Annual General Meeting, 27 May Notice is hereby given that the Union’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Mears Centre Honours Room on Monday 27 May at 18h00.   Snacks and drinks will be served and all Old Boys are welcome to attend.

Old Boy Garnet de la Hunt (E50) has been awarded the Presidential Order of the Baobab for his “tireless and excellent work in the service of promoting the South African Scouts movement locally and abroad and demonstrating the spirit of volunteerism”.  The Order recognizes South Africans who have made exceptional and distinguished contributions to the community, business and economy, science, medicine and technological innovation. Garnet is Chairman of the National Scout Council, a past Chief Scout of South Africa, past Chairman of the World Scout Committee and still serves as a member of the World Scout Foundation.  The Old Boys’ Union congratulates Garnet on his award and his contribution to South Africa over many decades.  800x600 Read more here.

Old Boys and their families are invited to a lunch at the Plettenberg Bay Angling Club on Sunday 26 May .  The Club is situated about 2km out of town on the N2 just before the Keurbooms River Bridge.  It is a lovely setting overlooking the Keurbooms River with a grassed verge leading up to a raised deck, comfortable lounge (with fireplace if chilly), a dining area and a characterful members’ bar.  The cost of the three course buffet meal is a mere R55 per head, to be paid on arrival. There will be a lucky draw of a case of Leto Venus Sauvignon Blanc wine which is produced on the hillside overlooking Plettenberg Bay.  To confirm your attendance and f or more information please e-mail 5welvanpas@telkomsa.net

“THE BATTLE OF THE COACHES” (MARCH 2013) All schools have those legendary teachers and coaches. They are remembered for the impact they made at the school and in the lives of those learners or players who passed through their hands. For future generations their names will echo the corridors and sports’ fields of that school. Master in Charge of Cricket and current 1st XI coach, Rob Dalrymple, has lifted the game of cricket at Rondebosch to such a level that we are now one of the best, if not the best performing school in the country. Rob’s name will always be associated with cricket at Rondebosch and the huge impact he has made in achieving this goal. It is with great pride and pleasure that I refer you to a recent interview with Rob Dalrymple and Eric Lefson of Wynberg Boys’ High School in SA School Sports which acknowledges the healthy competition between these two outstanding coaches. Leon Erasmus: Head of Sport

The Old Boys’ Union, on behalf of Rondebosch, has introduced of an award for an Old Boy who has rendered selfless service to Rondebosch or the community without expecting or possibly receiving recognition.  The award was inspired by the humble lives of Mr Sydney Mason, the second headmaster of Rondebosch, and Prof Tinkie Heyns and was proposed by Richard Steyn (E60) during the Old Boys' Union’s Centenary.  During Rondebosch’s Remembrance Day a special presentation of the award was made in memory of Mr Mason. The presentation in honour of Prof Heyns was made at the Old Boys' Union dinner on 15 March.

Click here for a list of 2013 events which Old Boys are invited to attend and support.

An Old Boys’ braai will be held on Sunday 14 April at Delheim wine estate .  All Old Boys and their families are welcome and we would particularly like to see many of the Old Boys who live in the Helderberg and Stellenbosch areas.   Thank you to Victor Sperling (E1987) for kindly offering the use of their farm Delheim for this Rondebosch event.  RBHS Headmaster Shaun Simpson and members of the OBU Committee will be attending the braai.

UPDATE: Rondebosch won the Tens Tournament beating Bishops 26-14 in the final! Rondebosch will host an inaugural Rugby 10’s tournament in conjunction with the Bosch Rugby Supporters’ Club Auric Auto - Claremont on Satuarday 16 March . The tournament is a tribute to Rondebosch rugby legend, Prof I de V Heyns - the 12 participating teams will aim to reach the finals to be awarded the Tinkie Heyns Shield with prize money of R3 000 for the winning team. Prof I de V “Tinkie” Heyns was involved with Rondebosch for over 60 years. Known affectionately as Prof to thousands of Old Boys, particularly the boarders of Mason House, he came to Rondebosch in 1948 to assist with the coaching of sport. He also taught Maths to Std 6 boys for a period. He served the School in a variety of capacities both prominent and humble. Prof played a leading role in the coaching of Rondebosch athletics, cross-country and rugby over many decades and was also associated with sport at a much wider provincial level. As a runner he at one stage held the South African 880 yards record and was a Springbok athlete. He served for various periods as secretary, vice-chairman and chairman of the RBHS School Committee (now the Governing Body). He was a lecturer, professor and Dean of the Faculty of Education at UCT and had a great influence on many students who went on to become teachers themselves. Prof Heyns was awarded Honorary Life Membership during 2008 of the South African Rugby Referees’ Association. He was also a Life Member of Western Province Referees' Society and the Western Province Rugby Football Union. He served on the Executive Committee of the WP Rugby Referees Society for over 40 years and edited the SA Rugby law book for a similar period. He gave a lifetime of service to the game at many levels – referee, referees’ coach, international touch judge and administrator. He was also an honorary Vice-President of the Rondebosch Old Boys’ Union. The memory of Prof as a humble gentleman is captured with the inscription on the plaque below one of his canes which has been mounted outside the new Mason House Prep Room: “In honour of a great man who gave so much and yet asked for so little”. Old Boys, pupils, staff, parents and the extended Rondebosch family are invited to join us for this day of rugby which kicks off the 2013 season. There is no entry fee - plenty of food and refreshments will be on sale throughout the day. Proceeds from the day will go towards RBHS rugby funds.

