WHPS Remembered

by Watson Dougherty
(201 W Carmen Lane, Apt 15, Santa Maria, California, USA)

I attended Waterkloof House Prep School from 1947 to 1950 and briefly in 1951 after returning to South Africa from the United States.

Mr. Gower and Mr. MacRobert were the headmasters at the time. I remember Mr. Lorne Ruddell and his brother Captain Rudddell but I didn't realize until a few years ago that they were twins. I also tried to remember as many classmates as I could and made a list of them. There were 103 names that I could remember including faculty members. I left South Africa in 1952 after a brief time at Pretoria Boys High School.

After 40 years my mother and I paid a return visit to South Africa and W.H.P.S. in December 1992. It was a trip I shall long remember. I'll never forget Dee Herringer, a lovely woman, who took me for a tour of the buildings and grounds. I also assisted her in remembering some of my fellow students. While I was in Pretoria I also visited Patrick Hamilton and his wife Toni in Doringkloof, Pretoria.

I have retained after all this time an interesting book about the early history of Ruddells through 1972. The name of this book is: "W.H.I.P.S" The Story of a Preparatory School by Robert Hamilton, Pretoria 1972. Much to my surprise one copy of this 88 page book was for sale at Amazon.com for over $100.

I missed the Old Boys get together in September, but if possible I would like to hear from you. watson59 AT hotmail.com.