Richard Kind (1974S) reports: I came across this (below) while clearing out a couple of my dad’s old files and had a good chuckle when I read Charlie’s note to parents covering the itinerary and what to bring etc.

Just the costs will blow your mind. Who would ever think today of going to Harare by train! Forget the R45.20 return to Salisbury and you have to love the “extra” that is pocket money - R1.80 (10 cents a day!).

I dug out the Akkersdyk  (“Hey Lofty....”) photograph to remind me who actually went on the tour (below).

It would be good to establish a “where are they now?” In my case this is semi-retired and living in Stanford near Hermanus.

Of course, perhaps the biggest aspect of this little “find” is the realisation of how privileged we all were to have such wonderful opportunities at Bishops.

I suspect at the time our abiding memory was watching television for the first time!. How Vandy fitted into his compartment- let alone his bunk, I will never know. Today it would probably be a business class seat (on a separate plane, of course). In fact, I suspect the team would be split according to some health and safety protocol.

Oh well, memories. I hope this message finds as many in the attached picture as possible. It would be fun to share any anecdotes and recollections from that special time."

Were you in this tour or part of the 1969 prep class? Let us know some of your fondest memories: [email protected]

Memories from ODs:

Paul Cannon (1954S) wrote in response to the article: 

"As usual, the OD Union newsletter of Friday 23 April was fascinating, but for my wife Wendy and me, even more so than usual because of Richard King's photo of and comments on the Prep rugby team that toured Rhodesia in 1969.

In 1969 I was teaching at St Stephen's College, Balla Balla ; Wendy and I were married in Bulawayo on 26 April of that year so St Stephen's was our first home ; the Headmaster was Ian Campbell who had taught with Anthony Mallett at Peterhouse!

When Vandy and John brought the Bishops Prep team to St Stephen's in June, we were delighted to welcome members of my old school, but also rather apprehensive as we felt we should entertain the two staff (whom I knew well) and some Bishops parents, to lunch - Wendy's very first venture into preparing a meal for acquaintances! But the occasion went down very well, including the Apple Snow dessert the recipe for which Wendy had phoned my mother in Cape Town!

I remember nothing about the match against St Stephen's nor the match against nearby Falcon where my brother-in-law, Peter Steyn, was teaching but I know that Bishops was unbeaten in 7 matches, scoring 146 points with only 17 against. I have a memory, however, of Vandy insisting on all his boys going to our school chapel on Sunday morning, and before the service, lining up the team for him to inspect the smartness of their uniforms.

We moved to Hilton College in Natal in 1970, and I recall that amongst our first visitors there were Pieter and Betty van der Bijl on their way to or from Rhodesia.

Sincerely

Paul Cannon (Post Matric 1954 School H)"

Brian Biebuyck (1974O) wrote: 

"Sorry to burst the bubble, but in 1969 I (and many other subsequent OD’s) were at WPPS. 

We gave Bishops a proper hiding that year!

Kind regards

Brian Biebuyck"