Latest News

Open Microphone with Robin Jackman and Colin Bryden as MC - 1st February 2012

Wynberg Old Boys' Union is proud to present Robin Jackman in our popular 'Open Microphone' series. A former English cricketer, who played in four Tests and fifteen ODIs for England from 1974 to 1983. He was a seam bowler and useful tail-end batsman. During a first-class career lasting from 1966 to 1982, he took 1,402 wickets. He also played for Western Province in South Africa in 1971-72, and for Rhodesia between 1972-73 and 1979-80.

The MC for the evening will be well known cricket writer, ex editor of the Sunday times, and the author of the book JACKERS the autobiography, namely Colin Bryden.

Tickets are available at R70 per person from the Bill Bowden Pavilion or contact Hugh Rowles 021 7972101 or email hrowles@wbhs.org.za. Ticket sales close Friday 27th January 2012.

Justin Bing (2007) included in the Proteas Standup Paddle Boarding Team

Congratulations to Justin Bing who has been awarded his Protea colours for Standup Paddle boarding. He won the Summer Series and came second in the SA Champs. He will be travelling to Peru in February as part of the SA team.

Wynberg Old Boys' Union AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held on the 16th May 2011 at the Bill Bowden Pavillion, click here to read the minutes of the meeting.

Mike Meintjes - Class of 1950

It is with deep regret that the Wynberg Old Boys' Union heard of the passing of Mike (Class of 1950) on Sunday 11th September. Affectionately known to all his old Wynberg school pals as "Cheese". Mike was a loyal supporter of the school and the Old Boys' Union. Our sincere condolences to his family.

Read on »»

Richard Levi (2005) included in SA T20 and ODI Cricket Squads

Congratulations to current Cobras' batting star and former Wynberg First XI cricket captain, Richard Levi, on his inclusion in both the South Africa T20 and ODI squads to play Australia. The Wynberg Old Boys' Union congratulate Richard on his selection.

The Wynberg Old Boys' Union and all Wynberg Old Boys' round the world salute Sir Jeffery Jowell class of 1955

Jeffrey Jowell has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his services to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Article taken from the UCT Paper:

Distinguished alumnus Jeffrey Jowell knighted

UCT law alumnus and trustee of the UCT Trust in the UK Jeffrey Jowell has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, in recognition of his services to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Jowell is director of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law in the UK, a centre devoted to the study and promotion of the rule of law through comparative research, discussion and training.

Jowell also practises at the Bar at Blackstone Chambers and is professor emeritus at University College London (where he was Professor of Public Law, dean and vice-provost).

After graduating from UCT in 1960, Jowell studied further at Oxford and Harvard, and for the past 35 years has been professor of law at University College London (UCL), and a practising member of the English Bar.

One of the UK's leading public lawyers, with numerous publications in constitutional, administrative and planning law, he has been visiting professor at universities all over the world, and has received a number of honorary degrees, including from UCT and the universities of Athens and Paris. Jowell has advised on the constitutions of a number of countries, especially in the Commonwealth and the former Soviet Union.

"He maintains close links with his alma mater; for example, as dean of UCL's law faculty (and with Professor Hugh Corder) he initiated academic and student exchanges between UCL and UCT that still continue," said Professor PJ Schwikkard, Dean of the Faculty of Law.

"He has also embodied the spirit of his honorary professor tenure, and so it was most fitting that he delivered the first Rabinowitz Lecture, titled The rule of law and the power to prosecute, as part of the faculty's celebrations of 150 years of teaching law."

Wynberg Old Boys' Union congratulates Matthew Moir(95) and Justin Bing(07) on representing South Africa at The World Surfing Games in Panama.

Courtesy of Merton Media Productions

Jacques Kallis 1993

The Wynberg Old Boys' Union Committee congratulates Jacques on his achievement as SA Cricketer of the Year for the second time. Below are excerpts from a Sport 24 article.

"Jacques Kallis was crowned as South Africa's Cricketer of the Year at the 2011 South African Cricket Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. It is the second time that Kallis has won CSA's premier award as he previously achieved the distinction in 2004. He achieved a hat trick of awards this time as he was also named Castle Test Cricketer of the Year and received the KFC "So Good Award!" for his centuries in both innings of the Test match against India at Sahara Park Newlands in spite of being handicapped by a painful side injury."

