The Bishops 1st XV tour Ireland in March this year with two matches in Dublin - Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th. On Saturday 16th they practise at the Donybrook Stadium. This is the School's first international rugby tour in ten years.

If enough ODs would like to travel as a party to meet and support the team, I would be very happy to put together a relaxed trip, to include dinner with the team, coaches and parents on Friday 15th, watching the practice on Saturday 16th and the match on Sunday 17th.

Brexit (whatever that may mean) is on the 29th March, so this is a good chance to enjoy Ireland before having to worry about the backstop.

The idea would be for those who wanted to come along to book their own travel and accommodation to suit their own schedules, but with the set pieces (dinner, practice and match arrangements) organised by me.

If you are interested, please let me know via this FORM.

Return to contents

On Friday 22nd March, The UK ODs will be taking on the Bishops 1st Golf team and their hapless masters-in-charge at The RAC in Surrey. There will be seven fourballs the first teeing off at 11.28am. Sandwiches before and drinks afterwards.

This is going to be a great day out on an iconic course. It's not often the School comes to us. There has been good support from ODs for this match, with two places still open.but still some places to fill. Should you like to play, please let Alex Price (M, 2008)  know by email by clicking HERE.

Return to contents

An article below deals with the enormous contribution made by OD James Henry Greathead to the London transport system and to underground engineering around the world.. 

John Joubert (O, 1944) was no engineer. His contribution and lasting legacy was in the world of classical music, both as a teacher and composer. His early influence and mentor was Dr Claude Brown, Director of Music at Bishops from 1934-1965. John loved Bishops and was ready at every possible moment to talk about his happy times at the School. 

His funeral service was held at St Nicolas Church in King's Norton in Birmingham and I was part of a huge congregation who come to say goodbye.

The choral music was sung by the Birmingham Bach Choir and Ex Cathedra, conducted by Paul Spicer. David Saint was the organist. There were two anthems, Brahms's Geistliches Lied and John's own, very beautiful The Souls of Righteous. Of the four hymns, Give us Wings of Faith was composed by John and another, Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost was sung to the tune Capetown. A fitting, moving, closure.

The several eulogies given focused on John's compassion, modesty, imagination, musicality and huge intellect. And his fond memories of Bishops, especially the reflective Sunday evensong. Both as a teacher and composer he inspired and guided and taught countless boys and girls. 

Canon David Warbrick gave one of the eulogies. To know John and his music, it's worth a read.


 

On Tuesday 7th February, John Woodland (K, 2005) dedicated his two hour programme on Cape Town's Fine Music Radio (FMR) to John's works.

Here are two obituaries to John:
The Guardian

Return to contents

RAYMOND ACKERMAN - OD UNION PATRON
 

At the end of lat month the UK ODs, hosted by Hamish Sinclair (S, 1992) of Stonehage Fleming celebrated Raymond Ackerman's (S, 1948) appointment as Patron of the Old Diocesans Union.

During an interview, rather than a speech, Raymond talked about his happy and not-so-happy times at Bishops and how his school experiences had shaped his life philosophy. He described the influence of teachers, lecturers and business leaders, good and bad, who had formed his views of the world, and then spoke of the history and development of Pick 'n Pay and how his personal experiences had guided his business philosophy. 

His message to younger ODs s was that success is 10% capital and 90% sweat and that a purpose and passion, which transcends  profit, should be the driving force of any career plan.

The role of Patron is traditionally ceremonial. Raymond, however does not "do" non-executive. He is keen to see an even greater number of ODs engage with the Union, support Bishops and strengthen the unique network which is the ODU. We can expect much drive and energy.

The report and photos of the event are HERE.

Return to contents

Doug Mallett  (M, 2007)  moves from ACPI Investment Managers to become a Director of UBP (Union Bancaire Privée), a Geneva-based wealth managers for private and institutional clients. 

Congratulations. We wish you well in your new role.


Return to contents

Immigrants to major cities tend to stay close to each other. In London, relocated South Africans favour the south west, an area whose commuter trains converge onto Waterloo Station, the UK’s busiest. From there, it's a step straight onto the Waterloo and City Line, a one-stop underground express to Bank Station, nerve centre of the financial district.

Right outside Exit 3, in front of the Royal Exchange at Bank Station is a double decker bus-sized bronze of James Henry Greathead complete with his trademark wide brimmed hat and overcoat. The statue, built a century after his death, honours the South African engineer whose invention made the London Underground possible.

His cylindrical Greathead Shield invention, patented in 1874, massively disrupted tunnel construction. It delivered projects 10 times faster and 90% cheaper and is still used today. Quite an achievement for the Grahamstown-born lad schooled at  Bishops, and grandson to a land surveyor who led one of the 1820 settler groups.

Greathead arrived in London at 15, secured an apprenticeship at 19, and went on to become one of the best known consulting engineers of his era. He died aged 52 of cancer. The statue was built 100 years after his death in gratitude to “the father of the tube”. His final project was the same Waterloo and City line so well patronised by today’s South Africans and, presumably, many ODs. Rather apt that.

The shield, or what remains of one, is preserved in the walkway between Bank and the Waterloo and City lines together with a plaque which identifies it. It would be interesting to know how many ODs have walked through that tunnel (and use the underground generally) and realise that they can do this because of the ingenuity of  fellow-OD.

Greathead's contribution to the development of the London Underground Rail System is described in this fascinating 44-minute video on YouTube. If you don't have the time to watch the whole thing, watch from 8:31-9:52 which deals with Greathead.
 

Return to contents

Sacerdotes Domini

BISHOPS APPOINTS A NEW CHAPLAIN
 

Last month, in a service in the Memorial Chapel presided over by the Visitor to Bishops, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Father Monwabisi Peter was inducted as the Bishops Chaplain.

Our best wishes go to Fr Monawasibi for a happy and spiritual tenure.

Guy Pearson, Fr Monwabisi and Archbisop Makgoba.


 

 

 

Music:
Fourteen boys achieved a distinction (89% and above) in their ABRSM/Trinity College music exams last year, three at the Grade 8 level.

Cricket:
Not only did Bishops host the 2018 under 19 inter-provincial cricket “Coke week” in December but also hosted the Independent Schools Cricket Festival in the week before term started. The grounds and catering staff therefore spent much of the holiday season working to ensure that these were both a great success and we are most grateful to them for all the hard work. The Frank Reid has never looked and played better!

In the provincial tournament Jono Bird excelled for the Western Province team - scoring a century on day 2 - and he was justifiably selected for the Cobras team for Cubs week in January – where he also scored an impressive century! Since then, Jono has also made his 1 st Class debut for the WP senior team, at the age of 17, and he has been selected for the SA U19 team to tour India in February. We wish him every success there.

Waterpolo:
Five boys have been selected for various age-group South African Waterpolo teams to compete in Windhoek this month.

Indoor Hockey:
Three boys have been selected for the All Africa Stars Indoor Hockey team to tour Germany and Holland in January next year.

Return to contents

Return to contents

Stellenbosch Holiday Villas have offered ODs a 5% discount on the published rates for their short-term rental homes in Stellenbosch.

Their website is HERE and to benefit from the offer, please use the code Bishops.
 

A LESSON FROM ALOES by ATHOL FUGARD

A Lesson from Aloes, one of Athol Fugard's most forceful plays, is on at the Finborough Theatre, West Brompton, London. The sow runs from the 27th February-23rd March. ODs are offered a special discount on their tickets and are to use the code FUGARD to obtain this benefit. Bookings can be made HERE.


Return to contents