The three year degree went well. I loved English and History of Art was a revelation. At school there had been annual trips to Europe and prints were on display in every classroom but nobody ever told us we were looking at great art! How sad! Perhaps it was thought boys were not interested in art. Sister Wendy had been at Wits the year before I did the course and I did meet her at St John's Upper Norwood. She was tough as old boots. We learnt from slides and books. We were sent to the Johannesburg Art gallery in Joubert Park and told to look for what we liked. I recall being very open to all periods. I did not like the Egyptians or the Romans much and hated the surrealists and pre-Raphaelites. I cannot recall our lecturers at all. French for 2 years was pretty disastrous but I managed a pass. I was a very conscientious student going to lectures and producing essays on time. I do not recall tutorials. I could have done a B Mus but Professor Ulmont Schneider was considered a charlatan. Joburg had it's fair share of musical charlatans! Schneider told Elizabeth Connell she was a mezzo and she became a great soprano. Colin Hartley from my class did a B Mus but he was always distant. Even after Elizabeth's funeral in Kew for which I served he was distant. John East keeps in touch with him and he occasionally comes up from Deal for concerts like the Proms.
Jan 3 1964 I record my first shave with my new battery Philishave - I was 16. I record Sung eucharist at St George's cathedral Cape Town and the botanical gardens and S.A.Museum where I istened to Bushmen music and National Gallery.We visited a lot of places in the Cape and I took cines. My matric was first class Maths B (unbelievable) C English, Latin, Science, Biology. E Afrikaans. F Additional maths which the whole A form took. Gavin Ritchie passed, Brownwen Leeman got first class, no mention of Martin Gerber. I mention Ann wanting to go swimming I took lessons in Observatory at which I had to put my face in a bowl of water and blow bubbles. I hated that but in the end I could swim on my back across the deep end. At the college you were left to sink or swim in the pool and in fact I did very little swimming there.
My description of the start of university suggests that I had to make the first move when meeting people. I describe Mr Fosbery our English lecturer as the "caustic type", The bus service was bad and I mention taking Ann to get the bus to Waverley which would be to St Mary's school. I remember Mum saying she didn't care what colour the driver was just send a bus! Of course everything was segregated which led to the ridiculous situation where there were not enough white bus drivers. I see I chose Sir David Wilkie's "An unwelcome visitor" at the Joburg Art gallery and called it an angry picture! Mr Fosbery - i did not like him, does not want you to make notes! I mention seeing old class mates but I seem to have been more interested in meeting new people. A apeaker at Youth fellowship said that Roman Catholics are anti-Christian. I was shocked and horrified. I made much use of the public library and the record library. 21 July my first ever ballet Sleeping Beauty at the Civic theatre with Beryl Grey. Strings of the Cape Town orchestra were weak but it was very enjoyable. Youth fellowship seemed to have its ups and downs and John Clymo came along -he had a dreadful stutter which siniging definitely helped. Mr Gordon celebrated 30 years in minisrty. He used to say I may have told this story before and the choir who sat at the back of the church in front of the Willis organ would all nod! My photo was in the paper in the new university language lab! Ann and I had a number of days off sick. We loved going to Adam Leslie's shows which were hilarious, Ag pleez Daddy was a favourite song and the Shame routine Oh the baby is sweet "Shame," Oh the baby wet the nappy "Shame" Oh the mother is not married "Shame."
6 October was a red letter day. Went to Sir Malcolm Sargent concert with Daddy. Wore evening dress suit from Mrs Wilson for the first time. Sat on stage - fixed with caretaker at the City Hall. Excellent playing from the SABC orchestra for a chnage? Next to drums - very loud in the Planets. Harry Stanton played the organ with a full glissando using both arms. Dvorak symphony enjoyable. Colin Hartley there and a full house. Lady fell down stairs afterwards. Perfect view of conductor - lifts eyebrows for experession and dynamics. Flash Harry indeed! I carefully record in pencil all my lectures and typing up my notes also going to organ recitals and camera club at church.