The fixtures are listed below.  All matches are being played on the Rondebosch Astroturfs located off Keurboom Avenue (down Laidlaw Lane)

Old Boys who want to play in the Old Boys Summer Sports Day vs The School on 7 March should contact Robbie Morris at Robbie@commercialspace.co.za or 0720241716. This will be the 100th anniversary of the first official cricket match when Old Boys played against the school. Waterpolo and Tennis matches will also be played. First team Cricket will start at 9:30 on Cricket A. 2nds, 3rds and 4ths at 13:30 on The Mears Meadows and Lower Desert. (Please bring Blazers for a joint photo at the Pavilion during Tea). Water polo will be played at (2nds) 16:30 and first at 17:15. Tennis 14:00on the school courts.

The Old Boys’ Union congratulates the Rondebosch First XI Cricket Team on winning the South African Schools Twenty20 Cricket Championship at Newlands on Sunday.  Rondebosch beat the strong Waterkloof (Pretoria) by 10 runs. The match was televised live on SuperSport and was the culmination of a knock-out tournament which started during 2012 involving more than 600 schools and clubs throughout South Africa.  Congratulations go to Rondebosch coach and Master in Charge of Cricket, Rob Dalrymple (E89), coach Peter Harold and the First XI team. The Rondebosch team is also amongst the top three schools in South Africa in the longer format of the game.  During February the team won the Western Province and Western Cape T20 trophies and also recently had an excellent win in the annual day night derby versus Bishops.

This year’s UK Old Boys' dinner will be held in The Gallery at 75 Cowcross Street London EC1M 6EL on Friday 10th May at 7:00 for 8:00pm. Tickets for the event are £40.00 per person but there is a concessionary rate of £35.00 for E2012.

The Rondebosch First XI is representing the Cape Cobras franchise in the National T20 Cricket Tournament finals this weekend. The match on Friday afternoon versus the Knights at Boland Park in Paarl will be televised on Supersport Channel 205 from 14h00 . The Rondebosch team has already won the Western Province and Western Cape legs of the competition. Should they make the final, it will be played on Sunday morning at Newlands and will also be televised. UPDATE: Rondebosch played in the final at Newlands vs Waterkloof and won by 10 runs making them the South African Champions! Congratulations to the team and coaches!

Reverend Canon Rod van Zuylen’s (E1961) decades of dedicated service to people in need has been recognised by the Queen by him being awarded a Knighthood in the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.  

Rondebosch on Wednesday won the Western Province regional final of the T20 Schools Challenge.  64 schools in the Western Province participate in the challenge, and in the final Wynberg scored 104/9 and Rondebosch 108/2 so winning by 8 wickets. Rondebosch captain Hayes vd Berg played in his 150th match for the First XI.  This is the most times, by a considerable distance, that a boy has ever represented a Rondebosch first team in any sport. The match report is available here .  

The Union's dinner is on Friday 15 March at Kelvin Grove.  Bookings and payments close on 4 March or earlier if capacity is reached .  NO LATE BOOKINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  As it is a popular event, only members of the Old Boys’ Union and the specially invited guests may attend the dinner and we suggest that you book and pay as soon as possible. UPDATE 12/2/13: Dinner almost fully booked! UPDATE 14/2/13: The dinner is now fully booked.

Rondebosch had an excellent start to 2013 with the release of the 2012 matric results.  E2012 achieved 400 subject distinctions and Ihsaan Bassier was placed on the Western Cape’s Merit List of the top 20 candidates (out of 44 700 matrics).   In addition, an award was made to Rondebosch for Excellence in Academic Performance and the school was ranked the top performing public school in the Western Cape.  18 Rondebosch boys are in the top ten in twelve subjects in the Province.  The Old Boys’ Union congratulates all E2012s and the Rondebosch staff.    

