Dr A.(Alison) Milner (Staff 35-45),quietly retired at Ricfimond, Natal, will not allow tier active mind to rest,and,tfiougti basical ly a scientist, tias taken to lyrical writing. Her sonnet "Tranquility" gained first prize for the W.I. Federation of South Africa, and the sonnet "Harmony" is weli worth printing. These appear earlier in this Magazine. An essay on "A decision that altered my life" came 2nd in the country. I think many of us could write tellingly on that theme! M.H.(Mike) Perry (37-42), Box 17064, Hillbrow, and his wife Brenda continue ceaselessly with their evangelical work. Their ministry has involved schools, factories,open-air work,and field trips with other ministries. They particularly enjoyed the scenery of the Cape,in Durbanville and Tygerberg. Mike comes of a wellrespected Stanger family, known to myself before even Mike was born. Much could be written of Pat Poole (32-36), 25 Drakensberg Avenue, Virginia. I regard him as a wonderful example of how to be cheerful in the face of illness. Not only diabetes, but other illnesses which took him to hospital four times in a month,once in a coma. No ex-Kearsney boy has a bigger repertoire of stories about the "old days", some unrepeatable. He likes to reminisce on the fact that he had once been called "The Golden Voice of the Goldfields", and won the Free State section of a Mario Lanza competition. He writes with affection: "You had a great influence on my life at a time when it was not prudent of me to say so, for fear of being ridiculed by my own friends. Your music, your puns, your whole smiling way of life was a factor in turning my young mind along the right path of life." Kind words,indeed. He adds "I am going all out to complete a portrait for a local exhibition - I am trying to make a speciality of children,my really great love." October saw a very happy visit from J.(John) Redgment(39-45) and his wife Di, P. Bag X2046,Mafikeng. He had a distinguished career in the then Rhodesia,and before leaving for Mafikeng was the Senior Regional Magistrate for Zimbabwe. Naturally he regretted leaving that country (and his own house), both as regards work, friends and income, but is obviously making his presence felt in his new area. He is already Director of Practical Legal Training for Bophuthatswana University, under the title of "Professor", and Chairman of the Law Library Committee for that country. (He was especially interested in the Kearsney Library). His book "The Study and Practice of Law" was in the printers' hands. Incidentally he had the honour of being "dined" at Magdalene College,Cambridge. His visit to Kearsney coincided with a "typical Botha's Hill misty drizzle" which we had almost forgotten and he remembered only too well. As a Foundation Scholar of Finningley he was very impressed by the changes and additions to the school since his days, and he recalled some happy memories. Mrs J.F.(Thea) Reece (Staff 33-67,part-time), Botha's Hill,con tinues to be heavily involved in church work, both white and black, with special interest in the Women's Auxiliary and in the Zulu Bible Women. She has now celebrated her 50th year at Kearsney, having come,like her husband,for three years. N. (Neville) Reeves (31-35 Head Prefect), like others, finds his sugar cane ruined by drought. He is a keen golfer. President of the Eshowe Golf Club for four years, and V.P. of the Zululand Veterans' Club. He writes nostalgically, "As I sit here I look at the photos of yourself and your contemporaries (now all gone). So many memories come flooding back, and I never cease to thank you all for what you did for me at the Old Kearsney.The building up of our characters slowly and surely, your battle to turn us Into reasonable sportsmen both on the field of play and off it, and then the hardest battle of all, to drum some educa tion into the likes of myself. You would be surprised how often the late Stompie Larrington and I used to talk about you all, and all you did for us." A teacher's reward,from an ex-pupil of 67. His address is P.O. Ntumeni. W.L.S. (Wally) Robinson (31-37) is enjoying a well-deserved retirement at Rosetta, Natal, where he has a log cabin next door to one jointly owned by Justin Hall, Peter Reece, and Barry Williams. Thus far he has enjoyed the idleness, but is wondering whether any local farmers need help with their bookkeeping. We offer sympathy to Wally on the sudden passing of his brother Lin. Welly's long services with the Methodist Connexional Office will for ever be remembered. D.A. (Derek) Rock (39-43), 16 Bruce St., Waverley, Johannes burg, owns a Computer Bureau (C.I.C.S.) with its head office in Johannesburg and branches in other main areas, and a telephone network that covers the whole country. Starting 19 years ago with a personnel of 5 people, he now has 110. He has a grandson booked for Kearsney, and has bought a beach cottage at Sheffield Beach, with a view to retirement (he is now 57). He keeps active with tennis and golf (handicap 7). He is on the Transvaal committee which is helping towards the collecting of a million rands for Kearsney and Epworth. G.L.