Gifford High School Bulawayo 50th Anniversary Jubilee Magazine Page 51
There are twenty-three African employees at Gifford who have served the School for over ten years.
Parichi
Parichi, better known as Parish, was awarded a Long-Service Medal in 1973, commemorating thirty-one years of service to the school. He started in January 1941, and although Parish has officially retired from Government service, he is still employed at the School where he is the Boss- Boy.
India Kajamasasa
India entered service in May 1946 as a hostel assistant. He was at Heyman House for five years, after which he moved to Newman House when the hostel opened in July 1951. He was presented with a watch in 1976 to commemorate thirty years of service.
Justin Manatsa
Justin started as a cleaner at the Rhodes Street School in August 1951, and became the School’s messenger a few years later. He moved to the Russell House Branch when the School was consolidated at this site in 1963. Justin has been at Gifford for sixteen years.
The other long-serving African employees are:
Freddie Musekiwa and Gilbert Muzrenge (Russell House); Quashee (Dining Hall); Ashani, Beka,
Gumganayi, Joram, Katare, Langton, Mailos,
Mugari, Muzengi, Nyokie, Paint Siamchemba, Pat, Paul, Sialubi, Stephen Munererewa, Tarunga,
and Tsokoto.
THE CHANGING FACE OF A SCHOOL
50 Years of History
A technical school, then and now.
It must be difficult for the present generation of pupils, and their staff, at Gifford to appreciate that for the greater part of the School's 50 years of life, the curriculum and examinations structure were so different from our system today as to be unrecognisable; the curriculum was technically and vocationally based, and the examinations taken were exclusively set by the Union of South Africa Department of Education. An analysis of the subject under discussion also reveals a bewildering array of subjects taught and examinations taken which undoubtedly contributed to much of the confusion about the real role that the technical school was to play in the educational scene of this country. The administration and educational difficulties experienced by headmasters and their staffs when the Technical School was closely bound up both with adult vocational and commercial education, all housed in several separate venues, must have been frustrating indeed, and until the advent of what we now know as the Technical College as distinct from the Technical High School, a fully corporate spirit was hard to achieve. Yet the Bulawayo Technical School succeeded in fulfilling one of its fundamental aims, namely its raison d'etre, which was to produce technically-minded and technologically trained individuals in a rapidly developing country which needed, and still needs, their special skills.
South African Technical Examinations, 1927.
In 1927, Mr. P.H. Gifford and four teachers began to teach an average enrolment of 39 pupils who embarked upon an initial three-year course in the following subjects: English, mathematics, science, engineering, engineering-drawing, building construction, and woodworking. Extra evening classes were begun in commercial subjects which included bookkeeping, commerce, shorthand, and typewriting. The first examination at the end of that year was the Preliminary Technical Certificate of the Union Department of Education, and was attempted by 9 candidates. In 1928, the second year, 6 candidates were entered for the National Technical Certificate Examination, Part I (Engineering), and one female candidate sat the National Certificate Examination (Clerical Group). In 1929, R. W. Barbour, who by alphabetical chance appears as number one on the roll, obtained the Preliminary Technical Certificate (P. T.C.) with distinction, and gained first place in South Africa in both English and science. G.S. Perry the first pupil to enrol at the School, was the first Rhodesian to pass the National Technical Certificate Examination (N.T.C.)—Part II (Engineering).
A dual role
From its inception, the Bulawayo Technical Technical School fulfilled a dual role: the Day School provided a general education with technical training, while the Evening School carried technical training further, and with a variety of commercial subjects, embraced the vocational aspect. The latter role is today catered for by the Technical College, Bulawayo, and the Polytechnic, Salisbury.
High-school status, 1931.
By 1931, the curriculum of the School had been expanded to provide a full 5-year course of instruction, and the School was granted High School status, being henceforth known as the Bulawayo Technical High School. In November 1930, G. S. Perry sat the final examinations of the N.T.C.—Part II, and became the first Rhodesian to obtain a full National Technical Certificate (Engineering).
In 1932, Mr. Gifford stated in the School Magazine editorial that "the object (of the technical school) is to provide a definite training for some industry together with a substantial amount of general education. No high attainment in any specific craft is aimed at. The Curriculum is designed to give that preliminary manual training which is the basis of all crafts, with some tendency towards later specialisation according to the trade in which the pupil is to find employment". In that, the School's sixth year, the day school had enrolled 139 pupils, while 256 students of both sexes attended evening classes. In the November 1932 Examinations, J. N. Wright passed the National Senior Technical Certificate with distinction on the technical side, so earning the successful candidate a Matriculation Exemption.
The Mining School, 1935
A significant development occurred in 1935 when the Mining School was established, at which pupils followed a 2-year course after which they became apprenticed for a further; 3 years "at various approved mines". Subjects taken included geology, mineralogy, surveying and assaying and plenty of mathematics. The first examination written by pupils at this branch of the School was the N.T.C. (Mining) in November 1936.
S.A. Junior and Senior Certificates, 1937
During a speech delivered by the Hon. G. M. Huggins, Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, a clear prophecy was made, and the 1 937 Magazine editorial relates: Technical schools are intended to provide a course for those pupils who, at a comparatively early age, have decided on a vocation which necessarily involves technical training. The Government agrees with the Education Commissioner that, for the present at any rate, the Bulawayo Technical School should be developed as the technical centre for the whole country, and must eventually become a technical college." In the same year the examinations structure included the National Junior Certificate (S.A.) as the preliminary examination to the National Senior Certificate (S.A. Matriculation equivalent); the latter was attempted only by a select few. In November 1937 C. L. A. Thompson wrote the latter examination and obtained first place in Southern Africa in mathematics out of 265 candidates. H. Roussot and J. A. Konschel shared first place with 1 4 other candidates out of 2468 in the N.T.C., Part II, and in the P.T.C., R. K. Hart was first in Southern Africa out of 2 241 candidates in English, while B.Sc. Haworth headed the list of 2494 candidates in technical drawing. At this time the School had 241 pupils in the day section, and 336 students attended evening classes.
N.A.T.C., 1943
The Second World War soon intervened, and the November 1939 editorial comments, somewhat ruefully, ' In happier circumstances it would have been our pleasure to point to the plans . . . for widening the sphere . . . of the Technical School. Increased facilities for technical education were to be provided, following the erection of a fine Technical College . . ." During the war years there appeared an additional qualification, the National Advanced Technical Certificate, and in November 1943, it was recorded that D. C. Candler (who was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1946) and J. F. Pollock, both evening students at that
stage, and passed the examination with distinction.
Three campuses
Construction began on the buildings of the new Technical College in the later war years, and it was an ambition of Mr. Gifford "that the Technical High School be linked up with the new Technical College . . ." and further, " . . . that the College could easily become the Faculty of Technology in a future Rhodesian University". At the time Mr. Gifford relinquished the headmastership for the inspectorate in 1 947, 20 years had passed in the School's life, and the enrolment had risen to 432 boys. Unfortunately, in the years prior to the final separation of the Technical School from the College, the former suffered from sub-division among various premises, and a unified school on one campus became the dearest wish of the second headmaster, Mr. H. J. Sutherby. Nonetheless, the new buildings at Park Street were used by the School after the opening in 1 951 of the imposing Henderson Block laboratories of the Technical College.
The Bulawayo Technical High School, 1953.
In 1953 the School was officially designated the Bulawayo Technical High School, having forms 1 to 5, all work beyond form 5, all apprentice and part-time education including commercial subjects, would be the concern of the College, and the latter was officially opened in the same year.
This page sponsored by . . . . Mr. and Mrs. G. McAtier, D. de Jager, R. A. Champion
The School would continue to move, over several years, to the South Branch, the site of Gifford today. A difficult and rather confused era followed, and was not really eased until the School became fully established on the present site.
The first local examination, 1956.
The first break away from the South African system occurred with the introduction, in 1956, of the local Form II Examination in English and arithmetic, which replaced the Standard Vll (Technical) Examination (S.A.). The former examination was essentially designed for boys wishing to enter apprenticeships, and could be regarded as a forerunner to our present R.C.E. (Lower) Examination.
And university entrance, 1957
At Speech Night, 1957, the headmaster, Mr. A. Hart, stated that, "Our University entrants straight from school this year were six in number." Several students had embarked upon university careers in earlier years, but usually only after they had attained further qualifications by attending evening classes, etc. The separation of School and College was almost complete. In November of the same year, two pupils wrote mathematics and physics at Cambridge Higher School Certificate level, which they were able to do after having passed the S.A. National Senior Certificate.
Cambridge Certificates, (1958), and C.O.P.
