Tony Reeler 2020 - 2024
Tony Reeler 2022 - 2024: Bursting Out
2022 was a year that promised much, with the removal of Covid restrictions and a return to the full operation of the school again. The A level programme in full was launched. Although the 175 Appeal Campaign had had to go dormant during Covid, enough money had already been raised for the go-ahead to build what was to be called the Ubuntu Learning Centre, right in the middle of the campus, where the New Lecture Theatre had been. Operations started at mid-year.
Due to the turn-over of staff in the last three years, all new staff who had arrived since 2018 were given training and re-training in the use of laptops and the intranet. The introduction of conversational isiXhosa and conversation Afrikaans was introduced in grade 8. 58 Grade 9 boys signed up for ‘Big Ideas’ programme.
A full programme of music concerts returned and for the first time in the history of the Music Department, the Bishops Choral Evening was celebrated, where the Pre-Prep, Prep and College choirs joined forces to present an hour-long programme. The Chapel was full for this return to choral singing after the Covid-19 desert. A range of musical styles was presented, and it was a wonderful opportunity for parents from the Pre-Prep to see the musical journey that their sons will embark on, as well as the chance to hear what the result of that journey could sound like. And to crown it all, in the third term, the matric music recital and the Composer Concerts happened again.
As part of its 21-year legacy, Simply Blue under the leadership of Marion Gardener (Bradley), together with and a dramatic production, Tapestry of Strength, toured England and performed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival after a seven year break. There was a full-strength Eisteddfod on campus, with interhouse singing being staged at the International Convention Centre.
The sports programme burst out after the disruptions of the previous two years – and the annual magazine reported on the achievements in the following sporting codes: Aquatics, Avenue Mile, Basketball, Climbing, Cricket, Cycling, Fencing, First Aid, Golf, Hockey, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Soccer, Surfing, Tennis, and Water Polo.
Epic was once again an event that all Grade 10s except the 16 boys away on exchange, were able to take part in, and the event retained its force of impact on the boys and their father-figures.
Tony Reeler referred in his Prizegiving Address to Council’s ventures: the Diversity and Transformation Policy, the Anti-Racism Statement, and their insight into the policies governing appointments and procurement. These documents were translated in all three Western Cape languages, and were placed on the Bishops website. He went on to say: “These words were sent to me by my wife and I use them today as context for my closing remarks.
‘What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and for the world is, and remains, immortal.’ – Albert Pike
These words ring true for me when it comes to legacy, and speak to the advancement of the community above personal needs. This world in which we live often encourages personal gain – get it now, look after yourself because no one else will, put self first. Yet doing so does not necessarily benefit the community and with growth in community comes opportunity for personal growth too. I cannot fathom how people do not understand that their personal development and success is inextricably linked to the success of others.”
At the end of 2022, Simon Peile stepped down as Council chair, and was succeeded by Crispin Sonn. Crispin is a partner and director at Gamiro Investments, a private family owned and run investment business. Gamiro Investments has interests in the contact centre industry, the events sector, renewable energy and affordable retirement and housing. Crispin gained extensive corporate experience during his 11-year tenure at Old Mutual in several executive roles across the business, including being chairman of the Old Mutual Foundation – a role he held for 9 years. He serves as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Advisory Committee for Safety and Security and has been chairman of FoodForward SA for 15 years. He was elected as Chairman of Western Province Professional Rugby (Pty) Ltd in March 2022. Crispin graduated with a BA degree in Social Science and Humanities from UCT and an Honours degree in Business and Administration from Stellenbosch University. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2011. He is married to Lisa, and their youngest son Franklin is an OD.
2023 was going to be a busy year as more and more of the old normal was again possible. At the Staff conference at the start of year, Prof. Nico Koopman, Deputy VC at Stellenbosch, addressed the question of Transformation and lessons learned at the university. The matric results from the 2022 matrics had been excellent, and the formal prizegiving for the grade 8 to 11s from 2022 took place in February, having moved to the start of the year in 2021.
Although the targets for the 175 Appeal had included replacing the Mallett Centre and surrounding buildings with a modern sports complex, it was apparent that this would be too expensive and in its place, it was decided to replace the old NLT with a new academic building better suited to teaching and learning in a digital environment.
Plans were put in place for the construction of the Ubuntu Learning Centre building, which was scheduled to start in April 2023. Alternations to the front entrance of the College also went ahead, providing better security and some parking at the Campground Road entrance.
Following discussions with management, Tony Reeler launched a new Values statement, addressing each of them in successive Assemblies: Courage, Humility, Integrity, Kindness and Respect. These values had been drawn up by the boys in their tutor groups, and then refined down to these five. The document was also displayed on the website.
The school continued the process of self-evaluation as part of the OISESA quality assurance process, under the auspices of ISASA. This organization, the Office of Independent Schools Evaluations, Southern Africa (OISESA) conducted the process following the collection of data that the school had gathered in surveys done with Council, parents, teachers and boys, combined with a school self-study process and a three-day mentor visit. Their report will be available during 2024. On Human Rights day, Hlumelo Biko, Steve Biko’s son and a current parent, spoke about how the privilege of education, such as that his father had, had to be used to influence the world with regard to human rights and the equal treatment of all people. During the year, three Robert Gray Medals were awarded – to Bishop Christopher Gregorowski, Dr Greg Mills, and Prof. Haroon Bhorat
The continuing uncertainty and disruption resulting from loadshedding persuaded the school of the need to set in place a viable electricity supply to supplement Eskom. Sean King took this on, getting advice from a wide range of experts. A combination of PV cells, generators and batteries was judged to be the appropriate solution.
