Surprise, surprise! A most weicome ietter from H.L. (Hennie) Krugar, (27-30), Jakhalsfontein, Reitz, withwhom, as far as I can remember, we have had no contact since he left. I remember him as a fiery forward, but now,at the age of 70, he has to go more care fully, having had heart trouble a few years ago. He runs his farm with his son - a continuous fight against drought, mounting expenses and threatened insolvency. He refers to his Kearsney days as "the happiest of my life", and writes affectionately of the people he knew (many now deceased). Apparently he keeps bumping into old Kearsney boys, and so has been able to keep abreast with recent developments.Thank you for the biltong, Hennie! E.A.(Lao) Hagemann (22-25),2 Broadview, Wallace Road, Durban, is the Grand Old Man of the Hagemann clan. He has now retired from sugar farming, i remember his fame as a wing three-quarter, ail set up for Natal and possibly Springbok colours if his father had not disapproved. Group Captain (retired) H.E. (Paddy) Hopkins (24-27), Box 204, Umhiaii, writes appreciatively of work done for the Old Boys Club and the School. Thank you, Paddy. He cannot sit still in his retire ment.He is Chairman of the Management Committee of the Umhiaii Country Club. He is also a member of the Umhiaii Beach Town Board, having jurisdiction over Salt Rock, Chaka's Rock and Sheffield Beach. Busy,to say the least, he says. J.H. (Jimmy) Hopkins (26-33, Head 65-75), Box 78, Ballitoviiie, states "No one will want to hear what I'm doing." In that, he is mis taken, of course. But it is gratifying to see how well he looks at the various Kearsney functions he attends. His public offices have not aged him I E.G. (Claude) Hulett (22-26), Box 38, Unified, keeps very fit for his age (74) by swimming, golf and walking. He has a grandson at Kearsney. On the occasions when he comes down to see his daughter we find him a marvelous raconteur! The story of the spare tyre which flew off into a greengrocer's shop, missed all the shoppers and embedded itself into a bag of beans had us in hysterics. H.M. (Max) Hulett (21-24), Windsong, Windermere Road, Muizenberg, our oldest surviving Hulett (76), is, we hear, an expert in designing and making quality furniture. K.B. (Ken) Jacques (24-31), 21 Prince Edward, 30a South Ridge Road, Durban, now passing 70 (and he was 14 when i first taught him), is still doing clerical work with S.A. Crematorium at Stellawood."Better than sitting in a fiat ail day" he says. At least he has a steady job. He and his wife recently made the return journey to Cape Town by the Blue Train,to celebrate their 35th wedding anni versary. He has, in other words,had 35 years of freedom and 35 in bondage. Munsamy was Kearsney's first cook and carried on that work for 20 years into the Botha's Hill era. He passed away about a dozen years ago and I attended his funeral. Recently his three sons paid us a visit, with an invitation to the wedding of the daughter of "Captain" who served the Staff table at the old school. Captain is now 80 and keeping fit. D.R.(Desmond) Nightingale (24-31),an old stalwart, is having treat ment for eye trouble, but is otherwise "very fit". His crops have been destroyed by drought, despite the efforts of his son John to run the farm for him. He has six local grandchildren, a very united family. He informed us of the passing of his cousin J.M.(Jim), who has been in Kenya all his adult life, and only last year paid us a welcome visit. Desmond has passed his 44th wedding anniversary and is relieved to know that the first 50 years are the worst. His address is Box 38,Gingindhiovu. E.N. (Eric) Peppier (27-31), 2 Robin Avenue, Hermanus, in his re tirement finds great enjoyment from his caravan, and has been particularly impressed by the Eastern Transvaal and Namaquaiand. In a nostalgic letter he states, "I shall soon be reaching my 70th anniversary and am singularly blessed. Good health, a wonderful family of children and grandchildren, a warm church fellowship, good bowling cronies, and a wealth of memories of long ago." i was able to furnish him with a photo of his winning the 440 in 1930,to satisfy the doubts of his grandchildren. D.M.