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Roger Bond
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Roger Bond
| Nickname: |
Rastus |
| House: |
Hawke |
| Years: |
1948-1953 |
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Memories
I think that we were indeed fortunate to attend a school that engendered team spirit and at the same time self reliance.
Our freedom to roam the country at weekends, provided that we stayed clear of Nairobi, was perhaps part of this recipe.
Hitch-hiking to Gilgil for the Langa Langa races comes to mind. The more adventurous would 'hobo' the guards van or a
petrol truck on a train which struggled up the steep gradient past the school. The return trip was perhaps more hazardous.
In the case of most of the boarders, some seventy percent of their lives were spent away from home and it is not surprising
that the 'House' was a major influence in our lives. Not only the strict discipline, but also the camaraderie of fellow
pupils ensured integrity and fair play. I believe this was a further ingredient in the recipe for confidence in one's
self.
Although discipline was strict, masters like Kobe Atkinson knew when to apply it. eg when we put a tin full of 'siafu' in
Tannock's bed, Kobe, reacting to the commotion, observed that siafu could eat a whole horse in one night. He never pursued
the question as to how the siafu got in the bed!
Headmaster, 'Vluitjie' Fletcher, also a strict disciplinarian, was a man who had the welfare of the school and its boys
close to his heart. Shortly after leaving school, I was in Nakuru hospital after being involved in a car accident. There
was a soft knock on the door and who should walk in but 'Vluitjie' just checking on the well being of one of his boys!
Maths master 'Dinky' Duff taught me that you do not have to be aggressive to maintain discipline and get your message
across.
After School:
1954-1957 University College of North Wales Bangor - 'inveigled' into the University boxing team by 'Sally' Moore.
Also played hockey for university.
1958-1959 Cambridge/Trinidad studying Tropical Agriculture
1960 KRTC Lanet
1959-1968 Worked for the 'Serikali - Idara wa Ukulima' in Kenya - Machakos, Meru, Nairobi.
1968 Emmigrated to South Africa and worked as a plant breeder, breeding new varieties of sugarcane at the SA
Sugar Experiment Station. Became Assisted Director in 1992 and retired in 2000.
Married 1965 - wife Elspeth - two sons.
Hobbies include astronomy - interest gained perhaps counting shooting stars while hitching to Langa Langa in the early hours of the morning. As it turns out these are the best hours for seeing shooting stars!
(Registered 16th March 2004)
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If anyone wishes to contact Roger, please e-mail webmaster@oldcambrians.com
to obtain his contact details
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