Brothers in the Endless Chain:
Passing the Baton of Leadership

Mickey Lumb and Steve Doidge may be years apart when it comes to their matric years, but like the sun that rises in the east each time, there is the predictable Wynberg old boy inside each of them. I met up with Mickey and Steve to discuss their involvement with the WOBU and what was clear from the start was that despite their different backgrounds there was one common ideal:

"The union is for the school and old boys. You need to support both," says outgoing president and now deputy, Mickey Lumb. "What defines the union is that it has to work closely with the school and serve its members. I think Keith Richardson has been great in his fruitful efforts to involve the union more with the school." Mickey served for 5 years.

"The only reason I became president is we had already changed our constitution twice to allow Mickey to serve longer," jokes incoming President Steve Doidge who received unanimous support and is well known for his two years of teaching economics at Wynberg, where he provided real world exposure to the boys alongside his executive role in the financial world.

After Mickey's five years leading the Old Boys' Union, Steve recognises he has a lot to live up to. "When it comes to Mickey, you could mention any Wynberg old boy and he would have a three hour story to tell you that could take five minutes." Steve is uncertain if he can live up to that. And after stepping down after decades of service, Mickey seems to enjoy his new role as deputy: "Its excellent working under Steve, I don't think he takes much sh, uh, nonsense, from people."

Steve says his first impression of Mickey centred on one word: passion. "I saw someone committed to the union and to the Wynberg legacy. And as a result of that passion, I have big shoes to fill." As he reflects, Mickey is clear the younger generations needs to get involved. "We needed to make changes for the youth like Steve (Steve is 38!). As far as I am concerned the union's strength lies in the kids." Steve laughs, but points out younger members must know they are part of the union as equals - and need to recognise their critical role in the Wynberg chain.

With the focus on extending attention to Wynberg's many spectacular non-sporting achievements and getting more of the newer generation involved, there is much that can positively be gleaned from an old saying: As things change, we must rely on that which stays constant.

Steve concludes that it is important to give back to the school. "We have experts in all fields on our committee who do just this," he notes, saying in some ways a school like Wynberg can be seen as any modern enterprise. "Keith Richardson and management are the board of directors, the clients are the parents but the shareholders are the old boys. They are the moral compass of the school. We have to offer constructive criticism where it is needed and praise where it is due. We keep the school true to tradition and modern where relevant. A case of timeless values and changing methods of ensuring those values sustain us."

There is a sense of duty and contribution that informs how Mickey, Steve and the committee see their duty to Wynberg. "If you are a parent at the school, it's a short term commitment. For Wynberg Boys, it's a lifetime. There is a long investment that ends at the end of one's life. There are few associations greater than that."

Garreth Bloor, class of 2005