From Dan Williams, November 2000

I was pleased to be able to attend the Woodmead reunion, which was held last Saturday 9 September evening at the Montego Bay restaurant Sandton Square Johannesburg. The organisers, Dion van Zyl, Trevor Bernhardt, Bruce Fordyce and Mark Read had hoped to hold it at the site of the school but this was not possible, as the school buildings have been tragically vandalised following the death of the school in late 1998. I understand that there is a sequestration order on the property to repay a massive mortgage which was taken out in a last ditch attempt to save the school which had been terminally ill through dwindling student numbers since 1994. The significance of that year in the South African context is obvious. Significant also I felt was that for the most part I would be seeing people again for the first time after 27 years - the duration of Mandela's incarceration.

On the afternoon before the dinner on Saturday, Billy Daubenton, Jonathan Holman (who had both come from Cape Town for the event) and myself drove out to the school in Bill's hire car to see for ourselves the reported damage to Woodmead. The drive along the once so familiar route taken by the old aquamarine school bus skillfully driven by Patrick was painfully nostalgic passing those personal landmarks that have no significance for anyone else except those who happened to have travelled that way daily for a few years in the early seventies to attend a novel kind of school - the old Bernhardt house on Corlett drive, the manicured playing fields of Marist Brothers College, the Nicol Highway (then only recently opened) Bryanston School, "Four Ways" (now in the shadow of an enormous Las Vegas style casino), the Drive In cinema at 4 Ways (demolished), the McLennan-Smith ranch (still there although no one could find Susie McLennon-Smith or her sister), the A frame house and the old store at the T- junction about a mile from the school.

A locked gate and a caretaker's son, who was dubious about letting us in but relented in the end, confronted us. The damage to the site was appalling - smashed windows, furniture broken, books tapes records etc strewn about the place - a veldt fire had been neglected on the front lawns near the site of the old swimming pools and dining room adding to the scene of desolation. The old Berry Suspension Bridge had gone. We roamed around the carcass of the school silently, my head filled with the sounds and images of school life there in the 70s and a feeling of terrible regret plagued me. What purpose had the destruction served? Should I have paid more heed to what the school had given me and offered something back. Perhaps if all the old pupils living abroad had made contributions the school might have been saved.  We were keen to take something away, some reminder of the good times there, and we  unscrewed a board from a wall in the remains of the school library with the "Woodmead Charter" on it. The bigger board with the lists of academic honours and student council presidents and the crest with the rising Phoenix, now poignantly ironic, was to big too fit in the car.

A full list of those who attended the reunion and their email addresses as well as some photographs will be sent out to interested parties. There were about 50-55 people mostly students there in the early 70s, and Bill, Jonathan and myself were the only attendees from outside Johannesburg. Roger Petty and John Clarke were the only teachers to come and sadly the organisers had not managed to find Steyn Krige. He apparently is still alive and in touch with Roger Petty. The composition of the group of ex-students who came is a reflection of the massive emigration to have taken place. Many of our cohort were missing. Here are a few other names of those who were there that come to mind: Clive Hardwick (and brother) Cathy Collins, Steve Goldblatt, Tom and Chris Overbeck, Bruce Fordyce, Graham Pearson, Mark Munro, Rian Malan, Patrick Cresswell, Vasco de Melo, Stephen Laufer, Kevin Brooks, Paul Ziller, Ann Tumner, Dion V Zyl and some others whose names escape me now. It was good to see all of them again - most remain recognisable by their personalities - although I'd be hard pressed to identify them if I passed them on a street. Well 27 years is a long time!

There was talk of arranging a larger event in 12-18months time with more organisational input and perhaps trying to persuade some of the emigrants to come as well as attempting to gather those who are still in the country but couldn't make it on the night. I felt it would be good to see Steyn Krige again - who knows he might also like to see one or two of us as well.

Kind regards

Dan S. Williams
Dan.Williams@gp-F84013.nhs.uk
Woodmead School Reunion 2000
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From Nick Podmore - May 2001

My name is Nick Podmore, I spent 85 / 86 at Woodmead in Std 9 and Matric. I recently came across your site whilst daydreaming and trying to find old friends. I knew the school had closed but not why and had no idea that it had fallen into such a sorry state.