The Old Boys’ Union is launching a new Sub-Union in the South Peninsula on 31 January.  Chris Bertish (E1992) will entertain us with stories about his surfing adventures round the world and of winning the Mavericks Big Wave Invitational event at Half Moon Bay in California.  Later this year Chris will paddle across the Atlantic Ocean, from Dakar Senegal to Brazil, on a Stand up Paddle board.

The latest edition of SA School Sports magazine features an article about Rondebosch cricket.  The cover photograph is of Devlin Quinn (First XI captain) and the main article photograph is of Bosch's 2012 Western Province representatives. Cricket at RBHS is in a very healthy position and the envy of many of our competitors.  Click here to download the article (then scroll down and you may need to zoom in a bit).  (3 meg file)  

The Old Boys’ Union, on behalf of Rondebosch, has introduced of an award for an Old Boy who has rendered selfless service to Rondebosch or the community without expecting or possibly receiving recognition.  The award was inspired by the humble lives of Mr Sydney Mason, the second headmaster of Rondebosch, and Prof Tinkie Heyns and was proposed by Richard Steyn (E60) during the Old Boys' Union’s Centenary.  During Rondebosch’s Remembrance Day a special presentation of the award was made in memory of Mr Mason. 

A Rondebosch family braai will be hosted by the West Coast Old Boys on Sunday 11 November at the Yzerfontein Recreation Club from 11h30.

The Gauteng Old Boys' dinner is on 18 October at the Wanderers Club . The guest speaker is the new RBHS Headmaster Shaun Simpson . Other members of the Old Boys' Union committee will also be present and this is your opportunity to hear about Rondebosch, its many achievements and its plans for the future.

Three Rondebosch cricket teams are on playing on tour from Saturday to Tuesday: First XI at Cape Schools Week in Graaff Reinet U15A in PE at a festival hosted by Grey High U14A at Hilton College in Kwa-Zulu Natal Old Boys' support of the teams will be very welcome!

Old Boys are reminded that the UK Old Boys’ Summer Lunch is taking place on Sunday 23 September at Phyllis Court, Henley on Thames http://www.phylliscourt.co.uk/

Can you help? The OBU and SACS are compiling detailed records of the scores of the matches between the two schools' First XV rugby teams.  Most of the scores appear in school magazines and recent school records, but some are still elusive.  99 home 91 home & away 89 home & away 88 home & away 84 away 82 home 81 home & away 80 home & away 79 home & away 62 home 60 home & away You can email any information to obu@rondebosch.com . Thanks

The traditional hockey and squash matches between Old Boys and school boys will be played on Tuesday 28 August followed by a social function for all Old Boys, coaches and supporters.  All Rondebosch home matches are played on the two Astroturfs which Rondebosch and Western Province Cricket Club share and the Old Boys’ hockey matches will be played on these joint facilities.  The squash matches will also be played at WPCC off Avenue de Mist.   The matches will be followed directly by an informal social function starting at about 17h30 to which all Old Boys, coaches and staff are invited.  This is not limited to Old Boys who play – all are welcome! To play hockey or squash contact Robbie Morris at robbie@commercialspace.co.za or on 072 024 1716 by Wednesday 22 August. The times of the matches will be confirmed on the Old Boys’ Union website and on Facebook.  Should you have any suggestions as to what format Old Boys’ rugby matches should take from next year please forward them to the Old Boys’ Union office at obu@rondebosch.com   Rondebosch v Bishops Old Boys’ rugby Rondebosch Old Boys are again playing a rugby match on Friday 24 August at 16h30 on Rugby A versus Bishops Old Boys before the derby weekend.  Old Boys are invited to watch the match and attend the social function in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion.  To play contact Robbie Morris at robbie@commercialspace.co.za  or on 072 024 1716.  

From September through to November there are several Sub-Union gatherings in various parts of South Africa, in the UK and Australia.  These are always good Rondebosch occasions for meeting up with your fellow Old Boys, networking and socialising in the traditional Rondebosch spirit.  Old Boys are encouraged to attend the gatherings in Johannesburg, in the Karoo, up the West Coast, on the banks of the Thames and in Sydney Australia.

