The well-known Koster family, have had to endure a tragic time after recently losing Charles last month and now Werner. Werner is the last of the generation of Koster brothers comprising himself, Wilfred and Peter.

Werner Koster died in Oudsthoorn on 3rd July 2021 of Covid related complications.   Werner was at Bishops from 1948 to 1957 and started his carrier at College in 1953 at Founders. However in 1954 Piley Rees became the new Housemaster for White House and  “Hijacked” him and many others from Founders and School House with the inauguration of White house. Needless to say White House as a result virtually won all the Inter House trophies for a considerable length of time thereafter and Werner played a huge part, particularly in rugby and cricket.

He was an outstanding sportsman for Bishops and was awarded full Cricket colours and was chosen for the WP Nuffield team in 1957. He was an aggressive fast bowler and a hard hitting batsman  He was a ball carrying lock in the 1st team rugby side and was also awarded full colours.  Had there been a Craven Week side chosen in those days, he would undoubtedly have made the side. He also received colours for Boxing and few will forget his Lukin Shield bout with Ian Jones , one of SACS finest sportsmen (he went on to play for Wales at rugby) when both simply refused to quit. Furthermore he is the only College boy to have been awarded The Jameson Cup for two consecutive years in a row – 1956/57.  There is no doubt that Werner was one of Bishops top sportsmen during the 1950-1960 decade.

After leaving College he attended an Agricultural college in England and on his return started farming in Beaufort West where he built an empire locally as well as in the Hospitality Industry and in Game farming. In 1960 he married his childhood sweetheart Moira Upton. The two had met at school where Moira was at Rustenburg.

He continued his sporting carrier by playing Cricket and Rugby for South Western Districts. One of his great achievements was bowling the Australian Captain Bill Lawry in the 1969/70 Australian Tour of South Africa with his first ball in an over which unfortunately turned out to be a “NO BALL” He was also a keen golfer all his life.

A man amongst men was the best way to describe Werner.  His popularity at school was a byword and that impish grin of his warmed the heart of all those who knew him. In later life he would come to Cape Town as often as he could and it was always great to see him at regular class get-togethers where old memories were revisited with great mirth and joviality.

He is survived by his wife Moira, daughters Debbie and Ingrid, sons Ralph (1987F) and Graeme (1990F), and 8 grandchildren to all of whom we express our deepest sympathy.  A huge tree has fallen.

Don Nelson and Peter (Butch) Kleye