Reading the items you had posted particularly the visit of some old friends to Woodmead bought tears to my eyes. I was sent to Woodmead because it was all that was left as an option in a troubled high school career and it was the best two years of my life! I would not say I excelled  - mainly because I was too stoned - but I loved the folks that made up the community that was Woodmead. I often sit and wonder what has happened to us all. I am still in regular touch with quite a few of my school mates and know that I could probably track down more. I would be interested in trying to help with a reunion in the future - although I live in London I am not without the means to make the occasional trip home - a pilgrimage if you like.

I got Chris De Villiers' email from the site but would love to have the contact details of any of the old guard. Ben Laubscher is a wonderful man and great teacher - my wife (a boere meisie) has him to thank for my reasonable Afrikaans!

If you have contact with Peter Nixon please pass my details on to him and my heartfelt thanks for helping and supporting me in hard times. Also let him know that the following are alive well and kicking and that we still have the capacity for mischief: Denya Poole, Kevin Poole, Jason Poole, Bronwin Poole, Nick Shaw, Marnix De Lorm, Simon De Lorm, Giacomo De Gasperris

Nick Podmore
nick_podmore@hotmail.com
E-mail:  woodmeadschool@yahoo.com.au
From  Kamolase Dube, June 2001

I'm one of the Woodmead products who always found himself in trouble. Going to Woodmead as a Pantsula boy from Orlando West in Soweto was a very difficult thing. My stay at Woodmead taught me a whole of different things and I could add behaviour to that list. It was very sad to hear that Woodmead was closing down just a couple of years after I completed my Matric. I carry a lot of good memories with me from my stay at Woodmead. The most important memory that I carry with me (and surely the one held by many others) is the one of a week long camp to St Lucia in Grade10 (Std 8). We were taught to survive and we got to know each other better as students. Spending a week away from home without electricity was one of the things that we enjoyed the most as we would get into some mischief and just as surely get into trouble with the teachers because we would not sleep.

I remember the days when we used to go behind the library at Woodmead and only people who went to that special place would have a clear indication of what it was like or what was happening. Then there was a place we called Long Beach. Only people who believed in what we were up to could join us. We got to know each other much better down there as we would talk about things that affected us in life and about what we would love to do after school. We always wished that Woodmead could have a post Matric class so that we would stay together and have fun while studying. We got to love Woodmead and it was hard for us to let go of what we called our own world. I sure do miss my high school years.

At Woodmead, I was one of the popular ones. I was known as K.K, the troublemaker who always managed to get himself into trouble and was never punished as he always had something to say. Because I was one of the teacher's sons, everyone thought that I'd be the most disciplined student out off all the troublemakers, but it was the other way round. Now that I have matured and I look back at what I used to get up to at school, it brings back memories. Given the chance I would not change a thing about my past school years. This website is something we have been waiting for and I hope that something can be done about the school. I believe that every past student of Woodmead would be more than willing to give a hand if needed.

Sharp Kamolase Dube (1993-1996)
kamodube@hotmail.com
From Aeilish Gibson, June 2001

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for creating this website. I am now working in England and am lucky enough that at least 6 of my old Woodmeadians are over here too! To this day we still bore our other friends senseless with our Woodmead stories. I am sure everyone has fond school memories but with Woodmead it is bigger than that! The school gave me a stronger sense of self - allowed me to open up more and gave me more confidence. I no longer had this sense of us and them when it came to teachers, and formed just as many close relationships with them as I did with my fellow students. I will forward this website on to my friends and I hope it can become a bigger forum for us all to reunite and reminisce!

Kind Regards
Aeilish Gibson
(1991 - 1993)
From Bontle Lentle, November 2001

We all remember what the school emblem is: the phoenix. I'm sure we also remember the myth about the phoenix and how it related to the school. When I was in Standard 6 in 1991, I remember how the story of the phoenix used to be drummed into my ears. Back then it was a boring old story told during Integrated Studies. Today, as I sit here writing this down, I feel something deep inside me. I'm scared and I do not know why. I know the story about the phoenix may have been boring back then, but right now it feels like a reality. I read the story about how dilapidated and run down my school is and all I can say is that with this web site, we are about to witness the phoenix rising out of the ashes. Thank you very much for this site. It reminds me of my wonderful days as a teenager. I hope more of us find the site. I've e-mailed the address to my friends so hopefully they will sign the guest book.

Thank you very much once again. Other schools have Old Boys clubs or Old Girls clubs. Woodmead was never a conventional school and I'm not surprised that this is how we might all find each other.