(Donald,"Tiny") Sinclair (21-23), 14 St Matthews Road, East London, at 78 our oldest Old Boy, has the energy and health of a man half his age. He continues to administer his two companies, Kenneway Complex and East London Medical Centre (of which he was quantity surveyor) and is now busy planning and designing a new project for the Kenneway site comprising approximately 66 flats. He still plays 18 rounds of golf once or twice a week and is bursting with energy. Shortly he hopes to fly to Chicago to see his son who is a doctor in Rush Hospital. As our eldest citizen i take his gratitude for what little work I've done for the Club as representing the feeling of others. Thank you. J.F. (Jack) Raece (Staff 27-67,81) writes from Botha's Hill, "If 1 had to select the most precious hour of the year, it would be the hour's remembrance service in the Old Kearsney Chapel, now beautifully restored and a National Monument. Memories flowed, and only the bees were missing. After the service we repaired to the local home of Graeme and Paddy Shuker for an excellent buffet lunch, i was able to tell him that i had dined in that Hulett home be fore ever he was born! i mounted the steep steps to the pulpit,and en route down must have tripped, for i found myself flat in the aisle, having wrenched the entire Communion Rail out of its socket and landed it on me. I took the full weight on my right elbow, which is still painful. Graeme gave me a stiff brandy, but I hasten to assure friends that I took the brandy AFTER and not before the service!" PJ. (Piet) Slabbert (28-29 Dux), now in his 70th year, remembers me as a rooinek. For 48 years he has been involved in Surveying, and is presently surveying another township for Sasoi at Secunda. He will retire soon,and no wonder. He has bought a holiday cottage at Uvongo. We congratulate E.G. (Earle) Smith (27-34, Dux),19 Sanders Road, Pietermaritzburg, and his wife Audrey on attaining their 40th wedding anniversary. And i remember him as a boy in the PrepI He has been appointed to the Board of Wykeham School, in charge of maintenance. As an ex-Chief Inspector of Schools, he is obviously determined to continue to be active. Dr H.H.(Halley) Stott, (22-26), has now officlaiiy retired from his work as Chairman of the Valley Trust, which he founded in 1951, and to which he has dedicated the past 30 years of his life. The whole theme of his work has been "Health and Habitat",the pre vention of illness through health-giving food. This is a favourite theme with his son Dr Nigel Stott (q.v.). In retirement he claims to be "busier than ever" as he prepares a publication on the aims and ideals of the Valley Trust. We await the return of his comet in 1986, by which time he will have celebrated his golden wedding. His home is at Botha's Hill. A.B. (Albert Theunissen (29-31), 155 William Road, Norwood, Joburg, has been Kearsney's businessman par excellence, even though he started off as a school-teacher at D.H.S. Scottish Cables, of which he is currently Managing Director, has had a disastrous financial year, like other electrical cable companies. This does not detract from the smile of the accompanying photograph. Rewrites "Since going on pension from Anglovaai H.O. in June 1975, i have been very active as chairman/director of companies quoted on the Stock Exchange. As I will be 70 early in 1985 these activities will perforce have to cease. I then propose to turn to writing. Have now had 32 years unbroken service as a Governor of Kearsney. It was a thrill to be appointed one of the first three Honorary Life Trustees of the College (while retaining Board membership) under the new dispensation. I have discovered that 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity!' So am preparing myself for the seventies, i will then Carpe Diem." Albert has had eyesight trouble since at school, and is expecting to have cataract operations some time about now.Good luck, A.B. J.D.(Jim) Walker (25-28), 577 Berea Road, Durban, has turned up out of the blue,after a silence since 1928.Though we shared eighteen months together, he shattered my ego by not remembering me! He left S.A. in 1929 and returnedin 1962, after serving in H.M.Over seas Civil Service (Kenya), firstly with railways then with harbour administration. A visit to Botha's Hill duly restored the connection. As reported a year ago. Rev. Dr C.E.(Edgar) Wilkinson (25-27),5 Fernie, Central Square, Pinelands, underwent a double heart opera tion, a new aortic valve and a vein by-pass with a vein cut from the left ankle. Although it was a traumatic experience, we are glad to say that it was entirely successful, and even the angina which bothered him over the years has gone. Though well past his three score years and ten, he is fully involved in preaching and doing pastoral work at Mossop Road Methodist Church, Cape Town. I can't see Edgar's active mind relaxing, as long as he has physical strength. He concludes, "i am but one of the 'old school' who most gratefully cherish all it and those who taught us meant and still means to us." it is 56 years since he left! 75
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