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.

RONDEBOSCH BOYS’ SCHOOLS OLD BOYS’ UNION
CENTENARY FUNCTION, CANIGOU
19 NOVEMBER 2009

What a wonderful occasion this is and how appropriate that it should take place in this magnificent setting.  I know that the oak outside this marquee is not THE Ronde-bos, but to me it symbolises all that is Rondebosch.  It was fully-grown and in its prime long before those first 8 boys were enrolled at the Rondebosch High School for Junior Boys in Glena Hall in 1897.  Like some of us, it suffers from the ravages of old age, but it has survived and still flourishes.  In the early 1970s it was found to have rotted badly on the inside and it was recommended that it be cut down, but, thanks to a bit of obstinacy, probably on the part of the late Tickey de Jager, for whom the trees in our grounds were a passion, it was saved.  All the rot was removed and the inside was filled with concrete.  A couple of metal bands were put round the whole tree and tightened in order to prevent the branches from splaying outwards and breaking off and they are obviously still performing their function today.  Typical of the resilience of the spirit that is Rondebosch.

The second reason for the appropriateness of the setting for this function is, of course, the fact that 100 years ago tomorrow, a group of men assembled here under that oak in the building that stood where Canigou now is and, on a proposal from a certain Mr Earp, seconded by a Mr Ryall, the Old Boys’ Union came into being with the purpose of and I quote “keeping alive the link between the Old Boys and their School”. A committee was required to provide for its members an executive structure as well as and I quote again “to make opportunities for their future convivial interaction”.  The first President to be elected was Mr Sydney “Dad” Mason, Headmaster at the time, with a Mr Beattie as his Vice President.  The first Secretary was Mr J F Knott Craig and the Treasurer, his brother, Mr A D Knott Craig, uncle and father respectively of Cecil Craig who was to serve as the Chairman, many years later.  “Dad” Mason, of course, became a legend with enlisted Old Boys during both the World Wars when he and his wife kept in touch with so many at the front and, especially, those who were in POW camps.

An interesting feature of the constitution drawn up at the time was that senior boys, currently in the School, could also become members and were represented on the committee by one of their seniors.

In the first year, the committee met twice and, in order to “keep alive the link between old boys and current boys”, a social gathering was arranged to which each old boy was permitted to be accompanied by a lady! – today we would have had to be more politically correct to allow them to be accompanied by a partner!!!

The basic objectives of that fledgling organisation were very simple in those early days and, while the modern functions of the OBU have become much more complex, the basic aims remain the same and should underscore all that is done by and in the name of the OBU.  May I quickly enumerate them?
Firstly, as with the original aim of those men meeting 100 years ago, it provides the official link between the present School, its boys and personnel, and those men who have attended the School at some time in the past.

Secondly, it is a vehicle for reviving and maintaining the friendships and memories made during the years spent together at the School. I am constantly amazed at the relationships that have remained intact over many, many years among men from very diverse backgrounds and whose careers are miles apart, but who were brought together by attendance at the School.  In some cases the relationship is an everyday one and would continue without any intervention from the OBU, but, in many, it comes into force at special functions such as the annual dinner or a sub-union gathering or a re-union of E-years under the auspices of the OBU.

Thirdly, it provides practical support to the School and its administrators – there is a vast pool of expertise, experience and knowledge in a variety of fields to tap into.  Of course, this is available without the Old Boy structures, but the OBU provides the networking that makes such support more readily available and accessible.

Fourthly, there is the more intangible “support” that comes from our approach to the School, our attitude towards it and our defence of it in our relationship with our community.  Many people in this country are totally opposed to institutions such as the Rondebosch Schools and what they stand for and achieve.  Very often this attitude is based on ignorance and biased premises, and, while we cannot be expected to “defend at all costs and in all circumstances”, we should insist on criticism that is constructive and based on facts. If we are ourselves going to be critical, let us be absolutely sure we are being fair and knowledgeable when we do so.

A fifth function, often greatly misunderstood and over-emphasised, is the material support, usually financial, that we can provide.  Funds can come from specific fund-raising drives, such as the Centenary Fund, special collections through reunions of E-years, direct donations from individual members and also by way of including the School or the Union as a beneficiary in a will.  The Schools can also benefit considerably from financial support given by business organisations with which we have an influence or connections.   To illustrate this function of the OBU you have only to look at the numerous structures and facilities that have been added to both Schools in the last few decades to witness the value of the Old Boy contribution.

 Great care, though, must be taken by all of us to ensure that this last function, the material and financial aid, important though it is, is not seen as the only raison d’être for the OBU, for, although a vital one, it is still only a part of a very complex and deeper relationship.

I have always listened to and participated in the singing of the School Song with great affection – Cocky Wilson, a teacher on the staff of the School, and Elsie Skaife, a prominent biologist and also a teacher on the staff for a short while, really got it just right with, respectively, meaningful words and a good, rousing tune for boys to sing.  To my shame, when the School Song is sung at Old Boy functions I can sing the first two verses lustily, but I stumble over the words of the Old Boys’ verse and need to take sneak looks at the programme, if one is provided, for help.  Yet, the words are singularly appropriate and meaningful.  Let me quote the whole verse:

    Here’s to the School we loved of yore!  
Though we may roam the wide world o’er, Still do the old affections stir,  
    Seeing her fame grow brighter yet,
Knowing her deep foundations set Firm as the Mount that shelters her!

We all love the School that is our Alma Mater and, yes, no matter where we are, the old affections stir whenever we have word of the School or come into contact with someone who has similar connections.  I know that, whenever I meet with new people, I feel a warm glow when I see the OBU tie worn by a stranger who suddenly becomes a friend.   News of the School in its widest context, including the current boys and all Old Boys, always brings warmth to the heart and a feeling of pride in what we almost regard as a shared achievement.

But, you know, that will only be maintained while “seeing her fame grow brighter yet”.  Old Boys must continue to shine in their various ways, having had their roots set in their education at Rondebosch and being proud of this association.   Martin and Tony, as custodians of the current School, it is very much the responsibility of the present boys and staff to see that the Rondebosch reputation and tradition as an educational institution of exceptional excellence is maintained and its fame grows brighter. This isn’t only done by the spectacular achievements of the boys, although this does bring a sense of pride to read news of sports achievements, examination results or other academic successes, but also by the type of end product that leaves the Schools. I was privileged to attend a short ceremony the other day when the High School boys presented the OBU with an aerial photograph of the school buildings and grounds to mark the occasion of the centenary.  After the function, Stephen, Andre and I had refreshments with 4 or 5 of the senior boys.  What a great pleasure it was to meet and talk with them – they were confident, knowledgeable, well-spoken, interested and interesting and I came away assured that the current “fame” of Rondebosch is in very good hands.

So we come to the end of the first 100 years of the Rondebosch Old Boys’ Union and can look back with pride and a great sense of satisfaction on what has been achieved.  Higher and wider has the organisation grown, and it has remained “firm as the Mount that shelters her”.     Dad Mason and his committee can have had no idea of the immensity, complexity and huge success of the Union they set in place all that time ago, but, if they are looking down on us today, they must feel a satisfied glow and with justification can say “we did well”.