UK ODU Photo Gallery: MANDELA: MY PRISONER, MY FRIEND

This year, the centenary of Nelson Mandela's birth, has seen a flurry of publications, documentaries, reminiscences and talks on the great man. Everyone, it seems, was Mandela's closest friend, intimate confidante and personal advisor. Pretenders most of them, but one who is the real thing is Christo Brand who at the age of 18 became Madiba's prison warden on Robben Island. Over the rest of Mandela's life, including his transfer to the mainland, release from jail, President of South Africa and then, finally as a pensioner, Christo remained at Mandela's side, initially as his guard and over time, his extraordinarily close friend.

Christo's story is told in his recently-released book, Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend. He also tells his story in person at functions such as the breakfast the UK ODs held in the House of Lords on Friday 15th June, hosted by Lord St John of Bletso (Anthony St John (G, 1974)).

Before breakfast, Anthony led ODs on an intriguing and captivating tour of the House of Lords giving us access to rooms and secrets not usually accessible to the general public.

After the tour, we sat down to breakfast in the Attlee Room. There Anthony welcomed everyone in his customary erudite and witty style. In particular, he welcomed Andreas Payne (an Old Haileyburian and parliamentary assistant to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond) and Clive During, an Old RBHS. Anthony outlined the importance of understanding and supporting the transformation in South Africa which now with a new President, has taken on greater focus and urgency and, dare we expect it, increased accountability and governance.

Anthony also welcomed Simon Peile (F, 1979) Chairman of the Bishops College Council who was in London for the week. Simon outlined the purpose of his trip - setting in motion the succession process for the new Bishops Principal and meeting with British headmasters and school governors of the top schools in the country.

Andrew Russell (G, 1981) then introduced Christo who told us his story.

Christo Brand

And what a story it is. From his humble upbringing in the Cape, to becoming a guard in the South African Prison Services and, at the age of eighteen, being posted to Robben Island where he was assigned as Mandela's warden. He described his first encounter with Madiba - "not the tattooed and dangerous gangster he had expected but an educated and highly civilised old man" - and how his relationships with him developed and became ever closer. He talked about the encouragement Mandela gave him to study, how he learnt the true meaning of respect and the injustices of the apartheid system. And then, after imprisonment, how as the State President, Mandela and Christo maintained and grew their relationship until Mandela's death in December 2013 and Christo's invitation by the family to attend his funeral.

It is a story of deep humanity. Over all this time, Christo has never deviated from his belief in the goodness of humankind and how important it is to regard people with an open mind and not simply accept the prevailing dogma. Such a philosophy was not in those days without huge personal risk but Christo's appreciation of Mandela's essential virtuousness resulted in a rich and unique relationship.

And ODs were riveted.

Our thanks to Christo for sharing his story with us. And to Anthony St John for generously hosting us in the House of Lords.

A list of guests is posted at the end of this blog

Click on the photos to enlarge

Anthony St John

Pre-breakfast tour of the House of Lords

Not many photos are allowed in the House of Lords, but with such a distinguished group, an exception was made

Breakfast:

In the distance, Denis and Tilly Christie; in the foreground the back of Miles Maskell's head and then from left, Maida Shivik, Caelim Parkes, Nick Heesom, and Diana and Peter Arthur