A major landmark was reached in the examinations structure in 1958 when candidates were entered for the Cambridge School Certificate (other High Schools had been doing these examinations for years), for the first time, but " . . . the subjects we shall offer in the Cambridge Examinations are almost identical with those taken at present by National Senior Technical Certificate candidates." The 1960 Magazine editorial refers to a change in emphasis as to what the technical school should provide, by quoting Admiral H. G. Rickover, the 'father" of the U.S. nuclear submarine. Admiral Rickover distinguished between training in order to provide vocational skills, and education " . . . which en- t larges the individual's comprehension, giving him knowledge and the mental capacity to understand". The editorial speaks of " . . . a spirit (which) seems to be that technical education in schools must not be vocational and should incline to the academic." This thinking was undoubtedly instrumental in the phasing out of the N.T.C.
(S.A.) examination system and the introduction of a full range of academic subjects leading to the Cambridge School Certificate, while the nonacademic stream would concentrate on Form II and the new College of Preceptors Examination. In 1961, the Mining Department of the School was closed.
The early 1960's were years of frustration and some anxiety for the School, with a further change in status and the severing of several links with the technical past, changes in the examinations structure, and the projected but slow movement to the Russell House site. Having barely had time to absorb and adjust to the more "academic" Cambridge system. the curriculum and syllabuses and approach almost immediately became even more academic with the introduction of the Associated Examining Board's G.C.E. system.
"Tech" becomes Gifford Technical High School, 1962
On 3 December, 1962, at Speech Night, the School was officially named the Gifford Technical High School, following a Ministry of Education announcement to this effect in August. That year Select Entry Tests in English, arithmetic and general intelligence were taken by all pupils wishing to enrol at the technical school, which was now bearing the name of its founder headmaster and pursuing an academically-orientated curriculum, though retaining a technical bias" in that the majority of pupils leaned towards a mathematics-science weighted course in which technical-drawing was a compulsory subject, and many pupils still aimed towards a technological vocation, However. whilst Latin was not offered, the broad curriculum became no different from that offered at any other Rhodesian high school.
The A.E.B. Examinations, 1962
In November 1962, the first A.E.B. Examinations were written, but only at the "M" (Matriculation) Level. These were attempted by 12 candidates in lieu of the Subsidiary Level of the Cambridge Higher School Certificate, and in June, 1963, five pupils wrote the A.E.B. "O" (Ordinary) Level. In November 1963 Advanced, Matriculation and Ordinary Levels of the G.C.E. were written, and apart from the modified syllabus to align "M" Level with "A" Level introduced in 1972, this fine examination system has prevailed.
Selective Entry
With the break away from the Technical College and the introduction of selective entry, the School's enrolment actually dropped to 370 in 1963. A four-stream entry only gradually increased enrolment for a time, but by 1974, the last year involving a Select Entry intake, the School opened with 621 pupils. The peak enrolment figure was in January 1977, with the School functioning on a five-stream entry, at 693 pupils.
1965 - a 'technical' bias
Reflecting the 'technical bias" referred to above, the range of the G.C.E. subjects at all levels appearing on the November 1965 Examination entry lists was: English, English literature, Afrikaans, French, geography, mathematics, additional mathematics, applied mathematics with mechanics, pure and applied mathematics, physics, physics-with-chemistry, electronics, chemistry, and technical-drawing. It may also have been purely coincidental that the headmaster at the time was Mr. (now Dr.) D. R. White, a mathematician.
R.C.E., the second local examination, 1972.
November 1972 saw several significant changes to the examinations structure. The C.O.P. examination, considered too academic for the less gifted child, was written for the last time, and the new local examination, the Rhodesian Certificate of Education (R.C.E.) at the higher level was also taken by the lowest form 3B class. The R.C.E., having been designed for C-streams will be written for the first time at the lower level in 1977 by our present form 3C, and at the higher level when they are 4C in 1978. As previously mentioned, the original 8 M" Level course was substituted by new A"-Level aligned syllabuses, and the first examination based on the latter course was also written in November 1972, and found to be of a standard above the capabilities of the majority of pupils who had attempted the "O" Level.
'Comprehensive' status
At Speech Night, 1974, the Acting Headmaster, Mr. R. A. Furber, reported that "the year 1973 could be regarded as a watershed in the history and development of this school, for . . . the Ministry of Education announced its intention to change the status of the two technical schools, with their Select Entry System, to comprehensive high schools. Since all schools in the country now offer the full range of technical subjects in the curriculum, there is no reason why Gifford's selection of subjects should not become identical with that offered at any other school. All institutions should welcome constructive change, especially if such change is seen to be a progressive and maturing process." Gifford Technical High School was the official name of the School, but the word "Technical" was retained as a recognition of the status the School had experienced for 46 years. However, in common usage for a number of years right up to the present time has been the name Gifford High School, a name which honours the School's founder, Mr. P.H. Gifford, and its technical background, and at the same time recognises its present status as a "comprehensive" high school, with a curriculum virtually identical with any other secondary school in Rhodesia.
1976 - 36 subjects
The "comprehensive" character of the School's curriculum is amply illustrated by a scrutiny of the November 1976 A.E.B. Examination entry lists at all levels, on which appear no fewer than 36 subjects, written by a total of 250 candidates.
The subjects are: at Ordinary Level:
English, English Literature, French, Afrikaans, geography, economics, history, mathematics, physics-with-chemistry, general science, biology, craftwork-wood, engineering-workshop theory and practice, geometrical-drawing, and art (132 candidates).
At Matriculation Level:
English, French, Afrikaans, geography, history, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and art. (78 candidates).
At Advanced Level:
English, Afrikaans, geography, economics, history, pure and applied mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, engineering-drawing, and Use of English. (40 candidates).
R.A. FURBER
OBITUARY
It was with great regret and shock that we learned of the sudden death at Pietermaritzburg, Natal on Friday, 28 January, 1977, of MRS. H. SANDHAM, wife of Mr. Jack Sandham. Mrs. Sandham took an unfailing, and personal interest in the pupils and activities of Gifford over many years, and we will miss her deeply. We express our deepest sympathy to Mr. Sandham and his family.
This page sponsored by: Mr. and Mrs. L. O’Neill, F. West, M. J. Brannigan
EXAMINATION RESULTS
G.C.E. “A” LEVEL USE OF ENGLISH August, 1976
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Cudworth, P. J. Griffin, K. Hutchinson, 0. G. Lake, D. A. C. |