Bontle Lentle
From Peter Macdonald - December 2001

Hi there. My name is Peter Macdonald and I was in attendance at Woodmead from 1972 - 1974. I came across this website by chance. I now live in Los Angeles. I did not even know the school had closed. It is sad. I was a fighter pilot in the SAAF and from time to time I used to fly a Mirage pretty low over the school. My sister Patricia was also at Woodmead. I still remember the teachers and of course Steyn Krige. My favourite teacher was Ben Laubscher. My worst was Mr Hughs. He
slapped me in the face. A month later he beat another pupil and was fired. What happened to all the old teachers? Chris Israel was also a favourite teacher of mine. Debbie Russell was OK but she could be a bitch. I was one of the class perverts and we used to look down her dress. We were caught and ended up in a Friday detention. Those were the good old days and it brings back fond memories. Thanks for the website. E-mail me with any info or contact e-mail addresses of the teachers from the 70s.

Kind regards

Peter Macdonald
Articles about Woodmead School
From Reniera Graham - January 2002

Hi, my name is Reniera Graham. I was at Woodmead from 1990-1991. I started in Std 6 (Grade 8) and as such Woodmead was the foundation of my high school career. Although I had been a part of the school since I was 7 years old, due to both my parents teaching there and my father going on to be Head, it was from those two years that my memories of Woodmead are most vivid. I got to do things at Woodmead that would not have been possible at any other school. I was very involved in the Std 9 and 10 One Act Plays and often found myself on the stage. I also remember Fancy-Dress day being an absolute hoot! We went on incredible school tours to Kimberly and Lapalala and spent both years trying to cheat on the Big Walk! David Paton sparked my interest in art, which previously I had hated and I went on to study it for two years at University. I got into more trouble at Woodmead than at any other school (and I went to 6) but probably had more fun there as well. Woodmead either worked for you or it didn't. I was lucky and really loved the academic and social freedom the school allowed us. There will never be another school like it. It would be hard to beat the setting, the atmosphere or the sense of freedom in a school. It is sad that the school had to close because it really was a fantastic place to learn and it is a place I will always hold close as it was a part of my family life, my academic life and generally a great place to be a kid. I am currently working and living in London and am delighted to find out that so many other Woodmedians are here as well. I am working for local government in the Cabinet Support team and really enjoying my job. What the future holds I have no idea, but will check in every now and again to see what everyone is up to.

Reniera Graham
From Dorthe Bakke - March, 2002

My name is Dorthe Bakke. I am Norwegian and I lived for six months in the girls' boarding house at Woodmead School while I was participating in an exchange program for volunteer workers in the spring of 1997. I worked at the Muzomuhle Primary School in Diepsloot and for the Crocodile Valley Education Trust. Looking for information for an application I discovered your website and was very saddened to read that Woodmead was closed in 1998. My experiences in South Africa were truly enriching and my half year in your country remain one of the most tremendous experiences of my life. Being given room and board at Woodmead I got to know a unique little community of students, teachers and staff. I have fond memories of my time at the school, the activities there and the many good conversations I had with both teachers and students. The teachers at Woodmead, in particular, were supportive of my settling into life in South Africa and I am very grateful to them. I am now studying International Relations at the Johns Hopkins University in Bologna, Italy and Washington, D.C. I hope to some day be able to go back to South Africa and I regret that a visit to Woodmead School will be impossible. Anyway I just wanted to express my regret over the misfortunes of Woodmead and my gratitude for having had six wonderful months there.

Sincerely Yours
Dorthe Bakke
e-mail address  dbakke@jhubc.it
CO/JHU SAIS Bologna Center Via Belmeloro, 11 40126 Bologna (BO)
From Justin Render - September, 2002

Love this site. By the way, Olivia ( Class of '92), I've been trying to get back in touch with you. If you see this, please write.
From Simon Hamilton - December, 2002

Dear Denis

I was at Woodmead in 1980/1, part of the 1981 Matric class. I remember you, though I don't think you ever taught me. Did you officiate (if that's the word) on the trip to Namibia with Chris de Villiers in 1981? I think you possibly did. I want to commend you for creating this web site. Broadband gives us the power to travel the world (and occasionally visit our own past) in our lunch break! I found the site yesterday, and spent a not entirely happy hour reading the articles. I was aware that the school had closed in 1998, but had very little idea why. I imagined that declining student numbers and the lack of any real endowment had finally put paid to what was probably always a fairly iffy business model. I read your article with horror. It was like finding out that a long-lost friend had been savagely murdered. I found comfort in Ben Laubscher's comment that in the end there was little left of the old Woodmead worth saving. I remember Mr Laubscher well; the improbably high mark he awarded me for Afrikaans oral at Matric ensured that I just scraped through on aggregate. I brushed the dust of South Africa off my shoes very thoroughly in 1986, when I finished my three years at Wits. I spent a year or so travelling, mostly by sailing boat, then back to the UK, accountancy training, business, marriage, kids, mortgage etc. My wife still has close friends who she was at school with, but then her parents still live in the same house in London she grew up in - she's still connected. There is little to connect me to the ten years I was in South Africa, of which the two most shining were the ones I spent at Woodmead. Although the content of your site is somewhat disturbing, I am glad I made the connection for a short while. Thank you for tending this rather neglected grave.

