Hey Rodger great seeing you at the July Braai earlier this year (2023). It was heartening to chat to Churchill old boys outside my immediate circle of shamwaris and to rekindle loads of old memories. Thanks a ton for sharing the video and for your contribution at the Braai. Keep up the good work... 👍 PS I was at Churchill between 71 and 76 and had Jades for English and History. He wagered every Sprog in his class 5c that he could remember their names within the first month of starting at Churchill. He did very well, but I won 5c off of him which I dutifully spent in the tuck shop.
Good one .. thanks 👍 You should’ve bought a Bengal juice with that 5 cents ! Just in case you went to Admiral Tait Junior school I posted a video of that, too. Cheers
I went to Churchill from 1961 to 1966... Played rugby and then cricket but didn't like either... did a bit of athletics (javelin and discus) but what I really liked was basketball. During the time I played we were only beaten by Morgan High. At the same time I was also playing soccer for Lusitanos... the Portuguese club. Anyone remember the French teacher Monsieur Laresche or what happened to him?
Mr Hjul's classrooom [Room No 1] was on the first floor and directly overlooked the Headmaster's Office. Next was Mr Marais [Afrikaans], then another Afrikaans teacher [she could really scream], then it was variety of English teachers all the way to the end. My period was 1966 to 1972. Saw my name on the scholarship board - it was that long ago! We had 7 doctors out of our class - and we were supposed to be the rebels and didn't conform. The gymnasium apparatus was there when I arrived and although degraded it is still the same. Pretty good for all the battering over time. There was a trampoline in the gym and my wife [who taught at Rooseveldt briefly] found during one of the school dances, some of her schoolgirls jumping up and down on it. She inquired why, and was stunned to hear that it was regarded as a form of contraception!!!! after copulation. No wonder Rooseveld was nicknamed, "Storks' landing."
i must say i got the goose bumps watching this video going down memory lane. what a school man. i am so proud i went to this school in its best years. probably at the end of its glory days........1980-1982.
Easily the most popular teacher at Churchill in the 1970's was Tony Hambly, the geography teacher. A guy with a huge paunch, he looked like Buddha. He left Rhodesia in 1978, shortly before Mugabe took over, and taught in South Africa. He died in 2015, aged seventy three, in Pietermaritzburg. A dedicated teacher.
thank you for editing this video for every old boy who's going to watch this there's a new Zimbabwe it's high time we go back and help the school please please please old boys we have to bring the old Churchill
I remember a couple of the matrons' names in the hostel - Mrs (dragon) Hofmaier, an Austrian, and a Mrs Jupp who played the piano. There was a tall blonde matron in Winston hostel(forgotten her name) who didn't get on with Paul (cane 'em) Hjul. Chap called Moore was a science teacher who did a bit of rugby coaching for the juniors, but got taken off after caning one of the boys.
Rooseveldt was the girls' school down the road. On Saturday nights, the girls used to come over for a film and were allowed to mix with the Churchill boys. This resulted in at least one pregnancy that I can vouch for.....
Headmaster in the 1970's was a guy called de Bruin - an excellent headmaster but unfortunately he injured his head in a car accident which affected his concentration. Neil Jardine, ex captain of Rhodesian rugby was his side-kick. History teacher was a guy called Paul Hjul, an expert on Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, despite teaching at Churchill High School. Dave "Blondie" Flitcroft was the P.E. master, whose brother in law was ex England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Ossie Greenwood was also a PE master. Ray Gough, who had taught maths at the school before becoming an inspector, was blown up by a land-mine sometime in 1975 or 1976.
They had a hostel for boarders called "Winston" . One night some locals climbed over the gate and stole all the boys shoes from the changing rooms. The food in the canteen was rubbish. Chap called Stone was the French teacher, who was a good singer and squash player. Could never understand why they taught French in Rhodesia. Music teacher was an old girl called Mrs Kruger, whose son went to the school. She was a fine pianist. An old geezer called Bill Bowden taught maths, he was about a hundred years old and had been the headmaster of Wynberg School down in the Cape, and boy, did he love his cricket. A pretty girl called Maureen O'Connor taught maths and chemistry and Max Crockett a New Zealander, taught Physics. They seemed to have more geography teachers than pupils - Clark, Hamble?, Snyder, Burns and a few others I can't remember. English teachers included Anthony (can't remember his surname) and an old guy ,a retired detective, who did nothing but show the boys films.
Pete Schneider was the geography teacher, who also coached the Ist XV Rugby.He once organised a rugby film for a touring team from South Africa, in the evening after the match.They didn't turn up. They went to a strip tease club in Salisbury, instead. A new experience for those Boer boys......
"Doc" Harris was the science teacher (He wasn't a Ph.D, but had an M.Sc.). He was a big guy with big fists and and had once been the captain of the Cape Town University boxing team. He boasted to me once that he had knocked out a black guy who was causing him some grief. " I had my fist wrapped round my gun, so it must have felt hard." Another science teacher "Mac" Moore came into the canteen once waving a gun.