Click here to read the RBHS Newsletter.   Articles include: Old Boys in education and long serving RBHS staff Various School reports Inter-house choir and band competition Spud book launch at RBHS Outdoor Society activities RBHS's role in saving Rhinos

Old Boys versus school rugby matches It is with regret that the Old Boys’ Union and the High School have to inform Old Boys that the traditional Old Boys versus school boys rugby matches are no longer permitted to be played.  This is in accordance with the regulations issued by the SA Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board.  These are designed to prevent injuries to 17 and 18 year old boys playing against adults.  These regulations have legal standing and the School and Old Boys’ Union are obliged to adhere to them. We have also consulted directly with the official BokSmart programme within SA Rugby and these matches are not only undesirable due to the risk, both legal and otherwise, but are unlawful in the existing format.  The exceptions are for older boys playing for representative sides and then stringent regulations and formalities have to be followed.  These do not apply here. We have contacted other Old Boys’ Unions and they have also ceased playing these matches with immediate effect. We want to ensure Old Boys that this decision has not been taken lightly by the Union or School and has been under discussion for well over a year as the feeling was that a long-standing Rondebosch tradition should be continued if permitted. The main purposes of the matches included getting Old Boys to come back to Rondebosch, to foster school/OBU spirit, social interaction and boys being aware of the important role of Old Boys.  Appropriate ways should be found to continuing with these Rondebosch traditions.  Various alternatives are being considered for implementing next year, such as touch rugby or six-down or possibly a tens tournaments amongst Old Boys.  Should you have any suggestions please forward them to the Old Boys’ Union at obu@rondebosch.com On Friday 24 August Rondebosch Old Boys will host the annual Bosch vs Bishops Old Boys rugby match on Rugby A at 16h30.   The annual Old Boys School hockey and squash matches are not affected and will be played on Tuesday 28 August and will be followed by an informal social function to which all Old Boys are invited.  

Click here to read the High School's June newsletter.   Amongst other reports, it contains articles on: The role of sport at schools, and the support which should be given to boys and the school. Music productions RBHS's role in helping to save the rhinos

The next gathering of Old Boys in the Southern Cape is on Sunday 26 August at the NSRI at the Knysna Heads. For more information contact Pieter Wicht at 5welvanpas@telkomsa.net The Gauteng Old Boys’ dinner is on Thursday 18 October while Old Boys and their families in the Karoo are getting together over the weekend of 6 October.  More details will be emailed to Old Boys in those areas during September. For those in Australia, the annual get-together will be on Thursday 1 November in Sydney. The date of the annual West Coast Old Boys’ braai has not yet been confirmed.  It is expected to be held during October or November.

The popular Bosch Wine Route will be held in the Mears Centre on Friday 20 July starting at 18h30 .  Producers will be presenting more than 100 wines for you and your friends to taste and purchase at special prices.  The producers include some Old Boys in the wine industry. The cost of R145 per person includes a tasting glass, wine tasting, cheese and a light meal. To obtain your tickets contact Pam Ogilvie on 021 685 1923 or 083 635 0635 or email marketing@rondebosch.com   Due to space restrictions tickets are limited and when all have been sold no further tickets will be made available.  No tickets will be available at the door so do purchase yours as soon as you can.

The Old Boys’ Union offers two scholarships to Old Boys for post graduate study.   The Rondebosch Overseas Scholarship enables an Old Boy to further his postgraduate studies at an overseas educational institution.  The names of Old Boys who have received this Scholarship are recorded on the Honours Board in the foyer of the High School.  The Union has decided to offer the Scholarship in 2012 and Old Boys who are interested are required to apply by Friday 15 June 2012.   The Nan Mears Scholarship , established by former Headmaster Mr Wally Mears in memory of Mrs Mears, enables a Rondebosch Old Boy to read law, humanities or the arts at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.  Mr Mears founded St Stithians College in 1951 and this scholarship is shared between Rondebosch and St Stithians Old Boys. Both scholarships are awarded from funds separate to those of the Union.  Old Boys who may wish to apply for either Scholarship should contact the Union’s office to obtain more information by 15 June 2012.  

Rondebosch Old Boys are invited to an informal function on Friday evening for drinks, snacks and enjoying the company of fellow Rondebosch Old Boys at Upton Hall, 16 Eastbourne Road, Morningside, Durban .  With the rugby test match versus England on Saturday we hope to have a collection of Old Boys from all around the country.   We are gathering from 17h30 but, as there are no formalities feel free to pop in whenever it suits your day, we will have the bar verandah to ourselves until about 21h00.  Complimentary snacks will be served from 18h00 and your first drink is on us.  

The Union’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Mears Centre Honours Room on Tuesday 29 May at 18h00.   Snacks and drinks will be served, and all Old Boys are welcome to attend.  