Best regards

Simon Hamilton
From Allan Graham - January 2002

Both Lyn Scott, whom I regularly see in her new role as CEO of the IEB (that's the successor in title to the old JMB), and Peter Nixon, with whom I have kept in contact over the years, put me on to this website. I was a teacher of Mathematics and Add Maths in 1985/6, then took over as headmaster from Peter Nixon in 1987, and presided over a very exciting period of Woodmead's history until I left at the end of 1991 to start a school called Oakhill in Knysna. From the beginning of 1997, I have been head of another young school in Franschhoek called Bridge House, and would welcome contact with anyone from Woodmead. If anyone ever visits Oakhill in Knysna, or us in Franschhoek, I believe that the atmosphere, in both schools, will speak to you of your memories of Woodmead, at least I hope so! So......... the spirit lives on, despite the tragic closure of the pioneer school!

It has been great to read up bits and pieces of info about the school and about some of my former colleagues and particularly my former students. Let's keep in contact!

Regards

Allan Graham
From Chiara Baldan - August, 2003

Hello Everybody

How nice to finally find a way to contact you all.
When I came back to Italy from South Africa, I looked on the Internet to find some links to Woodmead, but with no results.
I tried recently some months ago and found Mr Woodward's site. I was very happy about it! I finally found some time to write to all of you.
It's been a long time but I still cannot forget the wonderful time spent at Woodmead.
What about me? Well after South Africa, I spent 9 months in Portugal then I came back to Italy.
I started University doing Physics then last year I had the chance to find a good work place (nowadays it's very difficult to find one here).
Now I'm working at IBM on Mainframes (computers working with os390 and z/os), I've worked for one year at the Technical Suport Center providing solutions to customer's problems. Now I'm working onsite with a customer.
I hope to hear about you all very soon.

My Best Regards
Chiara Baldan
From George Catsouras - March 2001

Woodmead was a unique educational institution with an equally unique cast of characters. I would love to know what hapened to Chris Israel and Joe Verster, (teachers in the early to mid seventies). Any info would be great. I loved the page. Reading Dan Williams' account of the reunion left me very misty eyed. What great days those were. Keep up the great page.

Regards

George Catsouras California USA
From Johnny Mokiti - October 2001

Firstly, I would like to thank you for organising this beautiful website, it brings back all the memories. When I was going through the site I felt so nostalgic, I could almost cry. I'll definitely pass it on to the other Woodmeadeans so that they can also enjoy our high school experience. It's sad to think that a great school like that just closed its doors without some of us being aware. Now we can't even have reunions like other people have. I always feel so jealous and sad when other guys go to their school reunions. We've been trying to organise a reunion with ex Woodmeadeans and maybe you can help us through this website. Hope to hear from you soon. Cheers!

Long live Woodmead!

Johnny Mokiti
johnm@za.ibm.com
From Peter Nixon - January 3, 2002

I have just been made aware of the website you have designed and thank you for doing this on behalf of all to whom Woodmead was more than a school or a place of work.

I have read most of what is on the website and would like to contribute more (at a later stage) to the debate on the dilemmas of the period 1974 - 1988 when I was either a teacher, a Headmaster and/or parent.

I visited the school in about 1999 when Lizzie was still there, locked in her unit out of fear of the students who were there at the time. She cried as we went through the library.

I do not know the background to the closure of the school. In about 1990, I wrote to the Board of the School asking them to start a debate among the staff and past students about the school's future, conscious that the bursary income on which the school had become so dependent would be cut off. I argued that it might be appropriate to offer the school to the new Government as a Model School in exchange for its continued relative independence. I got no reply but did not pursue it since I was comfortably settled in Sydney.