Norman, M. C. Payne, B. K. Swart, J. W. Winter, M. |
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Bolton, H. N.*: Coley, J. M. M.: Cudworth, P. J.*: Foley, T. R.*: Griffin, K.*: Hutchinson, D. G.: Lake, D. A. C.: Muldoon, S. D.: Norman, M. C.*: Payne. B. K.*: Strong, K. G.: Swart, J. W.*: Van der Heever, G.: Van der Merwe, L. J.: Winter, M.*: |
Pure and Applied Mathematics. Afrikaans. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics. Economics. Economics*. Economics. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics. Pure and Applied Mathematics*, Chemistry, Physics. Economics. Afrikaans. Afrikaans. Afrikaans. Pure and Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics. |
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Biffen, G. A. Booyse, L. F. Dodd, G. B. Griffin, C. W. |
Nunn, R. L Strong, K. G. Wegener, G. W. |
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FOUR SUBJECTS: Mackay, J. A. K.* (4) Westermann, G. J.* (3) THREE SUBJECTS: Biffen, G. A.* (1) Binns-Ward, N. P.* Brinkley, K. E.* Burford, K. M.* TWO SUBJECTS: Bolton, H. N. Booyse, L. F.* Bulpitt, G. A. (1) Caddick, P. B. christensen. C. G. (1) Davies, A. G. Heuer, C. L. (1) Jones, T. 0. L. Konson, A. G. ONE SUBJECT: Ashby, G. W. Bebington, H. R. Begemann, W. Q.* Botha, C. M. (1) Bowen, T. M. Classen, G. A. Coley, J. M. M. Croll, A. M. Cullen, D. L. Dodd, G. B. Dymond, R. J. Greetham, B. Griffin, C. W.* Griffin, K. Jones, W. S.L. Lombard, A. |
Winter, T.T.*(1) Fitzgerald, B. K.* (1) Grieve, C. P. Sones, D. D.* Trautman, C. J. MacLean, C. D. Muller, D. J. Nunn, R. L.* Paterson, I. A. Pissas, D. J. Prinsloo, A. D.* Rowley, S. A. Rutherfoord-Jones, N.* (1) Sasman, M. I. McMillan, J. C. Minnaar, P. C. (1) O’Hagan, J. F. Potts, H. B. R. Rousseau, 0. C. (1) Rudnick, J. G. Skinner, B. A. Stack, N. C. Strong, K. G. Taylor. G. W. Urquhart, F. W. M. Van Blerk, B. Van Blerk, M. J. Watson, N. Wegener, G. W. |
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TWO SUBJECTS: Botha, C. M. Heuer, C. L. ONE SUBJECT: Caddick, D. J. Caddick, P. B. Bebington, H. R. Cullen, D. L Davies, A. G. Jones, T. 0. L. Jones. W. S. L. Koufopoulos, D. Lombard, A. McTaggart, J. B. |
Hodder, C.H. Minnaar, P. C. Pissas, D. J. Sasman, M. I. Swiel, J. Urquhart, F. W. M. Van Blerk, M. J. Van der Merwe, C. J. Watson, N. Wegener, G. W. |
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TEN SUBJECTS: Bruce, G. C. (1) NINE SUBJECTS: Bowman, A. J. (3) Bufé, W. G. (2) Hoffman, M. P. (3) Hogan, G. R. (7) EIGHT SUBJECTS: Beale, C. Evans, J. H. (3) Griffin, N. (4) Hart, M. A. (3) SEVEN SUBJECTS: Ainscough, M. M. (2) Berdou, J. T. (1) Durand, C. J. (4) Fuller, M. W. Geddes, D. A. (5) Herbert, S. C. (1) Kitshoff, S. (1) SIX SUBJECTS: Almy, M. V. (2) Barrett, D. A. Berry, W. N. (1) Harrold, M. A. (2) Holmes, S. P. (1) FIVE SUBJECTS: Barnard, I. H. Beale, A. P. G. Dodd, G. R. Gibson, H. Gilbert, V. Hughes, B. Jones, G. P. (1) FOUR SUBJECTS: Atkinson, A. J. Brown, M. D. Cox, L. I. B. Garde, B. R. Hodder, C. H. Jansen, M. P. (3) Lodolo, A. F. Mouat, D. G. (3) Palmer-Jones, A. D. THREE SUBJECTS: August, B. M. Demetriou, 0. Dwyer, P. J. Elbers, G. W. A. (1) Evans, S. N. G. (1) Fraser, I. G. Gaylard, N. W. Golding, D. D. P. (1) Gray, D. A. TWO SUBJECTS: Banks, P. L. Botha, C. M. Bowen, T. M. Boyd, P. J. Dearden, D. H. J. Dymond, R. J. ONE SUBJECT: Best, G. Fitzgerald, K. J. Gardner, A. J. Grobler, A. P. Marais, B. P. |
Jeans, A. K. (7) Magowan, G. V. P. (4) Smith, A. W. (7) Van Rooyen, T. R. (3) Jordan, P. A. (3) McCulloch, D. J. Russel-Smith, V. M. (3) Sahli, D. D. (4) MacGregor, M. A. (1) Newlands, C. S. (4) Sohaili, V. (4) Stephens, F.M. (1) Ward, T. D. (4) Watts. D. L (2) Karassellos, E. M. Krause, D. F. Montgomery, J. H. (2) Riskowitz, C. D. (2) Swanepoel, R. Z. (2) Lambert, S. G. Muldoon, B. R. Richards, P. J. P. (2) Rowland, B. G. (1) Rumney, A. C. Thurbon, G. A. (1) Wilde, M. A. Parnell, C. J. Payet, B. G. S. Pool, C. F. (1) Trouw. E. I. G. Van Zeeventer, H. J. Viljoen. D. W. (1) Walker, C. A. (1) Wallis, M. I. Wedlake, P.0. R. (1) Jackson, A. E. Manning, A. D. Moore, W. H. Mullins, S. E. Parker, A. F. S. Pitchard, I. T. Seager, A. J. Wood, K. B. F. (1) Wynn, G. A. (2) Hunt, J. A. Leyshon, D. W. Potts, H. B. A. Rousseau, M. T. (1) Taylor, G. W. Waywell, D. W. Mason, A. P. M. Rowley, S. A. Sasman, M. I. Wilford, A. J. |
R.C.E. RESULTS, 1976
(English, Mathematics, Science — all at the Higher Level)
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THREE SUBJECTS: Blundell, S. E. Dickinson, K. M. Hawkins, J. B. TWO SUBJECTS: Benade, C. J. de Villiers, L. F. Robins, A. J. Saunders, I. G. ONE SUBJECT: Edwards, J. E. Kunz, L. E. |
Langworthy, I. M. Murray, W. K. Whittaker, R. Skinner, G. G. Tarr, R. G. Spinks, M. A. McGibbon, D. C. |
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Aingworth, D. W.* Ayliffe, D. 0. Basson, C. 0. Beaumont, B. J. Bowen, R. P.* Blackbeard, J. L.* Brown, D. D. Charters, J. Coertz, H. J.* Collington, G. E. De Clerq, F. V.* Devine, B. J. Fanucci, M. Fowler, J. R.* Fry, G. H.* Galbraith, K. T. Haigreen. C. J.* Hattingh, V.* Inggs, A. V. Kogler, W. F. J.* McTaggart, N. 0. Meal, L. G.* Oakley, N. A.* Perret, A. H.* |
Reid, S. M.* Tintinger, F. W. Trevenen, M. V.* Biffen, G. R. Clarke, I. G. Dex, G. M. Dickinson, I. G. Evans, D. B. Follet-Smith, P. Fredriksson, C. E. Freestone, E. R.* Garriock, D. Godfrey, S.* Hayler, A. V. Olivier. D. F. M. O’Neill, D. L. Pebody, S. M. Pomfret, T. V.* Poupado, F. J. Rowley, B. R. Stopforth, M. Wiggil, T. W. Winterskov, J. |
PRIZE LIST
P.T.A. Subject Prizes (Based on Public Examination Results) :—
Afrikaans: J. W. Swart (U6)
Biology: C. J. Westermann (6M1)
Chemistry: B. K. Payne (U6)
Economics: D. A. C. Lake (U6)
Engineering: A. P. G. Beale (5B2)
English: D. G. Mouat (4A1)
French: A. W. Smith (4A1)
Geography: D. J. Muller (6M1)
History: K. M. Burford (6M1)
Mathematics: B. K. Fitzgerald (6M1)
Physics: M. Winter (U6)
Physics-with-Chemistry: A. W. Smith (4A1)
Woodwork: A. G. Rumney (5B2)
Prize for best “A” level results: B. K.
Payne (U6).
Prize for best “M” level results: J. A.
MacKay (6M1).
Prize for best “0” level results: G. R. Hogan,
A. K. Jeans, A. W. Smith (all 4A1 1976, and with identical results).
Old Technicians’ Prize for first class progress:—
Senior: A. G. Rumney (5B2).
Junior: L. W. Trim (1 B2).
School Council Prize for Scholastic
Achievement:—
Senior: J. A. MacKay (6M1).
Junior: R. M. Francis (3A1).
Class Certificates, 1976 (Number of distinctions awarded are in parentheses. Only pupils who have achieved a minimum of five distinctions have been recorded here):
3B1: J. R. Davidson (5).
2A: R. N. Geddes (5); P. J. Linnevelt (5); D. Lyon (5); E. L. Nel (6); S.J. Randall (6); K. C. Westermann (6).
2B1: S. J. Schlachter (5).
1A: G. Barbaressos (6); L. D. de Jager (5).
Sir George Johnson Prize For Excellence
In Drawing:—
Senior: L. F. Booyse (6M1).
Intermediate: T. D. Ward (4A1).
Junior: C. Myers (3A1).
Eileen White Trophy for the best actor in
1976:
S. R. Rowley.
The Bolton Stick: D. Sahli.
The Townshend Bat: C. J. Parnell.
The Watson Cup (Sportsman of the Year 1976):
C. J. Trautman.
This page sponsored by
Maxwell Clothing Co. (Mfg.) Pvt. Ltd.
The Abrahamson Prize for Leadership:
G. A. A. Biffen.
The Gifford Award (Excellence of character and outstanding service to the School):
G. A. A. Biffen.
The Gifford Trophy: Whitworth House.
SCHOLASTIC AWARDS
The following Gifford boys have recently won the following awards:-
I. R. Hayes-Hill (left 1975):
Miles Andrew Johnson Scholarship; Rhodesia Government Bursary ($700 p.a.).
J. H. J. Howard (left 1974):
Law Society Cadetship; already holder of a Joseph Gordon Scholarship.
G. S. J. Mouat (left 1973):
Rhodesian Government Scholarship; Rhodesia Railways Scholarship.
A. G. Tucker (left 1975):
Miles Andrew Johnson Scholarship; Rhodesian
Government Scholarship; Messina (Transvaal)
Development Corporation Bursary.