The Wynberg Old Boys' Union Committee Congratulate the 6 Old Boys selected for WP Men's Hockey Sides

The International Boys' School Coalition Conference held in London from 10th to 13th July 2011

Wynberg must have been one of the best represented Old Boys' Unions present.

Sitting: Neil Crawford (WBHS Staff 1976 - 1984); Keith Richardson (Current Headmaster); Greg Brown (Matric 1977 - Current Headmaster Bishops Prep)

Standing: Neil Eddy (Matric 1987 - Current Deputy Headmaster WBHS); Neil Peacock (Matric 1982 - current Kearsney College); Chris Luman (Matric 1977 - current Deputy Headmaster St Paul's College New Zealand; Vernon Wood (Matric 1977 - current Headmaster Bishops)

Wynberg Old Boys' Union are Proud of two Wynberg Men

Congratulations to Sikhumbuzo Notshe for being selected for the SA Schools u18 team and Dalton Kannemeyer for being selected for the SA Schools u18 Academy team.

The Wynberg Old Boys' Union Committee Congratulate the 3 Wynberg Men and one Old Boy who were selected to represent the u16 and u18 S.A. Schools Hockey Teams.

Wynberg Old Boy , Daryn Liddle class of 2001, decorated for bravery in Afghanistan

Wynberg Old Boy, Daryn Liddle class of 2001, decorated for bravery in Afghanistan. He will be awarded the Brigade Commanders Commendation for Bravery at their passing out parade on the 15th August at Sandhurst.

Read on »»

Wynberg Heritage, Celebrating our Links

Wynberg Boys’ High cyclists will take part in the first 50 km stage of the 2011 Unogwaja. Daily video diary updates will be blogged via www.RedSockFriday.com and pinkdrive.co.za

90 years ago Wynberg Old Boy, Vic Clapham’s dream of a marathon between “Maritzburg and Durban as a living memorial to the spirit of the soldiers of the Great War was realised: the Comrades Marathon was born.

In 1933, another Wynberg Old Boy, Phil Masterton-Smth, nick-named ”Unogwaja” (the Hare) who, short of the reail fare between Cape Town and Durban, wrote himself into the Legends of the Comrades by cycling 1730 km to the starting line ... and finishing 10th overall.

This ultimate story of one man’s passion, will power and triumph is why the Unogwaja 2011 was created:

Wynberg hockey coach John McInroy, along with Paul Blake, WP van Zyl and Lourens van Zyl will follow the footsteps of Masterton-Smith and attempt the ultimate journey of courage and endurance by cycling from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg and the following day running the Comrades Marathon.

Read on....

Wynberg Boys' High WP u18 Craven Week Team Selections

Congratulations to the following boys on their WP selection:

WP U18 Craven Week Team:
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Captain)

WP U18 Academy Team:
Dalton Kannemeyer
Lwandile Sompontsha

Music at the Manor - 20th February 2011

This event went off very well, with positive feedback from all who attended. There were 110 guests. It was good to see some 'young' old boys attending plus many past parents. The weather played ball and the hostel boys served the tables with true Wynberg aplomb. The Steel Band led by Keenan Olifant was mesmerising to say the least. The Jazz Band led by Morgan King were awesome. In between we had a guest appearance of Marco Titus who sang some amazing songs. Lastly the Concert Band led by Peter Catzavelos entertained the guests with some exquisite pieces.
Thanks Fritz.

Click here to view more photos.

Open Microphone: Brendon Venter - 1st September 2011

Another successful Open Microphone series was held at the Bill Bowden with 86 guests packed into the pavilion. The guests were treated to an interesting and entertaining talk with Tank Lanning; rugby editor of Sport 24 , as the M.C.

Brendan is currently technical director of Saracens, although based in Cape town, has also coached London Irish, defense coach at the Stormers and assisted the Lions and Free State at various times.

Thanks to Mickey Lumb for the photos and Lew Byrne of The Really Great Brand Company for the gifts and spot prizes. A BIG thank you to Paul Barichievy for once again organising these top quality speakers and to the Thelma Rowles and her ladies committee for providing the usual top quality snacks.

Click here to view more photos.