(Gerald) Rosenberg (36-39), 41 Jameson Avenue, Melrose, Johannesburg, Stockbroker, works a 10-12 hour day as work steadily expands, due to inflation. He has given up his overseas travelling, concentrating on the main centres in South Africa. Fortunately his co-Directors and staff have remained constant, and help him to meet the challenges. He indulges in his late father's interest in horse-racing (one of his father's horses won the July Handicap) and is heavily involved in the administration of this sport. A.N.(Arthur) Stockil (33-36), Box 4,Winterton,our supplier of news for the Natal Midlands, has been farming on the same farm for 40 years, assisted by his sons. He is Chairman of the Winterton Farmers' Association, and has been Circuit Steward to the Methodist Church for the past 25 years. He played on the wing for Natal after leaving Kearsney. N.E. (Norman) Theunissen (38-45, Head Prefect), Box 30, Kwambonambi, writes almost from the doorstep of thriving Richards Bay, where ten years ago there was nothing. Like other farmers, he is sorely in need of rain. He is now a grandfather via his son Craig,who was at Kearsney 1970-75. We wonder whether Norman's speed has diminished since he played on the wing for Natal. Dr O.J. (Wilkie) Wilkinson (35-38), 151 St Andrews Street, Bloemfontein, notes the difference between the style of the present Magazine and that of the "old" Kearsney. He continues his long stint as diagnostic radiologist in Bloemfontein, despite an open-heart operation, by-passing three coronary arteries, an operation that was completely successful. J.H.(John) Worth (30-31),30 Clarens Street, Baywaters, Bloem fontein, now aged 68, writes most appreciatively of work done for the Old Boys Club. Although he officially "retired" from Insurance work many years ago, he has spent 11 years with Glenvaal Insurance Brokers,and has now joined the Broking firm Dowdle and Haggles Ltd (Dowdle being an old KC boy). He is clearly a tiger for punishment,but it keeps him young enough to play with his grandchildren. Special friendship with John goes back to the days when my wife was a Bloemfontein "girl" at the time of my marriage in that city. End of the "old" Kearsney. 1940- 1949 Rev. C.M.(Murray) Albertyn (40-42), 81, Aliwal Street, Bloem fontein, is in his fifth year at St John's Presbyterian Church -"a large building with a small congregation, as we witness the hastening exodus of the English language - we plod along amidst Bag Pipes and Caledonian Societies." He writes: "Your 55 years at Old Boys News is appreciated by all, though we have not always made it easy for you as we ought." H.L. (Hayden) Albertyn (41-46), Box 59, Port Shepstone, is Personnel Manager of the C.G. Smith Sugar Mill at Port Shep stone. Everything is well organised, and this suits him. As a one time parson he is able to exercise a useful ministry there. G.W. (Geoffrey) Barbour (47-49), who has run the Field's Hill Garage, Kloof, for very many years (I cannot remember his ever visiting the school) has now gone farming: Benmore Estate, Box 85,Ixopo. A rather bold transition. D.W.(Denis) Barker (40-46),Selborne Park,Pennington. It took me days to recover from a study of Denis' stupendous and im peccably written report on his travels to USA,UK,New Zealand and Australia,on a 3-month study of Jersey cattle breeding, now his first love. What a vivid pen he wields. His own Jersey herd is now fast improving in quality and quantity, and for his sins he finds himself Vice-President of the SA Jersey Breeders Associa tion, and Chairman of the Natal Jersey Cattle Club. The main work of his farm (sugar) is attended to by others,and this gives Denis time to travel round and judge at Jersey shows. Being now well past his half century, he has disbanded his tennis and cricket (he was captain of Umzinto CO and is instead seeking desperate ly to reduce his golf handicap. Thank you,D.W.B.,for your kind words re Old Boys News. R.C. (Dick) Best (Staff 49-70), Box 96, Grahamstown, isdraw ing near the end of his long stint as Dean of students at Rhodes, and in mid-1984 will be taking over a flat in East London,where he may be able to do part-time advisory work. His years at Rhodes have been a "happy period", trying to place students Into the right courses, and the graduates into the right jobs. There is a friendly atmosphere about all he does,and his consult ing rooms are always full. The only tiresome work is the endless series of Committees, etc. which he has to attend. We wish him and Margaret well in their retirement. 77
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