Gareth Davies recently took over as the Branch Secretary of Queensland in Australia.  All the Branches there are working hard  to get activities going for ODs to connect and engage; currently we also have Jonathan Jackson of New South Wales, Paul Raynham of South Australia, Philip Faure of Victoria, Liam Surridge of West Australia and Mike Currey of New Zealand (the seat of South New Zealand is vacant and it be would great if there were someone there willing to put his hand up).  

Gareth recently posted on facebook about his meeting with OD Dr Garth Hockly, of the Class of 1955.  Dr Hockly currently farms in Queensland.  He worked as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, developing an interest in sculpture working in that field.  He penned a book about his memories growing up on Uplands, a farm in the Karoo, including his memories of his time at Bishops - called "Half Forgotten Days".  Copies of this book are available from the shop at the ODU - it makes for superb reading!

Garth's Mother, was Marjorie MacGregor, thus making her grandson Dr Mark MacGregor (School House, 1987) a nephew to Mark.  Apart from that, Mark knows Garth from his time practising medicine in Australia.  Mark currently works as an Anaethetist at St George's Hospital in London and visited the Museum a few years ago, taking with him a copy of his Uncle's "Half Forgotten Days".  

Several of Dr Hockly's sculptures - kindly donated by him - are to be found at the ODU in the Museum.  These are highly sought after art pieces, and the visitor to Graaff-Reinet will find more of Garth's sculpture in the Hester Ruprt Art Museum there.

One can never stop being amazed at Bishops ODs connecting and engaging as they meet up all over the world.  Dr Garth Hockly, the Great-Grand-Uncle to Mark MacGregor, meeting with Gareth Davies in Queensland is no exception.