AN EVENING WITH RAYMOND ACKERMAN

The Old Diocesans Union has what can only be described as a robust organisational structure, with a president, vice presidents, chairman, vice-chairman, committee members, sub-committees, the OD Secretary, branch secretaries and an administrator. And right at the top of this pile sits the Patron a largely ceremonial position which adds gravitas and stature to the Union.

Raymond Ackerman (S, 1948) was appointed Patron of the ODU at the end of 2018 filling the vacancy created by the retirement of our previous Patron, Michael Watermeyer (O, 1945). Raymond was previously the President of the ODU, a position which he still retains. Raymond, who does not "do" non-executive, will bring his enormous wisdom, skill and ability to get things done to the ODU.

Last night Hamish Sinclair (S, 1992) hosted a reception to celebrate Raymond's appointment at the offices of Stonehage Fleming in London. Among the sixty ODs and guests who attended was Simon Peile (F, 1979) who is Chairman of the Bishops College Council. He was kind enough to update us on the affairs of the School and the progress being made in the appointment of a new Principal to replace Guy Pearson who retires at the end of 2019. We were very pleased to welcome Rudi Beekman (O, 1962) and his wife Marjan who were visiting from the Netherlands

In a fireside chat format, Nicky Bicket (F, 1973) "interviewed" Raymond about the moments in his - Raymond's - life which shaped his extraordinarily successful, influential and philanthropic career. Many of these instances arose out of adversity, starting with the discrimination he experienced at Bishops, unfair dismissal from employment and the flak he took for his unwavering stance against the apartheid government as he built Pick 'n Pay. He spoke, too, about the positive influences of key figures in his life (including at the top of the list, his wife Wendy), who taught him inter alia about believing in people, consumer sovereignty - a no-brainer but rare philosophy at the time - and simple models for business success.

Our thanks to Raymond for his talk last night and, of course, his continuing and generous support for Bishops and the ODU.

And our thanks to Hamish for Stonehage Fleming's hospitality and to Bruce Jack (F, 1984) for the donation of his delicious and quickly-consumed wines.

A list of ODs and guests appears at the end of this post.

Click on the individual photos to enlarge.

Greg Baldwin and Mark Hammond

Peter Arthur and Chris Leach

Raymond and Stuart Rangeley-Wilson

Iain Derrick, Chad Cruickshank and Simon Peile 

John Passmore and mark Hammond

Jono and Sophie van Deventer

Richard Westby-Nunn and Nic Heesom 

John Battersby, Tim Loughton, Caelim Parkes and Greg Baldwin

Chris Molteno, Chris Leach and Nicky Greig

Mark Jefferies and Byron Messaris

Stuart Rangeley-Wilson and Hamish Sinclair

Wendy Ackerman and Steve Kettle

Raymond Ackerman and bottom right, with Nicky Bicket

Peter Arthur and Thomas Withington

Jono and Sophie van Deventer, Karen Malan and Nic Heesom

Tilly and Denis Christie and Karen Malan

Chris Molteno, and Steve and Audrey Hofmeyr

Simon Peile

Stuart Rangeley-Wilson, Peter Arthur and Justin van Breda

David Jordan, John Battersby and Rudi and Marjan Beekman

John Passmore and Richard Westby-Nunn

Nicholas and Camilla Ackerman, Jono and Sophie van Deventer, Denis Christie, Audrey Hofmeyr, Till Christie (back), Nic Heesom and Wendy Ackerman

Class of 1992 (and 1948): Hamish Sinclair, Robbie Weich, Raymond Ackerman and Justin van Breda

Hamish Sinclair and Robbie Weich

Sophie and Jono van Deventer and Raymond Ackerman

Audrey Hofmeyr, Nic Heesom, Wendy Ackerman and Tilly and Denis Christie

Andy Jackson, Raymond Ackerman and Hamish Sinclair

Camilla and Nicholas Ackerman

Robert Brink, Chad Cruickshank (back) and Luke Rockey 

Caelim Parkes and Simon Peile

Nic Heesom and Audrey and Steve Hofmeyr