Earlier in the year, the school was approached by the Revd Rachel Mash, the priest of the Eluvukweni Anglican Church in Crossroads. Eluvukweni had had an ongoing fundraising project to raise money to build a church. They already had raised R1.6 million, and in order to finally launch this project they still needed R200 000. The Bishops Music Departments, in conjunction with the Parents’ Association, took on this worthwhile cause and planned to raise that amount. The boys and staff of the College and Prep Music Departments, along with the Eluvukweni Church Choir, staged a concert on Sunday 6 August in the Memorial Chapel and raised R160 000.
One of the most significant challenges that Tony Reeler faced was the ongoing process of transformation – both in terms of improving the numbers but also addressing attitudes and biases. Staff appointments and pupil offers were more strongly aimed at increasing the inclusion of people of colour in the school. Conditions of service for the support staff were improved. Compulsory classes in conversational isiXhosa were introduced from Grade 7, and a Human Rights curriculum was introduced putting emphasis on Human Rights issues, especially dwelling on the public holidays. The Bishops Pride support group was openly recognized in the school with support from both queer and straight boys. School wide staff activities involving teaching, grounds and support staff were set up, and Diversity, Equity and Belonging committees were active on both the College and Prep campuses.
Throughout the year, there were various fundraising efforts for VUSA, but the Cycleathon challenge for VUSA on Mandela Day was the big one – it raised over a million rand.
Three overseas tours took place in 2023, with two hockey teams touring Belgium and the Netherlands in the April holidays. Also in April holiday a fencing tour travelled to Germany, and a History tour travelled to Belgium, France and the Netherlands in the June/July holiday.
Raymond Ackerman died on 6 September 2023. He had been a constant friend of the school, Patron of the OD Union, the father and grandfather of ODs, and a pupil at Bishops from 1944 to 1948. He has been one of the most generous benefactors the school has ever had, and during his time as President and then Patron of the OD Union, he also gave freely of time and expertise.
Peter Westwood retired at end of 2023, and a search for the next Deputy Principal resulted in the appointment of Trevor van Niekerk, who had been the Science HOD at Bishops from 2004 to 2008, before going on to Hilton and other schools. Peter had been carrying the Deputy Principal role from 2016, and the Deputy Head of Pastoral role (since 2006). The executive decided it made better sense to combine the Discipline portfolio with Pastoral, and Joc Wrensch was appointed Deputy Head Pastoral and Discipline. This resulted in the number of Deputy Heads now set at four – Pastoral and Discipline, Sport, Academic and Culture.
The Matric dance was held in the Mallett Centre at the end of term 3, followed by House Dinners, Valedictory and the Matric Prizegiving at the start of fourth term. The 13-year tie recipients sat for their photograph – so many compared with the 13 boys who had fulfilled the same target in 1999.
And the usual end of year acti
vities – Epic and the other camps were successfully completed. Descriptions of the experiences by the boys of the hikes, the solo group hike, the 24-hour solo and the shared experiences at the various basis reveal once again that the Epic has a curriculum of its own. Mark Hanley’s vision of 2008 can be illustrated by this comment from Noah Macnab. “Epic is not designed for us to beat our friends, to be the first one home or the quickest one out. Rather it is personal testament to internal struggle. I walked not to win or to be victorious, but so that I believed that I was the mountain’s master, and that it would not defeat me.”
2024 was the year of the 175 anniversary of Bishops. Planning had been put in place during 2023 by the 175 Committee, headed by Joc Wrensch. It was decided to make the year a celebration of co-operation and community, rather than a series of self-congratulatory events. Numerous sports festivals and cultural events were planned with neighbouring schools. In the March holiday Bishops hosted their largest ever sports festival, with hockey and rugby teams, both local and from around SA, competing over four days in the first week of the holiday. The Public Speaking society hosted what is possibly the first of its kind, a trilingual festival, where pupils could compete in English, isiXhosa or Afrikaans, or a combination of two or all three. Through sponsorship, the festival was free to pupils in the greater Cape Town area, and over 300 pupils took part. Also in term one a one-act play festival was staged over two evenings, with performances from Bishops, St Cyprian’s, Rustenburg and Herschel. A special Founders Day was held, which included a service for the entire school from Pre-Prep to College, and all staff too. During the service there was a guest appearance by Bishop Robert Gray, in the guise of former chaplain, Bob Commin, who spoke about his vision for Bishops from 175 year ago. The regular Founders Day activities also took place: the Avenue Mile, interhouse tug-of-war, house sports, and the usual matches against the ODs in a host of sporting codes. In March a special 175 Evensong was held, including the first performance of an anthem commissioned for the occasion from three ODs. “Come Shout with Joy” was performed with music by Grant McLachlan and words by Frank Barry and Archie Swanson. The service included a number of ODs singing in the choir and playing in the brass band, as well as an OD priest, Revd Guy Axelson, delivering the sermon. It was a wonderful celebration of the school’s Anglican heritage through a traditional Evensong, bringing together boys and ODs.
At the OD AGM in March, Craig Howie was voted the next Patron of the ODU. The highlight of the celebrations was on 18 July, Mandela Day, when the entire school, from Pre-Prep to College, including all Bishops staff, took on 175 minutes of community service, following the example of the Mandela Day of 67 minutes of service. The Ubuntu Learning Centre building was opened on 19 July by Chair of Council, Crispin Sonn, and blessed by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. The new Rowing Tank and Ergo Building will be opened in August and the dedication of the three new stained glass windows in the Brooke Chapel is expected to take place in October.
Other overseas tours which took place in 2024 included a trip the summit of Kilimanjaro, led by Phil Court and Graeme Klerck, and a 1st team cricket tour to Sri Lanka, led by coaches Visser Gildenhuys and Lutho Pohlongo, both in the June/July holidays. Another rowing trip to the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston will take place in October.
