In the meantime, the School met with the pupil leadership shortly after the memorandum was handed over and agreed the framework for dealing with these issues. We will receive progress reports as they become available.

In other end-of-second-term news, Guy Pearson retired as Principal. He and Marée (right) served Bishops superbly for seven-and-a-half years and now make way for Tony and Rosemary Reeler (below left).  As many of you would have read, the Scottish, Irish and UK branches sent Guy a joint open letter on behalf of all their members to convey our appreciation for his leadership and good wishes for a happy and long retirement. Guy's response to the UK ODs is HERE. Because of the Covid restrictions, Guy and Marée were not able to enjoy a large-scale farewell from the School (that's planned for later) but a good-bye programme covering a wide range of Bishops - and Guy's - life was broadcast last month on Guy's last day. For those of you who didn't see it, it can still be watched HERE.

Starting today, 1 July, Tony Reeler takes over as the 15th Principal of Bishops. The UK ODs welcome him and Rose and wish him well in this challenging and critical role and promise our support as he leads Bishops from strength to strength. We hope, too, he'll be able to visit us in the UK soon to lay out his vision and plans for the School.


Not surprisingly, there were not many OD promotions and appointments over the past month, but one OD who deserves our congratulations is Thomas Withington (W, 2000, right) who has been made a Director at Stonehage Fleming. Those of you who have attended the many OD functions at Stonehage's very beautiful offices just off The Haymarket, will know that the Head of the UK office is Hamish Sinclair (S, 1992) whose support for the UK ODU branch is unbounded and much appreciated.



The Robert Gray Medal is the most prestigious award the School makes to an OD. It was presented for the first time last year to Dr Robert Frater (O, 1946) and the ODU Patron Raymond Ackerman (S, 1948). This year it was won by Richard Cock (O, 1966). Why not  give consideration to who might be a worthy recipient for the 2021 award. Nominations should reach the Principal and the Chairman of the ODU by November, but it's not too early to start thinking about an OD worthy of this honour. There are many!

As lockdown restrictions relax, enjoy your restored liberties. But as ever, stay alert and safe.

And as always, please feel free to contact me about anything to do with the ODU or School and please keep sending me your news.

Kindest regards

Nicky Bicket
 

With lockdown being lifted, I have every hope that not only will we be allowed to hold our black-tie dinner on Thursday 15th October, but that ODs will be confident and excited to attend and celebrate all that is Bishops and the (sort-of) end to the pandemic restrictions.

Once again at The Carlton Club in London, this popular function Is preceded by a welcome reception, a four course meal and an after-party, at the Club. The cost is £70pp for ODs who matriclulated in 2009 or earlier and £60pp for ODs who finished in 2010 or later. All partners are charged at £70pp. Drinks at the pre-dinner reception are included in the price as is half-a-bottle of wine per person at dinner. A cash bar is in operation at the after-party.
 

Please diarise this event, galvanise your classmates and lets make it a real party. We'll need it.
 

Richard Cock (O, 1966, right) this year's winner of the Robert Gray Medal, is once again in the news in this broad ranging interview with Stan Katz on the programme #4PS. Richard talks about his life, love of music and his contribution to a harmonious South Africa. And Bishops.

I received a lovely email from Gillian Stobart, wife of David "Zonk" Stobart (F, 1952) in which she said, "David has been in a Care Home since September 2018 for various mobility problems and I think it would be better to send the emails there instead of here. He is unable to walk now without walking aids which for a previously active man is hard but on the whole he remains pretty cheerful.  We celebrated our 60th Wedding Anniversary in April but sadly due to the Corona Virus we had to cancel the small Celebration we had planned and instead had a Zoom get together with our two daughters in Australia and our son in New Zealand which was rather bittersweet! Thank you for your email saying you had updated David’s records, and had sent him good wishes which he reciprocated. I think I omitted to include the years he was at Bishops, which were 1949 – 1952  In those days we were in Rhodesia / Zimbabwe only leaving there in 2003 to come to the UK. You asked how he got his Nickname ! He told me he had inherited it from his brother Christopher (F, 1950) who had been at Bishops before him, and he then said he simply couldn’t remember how Chris had got it !!  I am sorry I cannot give you any more information on that one and I cannot even ask Chris as he passed away at the end of 2017 in New Zealand to where he had moved to in the early 2000’s together with his wife Marjorie and  two of his sons who are  all still there."
 
