We received a wonderful visit from Anthony Record (1956S) and his grandson Finn Record this week.

Finn accompanied his grandfather to the special assembly and read the Robert Gray acceptance speech to the school on Anthony's behalf.  He was blown away by the beauty of the school and the ODU.  He is currently based in Switzerland where he grew up and went to school, Ecole de'Humanite.  Finn is a humble leader like his grandfather and was shy to admit that he was also the Head Boy of his high school.  Finn is hoping to study at Oxford next year, much to the delight of Anthony.

We asked if we could publish the compelling speech on our website.  Here follows the wise words of one who has embraced life to the full:

Speech title:  Was that me?

Greetings and thanks.

Mr Reeler members of staff, Bishops boys, ladies and gentlemen,

As I stand before you I am humbled to receive this award - the prestigious Robert Gray Medal.

I'm sorry that most of my family live abroad, but I'm delighted that my wife Carole, Gideon and Hanlie Roos are able to attend today.

I am also delighted to see Bishop Christopher Gregorowski (1956G) and his wife Margaret …

Christopher has been a great inspiration and friend to me over the years and it was through him that we started our charity together, the Light from Africa Foundation.

I am also delighted to see Richard Rosenthal, Light from Africa's legal advisor, who like Christopher was my contemporary at Bishops, and his wife Hilary.

Memories of Bishops

At Bishops I remember the cold showers in the mornings ..., being summoned to attend Prefect Meetings and receiving beatings with a cane!

I was pleased that I matriculated at all at the end of my school career in 1956 ... and I was extremely pleased with my second class certificate!

I worked very hard for it and I was delighted that I actually matriculated at all!!

Only much later did we understand my problem - I suffered from dyslexia and found reading well-nigh impossible. In those days dyslexia was not known or understood as it is today, nor were allowances made for those who suffered it.

During my final discussion with the Careers Master at school he made it quite clear to me that I was not university material!

Teachers who made an impact

I have also never forgotten the advice given to me by my Afrikaans Master: "Record", he said, "you are not too bright ... just remember one thing ... learn to make a little go a long way."

I have remembered this advice all my life, although it was tough to hear at the time.

I learned the meaning of kindness from my history master Mr RM Wilkinson, to whom I pay high tribute.

To this day I have a picture of him in my study and he is a constant reminder to me to treat everyone with kindness and respect.

Wilkie, as we called him, remained a very close family friend until the day he died in 1990 ... Through him my three sons visited Bishops in their gap years after leaving Tonbridge School in the UK and were introduced to ODs whom they spent some time with. 

And finally, I’d like to acknowledge the help and extra tuition given to me by Mr Charles Currey in his private time to achieve a pass in Mathematics … which for me was a serious achievement.

I then followed my parents to England at the age of 17.

Life after school: career, family and lessons learned.

My parents were in the hotel business, both in South Africa and in the UK, so when I arrived in England, my father put me to work at our hotel in Kent.

A close friend of mine came to stay and convinced me that I should take up articles as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse.

At first I thought he was joking.

In fact I then joined Peat Marwick which is now known as KPMG, the International Chartered accountants, as an office boy. There I took articles, working during the day and studying at night with the aid of a tape recorder, evening classes and cramming courses, I passed the exams to everyone's astonishment as I still can't add or subtract ... and I qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Together with a business partner I then rented an office in Kent, put my brass plates outside, and started assisting clients with their problems.

And

I learned at a young age how to make a little go a long way, particularly how to delegate.

I then retired from practice aged 29 with a wife, three children and school fees to pay, and I purchased a textile business from one of my clients.

Apart from my articles I have never been an employee and have lived entirely on my wits, as well as in eternal gratitude to the person who developed SPELLCHECK!

Parting thoughts

I will now leave you with six thoughts:

1. Remember to make a little go a long way and as Steve Jobs said... "Think differently".
2. Play to your strengths and if in the future you employ other people, play to their strengths too ... understand what you are good at and what you are not.
3. Learn to delegate.
4. Be truthful to yourself.
5. Listen to people who disagree with you.
6. And finally: Kindness - make kindness a strong part of your personal life and your strategy.

A little more about Kindness

By kindness I mean ... Be kind and thoughtful with people with whom you live and work - it produces better results!

Play fair .. and particularly, when it matters, do the ethically right thing.

Gut instinct and kindness go hand in hand.

Kindness is not about being nice and patting others on the back … showing kindness means that when you look back at your career, you’ll be proud not just of your achievements but of how you went about them.

People work with you … and not for you.

Teaching kindness would be a wonderful addition to our school curricula, just as it would be in the business world.

The potential for South African Entrepreneurs is great.  Opportunities today have been enhanced by the pandemic.  Thanks to the Internet, distance is now immaterial. The world is our oyster, our opportunity … The world is your market.

What might he have done differently?

If I had my time again I would have returned to South Africa and fulfilled my career from here.

Thank you.

Spending time with Anthony and Finn was wonderful and we wish them both well especially in the upcoming year. 

Pictured from left to right:  Dr Paul Murray, Anthony Record from the UK and his grandson, Finn Record all the way from Switzerland.