We received the sad news of the passing of Charles Lipp (1952F) from cancer in Robertson on 4 August 2023.  He was at Stanmore House at the Prep school and then Founders House at College.  He was head of Founders and also Head Boy of the College in his post-matric year in 1953.

He studied a BA Degree at Stellenbosch University

Friend of Charles, Jeremy Lawrence (1952F) popped into the office and remembered the following interesting snippit about him:

He dated Estelle, the daughter of  J. G. Strijdom, then Prime Minister, but ended up marrying Stijdom's secretary Norma Du Buisson, his first wife.  Charles had two children from his first marriage, Gerhard and Stuart (1980F). 

He went into the Diplomatic Corps where he represented South Africa in Switzerland.  He later left the  corps and went on to work for a large corporation in the Western Cape, the Rhodes Fruit Farms.  He married his second wife, Patti Doms and they had twins (Dominique and John (1986F).

The family lived in the Robertson Valley but subsequently moved to Johannesburg where Charles took a job with Anglo American.  During his time with Anglo he also spent some time in Salisbury (Harare).  He then returned to South Africa and went to work for the Barlow Rand Foundation where he remained until his retirement.  After retirement he and Patti moved to Knysna.

Jeremy remembers Charles as

"An excellent sportsman (played first team rugby), very good looking, a man of integrity and a jolly good friend."

Charles' youngest brother, Robert (1962F) shared with us that Charles looked very much like his grandfather, Percy Twentyman Jones, whose nickname was 'prince' because he was considered to be an exceptionally handsome young man.

Our sincerest condolences go to Patti, the children and broader family and friends of Charles.