Later this week we say our farewells to Guy and Mareé Pearson when Guy retires as Principal of Bishops.

Guy has served Bishops with great distinction over the past seven and a half years as the 14^th Principal of our great school.

He has a deep passion for education, particularly the education of boys.  His love for Bishops comes across in any interaction with Guy, as does his warmth and care for people of all ages, but particularly for our learners.

Leading a school like Bishops is not an easy job.  Over the past two and a half years, during which I have had the privilege of working closely with Guy, I have been impressed by the sheer volume and variety of issues that he is required to manage on a daily basis.  Every day has the potential for a new crisis.  Guy takes this all in his stride, leaning on the experience gained over more than twenty-four years of leading schools, resolving issues with wisdom and care, with the welfare of our boys his greatest concern. 

We have been very fortunate that Guy has had Mareé at his side providing him with support.  Thank you Mareé for all that you have done for Bishops.

I am extremely grateful that Guy agreed to stay on for an additional six months beyond his planned retirement at the end of 2019, when he would have completed forty years in the teaching profession.  I suspect that had he known the complete disruption that the global pandemic would bring, he might not have been so hasty to agree.

The past six months have been especially difficult for Guy and Mareé, as early this year Guy was diagnosed with cancer.  Guy has faced his illness with great fortitude, undergoing months of chemotherapy and isolating himself on campus in the Principals cottage through the months of lockdown.  During this time, he was always in close contact with his executive and with me, and was in full control of the school.  The courage that Guy has shown during this time speaks volumes about the character of the man and his dedication to Bishops.

It is particularly sad that we are not able to say our farewells and express our deep gratitude to Guy and Mareé in person at this time, but we look forward to inviting them back to Bishops to do so properly when circumstances permit.

Guy and Mareé, as you both leave Bishops and return to your home in the Eastern Cape, we wish you both a long and happy retirement and hope that you will be frequent visitors back to Cape Town and to Bishops.  You know that you will always be extremely welcome.
 

WELCOME TO TONY AND ROSE REELER


 

As we say farewell to Guy and Mareé, we say welcome to Tony and Rose.  It seems ages ago that I announced that on Guy’s retirement Tony Reeler would take over as the 15^th Principal of Bishops.  Taking over the leadership of a new school during a global pandemic and a nationwide lockdown will be a challenge that I am confident that Tony is up for.

Tony has visited Bishops on a number of occasions since his appointment and thankfully has had the opportunity to meet and get to know the school executive and a great many of the academic and support staff.  Tony was also the guest speaker at the Cape Town OD dinner in early March, where he made a tremendously favourable impression on the ODs that were present.

The Reelers will relocate from Pretoria to Cape Town on 20 June and Tony’s first day as our new Principal will be 30 June, the first day of the third term under the revised calendar. 

It is a Bishops tradition that a new Principal is inaugurated by the Archbishop in the Memorial Chapel on his first day in the job.  This is clearly not possible under the current social distancing constraints and this service has had to be postponed until a later date.  Despite this unusual start, I am sure that the entire Bishops community will join me in welcoming Tony and Rose to Bishops.

Simon Peile (1979F)

Chairman of Council