Inyoni

In memory of my sister, Deanne Seneschal Raszat, née Lewald, born 31 Jan. 1940 in Durban, South Africa; died 26 Sept. 1996 in Leimen-Gauangelloch, Germany

By Roon Lewald

Deanne

After cancer won a five-year battle for my elder sister’s life, my brother-in-law sent me a parcel of old studio recordings of Deanne’s singing recitals made by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC/SAUK) between 1953 and 1958. Apart from a pile of yellowed newspaper clips and eistedfodd certificates, they were all that remained of the years when my mother’s coaching of Deanne’s voice propelled her into brief local prominence as a promising young singer. My dutiful elder sister had already been slaving away at her piano lessons for nearly five years when, at the age of 10, our Ma yoked her girlish lyrical soprano too into the musical harness of our parents, both of them singing teachers. At the age of 13, she piped German Lieder and Afrikaans liedjies into an SABC mike for the first time and was introduced on the nationwide “Young South Africa” programme as a young singer with a great future.

Die Van Pletsen Saga

In English

Klik vir genealogie

Hier volg nou die “Van Pletsen” saga wat ek belowe het om neer to skrywe voordat ek tjêns word en niks meer kan onthou nie. Ek kan nie waarborg dat al die féite, datums, ens., juis is nie, want wat ek hier skryf is gebaseer op hoorsê – op wat pa en ma, oupa en ouma en ou tantes en ooms vertel het! Volgens my oom Jan Sauer van Pletsen (wat joernalistiese neigings gehad het en ʼn paar boeke die lig laat sien het) het ene Carl Johannes von Plessen, gebore 1795 in Oos Pruise, daar moelikheid gehad het met die owerhede en toe die land verlaat en hom gevestig in Brabant, België.

(Oupa se suster, Tant Mart Vorster, het graag gespog met die feit dat ons Van Pletsens oorspronklik Von Plessens was en dus tot die aristokrasie behoort het en dan het my pa se broer, die stuitlike oom Kootjie, haar altyd gedemp met die woorde: “Ag, wat, Ta’ Mart, die ou swernoter was seker ʼn ou perdedief. Dis die dat hy daar out Oos Pruise moes padgee het!”) In Brabant het hy huursoldaat geword en as sulks onder Napoleon gaan veg.

Na die slag van Waterloo het hy en ʼn Havenga (seker ʼn voorstaat van Klasie Havenga) as verstekelinge op ʼn skip hier aangekom in 1820. Dit blyk dat hy in Graaf Reinet te lande gekom het waar hy getroud is met ʼn Anna Sauer (gebore 1805) wie se vader, Johan Nicholas Sauer, uit Keulen in Duitsland gekom het en onderwyser in Graaf Reinet geword het.

Samuel Begg

By his Grand Daughter, Helen van Pletzen neé Begg, with research by Scott van Pletzen-Rands

28 June 1878 – 13 April 1934

I never knew my paternal grandfather as he died in 1934, the year before I was born. He was born into a coal mining family. All his working life he was a coal miner and died suffering from the miner’s disease, silicosis, caused from coal dust in the lungs.

My father said Grandpa kept going to work even when he was ill as he was so loyal to his job. From what I heard of him, from those who knew him, he was a much loved man. His widow, Granny Begg, was very stern and unbending with her strict Baptist belief, but I think Grandpa Begg was a much softer person. I say this as I heard someone saying once that if Granny had died first the children would have been fighting over who could have him staying with them. Grandpa and Granny joined the Baptist Church together as a young couple and were true to the Church all their lives. They had four children, Samuel, Thomas (my father), James and Mary. Sam and Tam left the Church when they could choose for themselves, but Uncle James went on to become a Baptist Church minister and Aunty Mary continued attending Church even although Uncle Robert, her husband did not go. She sang in the Church choir.

When I asked my father about Grandpa Begg’s parents he said I should let sleeping dogs lie.

Helen van Pletsen – the Nightingale of Natal

By Roon Lewald, son of Helen van Pletsen, author of “The Van Pletsen Saga”

In a personal twist to the old show-biz saying that “you haffta be Jewish”, my Afrikaner mother had a stock diagnosis of people she considered too humourless to appreciate the funny side of life. Irritated by an encounter with some particularly dour, self-righteous grudge-bearer, she would shrug and say: “His / her problem is a lack of irony in the blood.”