An extract from a recent RBHS school newsletter of interest to Old Boys: By Shaun Simpson, RBHS Headmaster : As we enter the winter sporting season, I would like to remind our boys, parents and Old Boys of the proud history of this school. Much is made of winning and if a game is a competition, this makes sense. One of my first questions to my own children after a sports match is, ‘did you win’. But we are a school; a place of education. You need to learn about how to win or lose as much as you need to learn about Maths or Science or History. It is our job to offer you the opportunity to learn these skills and then to help you to get them right. I want to add an old fashioned term into our school vocabulary, the word honour. And I want to suggest to you that winning without honour is, in a sense, not winning at all and that the same rule applies to losing.

Former Chairman of the High School’s Board of Governors, Deon de Kock, has led the establishment of a Rugby Development Fund to assist with coaching, scholarships and equipment needs. Over the last number of years great strides have been made in terms of the structure and quality of play of all rugby RBHS teams through a more professional approach, but Rondebosch has not yet closed the gap between it and the Boland schools.  During the past few years our First XV performances have shown a lot of improvement, but we are still not consistently at the level to beat the Boland schools regularly.  In order to be seen as a centre of rugby excellence by prospective parents and boys we should strive to compete at a consistent, competent level with those schools. 

The Western Province cricket teams were announced last night and Rondebosch has 20 boys in the teams - 17 in the A sides ! 39 boys were selected for the WP A sides, and Rondebosch having 17 of them is a huge achievement. Congratulations to all these boys, their coaches and to the Head of Cricket at Rondebosch, Rob Dalrymple (E89).

The Old Boys' Union dinner in London on Friday 11 May .  The guest speaker is the new RBHS Headmaster Shaun Simpson who will be accompanied by his wife, Paddy.   Also attending are the Chairman of the Old Boys' Union, Stephen Duffett, and André Ross, the Union's Treasurer.  They will be informing Old Boys about some of the new impressive facilities at the Prep and High Schools. 

The Rondebosch senior U19 rugby squad is travelling to Wales and Ireland from 24 March to 6 April for a pre-season tour. Old Boys are invited to watch the matches, support the teams and meet the boys and staff.   The touring group of 26 boys is under the leadership of the RBHS Head of Rugby, Gustaf Pienaar, and coaches Clinton van Rensburg and Divvie Maritz. 

The Helderberg Sub-union Annual Family Braai will take place on Sunday 15th April at 11.30 am at Seafarm – between Hangklip and Betty’s Bay.  Nic and Louise Groenewald, owners of Seafarm, have kindly offered this stunning venue for our braai.   There will be a spit braai lunch, including salads and dessert for R110.00 per person. Crockery and cutlery will be supplied. Children’s menu consisting of  hotdogs and hot chips for R40.00 will be available (or Spit Braai for R110.00 if preferred).    

The Old Boys matches versus the High School will be played on Founders’ Day Wednesday 14 March . This is the 107th anniversary of the first Old Boys vs School cricket match. Old Boys who want to play cricket, tennis or water polo please email your details to Robbie Morris at robbie.morris30@gmail.com All Old Boys, coaches , staff and parents are invited to the casual function in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion starting at about 17h30.

The most recent Enews was emailed to members on 10 February.  Contact the OBU office with your email details if you did not receive your copy.

The Old Boys' Union congratulates E2011 on their matric results: 100% pass rate 91.9% Bachelors’ passes 9.1% Diploma passes 423 A symbols – an average of nearly 3 A symbols per boy. Ashraf Moolla was placed first in South Africa! Rondebosch was placed fifth overall in the Western Province.

The annual Helderberg Old Boys' dinner will be held at Kilberry Restaurant, Helderberg Village in Somerset West at 19h00 for 19h30 on Wednesday, 16 November . The dinner invitation includes wives and partners. All Old Boys are very welcome.   The guest speaker is Old Boy Athol Maclean  – star athlete at Rondebosch in the 1960s.    

On 3 November from 17h30 Old Boys in Sydney will be getting together at the Occidental Hotel.  Contact Stuart Bennie at bennie@bigpond.net.au to book and for payment details (A$25 per Old Boy).  The guest speaker is The Hon Laurie Brereton, former MP and Federal Minister.

The annual Remembrance Day Service will take place in the Memorial Hall on Friday 11 November at 11h15 .  Old Boys are welcome to attend the service which will be followed by tea in the Restaurant.

A Rondebosch family braai will be hosted by West Coast Old Boys on Sunday 30 October at the Yzerfontein Recreation Club from 11h30 .  All Old Boys and their families are invited - we will be particularly pleased to see Old Boys who live on the West Coast and the Blouberg region of Cape Town.

The OBU committee has scheduled the 2012 annual dinner in Cape Town for Friday 9 March at Kelvin Grove.  This is a change from the provisional date of Friday 16 March 2012.  This change was necessary due to a Super 15 match being played at Newlands on 16 March.  Class reunion organizers and those planning to travel to South Africa should make a note of the date now.  Booking information will be sent to Old Boys early next year.