I do disagree with you on the motivation for the raising of funds to build a decent campus. The design had been agreed on in the mid seventies. As a staff member and Board member, I remember the excitement working with the architect when the plans were discussed and reviewed. What was missing was any support from donors and parents. My motivation in seeking those funds was to convince the donors and parents that the school could survive and grow physically and financially and that it could retain its students including those who wished to succeed academically. By the mid eighties, we had lost the support of the liberal Jewish community who were Woodmead's earliest supporters and, to a large extent, the support of the Indian community. Pursuing the ‘conservative’ community was never an issue - they were never and would never be supporters of the school. Providing some decent accommodation for boarders, some efficient teaching spaces, kitchens, some sporting facilities etc were needed for the staff and students at the school. I felt I owed it to them and their parents.

I will detail later.

In the meantime, it is great to make contact again and I will send through email addresses from those Woodmead students who are in Sydney.

Peter
From Bontle Lentle - January, 2002

Can't we start our own website, get our own portal? I think that's what we need. Or we can speak to one of the guys. Johnny Mokiti works for IBM and his address is on the site. I think it would be nice if we could have a page for all those who have passed away. I met some of my old friends over the past weekend to attend Nthato Mabe's funeral also a former Woodmead student. The turnout was great though I felt it was a pity that we met on such sad circumstances. If we could have a page with a small obituary and perhaps say what the student was most famous (or notorious) at school. If there's anything I could do to help with developing our own website please say. I'd be more than happy to give up some time.
(I will always think of Woodmead as Woodmead not Heron College- I find the name a bit hard to like, suppose these things happen. They call them changes!)

Bontle
From Jenny Engelbrecht - April 2002

Hello there

My name is Jenny Engelbrecht (nee Woods) and I taught at Woodmead from 90 -94 in the JCI block upstairs next to the Computer Room. I was also there when Carla (I can't remember her surname) started and when Ben Laubscher's services were 'dispensed' with. My family and I then emigrated to New Zealand in 1997. Please will you tell me the real story of what happened, what happened to Carla, if you know how Ben is and what happened to his cat - Murgatroyd who lived on the property?

I only learned on Friday that Woodmead had closed down and this wonderful tribute existed. I was even more saddened when I read that the buildings have been vandalised! What a sad state of affairs!

I loved reading Reniera Graham's letter and I was one of the teachers who led that trip to Kimberly. One day soon, I will write a letter/article for you.

Kind regards

Jenny
From Dan Williams - July, 2002

I was moved by reading the account in two parts by Ben Laubscher that you recently posted on the website - it is clear that he made an immense contribution, (was he the longest serving teacher?) to the school and his philisophical analysis of the history of the school made for fascinating if  disturbing at times, reading. I intend to write to him directly.

I do hope that teachers from all eras of Woodmead's short but important lifespan find the time and motivation to write about it.

With all good wishes

Dan S. Williams
From Harshik Gopal - January, 2003

I am a Woodmeadian and studied there from 1983 to 1987.  It is by pure chance that I bumped into Lyn Scott, my accounting teacher, on a flight from Joburg to Nelspruit.  I was thrilled to hear that there was a website for Woodmeadians.  It is great to be able to get in touch with so many other colleagues who supposedly disappeared off the face of the earth.  Thanks for setting up the website.  Great work!  Please list me on the website under my general email address.

Best regards

Harshik Gopal
Johannesburg, South Africa
From Maobi Litseho - May, 2003

My name is Moabi Litseho. I was a Woodmeadian from 1990 to 1994. There are just no words to describe my experiences at Woodmead and my emotions when I realise that the school is no more, but I can only hope that those of us who were there, as staff, or pupils like myself should always find it in ourselves to search for a place that can build a South Africa the way Woodmead intended to. There are some sad memories though, but overall the memories are wonderful.

Moabi
From Kathy Barolsky - September, 2003

Dear Mr Woodward and Readers

I suppose I am permitted to refer to you as Denis, considering my out of school University status. On a serious note I am so glad to have bumped into Timone Smith who informed me about this site. I am still an emotional wreck when the word ‘Woodmead’ is uttered by anyone! After the close of the school I spent a very turbulent year at a concentration camp for girls (I shall not mention the name of the All girls private school) after which I moved onto the National School of the Arts where I finally settled down and matriculated. I dared to venture into the world for a year and worked as a stage manager amongst other things. I came back to Woodmead to bring the production of Cinderella to the Community Centre filled with boys in uniform! Overwhelmed with nostalgia I took a walk down memory lane reenacting the insane events of my Woodmead years 97-98. I owe it to Woodmead School and its teachers for who I am. I was inspired to look at my education and the world in a different way (Tormenting various teachers was all done in good humour and tolerated remarkably well thanks to their good nature and open mindedness). It was a place where one’s eccentricities could be tested to the limit! Now two decades old, I am in the hands of Wits drama school for the next four years, currently devoting myself to the character Agnes in ‘Agnes Of God’.