Old Wally French was a boarding master at Winston hostel. He had been a handicraft teacher at the school before becoming a headmaster of a local primary school. He became a boarding master after he divorced his wife. "Marriage was hell" he used to say. He also said that a bad home was better for these kids, than being in a boarding school.
There was a maths teacher at Churchill called Mr. Colquhon pronounced "kahoon" I believe. Guy did a damn stupid thing and went to Umtali to be a boarding master in 1973, a year before the Portuguese fled Mozambique. He certainly put himself in the front-line.
Mr. O'Brien was my English Teacher - absolutely brilliant man. He gave me enormous confidence in my ability to use my imagination. I'll never forget him.
Mike O’Brien had a great sense of humour. He used to have a habit of kicking any satchel that was left in the aisle between the desks out of the way during class. One day one of his pupils put some bricks in his bag and left it, strategically placed, in the aisle for Mike to kick. True to form, when Mike saw it he gave it a huge kick, with the obvious result, which cause the whole class to erupt with laughter. Mike responded immediately and shouted “Who thought that was funny?”. The only hand that went up belonged to the guy who had set the prank up. “Right” said Mike, “the rest of you will write a two page essay entitled “Why I Don’t Have A Sense Of Humour”.
Maths teacher called John Stansbury made sure all the boys had a sport to play after school. Boys used to get caned if they didn't watch the Ist XV play rugby. Saw a recent photo of the school. All the staff and kids were black
Hahaha. Doc Harris. He was a mean son of a gun that one. Strong? You wouldn't believe how strong that guy was. He took no kuk whatsoever. We were all poep scared of that oke.
Hey Rodger great seeing you at the July Braai earlier this year (2023). It was heartening to chat to Churchill old boys outside my immediate circle of shamwaris and to rekindle loads of old memories. Thanks a ton for sharing the video and for your contribution at the Braai. Keep up the good work... 👍 PS I was at Churchill between 71 and 76 and had Jades for English and History. He wagered every Sprog in his class 5c that he could remember their names within the first month of starting at Churchill. He did very well, but I won 5c off of him which I dutifully spent in the tuck shop.
Good one .. thanks 👍 You should’ve bought a Bengal juice with that 5 cents ! Just in case you went to Admiral Tait Junior school I posted a video of that, too. Cheers
I went to Churchill from 1961 to 1966... Played rugby and then cricket but didn't like either... did a bit of athletics (javelin and discus) but what I really liked was basketball. During the time I played we were only beaten by Morgan High. At the same time I was also playing soccer for Lusitanos... the Portuguese club. Anyone remember the French teacher Monsieur Laresche or what happened to him?
Mr Hjul's classrooom [Room No 1] was on the first floor and directly overlooked the Headmaster's Office. Next was Mr Marais [Afrikaans], then another Afrikaans teacher [she could really scream], then it was variety of English teachers all the way to the end. My period was 1966 to 1972. Saw my name on the scholarship board - it was that long ago! We had 7 doctors out of our class - and we were supposed to be the rebels and didn't conform.
The gymnasium apparatus was there when I arrived and although degraded it is still the same. Pretty good for all the battering over time. There was a trampoline in the gym and my wife [who taught at Rooseveldt briefly] found during one of the school dances, some of her schoolgirls jumping up and down on it. She inquired why, and was stunned to hear that it was regarded as a form of contraception!!!! after copulation. No wonder Rooseveld was nicknamed, "Storks' landing."
i must say i got the goose bumps watching this video going down memory lane. what a school man. i am so proud i went to this school in its best years. probably at the end of its glory days........1980-1982.
Easily the most popular teacher at Churchill in the 1970's was Tony Hambly, the geography teacher. A guy with a huge paunch, he looked like Buddha.
He left Rhodesia in 1978, shortly before Mugabe took over, and taught in South Africa.
He died in 2015, aged seventy three, in Pietermaritzburg. A dedicated teacher.
thank you for editing this video for every old boy who's going to watch this there's a new Zimbabwe it's high time we go back and help the school please please please old boys we have to bring the old Churchill
I remember a couple of the matrons' names in the hostel - Mrs (dragon) Hofmaier, an Austrian, and a Mrs Jupp who played the piano.
There was a tall blonde matron in Winston hostel(forgotten her name) who didn't get on with Paul (cane 'em) Hjul.
Chap called Moore was a science teacher who did a bit of rugby coaching for the juniors, but got taken off after caning one of the boys.
Rooseveldt was the girls' school down the road. On Saturday nights, the girls used to come over for a film and were allowed to mix with the Churchill boys.
This resulted in at least one pregnancy that I can vouch for.....
I really miss being at Churchill, being a Bulldog was a special honor. #Goingdownmemoryline#
Headmaster in the 1970's was a guy called de Bruin - an excellent headmaster but unfortunately he injured his head in a car accident which affected his concentration.