Peter Walton (O, 1958) who had a long career in the international tobacco industry included, at my request, a treasure trove of his contemporaries' names and memories in his recent emails to me:

"I clearly remember my Prep years in Stanmore House, commencing January 1948 and then on to College in January 1953 and am sure I am down as Class of 1957 with [all 1957] Don Nelson, Richard Gurney (Ogilvie) , Clive Day (Gray) Mike Walker (Ogilvie), Werner Koster (Founders), Tim le Feuvre (Ogilvie [and assistant chaplain at Bishops in the time of your secretary]), Neil McCarthy (Ogilvie) Jonathan Hobday (School - and brilliant golfer), John Bewsey (Founders) who was in the same field of agronomy as I but being brilliant, was more into research, Sam Sterban (White), John Brock (Ogilvie, one of two Rhodes Scholars from the class of '57, the other being Martin Legassick (White)) and the list goes on. Most of us were born in 1939 and all turned 80 last year whilst Don Nelson turned 80 this year 1st May.

"I have taken the liberty of attaching a copy of the Reunion Dinner held in 1997, those whom attended as well as the excellent menu provided by Mowbray Golf Club (above).

"Peter Kleye (Founders) with the help of Mike Walker organised our 40th reunion dinner dated 30th August 1997 held at Mowbray Golf Club which I flew out to attend and for some unknown reason still have the schedule of names and fine menu (above). The guests of Honour included Herby Selfe (F, 1940 and Prep School staff) and Charles Currey (1945 (?)  and College staff) as well as the OD secretary Brian de Kock (O, 1952 and College staff). Mike Walker on behalf of Ogilvie made an extremely amusing speech. Recently, whilst cleaning out my files I came across another piece of memorabilia; of lads who in 1951 were in the Prep Lower 111 and Lower 111A class and gives birth dates and our Houses. Herbie Selfe, whom we all revered, was our class master. I now must hastily add that I was in Brooke House and not as I thought Stanmore which proves I do not clearly remember my Prep days as stated in my initial email. On looking through the list, I know a number of the 1951 Class are no longer with us which is extremely sad.Exactly right Nicky, month and year of birth and month and year we started at the Prep. Richard Starke (O, 1957) joined us in 1950 and others only joined us at the beginning of our College years, Don Nelson (G, 1957) for example who came from Marist Brothers across the road from the Prep was amazed lunch time breaks did not involve any fights!!! We still laugh about that today, some 67 years later. Peter Steyn (O, 1955) and his wife Jenny (sister of Paul Cannon (S, 1953) and great friend of my late brother Hugh Roy (S, 1952) now live in an apartment overlooking the Prep with a view of Table Mountain where his brother so tragically lost his life many years ago. Don Nelson and his wife Babs recently moved from their home 20 Sandown Road, exactly opposite where the Pre-Prep stands or stood (may have been moved) into the same block of apartments and sees Peter often."


John Hueton (G, 1947) now retired as the longstanding ODU secretary of Eastern Canada writes, "The Financial Post here carries a daily excerpt from [Pepys's] famous diary. Today's was: 'Yesterday he and friends were touring Oxford in 1688, and in particular BRAZEN-NOSE  College'. So John asked: Perhaps Oxford ODs and in particular Brasenose grads may wish to comment on the history of the name.

Well, Graham Thomas (K, 1984 and the 1991 Bishops Rhodes Scholar who was a member of Brasenose) did wish to comment and had this to say, "Indeed, the Nose is a big part of Brasenose. The official college magazine is called the Brazen Nose. A less official version which was published while I was there and was full of student gossip was called the Noserag. And students are sometimes referred to as Nosemen and Nosewomen. The knocker indeed has pride of place in Hall, and is featured on the College tie. Thanks for bringing the memories back.”

In the photo, John, the "Nose" and Graham.

In an article in The National (Scotland), Dr Tim Rideout (W, 1978) explores a Coronavirus link between Scotland and South Africa, uncovering along the way some interesting historical facts.

Responding to the message in last month's newsletter from the Michaelhouse Old Boys' UK chairman, Peter Joelson (O, 1968) said, "I correspond quite often with Tully Potter who was at Michaelhouse about 8 years before I started at Bishops, and who was taught by Rex Pennington's father. Also, I loved Richard Cock's reminiscences. I, who was the worst games player in the history of Bishops, played against Philip Wood (W, 1968) in the Badminton house matches, singles, and won! That caused a minor stir".

Chris Danziger (G, 1958) has provided four ingenious quizes to keep our minds active during restrictions. As the these are in the process - hopefully - of being lifted, Chris has concocted one final quiz as a farewell to lockdown. Complete it HERE. Your and the correct answers (they may not be the same) will be sent to you immediately on submission. Thank you Chris for all the work you've put into these." 
 

THE NIGHT THE TREES BLEW DOWN
 

On 30th June 1943, ninety-three trees standing sentinel along the Bishops avenue blew down in a great gale. The following day, Canon Harold Birt (Principal 1919-1943) retired, passing the baton to Hubert Kidd (staff 1922-1943; Principal 1943-1963). 