Old Boys are reminded of the gathering on Saturday 8 October from 18h30 at "Jules of the Karoo" near Deelfontein station.

14 Rondebosch boys have been selected for the 2011 Western Province cricket teams.

The annual Gauteng Old Boys' dinner is on Thursday 22 September at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg. The guest speaker is Tom Dawson-Squibb (E2002 Rondebosch Head Prefect), mental performance coach for the Stormers, the Western Province and the Varsity Cup winning UCT rugby teams and various Rondebosch sports teams.  

Old Boys are invited to the following Old boy events during the next few months:

If you have not received the August 2011 edition of the Enews, please email the Old Boys' Union office at obu@rondebosch.com and update your contact details.

  The traditional hockey, rugby and squash matches between Old Boys and school boys will be played on Tuesday 30 August .   The hockey, rugby and squash teams will be compiled from those Old Boys who have advised the Union by Thursday 25 August that they want to play.  Old Boys who would like to play against their sons or brothers should advise the Union of the details so that they are placed in the appropriate sides – email your details to obu@rondebosch.com The matches will be followed by an informal function in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion from about 17h30.  All are welcome.  

Gary Kirsten (E85) has generously offered to establish a scholarship fund for Rondebosch. A dinner is to be held on 13 September at Kelvin Grove as part of the launch of the Scholarship Fund and Gary will be the guest speaker. Date: Tuesday 13 September 2011 Time 19:00 for 19:30 Venue: Kelvin Grove, Newlands Bookings: Debbie Norris 083 675 5454 td@cybersmart.co.za

It is with great pleasure that the Rondebosch School Governing Body and the Old Boys' Union announce the appointment of Mr Shaun Simpson as Headmaster of Rondebosch Boys' High School with effect from January 2012.  Mr Simpson is presently the Headmaster of Cornwall Hill College, a prestigious independent school in Pretoria, and he has held this position for the past four years.

The annual Bosch Wine Route will eb held on 22 July in the Mears Centre. Over 100 wine will be available for tasting at a cost of R130 pp.

The annual choral concert takes place on Wednesday 27 and Friday 29 July in the City Hall, starting at 19h30.  Tickets are R60 for adults and may be purchased through RBHS from 18 July – call RBHS on 021 686 3987.

Two scholarships are available for Old Boys for overseas post graduate study.

In a time where personal achievement is often measured by material gain or worth, Rondebosch continues to propagate and hold in high esteem values relating to selflessness, humility and service to causes greater than one’s own. Rondebosch prides itself on recognizing those who, like the school’s second Headmaster and founder of the Old Boys’ Union, Sydney ’Dad’ Mason, have offered their time and expertise unreservedly to causes other than their own and may have done so as silent and unsung heroes.

The most recent Enews was emailed to members on 23 August.  Contact the OBU office with your email details if you did not receive your copy.

The Bosch Blitz is the RBHS rugby newsletter compiled by Rondebosch coaches and staff.     

2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Rondebosch v Bishops derby.  The results are below.  

  Deon Melck (E62) is arranging a lunch on Saturday 18 June 2011 for Rondebosch and Bishops Old Boys and their partners at the Phyllis Court Club, Henley-on-Thames.  The club has a magnificent setting on the River Thames and lunch will be served in the club’s listed Grandstand.  The cost for the set menu will be around £30 to £35 with a cash bar.  Please contact Deon Melck at deonmelck@yahoo.com for information and to record that you are interested in attending.

The Prep School hosted the U13A National Rugby Festival from 28 April to 1 May.  

The UK Sub-Union dinner is on Friday 6 May at 19h00 for 20h00 at The Gallery at 75 Cowcross Street London EC1M 6EL (near Farringdon tube station).  

The Union’s Annual General Meeting will be held in the Mears Centre Honours Room on Wednesday 11 May at 18h00.  Snacks and drinks will be served, and all Old Boys are welcome to attend.

The guest speakers at the Bosch Rugby suppoerters' Club function on Thursday evening are Gary Gold, the Springbok Assistant Coach, and rugby commentator and writer Tank Lanning.  Tank is also editor of sport24.co.za      The function is on Thursday 14 April from 18h00 in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion at RBHS.  For catering purpose please RSVP to boschrugby@mweb.co.za or call 021 685 1923.  There is no charge for paid-up BRSC members.  A fee of R120 will be payable on entry for non-members.   

The Helderberg Sub-Union Annual Family Braai will take place on Sunday 10 April from 11h30 at the Muratie Wine Estate off the R44 outside Stellenbosch on the Klapmuts side.  All Old Boys, Rondebosch parents, boys and their families are welcome.  