Neil Jardine, ex captain of Rhodesian rugby was his side-kick. History teacher was a guy called Paul Hjul, an expert on Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler, despite teaching at Churchill High School.
Dave "Blondie" Flitcroft was the P.E. master, whose brother in law was ex England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Ossie Greenwood was also a PE master.
Ray Gough, who had taught maths at the school before becoming an inspector, was blown up by a land-mine sometime in 1975 or 1976.
Paul Hjul was my History teacher. Thanks so much for reminding me. Also remember Neil Jardine. I think he went to SA? Grey College?
😢
Tom Purden was an English teacher in 1972- 73.A fine teacher, a boarding master and very fit. He left to run a fitness school for businessmen.
They had a hostel for boarders called "Winston" .
One night some locals climbed over the gate and stole all the boys shoes from the changing rooms.
The food in the canteen was rubbish.
Chap called Stone was the French teacher, who was a good singer and squash player.
Could never understand why they taught French in Rhodesia.
Music teacher was an old girl called Mrs Kruger, whose son went to the school. She was a fine pianist.
An old geezer called Bill Bowden taught maths, he was about a hundred years old and had been the headmaster of Wynberg School down in the Cape, and boy, did he love his cricket.
A pretty girl called Maureen O'Connor taught maths and chemistry and Max Crockett a New Zealander, taught Physics.
They seemed to have more geography teachers than pupils - Clark, Hamble?, Snyder, Burns and a few others I can't remember.
English teachers included Anthony (can't remember his surname) and an old guy ,a retired detective, who did nothing but show the boys films.
What an insight!
Pete Schneider was the geography teacher, who also coached the Ist XV Rugby.He once organised a rugby film for a touring team from South Africa, in the evening after the match.They didn't turn up. They went to a strip tease club in Salisbury, instead. A new experience for those Boer boys......
Oom Willie Marais; PJ Huijl; Doc Harris; Ozzy Greenwood; f....n legends.Miss them all.What unforgettable characters.
"Doc" Harris was the science teacher (He wasn't a Ph.D, but had an M.Sc.).
He was a big guy with big fists and and had once been the captain of the Cape Town University boxing team. He boasted to me once that he had knocked out a black guy who was causing him some grief. " I had my fist wrapped round my gun, so it must have felt hard."
Another science teacher "Mac" Moore came into the canteen once waving a gun.
Old Wally French was a boarding master at Winston hostel.
He had been a handicraft teacher at the school before becoming a headmaster of a local primary school.
He became a boarding master after he divorced his wife.
"Marriage was hell" he used to say.
He also said that a bad home was better for these kids, than being in a boarding school.
great stuff. lots of good memories there
The powers that be at Churchill allowed the band I played in (with Ron Thackwell) to practice in the Pavillion. Damn. What memories.
There was a maths teacher at Churchill called Mr. Colquhon pronounced "kahoon" I believe. Guy did a damn stupid thing and went to Umtali to be a boarding master in 1973, a year before the Portuguese fled Mozambique. He certainly put himself in the front-line.
Ohhhh I went to Churchill too Mr Roger, I`m a Bulldog. I gotta share your videos with other churchill OBs on Facebook
Mr. O'Brien was my English Teacher - absolutely brilliant man. He gave me enormous confidence in my ability to use my imagination. I'll never forget him.
Mike O’Brien had a great sense of humour.
He used to have a habit of kicking any satchel that was left in the aisle between the desks out of the way during class. One day one of his pupils put some bricks in his bag and left it, strategically placed, in the aisle for Mike to kick. True to form, when Mike saw it he gave it a huge kick, with the obvious result, which cause the whole class to erupt with laughter. Mike responded immediately and shouted “Who thought that was funny?”. The only hand that went up belonged to the guy who had set the prank up. “Right” said Mike, “the rest of you will write a two page essay entitled “Why I Don’t Have A Sense Of Humour”.
An institution where Legends were made ...
fantastic but sad to see the deterioration .
remember mr Atkinson ?
The pool was 90 % empty and the bit of water that was there was a nappy green colour ❗️it was totally run down and no longer used.
Man alive that is in such poor condition. Only thing worth seeing was that quad and Pavilion. So sad.
Maths teacher called John Stansbury made sure all the boys had a sport to play after school.
Boys used to get caned if they didn't watch the Ist XV play rugby.
Saw a recent photo of the school.
All the staff and kids were black
Oh yeah they gotta black its 2016
ooooops...wasnt expecting it to be like this...thot its a good 1
Yooh Churchill
The prefects in the hall
hasikana from churchil to churu(ant hill)
Computer room and english class and library
I is a disgrace how the standards have dropped
Hahaha. Doc Harris. He was a mean son of a gun that one. Strong? You wouldn't believe how strong that guy was. He took no kuk whatsoever. We were all poep scared of that oke.
Well done mugabe. Destroyed the place
Grades are better thou the rhodies were daft
Looks run down.
That shitty tuckshop always queues