Please share your thoughts and stories on how you are dealing with the country wide lockdown with the OD Union at [email protected]

1 May

In 2014 Dayaan (2017W) and Mustapha Cassiem (Matric, W) transferred from their school in Mitchell’s Plain to Bishops. Stepping into a completely foreign environment, Dayaan started his college career in grade 10, going straight into White House, while Mustapha started at the prep school.

Their move was founded on a massive potential to excel in the sport of hockey, at and beyond the school. Dayaan has played the last 2 years of his hockey career in Germany for the top tier club Monchengladbach. Mustapha entered his matric year in 2020, the same year as the Tokyo Olympics.

Representing their country has been a dream for both boys since as early as they can remember. From starting out as juniors at their home club Central, located in Athlone, to attending Bishops to making their international debut. It has been a tough journey, however, one filled with opportunity and promise. Follow the link below to watch a video that delves into the background and development of these two extremely promising brothers.

Video

Covid-19 has completely altered the direction of 2020, with many different ramifications. Many men and women are putting lives in danger every day in order to fight this pandemic. We thank you and hope this story can be used as inspiration as we enter yet another difficult phase.

Kind regards,

The OD Office.

OD Updates

Love With Both Hands

Dearest ODs,

I wanted to share my latest book, “Love with both hands” with you all. I started writing on 17 March while in lockdown in my home in Barcelona, Catalonia. Once I started, I could not stop. I would love you to read the book and share any feedback and insights. We are hoping to collect intelligence and insight from all over the world and publish a follow up, helping us move towards a more appropriate and happier form of existence.

Click HERE to download

I didn’t want to wait for “traditional” publishing to release so decided to share as a free e-book right away. I hope it can reach as many people as possible people during this time. It feels like the “universe” is asking us to come up with new ways of living.

I hope Bishops can lead the way.

Please feel free to share with anyone. And do get in touch if you have any ideas or would like to contribute further.

I also teach yoga every morning at 7am Barcelona time (CEST) on Zoom which is currently the same time zone as South Africa. Consider yourself invited!

Contact me via email [email protected] for yoga details and for more info and ways to support the flight of the new e-book and movement to join hands across the world.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

With love,

John McInroy (1999S)

Jack's Journal

Former Chairman, Bruce Jack, has recently just released his latest winemaking endeavour; Jack Journal. It is a written publication which captures the spirit of what goes into making wine. Not the details but the soul and spirit. A wine publication which is different from those which came before, according to Richard Siddle of The Buyer. Click here to read Richard’s article on Jack Journal.

Many different OD contributors such as; Dr WP van Zyl (1997K) Former ODU Secretary, Donovan Marsh (1987W), Mike Clarke (1987O), Nick Robinson (1987S), Christian Eedes (1988B), Dr Greg Mills (1979O) and David MacGregor (O, 1979) Trustee of HeadStart Trust, Vice Chairman on ODU committee. Follow the link below to view volume 1 of Jack Journal.

Jack Journal

Stay connected during this time

Matthew Pearce (1987G), current ODU committee member writes:

When we reflect on how this global pandemic has impacted us in the future, the answers will be multi-faceted. There are certainly negatives, but also many positives, including our environment being given a chance to breathe, us taking time to consider what is most important in our lives and, for some of us, some cherished additional time together as families.

Perhaps the greatest positive for me so far, however, has been the continuous communication with our Matric year group of 1987. I find it incredible that 33 years on, we have a WhatsApp group of more than 60 of our year, dotted all around the planet.

In recent weeks I have been heard about, among other things:

• Mark MacGregor’s role as an NHS doctor on the front-line of pandemic response and care just outside London;

• Tom Moultrie’s secondment to the NCID team here in SA, interpreting data and plotting strategy in the fight against the virus;

• Dr Jonathan Louw’s regular medical updates on vaccine research and a constant arbiter of truth around information that is being circulated;

• Andrew Willis’ role as a police officer in south London, tasked with enforcing adherence to the lockdown;

• Lockdown diaries from Nick Robinson in Portugal, Robert Carmichael in Hungary, Mike Wallis-Brown in Kenya and Jonathan Rubinstein (added to the group during the past week) in Australia.

• Fernandes and his wife providing, packaging and delivering seafood products from their business to help alleviate the hunger crisis in impoverished communities

What has been so heart-warming to read about is the work being done by some of the farmers in our year for their local communities. Bruce Jack and Pieter Albertyn – along with another OD, Michael van Breda – are doing everything in their power to arrest the hunger crisis growing in the farming communities of Bredasdorp, Struisbaai and Napier during the lockdown, while Nico Basson does the same in his local community near Darling.

They are sharing stories and pictures of trying to make a difference to those who cannot work and are left with literally nothing.

In addition, the response to the plight of the hungry – and the work being done by these wonderful ODs – has been special to witness. Accounts set up and monies being donated from the group from around the world.

In a sense, during this time of isolation, I have never felt more connected to my matric group than I do now, 33 years after leaving Bishops.

There is something very meaningful about being connected in this way and I would encourage year groups to build these communication platforms – even through a simple WhatsApp group in this day and age – and stay in touch. We have very quickly rekindled old connections and realised that bonds formed more than three decades ago are a lot stronger than perhaps we imagined.

Please share stories of ODs with whom you remain in touch and your responses to what we are currently experiencing. There is an inspiration to be drawn from many quarters.

Collaboration through modern technologies has become the new norm, during an ever-changing period. Please stay connected by registering on our website, social media channels (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) and the new Bishops LinkedIN page.

What can – and can’t – we learn from the official Covid-19 data?

"That government and official agencies should be trying to present more useful and timely data is indisputable; however, doing so should not detract from their core missions", writes UCT Professor of demography Tom Moultrie (1987W) for News24. Read his article on interpreting Covid data below.

Read article

Milestone birthdays this month

We would like to congratulate the following on turning 80 years old this month; Donald Nelson (1957G) on 1 May, Herbert John Gaylard (1958G) on 9 May and Robin Fox (1957G) on 12 May.

School Updates

VUSA Soup Drive

In recent weeks we have advertised stories of the VUSA rugby academy situated in Langa. The academy have received a plea from some of the centres they work with in Langa, offering to open doors if we can feed more families. VUSA is therefore making another plea; as the lockdown continues into another phase, VUSA would like to distribute soup at more than one location in Langa, allowing kids to not travel as far, making it safer in the process.

Bishops has offered their kitchens for storage, so if you are in Claremont, Newlands or Rondebosch and could drop off some soup at the Bishops Prep, it would be much appreciated. A collection table has been set up, making it the drop off point safe. Alternatively, VUSA can collect from Southern Suburbs, Camps Bay and the City Bowl area.

Click here to read up on how VUSA first came about and follow the link below to find out more how you can help.