The Old Boys matches versus High School boys will be played on Founders’ Day, Wednesday 16 March.  All Old Boys are also invited to a casual function in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion starting at about 17h30.  There will be a cash bar and snacks will be served. Normal 0 false false false EN-ZA X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

On 1 March 2011 numerous Old Boys, Mrs de Jager, David de Jager, invited guests, staff, representatives from other schools and UCT and boys gathered at RBHS for the opening of the Tickey de Jager Mathematics Room .

The annual Walker Cup Golf Challenge between Rondebosch and Bishops Old Boys was played on Sunday 27 February at the Mowbray Golf Club.  Bosch Old Boys again won the trophy and Tom Dawson-Squibb and Charles Sanderoff (both E2002) were the best pair.  Thanks go to organisers Pen Brower and Mike Russell and to Eric Scoble of Auric Auto for the generous sponsorship.

The next Bosch Rugby Supporters' Club function is on Thursday 17 February from 18h00 in the E1942 Centenary Pavilion with guest speaker Western Province, Stormers and Springbok flank, Schalk Burger.   There is no cost for the evening.  A meal and drinks will be provided, but for catering purposes it is essential that you please RSVP to boschrugby@mweb.co.za or call Pam Ogilvie on 021 685 1923 by Monday 14 February .  Old Boys are reminded that the Club's evening functions are for the adult members of the Rondebosch community.  The BRSC is also planning separate functions for boys, such as braais, during the course of the next few months.  

A classroom is being converted into a mathematics lecture theater as a memorial to the late Tickey de Jager who served Rondebosch for more than 50 years as a mathematics and science master, author, rugby, athletics and cricket coach, housemaster and deputy headmaster.  More details will be carried in the next Enews.  An opening ceremony will be held during February or March – the date is still to be finalised.   Old Boys who would like to placed on the invitation list for the opening ceremony should email their names, Eyear and contact numbers to the OBU office at obu@rondebosch.com  The date, time and other details will also appear on the website

The Headmaster of RBHS, Mr Martin Barker, has announced his retirement from his position with effect from the end of this year. 

The Old Boys' Union congratulates E2010 and the Rondebosch staff on the excellent matric results! Daron Golden was placed 9th in the Western Province. 414 A symbols (an average of nearly 3As per boy).  44 boys achived 4 or more distinctions - this is 30.14% of all the E2010s and is the highest percentage amongst the boys schools in the Western Cape.

The late Tickey de Jager was responsible for the planting of many of the trees which are a magnificent feature of the Rondebosch campus.  Special labels have been produced identifying the trees and their countries of origin and these are being attached to several hundred trees on the Rondebosch grounds stretching from the main entrance and Canigou down to the canal.  We thank Adam Harrower (E95) of Kirstenbosch and Mrs Jeanet Barker for identifying and labeling the trees, and the London Old Boys who raised funds towards this specific project in memory of Tickey de Jager. 

This is the last Enews of 2010. The Old Boys' Union wishes all our members and their families all the best for the festive season and 2011.

Ron Monk (E1958) who served on the Old Boys' Union committee for 12 years sadly died on Thursday 4 November after a short illness  The Old Boys' Union extends its condolences to Ron's family, in particular his sons Brent, Dale and Dean.   Ron served on the Union's committee under five chairmen - Dennis Nick, Lindsay Kennedy, Mike Russell, John Benn and Stephen Duffett.  Ron is fondly remembered as a very loyal and supportive Rondebosch Old Boy who was always keen to assist Rondebosch whenever he could.  Ron was also a committee member of the Alma Cricket Club for 16 years and played actively until recently. The funeral service will be Wednesday 10 November at 3 pm at the Rondebosch United Church, Belmont Road opposite the entrance to Marist College in Rondebosch.

Exciting news: The new Bosch Blend 2009 sourced from premium vineyards mainly in the Perdeberg region of Paarl is now available.  Proceeds are used to provide assistance with boarding fees for deserving boys who may not otherwise be able to go to Rondebosch.

The Gauteng Old Boys' dinner is on Thursday 25 November from 19h00 at the Wanderers Club .     

The 2011 Old Boys dinner will be on Friday 18 March at Kelvin Grove , and not on 11 March due to a Super 15 rugby match at Newlands that evening.  More details will appear in the Enews in due course.