Last month, Guy Pearson passed the Principalship baton to Tony Reeler and last week, during an epic Cape storm, the trees - or more precisely, a tree - blew down. This time, across the avenue outside the back of Founders opposite the Admin block. The photo shows the dramatic aftermath. 

In 1943, the toppling of the tree(s) portended great changes for Bishops ...
 

A TANGLED WEB OF PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS
 

a propos the falling trees, Paul Murray and I were having a discussion on the Birt/Kidd changeover and the conversation stretched into the interesting web of family relationships connecting the Birts, Kidds and the Paynes. Harold Birt was Principal from 1919-1943 and was a great believer in the ODU; Hubert Kidd was on the staff from 1922-1963 and Principal from 1943-1963; Alfred Payne was on the staff from the 1930s to 1969. All had come from England.

The relationships go like this - with thanks to Humphrey Payne (O, 1961) for his all input:

Hubert Kidd's brother Walter was Humphrey Payne's maternal grandfather. Hubert's sister, Sophie,was married to Harold Birt. Humphrey's mother, Olive Kidd, was Hubert's niece  (daughter of Walter). So Alfred Payne, didn't marry the boss's daughter but his niece! Sophie Birt died in 1943 precipitating Harold's retirement. Ever mindful of the (almost obligatory) family ties that held Bishops together (certainly then) he, Harold, then married Mary Goch, sister of Peter "Lemmie" le Mesurier (O, 1934) longtime teacher and housemaster at Bishops Prep. Mary was very active in the Black Sash movement. Hubert Kidd, ever the bachelor, held out for as long as he could before marrying Mary Maytham in 1948. She, rather disappointingly, was not related to anyone at Bishops.

Today the HR governance around these relationships might be problematic. Then, such practices made for an extremely high-quality staff common room.

Humphrey thinks the Kidds and Birts were family friends or possibly attended the same Church in England. Birt recruited Alfred Payne who was a housemaster at Wellington College in the 1930's  As far as he knows they were completely unknown to each other before that time.

The photograph below was taken on Alfred and Olive Payne's wedding day in 1941.

In the back row, from left to right are: Doc Brown (Director of Music from 1934-1965 and presumably the nuptial organist!) Hubert Kidd, Olive and Alfred Payne, and Sophie and Harold Birt. (I think Doc was the only one not actually related to any of the others. He is also the only one smiling).

Each of the four was a massive influence on building the School's reputation and the development of decades of boys who passed through their hands.

It is interesting to note that Kidd was the 8th Principal of Bishops in 114 years. Since then - over a period of 55 years - we have had 7 more (including Tony Reeler).

Footnote 1: Your secretary remembers well that he and others as Std 3 boarders in Birt House (housemaster Peter le Mesurier) had to visit a blind nonagenarian once a term to read to him - not knowing until much later that this was Canon Birt who lived, after Bishops, at 4 Glebe Road.
Footnote 2: Hubert Kidd died suddenly in October 1963 shortly before his own retirement. This is his obituary published in the Cape Times.

Back to the top

"I continue to work with Peter and the experience has been nothing short of invaluable. Whether it be advising me on how to approach job interviews or evaluating which career path to follow, he has taught me to always keep a cool head and to believe in your own ability and value. The opportunity to consult someone with such distinguished experienced is priceless to any young person beginning their career and is something I will always be grateful for. "
 
This and other testimonials give impetus and urgency to the ODU Mentoring Programme, now in its fifth year. Of course, not everyone needs a mentor, but the benefits are huge. It's a crazy world out there and ODs don't have to walk alone.

The panel of mentors is building steadily and the requests for advice and guidance increasing. More and more, this programme which is managed completely confidentially, is being seen as something of real value and it is gratifying that non-ODs are writing in to see whether they too can tap into the wealth of experience available.

The quote above, is, with permission, from one of the mentees, Michael Foxcroft (W, 2011). describes the benefits he's derived from working with Peter Arthur (W, 1965, also mentioned with permission).

So, if you would like to put yourself as a mentor or request one, please do so via this form.

A CONNECTED ODU
 

Back to the top

2019 JOURNAL OF BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS

Behavioural Economics is a field pioneered by Princeton's Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman. His starting question was why do rational people make irrational decisions - and then proceeded to work it out. Although not by a million miles an OD, his work is well known to ODs who ply their trade in economics, advertising, investments, marketing and psychology (not forgetting parenthood). And behavioural economics is of interest to a much wider range of people than even those and the latest (2019) journal has just been published (in the public domain) and can be downloaded HERE. Not for the faint-hearted.