EMM 1982 – 1983

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: England Manchester Mission

Elder Martin Gardner, 2002

Elder Stephen Paul Hadlock, 1982

Elder George “Foxy” Knox, 1982

Elders Paul Guthrie and van Pletzen, 1982

Nigel High School Reunions

You have found the original Nigel High School Reunion site which I began in 2007.  Since then, many “Old Girls and Boys” from the School and Hostel have stopped by to reconnect and reminisce.  Some pop in and out without comment, but many keep a regular eye on this blog spot.  You are welcome here!

Please feel free to leave a comment if you wish and share a bit of your history with, and memories of, Nigel High School as you knew or know her.  You’ll find the comment section below.

If, on the other hand,  you are looking for information about enrolling as a student at Nigel High School or enrolling at the Hostel, please click here now to be redirected to the contemporary school website where you will find directions and forms to fill out.

Reunion Notices

Matric Class of 1982 will reunite for their 30th anniversary in November 2010.  For more information, please contact: Leonor Celestino Christie at lchristie@telkomsa.net  You can ring her on 073-285-2414 or 011-814-1782

Hostel Prefects: 1977

Many of us literally called Nigel High School our home and lived at the Hostel.

Remember “Camy” Jean Cameron (RIP) and her faithful “Pooch”?

Surely “Comics” C. what-were-you-doing-in-the-stands-anyway? F. Combrinck (RIP)?

Axel Braumann (musician and writer) and Jake Ceronio who took the cadet band on to victory in the 1977 Transvaal finals?

What about “Bubbles” Edward Holloway, Keith Scott (you handsome devil), Derek Harrison (my best friend), Shirley Ann Prudden (my first love), Charles Staples, Woolfie Katz (RIP), Kathy Sutcliff, Anthea Robinson (pity we couldn’t have been closer), Leon Beetge, Freddie van der Westhuizen, John Cook (the finest JW have ever known),

Ruth Edwards (a darling girlfriend) and Karen “Crunox” Botha.

And Carol Paynter, Ken Paynter (now a Pastor in the Assemblies of God) Clive Alder, David Rogers, Janine Assad, Nedda Titolo , Garth Robertson, Charles Bonner, Brian Gibbon, Phillip Bennett, Lawrence de Villiers, Warren Melville, Keith Daff, Chris Steyn, Val Rosato (RIP), Pat and Stephanie van Kerkhof, Elize Botha, Linda Black, Lee Gillespie, Ana de Pina, Rui de Pina, Joan “Joao” de Pina

Anthony Brooker, Mark Marlour, Guy Mohle (and where are you wonderful friends?), Chris Nearhou, Jonathon

Alcock, Carol Vincent, Fulvio Tonelli, Mark von Ruben, Sally Edwards, Cheryl Bowen, Theresa Combrinck, Anna Marie Koetzer, Elizabeth Raftopoulus, Elize Botha, Marietjie Bronkhorst, Linda Beetge, Marlene Botes, Jenny Da Silva, Kim Frey (how I miss you), Gail Mary Semmens (Liss), Alta Mynhardt, Cecil van Heerden, Bokkie Kleynhans, Mickey Slabbert, Patrick Day, Caroline Wyllie, Lucy Michell (Olsen), Natilie Timmins (Fuhri) . . .

(OK. Fine. Search engines love this stuff and so should you if you’ve found this page!)

Click here for Nigel High School Song by Axel Braumann

Click here for School song — page 2

This is where we reunite and reconnect from around the world — no matter where we are.

Theresa Muller (Combrinck)

Richard’s Bay, South Africa

School days are long gone, but yet there are times when I remember them so clearly. Where shall I start with my life. Been married for 28 years already.Have 3 beautiful children – Shawn 27, Wendy 25 and Tracy 20, or rather, they will be in the next few months.

I am also an ouma already of 2 beautiful little children, Michael who is 5 already and Tamlyn who is a year old. I am a very young ouma … So I like to think anyway. Can still run around with them, ride bikes with them etc.