J. Wallis (left 1975):
Rhodesia Railways Accountancy Cadetship;
Rhodesian Government Scholarship; Anglo-
American Scholarship ($2 000 p.a.).
B. R. Wolhuter (left 1975):
Ministry of Water Development Cadetship ($2 000 p.a.).
W. R. K. Corder (left 1973):
Rhodesia Railways Scholarship ($1 200 p.a.).
A. Rutherfoord-Jones (left 1975):
Ministry of Health Pharmacy Scholarship ($750 p.a.).
SPEECH NIGHT AWARDS
Sir George Johnson Prize for Excellence in Drawing.
The Sir George-Johnson Prize for excellence in drawing was presented first in 1927, and was won by Maxsted Sheasby. Mr. Johnson, as he then was, was the chairman of the Advisory Committee till his death in 1946. The prize was awarded annually, and he left a bequest to continue the presentation of sets of drawing instruments for the best draughtsmen of the School. Initially only two prizes were presented, though now a third prize in the intermediate age group is also presented.
Edith White Trophy
The trophy was presented by Mrs. Edith White, wife of the fourth headmaster, Mr. D. R. White, who had a particular interest in dramatics. It goes to the best actor of the year.
The Townshend Bat
The Townshend Bat is presented annually by Mr. W. J. Townshend who has been chairman of the School Council since 1966. The bat was first presented in 1963 to Brian Davison which was the year he played in a Matabeleland Invitation XI against the M.C.C. Previously there had been the award of the Morris Bat presented annually by Mr. A. R. Morris, and was first awarded in 1958 to R. Varkevisser. Before that even, other bats for cricketing prowess had been given, for example in 1940 by Mr. Ralph Vincent and Sanders (Pvt.) Ltd. to C. D. Candler for the best performance and to B. Carew as the most improved player.
The Bolton Stick
This is to be an annual award and was presented for the first time in 1976 to D. Sahli. The award goes to the most improved player in the first hockey team, and is presented by Mr. J. Bolton, whose sons both played for the first team, Clive winning colours in 1974 and Hugh colours in 1976. Mr. John BoRon in fact played rugby for Old Techs in the years 1944-1949, while his parents had a close association with the School:
his mother was cook-matron while his father was caretaker from 1949-1955 and was largely responsible for the initial re-levelling of the Cowan Field and the laying out of the Sutherby Field. So, the Bolton association with Gifford spans three generations.
The Watson Cup
This was presented to the School in 1962 by Mr. R. E. Watson in honour of his son, Philip, who was a pupil in the years 1960 to 1965, and who was to become an outstanding sportsman ultimately obtaining colours in swimming, athletics and gymnastics and captaining the first XV; he was successful academically, and in 1 965 was deputy head boy. Mr. Watson himself became Chairman of the Advisory Council in 1965. The Cup is for the sportsman of the year, and by curious coincidence was first won by his namesake. M. A. Watson.
The Abrahamson Prize
This prize is awarded at Speech Night for
Leadership, and takes the form of a book prize.
The prize was awarded for the first time in 1955
to P. Bowman, and was presented by the Hon.
A. E. Abrahamson, former cabinet minister in
Southern Rhodesia, who was the Guest of
Honour at the 1954 Speech Night.
The Gifford Award
This is the premier award of the School and was first presented at Speech Night in February, 1973, the first recipient being T. W. Bassett, Head Boy, 1972. The form taken by the award is a magnificent illuminated scroll on which is included a hand painted Gifford badge.
THE CLARENCE RALSTEIN FUND
In 1942 John Ralstein, M.B.E., endowed the School’s Mining Department with £5 000 to establish an education fund in memory of his nephew, Clarence Ralstein, who was killed in action in the Western Desert in 1940.
The purpose of the Fund was to enable pupils of the Mining Department to proceed to higher centres of instruction in mining engineering. A characteristic of the Fund is that young men
assisted by it undertake to repay to the Fund, as and when they can, the money they receive. It is thus a circulating fund and is still administered by the School, even though the Mining Department closed in 1961.
It may be used for boys who complete their schooling at Gifford only.
THE MILES ANDREW JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP
When Sir George Johnson died in 1947, after many years of close association with the School, he left bequests to the School to cover the future awards of the Johnson Prizes for Technical Drawing and to establish a memorial scholarship.
The latter bequest, of £2 000, was to be used to fund a scholarship in honour of his youngest son, Miles, killed during the war while flying with the R.A.F. The Scholarship was to be administered by two Trustees, namely the Chief Justice of Rhodesia and the Headmaster of the School, and was awarded originally for study in aviation engineering. The terms were subsequently modified so that the Scholarship would be available for university study in any engineering or technical field.
It is a Scholarship which is confined to boys who complete their schooling at Gifford.
MAJOR BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS, 1934-1976
|
Year 1934 1938 1939 1941 1942 1946 1950 1951 1953 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 |
Name G.S.Perry D. J. Close H. A. McLean C. A. Cranswick M. P. Piers A. Banks D. C. Candler N. I. Creasy K. V. S. Meyer G. J. C. Visagie C. A. Cranswick N. I. Creasy V. L. Jenkinson E. Lieberman A. V. S. Meyer J. B. Waugh M. J. Bancroft N. P. Grant A.W.Ackhurst P. V. R. Harris A. S. Ford J. L. P. Haskins A. G. Perrin I. M. Tetley K. A. Hulley A.E. Clarke P.L. Lewis-Roberts A. Carnegie T. K. G. Hem M.D. Smart J.C. Welgemoed M.B. Algeo F.A. Broughton M.A. Watson B.N. Davidson N.J. A. Booyse W.Green A.W. Hay P.A. Watson C.D. Green K.J. Brackenbury N.J. Forbes W.R. Jackson W.J. Clegg R.C. Croll T.W. Garde P.E. Hastings R.P. Hollis P.A. Schonfeldt D.Anderson R.G. Benjamin I.K. Friend M.A. Garden D.M. Rademeyer H.J. Tiuzeck A.G. Will J.Chadowitz J.P.A.M. d’Aguiar N.D. Hayes-Hill M.T. Outram P.A. Watts C.B. Williams K.L. Bell P.D. Fraser M.M. Halgreen A.C. McCoy M.F. Mouat A.B. C. Pigott D.A. Wynn P. D. Baum S.C. Baum T.W. Basset G.Urquhart P.A. Watts J.V. Burton E.Warner P.T. Whitehead L.S. Wright M.A. Carrier J.H.J. Howard J.H.J. Howard A.D. Tucker J.L. Wallis |
Award Beit Beit Beit Beit Beit Tanganyika Government Rhodes Beit Beit, Chamber of Mines Northern Rhodesia Government Beit Rhodes Charelick Solomon Charelick Solomon Chamber of Mines Beit Beit Beit Chamber of Mines Beit Chamber of Mines Chamber of Mines Southern Rhodesia Government Chamber of Mines Rhodesia Railways Chamber of Mines Southern Rhodesia Government Southern Rhodesia Government Elizabeth Lane Federal Government Rand Mines Anglo American R.S.T. World War Fund, Anglo-American Rand Mines, Rio Tinto Ministry Water Development Rhodesia Railways Rhodesia Railways Shell Hawker-Siddeley Rhodesia Railways R.S.T. Rhodesia Government Roberts construction Rhodesia Railways De Beers Consolidated De Beers Consolidated N.I.C. Rhodesia Railways A.S.T. Ministry of Roads Rhodesia Government Grinaker Ltd. Rhodesia Railways Bulawayo City Council Roberts Construction Rhodesia Government Gary Hocking Rhodesia Government Rhodesia Government E.S.C. Rhodesia Government Central African Power Corp. Anglo-American Beit Anglo-American Roberts construction Anglo-American Bulawayo City Council Philips (South Africa) Rhodesia Government Rio Tinto Grinaker Ltd. Rhodesia Government Rhodesia Railways Roberts Construction Bulawayo City Council Bulawayo City Council Rhodes A.I.S.C.O. Joseph Gordon Rhodesia Government Rhodesia Government Rhodesia Railways, Rhodesia Government |
SCHOOL DIARY
(Major events of 1976)
First Term:
February 13: Mr. D. Campbell was the guest speaker at Speech Night.
February 25-26: Variety ‘76 was held to raise money for tour funds.
March 13-14: Gifford participated in the Matabeleland athletics championships.
Apr11 1-2-3: The award-winning drama, The Trial of Mary Dugan produced by Mr. R. A. Furber, was staged.
Apr11 1 and 3: Gifford competed in the interschools’ athletics, and were placed fifth.
April-May Holidays: The first hockey and rugby teams went on tours respectively to Pietermaritzburg-Durban and the Western Cape.
Second Term:
June 4: The P.T.A. raffle draw took place: a sum of $1 590 was raised.
