1997 PETREAN NEWSLETTER
Dear Petreans
1996 was a good year for Peterhouse in virtually all respects. O and A level exam pass rates were well over 80% at both the Boys' and Girls' Schools, with the girls edging out the boys in most subjects. The three schools remain full to bursting and the sporting record has been excellent in all spheres of activity. The much needed upgrading of the boarding houses has continued slowly but surely and the grounds have rarely looked better than at present, after two good rainy seasons. we had almost a metre of rain this year!
The year has been one of consolidation for the Petrean Society and we have managed to keep in touch with over 2,200 Petreans all over the world through the annual Newsletter and also thanks to the activities of the various branches, details of which appear on the Petrean page. There are still a great many names for whom we have no address and over 70 Newsletters were returned marked "Moved". "Unknown" etc during the last year. Future plans include the publishing of a complete register of all Petreans in time for the turn of the century and, of course, to mark the 50th anniversary of the school's foundation.
Dame Molly Gibbs
We were sad to hear of the death in march of Lady Gibbs, the widow of Sir Humphrey. She took a keen interest in the school, with her husband, and their youngest son Simon was a pupil here. Her name will be perpetuated, as the new area for the girls who come over to the boys' side every day has been named Dame Molly Court. It was developed at the same time as the Gibbs Centre and consists of study and common room areas for the senior girls, next to the entrance to the kitchen yard. it is a much needed and appreciated facility.
Humphrey Gibbs Centre
The major addition to the school's facilities was the opening by Sir Roger Gibbs, Sir Humphrey's nephew, on Speech Day, 1 November. Some people expressed doubts about the architectural worthiness of the project while construction was underway, but once completed the building was shown to be a very worthy addition. It was landscaped before the opening and the whole area looks very well established already. It forms a new quadrangle, with the old Admin Block (much smartened up!) forming one side, the Chapel makes the second side, the third side consists of the new Admin section (Rector's Study, offices, reception area, careers rooms, board room etc) and the fourth side, next to Malvern contains four new classrooms. The school is very much indebted to all who donated to the project in memory of Sir Humphrey. Most of the money was raised in the United Kingdom.
Petrean Sports Centre Additions
The new squash courts were played on for the first time towards the end of the first term this year. They are glass backed and have proved very popular, in fact all six courts are in constant use nowadays which is proof of how much the new ones were needed. The official opening is finally due to take place on 26 July 1997, which is when the Under 16 Rugby team will play Churchill at 11.00 am. Invitations will be sent to donors and we hope to have a good turnout of Petreans on this occasion. The spectator stand facing the basketball court is also now in use, with tiered seating above the entrance to the courts. A couple of Petreans have expressed surprise at the thought of Phil Ward wearing a hard hat supervising the building operations: he hasn't actually been doing that, but he has spent many hours coating, buying, suggesting and supervising and we are all very grateful to him for that. Thanks also to Adrian Wilkinson (M69), Noel Whitcomb, Tony Wilde and all who have contributed in cash or kind: your efforts are greatly appreciated by the boys and girls.
Sport
The prolonged rains played havoc with fixtures in the first term. The cricket team beat Falcon in a tournament in East London and their tour ended with a match against Nicky Oppenheimer's XI at home, which they lost, which was not surprising as the visitors had several provincial players in their side.
In athletics the Peterhouse Invitation meeting ended with Peterhouse and St Georges tying in first place. Three athletes were selected to represent Zimbabwe in South Africa in April.
The squash team has just returned from a tour of South Africa, where they beat their opponents except for Grey College, Bloemfontein and Kearsney, Natal.
The girls continued their unbeaten run of victories over all opponents in athletics, including Arundel and Chisipite, for at least the sixth year in a row.
The hockey and rugby teams had a successful season in the second term last year.
Bursary award
The award for 1996 was made to Kevin Bedford, who is in the B Block and who is the son of the late Brian Bedford (G68). the other two Petrean Award winners, Matthew Hosack and Kate Laing, are both doing well and fulfilling the promise shown early in their careers.
Eagle School 50th Anniversary Reunion
1998 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Eagle School and a group of Old Eagle boys based in England have raised the idea of a possible reunion in the Vumba in August next year. This is a preliminary query to see if there are enough people interested to make the idea worthwhile. If any Petreans who were at Eagle think that it is a good idea, would the contact Michael Hammond.
Current projects
This year each school has a building project: on the boys' side a new VIth form area is being added to Snell House, there are three new houses for senior girls under construction at the Girls' School and at Springvale House a much needed new dining room is being built. These new buildings will be much more visible than last year's major projects of water and sewerage, though no more important.
Girls' School 10th anniversary celebrations
It is 10 years since the Girls' School first opened its doors on the site of the old Springvale School. To mark the occasion a dinner dance has been arranged to take place on Friday, 4th July 1997 at the Hellenic Club, which is located just off Samora Machel Avenue, near the entrance to Chapman Golf Course. Time: 7.30 for 8.00 pm
All Old Girls and partners will be very welcome to attend. If you would like to join the celebrations please contact Mrs Helen Baxter, the Secretary at the Girls' School, who will be pleased to give more details about cost etc.
Michael Hammond
Petrean Secretary
21 May 1997