We have been in living in Richards Bay for almost 17 years already. Have not been to Nigel for many, many years. My mom who was still there moved down here about 3 years ago, so there has been no reason to go back. I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom for many years, but then, work called.

Work as a secretary come Jill of all trades for a mining company called Richards Bay Minerals. Hubby also works here. Have been quite sporty since I have got older.

Have run 5 Comrades (87+k’s) from Maritzburg to Durban. Latest is doing duathlons which is running and cycling and have been privileged to represent South Africa twice already at World Champs overseas. One way of seeing the world! Hoping to go over to Hungary later this year.

I have contact with Keith Scott and have also contacted Charles Staples. He lives in Australia now, Keith is down the road in Durban.”

See Theresa on Facebook here.

 

Blane van Pletzen-Rands

Chelsea, New York City, USA

It’s the smaller details that are beginning to get fuzzy — almost like my eyesight!

I’ve made homes in Rhodesia, South Africa, Caprivi, England, Hawaii and Utah, and am now in the next chapter in Chelsea, New York City.

I hold fond memories of my two years at Nigel in 1976 and 1977. I do wish, though, that all our lives had had some continuity. We are scattered to the four winds!

My blog tells more of where I am now although it is painted with broad strokes. Esmé, my twenty-three-year-old daughter from a previous marriage to Lisa Tullis van Pletzen, lives with me and my partner of ten years, Scott van Pletzen-Rands.  Last year, 2007, we married in Durban while visiting South Africa.  That’s Ruth Edwards in the photo with me at our reunion in Cape Town.  (No, I am not an oupa, yet, but certainly look forward to that experience.) I’m retired as a professor of English and embarking on a new journey leading to the Priesthood in the Episcopal Church, part of the world-wide Anglican communion. You’re invited, God Willing and God’s People Consenting, to my ordination on June 12th 2010.

Nigel stands out as a bright light in my life. Axel Braumann remains a defining influence to this day.

So looking forward to finding out where everyone went, what we’re doing, who we have become and what we aspire to become. All are welcome here. Every single one.

See Blane on Facebook here.

 

Derek Harrison

Kalkbay, South Africa

 

It took a round trip of twenty years for Derek to do what he had planned to do when he left teaching. Having gathered experience in the fields of teacher, salesman, tour guide, guest house manager, and creator and facilitator of a self-modeled children’s “awareness” program and more than enough in the corporate sector, Derek decided at
44 that it was now of never.” Full story here.

See Derek on Facebook here.

 

Ana de Pina (Wyrsch)

Portugal

Ana de Pina, Nigel High School class of 1976, in 2008

I must congratulate you on your “little blog” as you put it, it certainly brings a lot of people together. Well done.

To give you a quick “run down” of my life’s events since I left school in 1976, could make quite an interesting story. ( I’ll leave all the gory details out!! )

I started in the shoes business at the age of 20. I became a shoe buyer at 23 and worked for companies like Dodo’s, A& D Spitz, Cuthberts, and Edgars. At 25 had a bad car accident going to Sun City to see Elton John. Broke both legs and took over a year to recover.

I travelled a lot on business & pleasure. At age 33 got fed up with the situation in S.A. not being safe and decided to leave. Landed up in Portugal (alone) only because my parents are Portuguese and at the time, Portugal was about to join the European Union.

During that first year in Portugal met my husband Werner Wyrsch, a Swiss national who also happened to be in the shoe business and together we built our company Dromedaris International. During the last 15 years we have been working with American shoe brands handling their production, development and quality control.

Ana de Pina and husband Werner Wyrsch in 2008

Last year we launched or own shoe brand “ Dromedaris”  in the US and as we all know, this economic crisis [of 2008] is affecting us all but we will persevere and try to get our brand off the ground. We know the American market very well, so now we just need a lot of patience and financial commitment, which at times is very challenging, to say the least.

You can view our website www.dromedaris.com.pt

I try to get together with my family every 2 years, my brother Rui who also went to Nigel as well as my sisters, Vera & Joan (who now insists on being called JOAO) her real name. The 3 sissies got together 2 months ago Sept 08. Laughed a lot!