June 12: The squash courts were opened by the Regional Education Officer, Mr. C. 0. Benson.
July 2: The inter-house one-act play competition was won jointly by Faraday and Whitworth.
August 6: The annual musical evening was staged.
August 7: The awarding of the Combined Old Boys rugby trophy was followed by a P.T.A. social function.
August 9: The rugby dinner was held at which the guest speaker was Mr. J. Pluke.
Third Term:
September 24: Pupils wrote “Learn and Earn” tests to raise funds for School amenities: over $2 600 was raised.
October 5: A “Civvies Day” earned $110 for charity — the Terrorist Victims’ Relief Fund was the main benefactor.
October 22: The inter-house gala took place, and was won by Whitworth.
October 29: Gifford won the inter-schools’ gala.
October 30: The leavers’ dinner-dance was held.
November 7. The annual carol concert took place.
SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
The School Advisory Council, formerly the School Advisory Committee, was established in the year of the establishment of the School, i.e. 1927. As its name implies, the function of the Council was, and is, to “advise and to make recommendations to the principal in regard to all matters connected with the welfare of the pupils attending the School . . .“ The Council is concerned with such aspects of the School as acquisition and development of grounds, the use of school buildings outside hours, extra-mural activities and written complaints from parents, to name but a few.
During the formative years of this School, a need was strongly felt for technical education in Rhodesia. The Council involved itself closely with the development and expansion of the School along the lines of such an educational
system. Workshop facilities, boarding accommodation, the broadening of technical education came to the attention of the Council. It was due largely to the effort of the Council that the mining department, now a part of Bulawayo Technical College, was established. The Council worked closely with industry and Rhodesia Railways in an effort to find the technical needs of the country at that time.
In later years, when the School was established on its present premises, the Council found itself more and more concerned with the day-to-day welfare of the children at the School. The traffic hazards at the entrance were the subject of long investigation by the Council and the present system, ensuring safety for the pupils, is a result of the efforts of this body of people. The recent building programme, the reinstatement of the squash courts, and the construction of our cinder athletics track were all deliberated upon by the Council.
At present the Council consists of six members elected by the parents and eight nominated members. In addition, the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster are ex officio members, as is the honorary secretary who is the Senior Master. The Council thus consists of sixteen members, a far cry from the handful of members of that first Advisory Committee of 1927 which met under the chairmanship of Mr. George Johnson. (Regrettably the names of the members of that Committee cannot be traced - Editor)
The School Council of to-day still reflects the history of 'technical' education as three of the nominated members are representatives from the Chamber of Industry, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rhodesian Institute of Engineers. The Jubilee Council comprises:
Nominated Members:-
MR. W. J. TOWNSHEND (Chairman)
Government Representative
MR. J. J. BOWMAN
Government Representative
MR. C. J. NEGUS
Chamber of Commerce
MR. E. HODES
Chamber of Industry
MR. V. G. WATKINS
Rhodesian Institute of Engineers
MR. N. CUMMING
Combined Old Boys’ Association
MR. V. J. GARNER
Headmasters’ representative
MR. C. W. HART
P.T.A. representative
Elected Members:- Mr. P. de Villiers, Mr. T. C. Devine, Mr. F. Fuller, Mr. L. C. Konson, Mr. H. Russot, Mr. A. L Rutherfoord-Jones.
School Members :- Mr. H. Fincham (Headmaster), Mr. R. A. Furber
(Deputy Headmaster), Mr. A. Menne (Senior
Master, secretary).
For many years the Council, or Advisory Committee as it then was, was led by Mr. George Johnson (later Sir George) who took a keen interest in all the activities of the School. Since then a number of worthy men, and a woman, have had the chairmanship of the Council, the most recent being Mr. Wally Townshend who is also chairman of the Matabeleland Education Advisory Board.
Chairman since 1927:-
1927-1946 Sir George Johnson, A.M.I. Mech.E.
1947-1952 Col. C. M. Newman, O.B.E., M.C., V.D., ED.
1953 Mr. S. M. Boyer
1954-1955 Mrs. J. Stakesby-Lewis
1956-1959 Mr. K. McR. Smith
1960-1961 Mr. A. S. Lishman
1962-1964 Mr. J. F. Davison
1965 Mr. A. E. Watson
1966-1977 Mr. W. J. Townshend
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT, 1976
It has been my privilege and indeed my pleasure to have served on the School Advisory Council for the past twelve years, of which eleven have been as Chairman.
During that period many parents and other people have served as members and have served it well, having always fulfilled their responsibilities over the various matters which were before them for consideration. I would therefore express my appreciation to all of them for the valuable services which they have rendered and which have made my task so much easier and so much more pleasant. To each and every one of them a very sincere 'THANK YOU'.
While the Council is an Advisory body, it can take action in certain circumstances and this Council has done so to good effect in the past.
Today Gifford has modern and up-to-date classrooms and is self-contained - a far cry from the days when boys attended classes at thc present School, at the Beit Hall in Rhodes Street,
This page sponsored by C. & I. Bull (Pvt.) Ltd.
and at the present Technical College, and had to walk from one place to the other.
The Council fought hard to prevent the R.A.F. squash courts being turned into classrooms, but were unsuccessful. The courts are now again at long last being used for the purpose for which they were built.
The swimming bath, built by the R.A.F. during World War II, has been replaced by a most modern pool.
The grounds have been extended and more fields brought into use, and the new cinder track will be one of the best in the country.
Prior to 1968 Council and other meetings were held in the gymnasium, but since the opening of the new Hall by the Hon. A. P. Smith, Minister of Education, Gifford now has a most suitable hall for every school use.
Also in 1968 the Council, deploring the lack of policy on technical high schools, requested a firm decision by the Government on their future. Gifford High School is now a fully comprehensive school.
Road safety is always kept under constant review and we are indebted to the City Council and the B.S.A.P. for their assistance on this most important aspect.
The Council is happy that it has been able to assist and advise on all of the above matters.
The members of the Council pay periodic visits to the School and I would, on their behalf,
touch on other matters pertaining to the School. Over the years there have, of course, been
numerous staff changes, transfers, marriages, staff leaving the service, staff taking up positions with private schools, and there are those, too, who have passed away and whom we remember with affection. With the exception of the gentleman who “unexpectedly up and returned to Ireland”, I would emphasise that Gifford is indeed fortunate in the calibre of the teachers it has had, and does have, and their loyalty and constant efforts in every aspect of their duties is beyond measure.
The members of the Council have been most impressed, too, by the “silent ones” — the office staff, the hostel and cook matrons who do a sterling job for the boys, and here we must congratulate as well the groundsman and his staff.
Presiding over all, the Headmaster, and the Council have always been kept fully in the picture by Messrs. D. R. White, I. J. McLachlan, and H. Fincham. I have worked closely with the two latter gentlemen, different in their approach to their work but both have done such a tremendous amount to improve the School in every sphere.
And the boys ? There are many who have passed through Gifford and many have won distinction not only in the academic but also in cultural, sporting and other spheres. Whether they excel or merely make their way slowly, the boys at Gifford have been well taught and are a credit to their School.
On behalf of the members of Advisory Council on the occasion of the School’s Golden Jubilee, I would offer their congratulations and it is certain that with the present Head, Mr. H. Fincham, his deputy Mr. R. A. Furber, and the Staff, that the School will go on from strength to strength.
W. J. TOWNSHEND
THE P.T.A., 1963-1975
Incredible as it must seem, this School had no P.T.A. before 1963. Probably the best explanation of the absence of a P.T.A. till quite recent years lies in the very nature of the School, firstly its being half a school and half a technical college, secondly the fact that only in 1953 were the links between the Technical School and the Technical College officially severed.
The very next year there is a report that on 29 September a Parents’ Social Evening was held at which a Mr. C. E. Kerr spoke on the careers for boys educated at the Technical School. Possibly as a result of this, the Magazine records that a Parent-Teachers’ Association “is to be
formed”. Nothing, however, was achieved, though annual meetings between parents and staff were held at which the parents’ representatives on the School Council were elected. These meetings were referred to as the annual general meetings of parents and staff.