When playng hockey at school I was hit on the nose by the ball. They laid me on my back which could have been disastrous as I could have swallowed my tongue. After much deliberation I was left to get on with it. Some time later I had terrible sinusitis and had an operation. The surgeon offered me a nose job which I suppose I should have accepted but I said I would be fine. Sadly the man in the next bed got meningitis and died - he had the same op as me. It was most distressing to see his wife's distress. At one point I leaned out of bed and the sister said "If you do that you will have to have the op again". My sinuses were packed and the removal of the stuff was quite revolting. In 1964 I had to go to Dr Kops to sort out bleeding from my nose and again my nose was packed with seaweed! December 1964 I worked at Yeoville CNA stationers and served Jewish ladies wanting Christmas cards saying Season's greetings. I gave Ann a suitcase for her 8th birthday. The year finished on a high with the film "My fair lady" and setting off for East London.
Jan 3 1964 I record my first shave with my new battery Philishave - I was 16. I record Sung eucharist at St George's cathedral Cape Town and the botanical gardens and S.A.Museum where I istened to Bushmen music and National Gallery.We visited a lot of places in the Cape and I took cines. My matric was first class Maths B (unbelievable) C English, Latin, Science, Biology. E Afrikaans. F Additional maths which the whole A form took. Gavin Ritchie passed, Brownwen Leeman got first class, no mention of Martin Gerber. I mention Ann wanting to go swimming I took lessons in Observatory at which I had to put my face in a bowl of water and blow bubbles. I hated that but in the end I could swim on my back across the deep end. At the college you were left to sink or swim in the pool and in fact I did very little swimming there.
My description of the start of university suggests that I had to make the first move when meeting people. I describe Mr Fosbery our English lecturer as the "caustic type", The bus service was bad and I mention taking Ann to get the bus to Waverley which would be to St Mary's school. I remember Mum saying she didn't care what colour the driver was just send a bus! Of course everything was segregated which led to the ridiculous situation where there were not enough white bus drivers. I see I chose Sir David Wilkie's "An unwelcome visitor" at the Joburg Art gallery and called it an angry picture! Mr Fosbery - i did not like him, does not want you to make notes! I mention seeing old class mates but I seem to have been more interested in meeting new people. A apeaker at Youth fellowship said that Roman Catholics are anti-Christian. I was shocked and horrified. I made much use of the public library and the record library. 21 July my first ever ballet Sleeping Beauty at the Civic theatre with Beryl Grey. Strings of the Cape Town orchestra were weak but it was very enjoyable. Youth fellowship seemed to have its ups and downs and John Clymo came along -he had a dreadful stutter which siniging definitely helped. Mr Gordon celebrated 30 years in minisrty. He used to say I may have told this story before and the choir who sat at the back of the church in front of the Willis organ would all nod! My photo was in the paper in the new university language lab! Ann and I had a number of days off sick. We loved going to Adam Leslie's shows which were hilarious, Ag pleez Daddy was a favourite song and the Shame routine Oh the baby is sweet "Shame," Oh the baby wet the nappy "Shame" Oh the mother is not married "Shame."
6 October was a red letter day. Went to Sir Malcolm Sargent concert with Daddy. Wore evening dress suit from Mrs Wilson for the first time. Sat on stage - fixed with caretaker at the City Hall. Excellent playing from the SABC orchestra for a chnage? Next to drums - very loud in the Planets. Harry Stanton played the organ with a full glissando using both arms. Dvorak symphony enjoyable. Colin Hartley there and a full house. Lady fell down stairs afterwards. Perfect view of conductor - lifts eyebrows for experession and dynamics. Flash Harry indeed! I carefully record in pencil all my lectures and typing up my notes also going to organ recitals and camera club at church.
When playng hockey at school I was hit on the nose by the ball. They laid me on my back which could have been disastrous as I could have swallowed my tongue. After much deliberation I was left to get on with it. Some time later I had terrible sinusitis and had an operation. The surgeon offered me a nose job which I suppose I should have accepted but I said I would be fine. Sadly the man in the next bed got meningitis and died - he had the same op as me. It was most distressing to see his wife's distress. At one point I leaned out of bed and the sister said "If you do that you will have to have the op again". My sinuses were packed and the removal of the stuff was quite revolting. In 1964 I had to go to Dr Kops to sort out bleeding from my nose and again my nose was packed with seaweed! December 1964 I worked at Yeoville CNA stationers and served Jewish ladies wanting Christmas cards saying Season's greetings. I gave Ann a suitcase for her 8th birthday. The year finished on a high with the film "My fair lady" and setting off for East London.
John Clymo is on the right and next to him is Mark Alexander. I am in the middle between Judith Crichton and Heather. Hugh Mathew is at the back in the middle.
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