On Wednesday 02 October three ODs came to the Museum.  Howard Cooke matriculated from Bishops in 1972.  He and the archivist Paul Murray who is a contemporary of his, matriculating from HH Somerset West, met especially to discuss some aspects of Bishops history, centring on the Rhodes scholarship and then also Sophie Gray, the person who opened Bishops on 15 March 1849, 170 years ago. 

Howard wrote: "In her resolute support of her husband, the Diocesan College was started and whilst much eulogy is given to Bishop Robert Gray, as is so often the case, his achievements would not have been possible without the support of Sophie.  More than that, her own initiatives in the establishment of the Anglican Church are to be seen in the enduring beauty of so many stone churches across the country.  It is interesting to note other contributions she made such as the establishment of night-schools for under-resourced communities in the Cape." 

Howard and Paul reminisced about their time in 1973 in the SADF at 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Potchefstroom/Tlokwe, with other Diocesans, Rick Smuts, Peter Handley and Charl van Den Heever, all 1972 Leavers. 

At that stage Tim Richman arrived for a meeting with Jeremy Ryall, both of whom are on the editorial panel of the 'Old Diocesan'.  It was good to see the different generations of ODs get together and have a chat.  

We are looking forward to the fourth edition of the 'Old Diocesan' to be launched on Wednesday 13 November at The Mitre - for further ino for this plse contact the ODU [email protected]