In 1958 only about 45 persons attended the A.G.M. and this led that champion of civil liberties, Mr. C. E. M. Moore of especial fame in Bulawayo for his work for the over-sixties club (he has, incidently, also spoken to our Sixth Form Forum), to castigate the School authorities in no uncertain terms. As a parent, he wrote to the School Council on 11 April 1959 as follows: “I believe that children re-act to the interest that a parent takes in the child’s School.” He considered the lack of interest by parent as “shocking” and, in making an offer to help form a P.T.A., said: “I want to help the children of this country to understand the principles of democracy, but how can one do this if the parents show no interest in the school in which their children are being educated ?“
Still nothing was done for a further three years! Then, on 23 March 1962, a parents-teachers’ social and dance was held. Purely as a matter of interest, while only a few parents supported the function, the staff turned out in force and “certain (staff) members set a very high standard of entertainment for future social evenings”. The guests had the services of the School band, consisting of lain Harper, Charles Smith and Jackie Plaks for the evening. More to the point, however, is that history was made that evening when the first P.T.A. Committee was elected. Its members were:- Chairman: Mr. H. Quihampton; Secretary: Mrs. W. H. Quihampton; Treasurer:
Mr. Dickinson; Mr. W. J. Sandham (Staff representative), Mesdames Blake and Raaff, Messrs. Barn and Sudding, and the Headmaster.
On 1 August 1962 the P.T.A. constitution was formally adopted at a meeting where the staff outnumbered the parents! It is recorded in that year that the committee had battled hard “to overcome the apathy natural in a school that has not had a P.T.A. in its 35 years of existence”. Its aim was stated quite simply as: “to do everything possible to help YOUR sons”. How well our P.T.A. committees since then have achieved that
aim.
Mr. J. Hietink, chairman of the 1968 committee, succinctly expressed the purpose of school P.T.A’s as follows: “Regular contact between parents and teachers is essential when promoting the welfare of the School, which is in fact the welfare of our boys. The Parent-Teachers’
Association aims to foster this contact by arranging programmes on interest both educationally and socially”. These aims, since the election of the first P.T.A., have been fully achieved.
Social events nowadays include the various get-togethers organised during the year, principally the function after sports day and the entertainment after the annual open-day for parents of the following year’s form one pupils. In former years dances were popular, as was the one in 1963 when about 60 persons had a most enjoyable evening. The P.T.A., too, since 1967 has entered into friendly competition with Northlea, Baines, Thomas Rudland, Hugh Beadle, and Newmansford schools for the John Love Cup. The cup was first won in 1968 and retained the next year when Gifford was, for the first time, the host school. Other forms of entertainment have included a swimming carnival in October
1967.
One of the most valued activities of the P.T.A. is the organisation of the tuckshop which commenced operating on 5 June 1963 with Mrs. White, the wife of the Headmaster, heading a committee of ladies who staffed the shop. Later that year the change-rooms at the Anderson Pool were started, and part of the design included a tuckshop (which, incidentlaly, is still used during November when the public examinations are being written in the Hall.) Mothers of Gifford pupils still staff this amenity entirely.
Above all, the P.T.A. has helped the School in fund-raising, and in the thirteen years of the P.T.A.’s existence various committees have raised considerable sums. In 1964 a very successful fête on 30 May raised £350 to finance partly the costs of building the pavilion. In 1968 funds were provided for a complete redecoration and refurbishing of the library. Incidently two P.T.A. committee members, Mr. L. Fraser and Mr. J. Hietink, worked like Trojans making and fitting the pelmets. In 1969 a sub-committee was established to administer a memorial fund to perpetuate the name of Charles Cowan who, for thirty-one years, had taught at Gifford: the result was the construction of the Cowan Gates which so finely embellish the main entrance to the School. In 1969 the first sponsored walk raised $6 838 which provided the School with four tennis courts, two basketball courts, and paid for the macadamised roads around the hostels. On 8 July 1970 the second “big walk” raised $4 732 for the pool. Since then there have been annual raffles; for example, the October 1973 raffle raised $1 495 for School amenities, while in 1974
a sponsored swim and raffle raised $2 766 and $1 865 respectively, the first amount being used for the building of the change rooms at the McLachlan Pool which were officially opened on 12 June 1976 by Mr. C.O. Benson, the Regional Education Officer.
Much of the effort of the P.T.A. Committee goes unacknowledged, mainly because most persons are not fully aware of how enthusiastically these stalwart supporters of the school work for its improvement. Without their efforts since 1963, Gifford, as we know it, would be a vastly different
place.
R.T.McCeoch
Chairmen of the P.T.A., 1963-1977
1962 Mr. H. Quihampton
1963
1964
1965 Mr. H. Quihampton
1966
1967 Mr. B. J. Eley
1968-1969 Mr. J. Heitink
1970 Mr. C. W. D. Pagden
1971 Mr. R. Vollaire
1972-1974 Mr. V. J. Garner
1975 Mr. L. C. Konson
1976 Mr.C.W.Hart
1977 Mr.C.W.Hart
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT, 1976
A chairman’s primary functions are to promote the full participation of all members attending the meeting, also to arouse interest, to initiate discussions, and finally to control and guide those discussions in order to achieve the objectives of the meeting. At meetings throughout the year under review, the foregoing aims were realized. This was due to the regular attendance and interest of members of the Committee, and I extend my sincere thanks to all members for their enthusiasm and personal involvement in the numerous discussions and projects undertaken by the Committee during the year.
1977 is the Golden Jubilee of the school and to mark this occasion, the promotion of a lasting major project was considered necessary. The construction of an athletics cinder-track was considered as the most suitable asset, and construction of the track commenced in April, 1976. I must express my special thanks to Mr D.J. Gray for the tremendous effort he has expended on this project and to the mant parents and business organisations who have assisted in various ways.
Two major fund raising projects were successfully concluded during 1976: the annual raffle and, for the first time, a "learn and Earn" sponsorship. Income from these two ventures amounted to approximately $4100.00
Several social functions were organised durin the year in order to maintain contact between parents and teachers outside the classroom environment. In my opinion these functions are most vital to maintain a closely knit Parent-Teachers’ Association, and I appeal to all parents, both new and existing, to participate in these activities. You have my assurance that these social evenings are not a gimmick to lure you into a web of financial expenditure. Profits from these evenings are minimal and your Committee is satisfied provided running costs are covered.
Since Gifford has boarding accommodation for 150 scholars, twenty per cent of the school parents are boarder parents unable to attend all the functions programmed by the Headmaster and your Association. The burden therefore is all that greater on the local parent content of the school, and I once again appeal for your support in the forthcoming year.
The financial position of the Asociation at the year’s end was satisfactory. An expenditure of nearly $6 000,00 is indicative that an active Committee is essential in order to maintain that rate of expenditure associated with the development of the School’s amenities.
My first association with the School was as a
scholar during 1943-1945. At that time Gifford was a giant on the educational horizon with an excellent scholastic and sports record under the Headship of the late Mr. P. H. Gifford. Scholars at the School, at that time, were enrolled from Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, the Union of South Africa, and towns throughout Southern Rhodesia for technical training and post matriculation mining studies. The majority of the School’s students left Bulawayo on completion of their studies and today are scattered around the world. The absence of these and other Old Boys creates a vacuum difficult to fill. On behalf of the School, I extend my good wishes to them all and a sincere invitation to visit the School, if possible, and to participate in some way in our Golden Anniversary Celebrations. You will always be welcome.
It has been a great privilege indeed to have been of service to my old School, and I am confident that Gifford School will play an ever increasing role in the moral, educational and physical development of Rhodesia’s sons of today and in the future.
My grateful thanks are extended to the Headmaster and P.T.A. staff members of the Committee for their never failing interest, assistance and cooperation during my year of office.
P.T.A. COMMITTEE, 1977:
Mr. C. W. Hart (Chairman), Mr. F. Fuller (Vicepresident), Mr. T. C. Devine (Treasurer), Mrs. J. Mullins (Secretary), Messrs. I. W. Magowan, J. Pigott, M. Rudnick, D. J. Sahli, and D. C. Smith, and Mesdames M. Barrett, J. Causton, N. Cockerton, Y. Greetham, I. van Rooyen, and V. Winter.
HEAD BOY’S REPORT
1976 was marked by an upsurge in School spirit and discipline in School life, as well as in sporting and cultural activities. Although we did not always achieve the goals we had set ourselves, we can be proud of the way we applied ourselves.
In the summer sports, several Gifford athletes produced good results in the inter-schools’ athletics competition: C. Hodder, A. F. S. Parker, B. J. Devine, I. G. Fraser, A. J. Erasmus, S. Luff, G. Parnell and A. McCoy in particular all performed with distinction and Gifford finished in fifth place. Gifford continued to dominate the Matabeleland swimming scene and our swimmers swept to a convincing victory in the inter-schools gala. W. S. L. Jones, T. 0. L. Jones, B. G. Duguid and B.J.Beaumont all enhanced their reputations of being among the top schoolboy swimmers in the country. A talented water-polo side failed to live up to its reputation and finished only fifth in the Crusaders Schield; C. M. Botha and E.J.G.Trouw, however, were selected to represent the Rhodesian schools’ water-polo side. The School’s gymnastics team again proved itself to be the finest in Matabeleland, and C. W. Griffin, B. van Blerk, M. Neyland and D. Lundt all excelled in the various tournaments which were held during the year. 1976 was a good year for basketball and Gifford proved to be the top side in Matabeleland. J. B. McTaggart and P. J. Boyd were selected for the Matabeleland basketball side. The cricket side started the season well by beating Plumtree for the first time in 15 years, but despite this good start the cricket side had a mediocre season. R.P.M.Mason was selected to represent the Rhodesian Nuffield cricket team.