A Rondebosch family braai will be hosted by West Coast Old Boys on Sunday 3 October at the Yzerfontein Recreation Club from 11h00.   All Old Boys and their families are invited.  The headmaster of RBPS, Tony Ryan, will also be joining us. The braai food will be provided as will crockery, cutlery, chairs and glasses and we will have access to the club's cash bar.  All that is asked for is a donation on the day to help cover costs.  Any remaining funds will be used for Rondebosch projects.   This is a family day so all Old Boys and their families are very welcome - we will be particularly pleased to see Old Boys who live on the West Coast and the Blouberg region of Cape Town.  Please RSVP to John Duckitt on 083 658 5200 or email info@ctduck.com .  This is very important for catering purposes.  

The annual Sydney gathering is on 4 November from 17h30 at the Occidental Hotel .  The guest speaker is Rupert Rosenblum – ex Wallaby – Son of Myer born in RSA – first father and son to represent Australia in Rugby Contact Stuart Bennie at bennie@bigpond.net.au

Old Boys on the Isle of Man are getting together on Monday 27 September at Bar George (Hill Street, Douglas).  Any Old Boys who may be in the vicinity are most welcome to join them - contact Johnny Kipps  at JohnnyK@Manx.net for more details.    

This is the September Old Boys Enews.

This is the latest Old Boys' Enews.

The August 2010 Old Boys' Union newsletter is available for downloading .  The newsletter will also shortly be in the post to all Old Boys.

July 2010 Enews.

Rondebosch Schools invite Old Boys to apply for a MySchool card to easily earn funds for Rondebosch by simply swiping the card at various shops throughout South Africa.  There is no cost to you.  Rondebosch presently earns an average of R5 500 per month through the scheme by parents using their cards - this can increase with Old Boy support. All funds raised go towards projects at Rondebosch including electronic Smartboards in classrooms. All you need do is follow this link and complete the form.  The completed form may be emailed to zoe@rondebosch.com or faxed to 086 555 4817.  Alternatively if you would like a form to be emailed to you contact Zoe Marquis on 021 681 3966 or at zoe@rondebosch.com

The speech delivered by Mike Reeler, President of the Old Boys' Union, at a function in the gardens of Canigou commemorating the founding of the Union in 1909.

Richard Steyn (E60) delivered this speech at the Union's 100th anniversary dinner on 20 November 2009,

Photographs taken at the Old Boys' Union Centenary functiosn may be viewed by folloing these links: Cocktail party in Canigou garden http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4608&id=100000389904153&l=4cfc75aa87   Dinner part 1 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4597&id=100000389904153&l=240e7a076e   Dinner part 2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4602&id=100000389904153&l=4edba0d64f   Dinner part 3 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4604&id=100000389904153&l=20dc5d901d    

On 20 November 1909 a group of Old Boys and boys met in Canigou and established the RBHS Union with the first president being the headmaster, Mr Sydney Mason. From those modest beginnings the Union has grown to more than 6700 members in 47 countries and is one of the leading Old Boy Unions in South Africa and quite possibly in the world.  Over the past 100 years the Union is proud to have made immense contributions to both the Prep and High Schools which have helped them become the leading schools they are today. The excellent facilities have benefited generations of Rondebosch boys. The Union has also helped many Old Boys maintain contact with the school and with each other through numerous social occasions, including dinners, reunions and sub-union functions. Thank you to all Rondebosch Old Boys for your loyal support of our school.

An article about the Union's Centenary appeared in the Tatler on 12 November 2009.  The article was written by Rondebosch parent Kathy Malherbe using information compiled by the Old Boys' Union. Click here to download the article in PDF format (1.8mb).  Note that you may need to adjust the Zoom setting in your browser or Adobe viewer to about 150%.

The Old Boys' Union's FaceBook page is Bosch Obu Simply search within FaceBook for Bosch Obu and request to become a 'friend'.    

This is the latest Old Boys' Union Enews .  Old Boys who are not receiving the Enews should forward their email addresses to the OBU office at obu@rondebosch.com

The October Old Boys' Union newsletter is available for downloading.  The newsletter is also in the post to all Old Boys.

The Carleton Lloyd Stand was officially opened by Martin Barker, Headmaster of RBHS, on 29 May 2009.  Guests, boys and staff were addressed by John Benn (E54) former Chairman of the Old Boys' Union and now a trustee of the Carleton Lloyd Educational Trust.      

A quick guide to the new Rondebosch website

One of the many tasks undertaken by Prof Heyns was arranging rugby referees for matches at Rondebosch.  The School is in the process of establishing a database of referees who are able to referee rugby matches at Rondebosch on Saturday mornings. 

It is with sadness that the Old Boys ’ Union informs Old Boys of the death of Prof Tinkie Heyns.

Various events are planned for the Centenary of the Old Boys’ Union during 2009.

School song including the Old Boys verse