Open Mike - Jonathan Kaplan - 7th June 2011

Another successful Open Microphone series was held at the Bill Bowden with 105 guests packed into the pavilion. The guests were treated to an interesting and entertaining talk with Tank Lanning; rugby editor of Sport 24 , as the M.C.

Jonathan came across as a very humble person and certainly knows the rules of the game. Tank was great with his scrimmaging law questions which Jonathan was able to answer with aplomb. It was obvious on the night , why Jonathan is rated the number one ref world wide.

Keith Richardson, with his usual whit and anecdotes closed the evening by thanking Jonathan for giving up of his valuable free time to chat to us.

Thanks to Micky Lumb for the photos and Lew Byrne of The Really Great Brand Company for the gifts and spot prizes. A BIG thank you to Paul Barichievy for once again organising these top quality speakers and to the Thelma Rowles and her ladies committee for providing the usual top quality snacks.

Open Mike - Allan Lamb - 8th March 2011

A successful evening attended by 107 guests. Mike Minnaar, the first MC opened the evening with his informative questions and of course Allan did not hold back on the descriptive. Mike covered Allan's local cricket career starting as an 18 year old school boy playing for the WP senior team. The second half of the evening was run by Rob Howing, covering Allan's international career with England. Well the things he and Ian Botham got up to were out of this world. Dickie Bird's car being put up on bricks was classic and indicative of what Lambie was all about.

Spot prizes were donated by Lew Byrne of Really Great Brand Company - bottles of Famous Lambie, aptly labelled.

Click here for more images.

Carole England moving to Ausie

Carole England who for many years administered the Old Boys Union has been persuaded by her son's Wayne and Gary to join them in Sydney, Australia. Carole left on the 31st March.

Carole, whose late husband Chris (56) was a former President of the Union, was honoured with Honorary Life Membership of the Union for the great effort she put into Union affairs. The England family are the only family in the Union to all be Life Members. Both Wayne and Gary emigrated a few years back.

We trust Carole's move to her family will be happy as we know she leaves many close friends behind.

We wish her well in her new home and thank her for all her hard work, support and direction she gave the Union.

We trust that once she has settled in to her new home in Sydney we can get our Australian Branch up and running as we have many old boys' down under.

Mickey Lumb - Vice President Wynberg Old Boys' Union.

Alfred John Adriaan Morris -
(1923 - 2010)

Wynberg Old Boys' mourn the passing of Alf Morris, who made a significant contribution over many years to the lives of so many Wynberg boys in nurturing their academic and sporting development. He continued his strong active support of the School and the Old Boys' Union after his retirement.

We will remember him always with great respect and affection and extend our deepest sympathy to Helena and family on their sad loss.

The Wynberg Old Boys' Union.

Click here to read a tribute to Alfred Morris by the Headmaster, Keith Richardson.

Jacques Kallis Oval - 26 November 2009

Jacques Kallis (93) was honoured by the school when the cricket oval was renamed the 'Jacques Kallis Oval". Jacques says he is "delighted" to be honoured by his school for his contribution to the game of cricket, "it is a very humbling experience and I feel very proud". The idea of renaming the cricket oval was initiated by the RCL last year and after Jacques went past 10000 runs in test cricket the school decided to go ahead with the idea.

Jacques is now one of the world's leading all-rounders and among the top 10 highest scoring batsmen.

The unveiling of the 'Jacques Kallis Oval" plaque took place during the 20/20 game between the Jacques Kallis XI, led by old boy Aubrey Martyn and also included two other Proteas players, Dave Rundle and Paul Adams and the school's 1st XI. The plaque was crafted by Old Boy, Mike Smit (73) and donated by the Old Boys' Union.

Click here for images of the day

Wynberg Old Boys' Union Committee 2009

Mendel Kaplan

It is with a sense of shock and deep sadness that we heard of the passing of Mendel Kaplan in Cape Town on Thursday, 19 November. Mendel was a great benefactor and loyal supporter of the School and Old Boys' Union. His interest in the School's achievements throughout the years has really been appreciated by all.

The upgrading of Silverhurst, now Kaplan House, the building of the Bill Bowden Pavilion and the re-siting and refurbishing of the Eric Tasker and Wynberg Heritage Museums in Kaplan House bear testimony to his generosity and ongoing interest. They are a living memorial.

The Union offers its deepest sympathy to his wife Jill and the whole Kaplan family. He will be sorely missed.

---