After a series of extremely successful fund-raising activities which culminated in a highly successful variety concert, the first rugby XV went on a tour to Cape Town, while the hockey side toured Durban. The first XV seldom played true to form and had a very poor season, but G. Ashby and I.G.Fraser were selected to represent the Rhodesian Schools’ rugby team at Craven Week. The first hockey Xl had a successful season and C. J. Trautman was selected to captain the Rhodesian schools’ hockey side. Squash has taken a strong hold on the Gifford sporting scene with the opening of the new squash courts, and Gifford can boast of some fine young players. A number of boys brought honour to Gifford through their achievements in those activities which are not offered at the school. R. Dryburgh and the late P. Fourie distinguished themselves at cycling, while A. Maclean distinguished him self at shooting. M. van Blerk represented Rhodesia at Gymkhana, and S. Dorman went with the Rhodesian Optimist class sailing-team to Turkey. I.G.Fraser, N.Watson and A.Konson were selected to play soccer for Rhodesia. Numerous awards were gained during the year by Gifford pupils in life-saving and from the Red Cross Association.
The last six years have witnessed a cultural growth at Gifford and 1976 saw a continuation of the concerted efforts of staff and pupils to make a mark on the cultural scene. The highlight of the year was the successful production of The Trial of Mary Dugan which won the 1976 A.R.T.S. Schools’ Drama Festival. A number of the cast of this production received individual credit. Mr. R. A. Furber received a prize for producing the winning play, S. Rowley received the best actor award, while Miss B.Wilmot (Eveline) and
M. Ainscough were adjudged as having acted the best cameo roles. 1976 saw the inauguration of the Toastmasters’ Society at Gifford, while the photographic club initiated a renaissance all of its own. The Sixth Form Forum had slightly more success than in the previous years and will without doubt be more successful if members were to put more effort into this society. D. Hodes and D. Sones were chosen to represent the School on the Junior Council, and D. Hodes was elected Junior Mayor. Gifford continued to dominate the Matabeleland schools’ chess scene and S. Herbert became the Matabeleland schoolboy chess champion. A. Konson distinguished himself at public-speaking and managed to get into the final round of the Lions’ public-speaking contest.
A special vote of thanks must go to all the staff and members of the P.T.A. who gave up their time so unselfishly over the year. The School would not be anything like it is if it were not for their unstinting efforts and enthusiasm. Finally, I should like to thank the prefect body for its help in maintaining the high standard of discipline at the School. I wish the School everything of the best in the future, and I hope it will continue to be one of the best schools in Rhodesia.
G.A. BIFFEN
HEAD BOYS, 1927-1977
|
1927-1928 1929-1930 1931 1933 1934 1935 1936 1938 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 |
M.F. Sheasby G.S. Perry J.N. Wright B.T. Attwell D.S. Smith J.E. Tsirindanis L.H. Mitchell C.W. Nelson A.T. Willis F.S. Farrell D.C. Candler B.E. Mullon A.S. Carew E. Edwards K. Morrison G.T. Young T. Lange W.A. Donkin R.W. Smith H.A. Barnard C.W. Dams J.H. Coumbis M. Lukan W.A. Simons N.K. MacLachlan P. Bowman |
1956-1957 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963-1964 1965 1966 1967 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 |
E. M. B. van Aart J.M. Goosen K.R. Hulley M.D. Smart D.M. Simmonds A.L. Sudding M.A. Watson D.C.T.Androuliakos M.N. Desfontaine O.C. Weston J.T. Neser G.F. Gardner R. Horrocks C.W. Coetzee K. Ashcroft P.C. Semple R.0. Rayner T.W. Basset N. Dewar J.H.J. Howard J.L. Wallis G.A. A. Biffen A.G. Konson |
The list is, regrettably, incomplete; perhaps readers can supply the missing names of Head Boys in the years 1932, 1937, 1939 and 1941. Twenty-four pen-portraits of past Head Boys follow, and it has been a far from easy task to condense the mass of fascinating information which has been supplied.
George Stanley Perry, head boy in 1929-1930, was one of the first pupils of this School who
began his apprenticeship at F. Issels & Son Ltd. before winning a Beit Training Scholarship in
1934 which allowed him to attend the Manchester College of Technology. By 1938 he had
been elected G.l. Mech.E. and returned to Southern Rhodesia. From 1939 to 1943 he was on
active service in East Africa and the Middle East firstly with Number 1 Squadron, Southern
Rhodesian Air Force, and later with the famed 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron of the R.A.F. He
returned to Heany in 1943, and in 1944 was elected A.M.I. Mech.E. After the war he worked
for a mining concern before returning to the firm of Issels. He is married and has an active
interest in outdoor life, being a member of the Wild Life Society and the Ornithological
Society.
John E. Tsirindanis (1932-1935) while at "Tech" had a distinguished sporting career: in
addition to captaining the water-polo team, he was vice-captain of rugby and victor ludorum
in athletics, and in 1932 played junior soccer for Rhodesia. Boxing was his chief sport,
however, and in 1934 he won the junior Rhodesian heavy-weight championship. After school
he was the middle-weight champion of Rhodesia for four successive years, and continued
the sport in the Egyptian desert while serving in the King's Royal Rifles Corps. At Tobruk he
was trained in sabotage and specialised in destroying disabled German tanks to prevent their
recovery and repair. On numerous occasions he cheated death, both in Egypt and the Aegean island
chain. He transferred to Middle East Command and operated behind German lines on the island of
Syphnos where he manned an observation post detecting enemy shipping. He recruited local patriots
and formed them into sabotage teams to harass the Germans. His exploits read like a latter-day
Scarlet Pimpernel, and without doubt required great initiative and high qualities of leadership.
The photograph is historic as this was the very one used on his identity documents at the time.
Ultimately he returned to Rhodesia where he continued his interest in boxing as a trainer. He has
a son at Gifford.
David C. Candler (1936-1941) was one of the first sixth formers at the School. Another
school first was his selection for the Nuffield side in 1 941 (he played for the first Xl from
1937). During the war years he was an apprentice on the Railways, and played cricket for a
Rhodesian Xl and soccer for Matabeleland. Thereafter he went to U.C.T. in 1945 and
graduated with a B.Sc.; then to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar where he continued his representative
sport, and achieved B.A. and M.A. degrees. He returned to Bulawayo to teach in the Evening
Department (1952-1953) and later at the newly established Technical College before attending St.
Paul's Theological College in Grahamstown in 1956. He was ordained in 1957, and in 1957 and 1958
was chaplin at Falcon College. During this time he helped (physically) to build St. Stephen's at
Balla Balla, and was the first head when that College opened in 1959. In 1960 he moved to
Plumtree where he was school chaplin, master-in-charge of mathematics, and was priest in charge
of the Plumtree-Marula area. He left Plumtree in about 1984 and moved to the UK. He is married and has a family of three children.
Basil E. Mullon (1938-1942) was head-boy of R.E.P.S. before being head-boy of "Tech". He
was a distinguished sportsman, winning colours in rugby and hockey and excelling at
athletics. For four years after school he served with the Rhodesian forces and the Sixth
South African Armoured Division in Egypt, Palestine and Italy. After the war he represented
Rhodesia at rugby (1947 and 1948) and athletics (1947.) He trained as an electrician and has
been associated with several Rhodesian mines. He is now resident engineer at the Trojan
Mine at Bindura. He is married and has six children.
Allen S. Carew (1940-1943) studied Engineering at U.T.C. during which time he played cricket
for Western Province, and later for Rhodesia between 1946 and 1952. Initially he worked in
the Surveyor-General's office before going farming in 1947. He is married with three children.
Kenneth 'Shorty' Morrison (1942-1945) was a distinguished sportsman a school; he
represented the School in swimming, boxing, tennis and athletics and got colours for rugby
and was rugby captain. He joined Rhodesia Railways as an apprentice fitter and turner, but in
1 948 went to the U.K. to gain further ex-perience. To pay for his fare to England, "Shorty"
joined the Huddersfield Rugby League Club as a professional ! While in England he married
a "Lancashire Lass" and they have four children. In 1955 he was transferred to South Africa
as service manager for his firm, but resigned in 1961 to return to Rhodesia where he has
helped create a thriving engineering works at Que Que. He is a member of Rotary and a life
Member of Old Techs.