Kathy Barolsky
actress@ananzi.co.za

PS: Woodmead’s amazing library books are collecting dust backstage in the dressing room waiting to be thrown out by uncultured hooligans. Would anyone be interested in mobilizing a force to do something about this?
From Tryphosa Malatsi - October, 2003

Hello

My name is Tryphosa and I was in your class only a short while in 1983 before you left the school.

I have always believed that one of the key problems with Woodmead was how it managed to attract people to itself who did not believe in ‘THE WOODMEAD CONCEPT’. I remember being on a school outing to Kimberley where the member of staff accompanying us was constantly embarrassed by our lack of a school uniform. The fact that we were the only multiracial group there seemed to pale in significance when he compared it to our 'lack of a school uniform'. Both the families and students in Kimberley that we were sent to stay with during this visit had never interacted with 'NON WHITES' before at this level, but this still seemed insignificant when compared to our lack of a school uniform. I am certain Lloyd Kopane, Mohammed Badsha and some of the guys in my class who came along on the trip will remember this quiet well. Do you guys remember how HORRIFIED we were to find the National Party Youth Meeting in progress when we arrived at Kimberley High School! We spoke about this constantly that weekend trying to spot who among the pupils we were interacting with was part of that meeting.

Thank You Very Much For This Site. Well done to you for caring enough to create this site and explaining the demise of our treasured WOODMEAD HIGH SCHOOL where Democracy was not just promoted but the responsibilities that came with being a member of such a community taught and practised. At a time when most 'Multiracial' schools were most concerned with the creation of a 'Black Elite', the Woodmead Community knew that its responsibility was to prepare its students to be responsible citizens within a future Democratic South Africa - An idea that seemed far-fetched at the time but one that a Township girl like myself, from Alexandra has come to appreciate quite considerably.

Thank you, to you Sir and all those like you (Ted Smith stands out here) who cared enough to bother.

A Good life to you

Dr Philly Malatsi
phillymalatsi@telkomsa.net
From Nimesh Dayal - December, 2003

I was at Woodmead from 81-85 and came across this website. It brought back some wonderful memories of Mr Laubscher teaching us Afrikaans outside room 12 in the bleak winters. I was part of the first team cricket and remember you very well trying to coach us and then umpiring the Wednesday games. It is really sad that Woodmead had to close down. It feels like an important aspect of our life has gone. Sad really.

Nimesh Dayal
Nimesh Dayal MD
Post Doctoral Fellow
Division of Rheumatology
Northwestern University
From Maria Farkas - March, 2004

Greetings from the US

I found your website about the Woodmead school on the Internet.  I was
looking for information about the school because someone who had
attended the Paradise Bend school had been very positively impacted by one of your teachers - John Holehouse (I may not be spelling his name correctly).

I wonder if you could tell me anything about the relationship between
the Paradise Bend school and Woodmead.  And, in particular, if you have any reflections on John Holehouse.  Any information would be very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Maria Farkas
mfarkas@hbs.edu
Hello
My name is Melinda Ife and I was at the school from 1971-74.  I was one of the first girls at the school - I think they only took 14 girls in 1971 and I was one of the lucky ones.  I was in the same class as Ian Shapiro, Deon van Zyl, Mark Read, Bruce Fordyce, Helen Collins etc. It was a really great school and I was sad to find out that it has closed. I married a man who had been a part-time teacher at Woodmead.  His name was Dick Reineke and he was a friend of Chris Israel.  Sadly, he died in 2003 from brain cancer.  I have taught our four children at home, and I am still at home (in Bournemouth, England) with the youngest daughter, who is now 8.  The teachers at Woodmead were wonderful people and I remember Ben Laubscher, Peter Nixon (I helped you put up your campaign posters when you were standing in the local elections), Mr Petty, Mr Krige and Debbie Russell with great affection. Our bus-rides to school were part of the school experience, which I really liked as we all got a chance to talk to each other and have a laugh. I'm very happy to have found this website and look forward to renewing old memories and friendships.   

Thanks for the memories
Melinda Reineke