It's a nervous moment when, 60 years on, two ODs a year apart at school, come face-to-face. What dark memories are rekindled? What bitter resentments, harboured for more than half a century, will surface?
As it turns out, none and none. The Senior OD Lunch held at the RAF Club, courtesy John Fairweather (G, 1948) and hosted by our ODU President, Raymond Ackerman (S, 1948) stimulated only interested and interesting, lively and nostalgic conversation. "When I was at Bishops" evokes a somewhat different sense of retrospection when spoken by a 1951 OD to one of the 1961 vintage. What would last year's matriculants make of it all? Envy, perhaps, your secretary (who was the youngest OD present, since you ask) would think!
After the Grace, said by Steve Hofmeyr (O, 1973) in a folksy Latin rendition, Raymond was articulately introduced (and thanked) by Charles McGregor (F, 1969). He - Raymond - spoke of Bishops, the ODU and South Africa in the most constructive yet honest way. In acknowledging the challenges faced by all three, he stressed the positive aspects which far outweigh the negative. He spoke too of the enduring influence Bishops had on him in his life after school and how, if anything, this special aspect of Bishops has strengthened, especially under the stewardship of the new Principal, Guy Pearson. He ended, fittingly, with "Floreat Bishops".
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| Humphrey Payne (O, 1961), Peter Syfret (S, 1961), David Maughan Brown (W, 1963) and Raymond Ackerman |
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| John Fairweather (G, 1948) and Julian Molteno (F, 1958) |
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| Ken Ackerman (S, 1945) and John Doff (S, 1944) our most senior Senior ODs present |
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| Peter Arthur (W, 1965), Tim Shaw (S, 1951) and Miles Maskell ( O, 1953) |
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| Denis Christie (F, 1971) and Bruce Wilson (G, 1973) |
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| Pete Naude (S, 1970), Charles McGregor (F, 1969) Anthony Richardson (W, 1968) and Duncan Hepburn (W, 1966) |
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| Peter Wallach (G, 1958) with Humphrey Payne (O, 1961) |
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| Assorted Senior ODs at the bar warming up for lunch |
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| Lunch |
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| From right: Jeremy Friedlander (F, 1972), Bruce Wilson, Duncan Hepburn, John Fairweather, John Doff, Peter Syfret, Charles McGregor and Julian Molteno |
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| David Maughan Brown and Raymond Ackerman |
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| Miles Maskell and Denis Christie |
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| From left: Anthony Richardson, Pete Naude, Allan Gasson (S, 1973), Tim Shaw, David Maughan Brown and Raymond Ackerman |
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| From left: Julian Molteno, Charles McGregor, Ken Ackerman, John Doff, John Fairweather, Duncan Hepburn, Bruce Wilson, Jeremy Friedlander and Peter Syfret |
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| From left: John Doff, John Fairweather, Duncan Hepburn and Bruce Wilson |
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| Allan Gasson |
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| From left: Anthony Richardson, Pete Naude and Allan Gasson |
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| Ken Ackerman and John Doff |
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| From Left: Duncan Hepburn, Bruce Wilson, Jeremy Friedlander and Peter Syfret |
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| Charles McGregor introducing Raymond, with Peter Wallach (G, 1958) and Julian Molteno |
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| Raymond in full flight with, from left, Alan Gasson, Tim Shaw and David Maughan Brown |
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| Charles McGregor and John Doff |
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| From left: Charles McGregor, Peter Syfret, John Doff, John Fairweather and Duncan Hepburn |
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| Raymond speaking. Listening, from left: Tim Shaw, David Maughan Brown, Miles Maskell and Denis Christie |
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| Miles Maskell, Denis Christie and Humphrey Payne |
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| Charles McGregor thanking Raymond with, from left, Steve Hofmeyr, (O, 1973), Peter Syfret (foreground). Peter Arthur and Peter Wallach in the background |
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| Jeremy Friedlander, Denis Christie and John Fairweather |
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| Raymond with Peter Wallach |
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| Steve Hofmeyr and Peter Arthur |
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| And relaxing after all was said and done, Charles McGregor, Jeremy Friedlander and Steve Hofmeyr |
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| The Guest List |