William A. Donkin (1944-1948) played first team in all sports except cricket and was a
second lieutenant in the cadet corps. When he became an apprentice fitter and turner, it is of
interest to note he was granted two years, remission as he had already passed N.T.C. I to III
and had had 200 working hours practice at School. He in due course established his own
engineering firm with a thriving export business and a branch outside Rhodesia. He is
married with four children.
Hendrik A. Barnard (1945-1950) joined RISCO upon leaving school; and was manager of
the coke-oven department at Que Que as well as development manager. He was the branch chairman of the Rhodesian Institute of Management. His
interest in sport was kept alive with his association with the RISCO club of which he was chairman.
Christopher William Dams (1947-1951) was attested into the Southern Rhodesian Air Force
in 1952. Promotion followed and he achieved the rank of Squadron Leader commanding
Number 6 Squadron. Since then he has command at Thornhill and at New Sarum.
He is married with three children.
Nigel Keith MacLachlan (1950-1955) was an enthusiastic sportsman who began his adult life
studying land-surveying, but opted to join the Royal Air Force in 1962 as a bomber pilot. He
holds the rank of flight-lieutenant, and is married with two daughters.
Dudley M. Simmonds (1954-1961) worked for a tyre manufacturing company before entering
the retreading industry in 1970. Presently he is a director of two companies. He was head boy
in 1960 and he received colours for rugby, cricket (including Nuffield colours), hockey and
basketball, and was captain of all these teams except rugby (vice-captain). After school he
played rugby for Rhodesia on seventeen occasions. and has represented Matabeleland and
Midlands in basketball and latterly as captain of these provincial golf-teams. He is married
with two children.
Rory L. Sudding (1956-1962) was head boy in 1961. He relinquished the position in 1962 to
attend the sixth form centre at Milton. He has represented Rhodesia and Matabeleland at
athletics from 1959 to 1976. He entered commerce and has become a company secretary
and accountant, and at present is a manager for an international firm of business machine
suppliers. He is married with two children.
John M. Goosen (1952-1957) on leaving school took up an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner
with Rhodesia Chrome Mines where he still is employed as Mechanical Foreman at Selukwe Peak Mine.
He is an active player of recreational squash, tennis and golf. He is married with two children.
D.C.T. (Dino) Androuliakos (1957-1964) was head boy in 1963 and 1964. His sports included first XV
rugby, captain of judo, and athletics for which he was awarded colours. At present he is employed at a radio factory; he is married with 3 children.
Murray N. Des Fontaine (1960-1965) is now the managing director of a family auctioneering
business in the Midlands. He is, in addition, a director of companies with interests in ranching
and finance. He is a member of the Que Que Rural Council.
He is married with two sons.
Johannes T. Neser (1961-1966) joined RESCCO Ltd. as a junior in the design and estimating
office, and by 1977 was the assistant erection (construction) manager. He was awarded Rhodesian
water-polo colours in 1967 and 1968, Rhodesia under 20 rugby colours in 1967, played for the
Goshawks in 1971 and 1972, and in 1973 and 1976 won Rhodesian rugby colours. He married in 1975.
Keith Ashcroft (1964-1969) studied mining at the Bulawayo Technical College from whereafter he
joined the Shabanie Mine where he is now an underground & shift boss. Currently he is pursuing
further studies in mine management.
Paul Colin Semple (1965-1970) was, and still is, an accomplished sportsman who played in
the School's first teams in water-polo (he also captained the Rhodesian under 19 team while
still at school), in rugby (he went twice to Craven Week), and in basketball in which sport he
was chosen as a member of the Rhodesian Schools' basketball team. He entered the business world and is now a branch manager. Since
leaving school he has represented Rhodesia in water-polo and at rugby.
Robin O. Rayner (1966-1971) represented Gifford in both cricket and hockey, winning colours
for both sports and being selected for the Rhodesian Schools' hockey team in 1970, and 1971 as
vice-captain. He won the Townshend Bat four times, scored over 1000 runs for the first Xl, and
was selected as a reserve for the Rhodesian Nuffield team in 1971. He won the Abrahamson Prize
for his qualities of leadership and sportsmanship. He was associated with the introduction of the
Sixth Form tie in 1971. After School he joined the Town Planning branch of the Bulawayo
Municipality and qualified from the Salisbury Polytechnic in 1973. He has played in the Rhodesian
Country Districts and Under 23 sides in hockey. He is married.
Tom W. Bassett (1966-1972) had a distinguished academic career which won for him a
major bursary to further his career as a civil engineer. He hopes to graduate at the end of
1977. It
was his exceptional qualities of leadership and total involvement in the School that led to the
inauguration of the Gifford Award, of which he was the first recipient. He played most sports
at the School and represented the School in public-speaking. Under his leadership, the
Headmaster was persuaded to accept the black blazer for the sixth form, while the prefect
body was moved to raise the money for the present Honours Boards that grace the Hall.
Neil Dewar (1968-1973) completed a B.Sc. degree with majors in chemistry and bio-
chemistry at Natal. He continued his studies at
Stellenbosch University in dentistry and he opened a
practice in Umhlanga Rocks. Latest reports say he emigrated down under. He played in the first XV (1971-1973) and received
colours for athletics. He was a junior city councillor, and won the Abrahamson Prize for
leadership. In addition, he received a Merit-with-Honours award for his services to Gifford.
Julian H.J. Howard (1969-1974) had a brilliant school career at School, and as a result won a
Joseph Gordon Scholarship and a Law Society Cadetship to study law at the University of
Rhodesia. At school he played in the first rugby and basketball teams, was chairman of the
Sixth Form Forum, and had a distinguished career on the stage. He won a Merit-with-Honours tie no
fewer than three times, and was awarded the Abrahamson Prize for leadership and the School's
premier award, the Gifford Award.
A.J.L. 'Joe' Wallis (1970-1975) had a brilliant scholastic career. He possessed an all-round
interest in affairs of the School where he captained the second XV. He will attend Rhodes University to read for a B.Com. Degree. He
has been awarded an Anglo-American Scholar-ship.
Graham A. Biffen (1971 -1976) is the son of an Old Boy. He played in the first teams for
rugby and water-polo, the latter for three years, and also represented the School in athletics
and swimming. He spent 1975 in Okalahoma, U.S.A., as a Rotary Exchange Student. His leadership was
recognised by the Gifford Award. He plans
to go to Natal University to read for a degree in quantity-surveying.
Ashley Gregg Konson, head boy 1977, came to Gifford in 1972. His main sport is soccer,
having captained the Rhodesian under 15 team and been selected for the under 17 team. His
versatile interests include public-speaking and dramatics, and has represented the School in the
second XV, the athletics team, and in the inter-schools' gala. He received the Gifford Award in 1977.
R.T.McGeoch
SCHOOL AWARDS
In any institution where academic, cultural and sporting achievements are sought after, a system of awards has a central function to perform. This goes beyond the simple recognition which should always be given to one whose efforts have resulted in a certain measure of achievement, and it is more than a means of providing incentive for pupils participating in the various fields of school activity. The system of awards should be rooted in the tradition of the institution reinforcing the sense of identity of both group and individual, and providing a set of consistent criteria by which the institution, and those who are associated with it can measure their achievements with pride. Gifford has, over the years, developed an elaborate and impressive system of awards which performs this function extremely well.
In all sports offered at the School, there are three levels of achievement for which awards may be made: at the highest level a pupil may earn a Colours award; at an intermediate level a half-colours award may be won, and, for a pupil who has earned neither half- nor full Colours, there is the possibility of a team award. The latter awards are made at the discretion of the coach of the first team in the sport concerned. Although a pupil who has represented a first team for two-thirds of the matches played in a season would normally be a candidate for a team award, there is no hard and fast formula since there is always a host of factors to be considered (e.g. injury, late-development, cancelled fixtures, to mention but a few). Furthermore, no award at any level would ever be made unless the Colours Committee were completely satisfied that the candidate was a sportsman in the very truest sense of the word. Of course, age might also prove a disqualifying factor as normally Colours are awarded only to pupils who are in form four or above, though this convention can be, and has been, waived in view of outstanding achievement.
In order to earn a half-colours award, a candidate must have been a regular member of the first team, but again beyond this there is no rigid formula to satisfy. There are, however, many guidelines: long and consistent service, brilliant form cut short by injury or illness, an important contribution to team spirit, attainment of a standard which would earn selection in the first team of any other school and, in sports where standards can be physically measured, a particular standard. Once again, the test of sportsmanship is crucial.
A full Colours award is made for exceptional
