Falcon Old Boys

Archive for the ‘Breaking news’ Category

This just in from Duncan McAulay

Our mother, Betty McAulay who was SAN sister from 1967 to 1986 passed away suddenly in England yesterday afternoon.  My brother, Richard and I grew up at the school, and as a result, have very strong ties to the College, as both residents and scholars.

Mum had a wonderful time at the 1978 FOBS reunion in Cape Town in May last year, and met up with many of the ex-staff and boys whom she knew so well.  It was a very happy couple of days.

I would deeply appreciate it if you would, on our behalf,  let the FOBS community know.

Kind regards,

Duncan (Butch) & Richard McAulay

I’m sorry to have to report that David Childs-Clarke, who was in Hervey from 1960 to 1964 died from a heart attack on 14th June 2010.

Although David was before my time at Falcon, I met him several times at FOB gatherings and had some good conversations with him. This is him at the last UK FOB meet-up at Bucks Club

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushtick/4428667813/in/set-72157623486427621/

Whilst he told me once that he did not enjoy his time at Falcon much, he did value contact with FOBs, hence his frequent presence at our events – I think I saw him first at one of the House of Commons dinners.

From what I can gather, David was a primary school teacher – and a very popular one at that. In private life his Christian faith loomed large for both him and his wife Liz.

Colin Bewes – Hervey 1979

The much respected former headmaster of Falcon, Dougal Turner, died on 31st October 2009 in South Africa.

Leading the condolences were these words from Andy Laing, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Falcon (slightly edited for the web)

I am sure that, without exception, the approximately 1500 boys who were privileged to experience the Headship of Mr Turner will be grieving right now.

DET, as he was known to all of us, was a legend in his time and will always remain so. We do not need the Turner Hall to remind us of him, and of the contribution that he and his wife Jill made to Falcon. Memories are already being recalled through dozens of emails that are coming in, and they speak of such things as ‘incredible command of the English language, unsurpassed public speaker, incredible role model, such an impact on our lives, headmaster of highest repute, quiet but firm, will always remember,’ and so on. I have always believed that the greatest test of a schoolmaster is not exam results etc. but how he is remembered by his charges. Mr Turner scored well over 100%.

Looking around Falcon today, the Turner influence is everywhere to be seen. In fact Mr & Mrs Turner gave us most of what we have today, built the foundations, steered the College through its formative years following painful birth pains, from the early sixties to the mid eighties, through Federal days to UDI, through the war years, and then through the early years of independence and the dissident era.

Nobody else could have achieved this, and that is why it left such an indelible mark on the lives of almost 1500 young men. To have achieved this and at the same time to have engendered such affection for themselves in the hearts of so many, speaks volumes about the kind of people the Turners are. They really are held in the very highest esteem.

The very sad announcement was made on Saturday morning at the annual inter-house gala. There were audible gasps from those assembled. Then we observed a minute of absolute silence around the new Bryce Hendrie swimming pool. Many of us were choked up.

And so on behalf of Old Boys and Staff, the Board of Governors, today’s staff and boys, I extend to the Turner family our very deepest and sincerest sympathy at this time. Thoughts and prayers so numerous and so sincere that they are almost tangible, flow from all corners of the globe, and we stand with the Turner family in a grief that is shared by so many.

Andy Laing
Chairman of the Board of Governors, Falcon College

Note: if old boys or staff would like to convey condolences to Mrs Turner and family, please write c/o Bryan Roff

Many of you will remember Mike Potts ( Founders 1968 ), who for years ran the FOBS 100 Club in the UK (though we had contributors from around the world).

Sadly, he passed away suddenly on 29th November. The funeral is on Friday in Tunbridge Wells (get in touch with me if you think you can attend).

Mike was a great character, who was probably the first person to speak to me at the first FOBs do I went to. Full of his own particular charm and interested in what you had to say.

He flew 737s for Danair and British Airways for many years but unfortunately had to give this up on account of ill health. He was also a keen golfer and I guess we now know why he was not able to join us at the FOB event in September this year. He leaves a wife, Dorothy, and a daughter, Genevieve.

He will be greatly missed. If any of you who knew him would like to post their recollections of him on Bushtick, I will collate them for his family.

Colin Bewes (Hervey 1979)

Falcon Old Boys,

Very tragically we have lost another member of staff in what appears to have been a suicide, and this not long after the deaths of Ron Hartley and Mike Cumming.

Our housekeeper Alice Bryan, wife of John Bryan, our groundsman for many years, was found dead in her car parked close to the Ncema dam on Monday night.

She simply had too great a burden to bear. The situation in the country is impacting on everyone. On top of that she had been unable to move on following the loss of their only son Adam (Falcon school boy) in a tragic accident (electrocuted) in Harare four years ago, the loss of their farm in Esigodini, and a long battle with cancer as well as other problems.

There is an almost tangible depression hanging over Falcon right now and any messages of support to the Head or to John Bryan personally (via the Head) would be much appreciated. (Head@falconcollege.com).

Thank you.

Andy Laing