I visited Graeme College last week. Two prominent past pupils (well, to me anyhow) are my Grandfather, Charles Holmes, and famous Springbok, Hennie Le Roux.
Grandpa left in about 1922. I had a good chat with Hennie just the other day.
I met with Deputy Head Gregg van Molendorff. My word he is tall. Refer attached photo. I’m on my tiptoes!
The reason for my visit – aside from getting to know my Grandpa better – is I’m most excited about their fundraising initiatives. Refer Graeme College. R1m is sought to build change-room and toilet facilities at Marais Field. I’ve watched sport there many times and they’re sorely needed.
Structures also in place for other fundraising. Bursaries, teacher funding etc. Thankfully, members of the broader Grahamstown community understand Graeme College needs money.
K-Day is upon us. St Andrews / DSG vs Kingswood College. Festivities, collaboration and competition across the board. Years of tradition and friendships.
However, it is worth remembering that the St Andrew’s vs Graeme College rugby derby dates back 140 years to April 1878. Graeme won that first encounter. The first K-Day was only 18 years later.
These rich traditions and bonds must continue. Fact of the matter. Grahamstown (and schools on both sides of town) needs a strong Graeme College.
This requires money, skills and time and I encourage you to give generously. Visit their Facebook page for details. I’ll be back. Need more info on young Charles Holmes.
GRAEME HOLMES
Before moving back to Grahamstown in Oct 2017, Graeme was a bank executive based in the big smoke and craziness of Joburg. He has 20 years’ experience in the Payments Industry. He is a Chartered Accountant, has a Masters in Management by Research (MMR) from Wits Business School, and attended an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) offered by INSEAD (The Business School for the World!) in France.
Graeme is the founder of The Grahamstown Project. It’s simple. He says, “Grahamstown is a microcosm of South Africa. If we can’t get this place to function properly then the whole country is stuffed. Many of the troubles we experience as a country today have their roots here in Grahamstown. it is here where black and white people first engaged in conflict on the African continent. It is here where 9 wars of dispossession over 100 years took place and virtually destroyed the amaXhosa nation. But we are where we are. I don’t have a British passport and the boat-trip back to where my ancestors came from is exorbitantly expensive. Furthermore, this is my home. I am a son of Africa. We must work together to redress the injustices of the past and move as one into a brighter future.”
Graeme is an avid historian, writer, vlogger and public speaker. Like and follow the Facebook page. Join him on a tour. Contact him. He would love that.