend
- Sharks (rugby union) Player/Coach: Hugh Moore
- Southern Kings and South Africa 'A' national rugby union team: Edgar Marutlulle
- Gauteng North Mountain Biker & 2015 Winner of the Sani2Sea: Daniel Newman
- Zimbabwe cyclist: Warren Carne
- South African Commonwealth boxer :Sean Santana
- Beijing Olympic BMX cyclist: Sifiso Nhlapo
- Beijing Olympic swimmer: William Diering
- South African Triathlete : Bazil Kletz
- South African Duathlete: Brian Mills
- ENCA News Anchor Macfarlane Moleli
- West End & Downton Abbey actor: Edward Baker-Duly
- SABC TV series Honeytown actor: James Baker-Duly
- Democratic Alliance former chief whip and South African Ambassador to Thailand: Douglas Gibson
- South Africa & Oxford University cricketer Vivian Neser who also refereed 4 International Rugby Tests between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
- First Class Cricket: Gary Outram, George Myburgh, Mike Hayward, Richard Stroh, Keith Storey, Vusumuzi Mazibuko, Johannes Diseko
- South African Indoor Cricketer: Gavin Bradley
- 2016 South Africa Indoor Cricket team manager: Jason Rees-Gibbs
- Nick Rhodes: Transvaal cricketer
- Paul Schmidt: Free State cricketer
- Neil O Sullivan: Western Transvaal cricketer
- Northern Transvaal cricket: Pierre & Gary Tullis
- Transvaal and 1970 South African Cricketer of the year: Gary Watson
- Marylebone Cricket Club Cricketer, William Butler
- South African T20I Cricketer: Eddie Leie
- Zimbabwe cricketer: Gavin Ewing
- Springbok Hockey Players: Ronald Street and Kevin Smith
- Highveld Stereo / Radio 5 Host: Alex Jay[4]
- East Coast Radio (South Africa) Host: Darren Maule
- OFM (South Africa) Radio Host: James Kilbourn
- Springbok Trampolining: Michiel Scheepers
- Springbok Masters Underwater Hockey & 3 x World Championship Gold Medalist: George Watson
- Springbok Underwater Hockey Player and former Head Coach of New Zealand: Tibor Mackor
- Springbok Underwater Hockey: Gerrit-Jan Mackor
- Philanthropist and Forbes Billionaire: Nathan Kirsh
- Musicians : Karabo Molotlegi Robby De Sa & One Sock Thief Band Member: Peter Santana
- Stand up comic: Ryan Whittal
- M-Net television host of "It’s a Funny Country" & comedian: Martin Jonas
- Brigadier General: Edward McGill Alexander SANDF (Rtd)
- SA Superdrift Motor Racing driver: George Myburgh
- Expresso Show Host SABC 3: Katlego Maboe
- Marc Ford author of 'The Dangers of Dying'
References
- ^ "Top schools of South Africa".
- ^ "Boarding".
- ^ Potchefstroom College Old Boys Society
- ^ "Alex Jay - TVSA". tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
External links