I used to have some contact with Corgi Scott (now Smit) but since she went to Australia, I never heard from her again. Natalie Timmens contacted me a short while ago, which was really fantastic. Let’s hope some people come forward and make contact.

Good luck Blane and all the best to you!

 

Your Name Here

Send photo and story to

bvpr@mac.com

Other NHS links

 

Visit Kersten Prof’s 1982 Nigel High School memories here.

Nigel High School on Facebook

Nigel High School from space

Tribute to Andrew Madden here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School play rehearsal 2007

NHS in 2007

Andrew Madden and Robert De Vito

Ruth and Blane in 2007

Theresa and Blane meet up in 2007

NHS Shield

Keith Scott and family, 2007

Keith Scott

Keith Scott

Andrew John Madden

Ferryvale

Dorm Room inspection

Study Hall

Bogs

Hostel stairs

Blane, NHS 1975 – 1977

Hostel bathrooms

Awards

1977 Honours students

Hostel Dining Room

Nigel City Hall

Hall

Cloak Rooms

Head Prefects, Hostel

Hostel Senior Supervisors

Dorm Room

Hostel Kitchen

Hostel Kitchen

Teacher’s Lounge

1974 – 1981

Head Prefects

Art Room

Walking up to the school

The Prefabs

Study Hall

Main campus building

Office building

Blane’s old digs

Ironing room

Hostel entrance

Biology Lab

Dorm Room

Ad Altissima

“Comics” Combrinck

Quadrangle and Hall

Classrooms

Selworths, Nigel

NHS Hostel

Drum Majorettes, 1976

Matriculation Class, 1976

Nigel High School 1976

Cadet Band, 1976

Hostel Prefects, 1976

School Prefects, 1976

Netball Teams, 1977

Tennis Teams, 1977

Competition Band, 1977

Under 14 / 16 Soccer Teams, 1977

Senior Soccer Team, 1977

School Prefects, 1977

SCA Committee, 1977

Athletic Team, 1976

Library Prefects, 1976

SCA, Library Assistants, 1976

Teachers, 1976

NHS 1976

John Pautz, class of 1978 (2008)

Leon Beetge, Class of 1978 (2008)

Linda Beetge (2008)

Axel Braumann (2008)

Jake Ceronio, 2007

1971 Arcadia: Kathy, Ching and Wayne

1971: Arcadia: Teddy and Sue

1971 Town vs. Boarders

1971 Town vs. Boarders

1971 Hostel picnic – Heidelberg Kloof: Kathy and Sue

1971 Hostel Picnic: Heidelberg Kloof – Kathy Taylor

1971 Boarders

1971 Arcadia victorious: Teddy and Sue

Girl Boarders 1969: Keith Daff, Jean Cameron

Sue Kruger

Drummies and Band: Mr. Combrinck and Sally Edwards

1971: René Meskin, Ray Dye, Sue Alder with unknown Nigel Hoërskool students

1971 unknown event

1971: Interhouse – Wayne, Bibby, Ching, Kathy Taylor, Karen

1971: Town vs. Boarders collision

1971 Inter-High NHS Cheerleaders: Ching and Wayne

1971 NHS Athletics Team

1970 Matric Farewell Dance: Nicky, Sue Alder and Brenda

1971 Arcadia Cheerleader: Kathy Taylor

1970 NHS Girl Boarders NHS

1969 or 1970: Hazel Berkman, Norma, Elaine Whelan

1969: NHS Std 8 with Mr. Fielding

1969 NHS Netball under 15 with Mrs Du Plessis

1971 NHS Athletics Team

Joao “Joan” de Pina in 2004

Ana de Pina, Nigel High School class of 1976, in 2008

Nigel High School Hostel Party, 1973

Vera de Pina, 2004

Vera and Joao “Joan” de Pina, Nigel High School, 1974

Ana, Vera and Rui de Pina in 2006

Ana de Pina and husband Werner Wyrsch in 2008

NHS Drum Majorettes – 1976

Valerie “Val” Rosato

Valerie “Val” Rosato

1964 – 1967 Jake Ceronio

Visit the Current Nigel High School Website