Parktown Boys' High School
Encyclopedia
Parktown Boys' High School is a public high school
for boys in Parktown, a suburb of Johannesburg
, South Africa. Parktown Boys' is well known for its emphasis on holistic education and in 2009 was rated as one of the top performing state schools in South Africa, and in the top ten schools in Gauteng
by the South African Sunday Times.
Parktown Boys' sister school is Parktown High School for Girls
, in Parkview
, Johannesburg
.
Parktown Boys' has a rich history which includes the use of boater
s (called 'bashers'), a distinctive red and black uniform, school songs, and particularly 'Parktonian' language which has evolved over the years. The school motto
is 'Arise' ('Surgite' in Latin). The original school buildings have national monument
status.
.
The Acting Director of Education, W.E.C. Clarke, the Inspector of High Schools, officially opened the new school with an address to the scholars and staff. He apologised for the lack of decent furniture and playing fields and promised that a new modern high school for boys would be built on the Parktown Ridge overlooking Milner Park and a new high school for girls near Zoo Lake
.
The first Headmaster, P.M. Druce, arrived at the beginning of 1921 and, in February, the name of the school was changed to North Western High School. In April the first hatbands and ties arrived. The colours were purple and white.
On 1 September 1921 the school was divided into five houses: Romans
, Spartans
, Thebans, Trojans
and Tuscans. On the 19 September the name was changed again, this time to Parktown Boys' High School with the motto Arise, and the school badge a rampant lion. When the Rand Revolt took place in 1922 the school, which was in no-man's-land, had to be evacuated for a short while.
At the beginning of 1923 the masters and boys moved to the new buildings in Wellington Road on Parktown Ridge. They took little with them except the school name, motto and badge, the names of the five houses and the traditions they had built up. When the school reopened in the new premises, there were 435 boys on the roll and the school colours were changed to red and black. The girls remained at Auckland Park.
The Old Parktonian Association, which was formed in 1925, bought the grounds in Bedfordview but later moved to Craighall Park. Strong links with the school are maintained.
When Mr Druce retired in 1938 he was succeeded in turn by B.A. Logie, C.A. Yates, F.J. Marais, J.A. Cameron, N.A.M. Scheepers and T.P. Clarke, Parktown's previous Headmaster for 23 years.
In 1985 Druce Hall was opened to accommodate boarders and following the school's tradition in the classics, in 1987, the name Vulcan was given to the sixth school house to which all boarders belong.
Parktown Boys' High School was the first government school to allow boys who were discriminated against because of their colour into a mainstream white school in 1991. This was a bold step and can be attributed to the free thinking management which is passed down to the boys.
Parktown Boys' High School was the first school in South Africa to install an international standard water-based Astroturf
playing surface. This surface has hosted many national and international games. More recently, Parktown has built Surgite House overlooking the McCorkell Oval to incorporate the administration and entertainment needs of Old Parktonians, as well as the state-of-the-art Sydney Klevansky Sports and Cultural Centre.
The school is divided from Grades 8 to 12 (Matric), and grades are referred to as 'Forms' at the school.
The academic subjects offered each year include:
Recognised cultural activities offered to the learners at Parktown include:
Recent additions to the cultural side of things include:
Cultural life also extends to visits to art galleries, museums and musical performances.
, National, and Provincial sportsmen come from its ranks. Recently Parktown's First Waterpolo side were the best in the country winning two national tournaments, and Parktown's first Hockey side are regular Aitken Trophy winners.
Summer sports offered by the school include :
Winter sports offered by the school include:
Tennis is offered throughout the year.
Traditional rugby 'rivals' of the school include:
The First XV are known as the 'Men in Black' (a reference to their all-black kit) and traditionally embark on at least on overseas tour every two years. Recently this has included tours to Argentina, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand. Parktown are also a regular fixture at the annual Easter Rugby Festivals held throughout the country.
Parktown hosts the annual Under 14 Rugby Festival, a national rugby festival aimed at giving under 14s a chance to experience the festival atmosphere and to play against teams that they would not ordinarily play against.
The boarding
is supervised with a ratio of one master to every 15 boys. A member of the boarding establishment is allowed the opportunity to experience life to the full at this fine high school
.
Ukuloe Moena Sebi
Ukuloe Moena Bani
Ukuloe Moena Sebi
Zingti Negeti
Illavoo
P - A - R - K
Zimba Zimba Zimba Zea
T - O - W - N
Zimba Zimba Zimba Zea
Arise - Arise
PARKTOWN
of Scotland
'Flower of Scotland
', Old Boys of Parktown is sung at rugby derbys.
game. The entire school will chant:
Quick, quick, quick with a very big stick to chase away the big baboon, baboon, baboon...
referee
, in a way few other chants could. It is often said that if one would like to find other Old Parktonians in any room around the world one only needs to shout out 'Sing Him a Hymn...' and the answer will come back loud and clear.
is held in the first term.
that proudly still continues with the tradition of Cadets and Cadet practice every week. This practice is seen as an exemplary way of instilling discipline and team work into young boys.
) every year for Old Parktonians and South Africans in general who have died in various conflicts around the world. It is compulsory for all Form Is and IVs to attend.
The First Rugby and Hockey sides to play the Old Boys are announced on this day.
In line with the ethos of holistic education at the school, Parktown introduced the award of the White Blazer in 2010. Although previous Matriculants would have qualified, M. Daniel (2010) was the first recipient of the award.
The Parktonian Foundation, Surgite House, the Parktown Waterpolo Club, a vibrant Facebook
page, the annual Surgite publications and the Old Parktonian Sports Club, all aim to foster a vibrant Old Parktonian Community.
rugby players, other internationally renowned sportsmen, musicians and artists.
Some of these include:
Notable academics include:
The following Old Parktonians have represented the South African Rugby National Team (the Springboks):
Some notable musicians who attended Parktown Boys' High School are:
Aside from those mentioned above, Old Parktonians have been awarded the C.B.E., M.B.E. or O.B.E.s a number of times, these include:
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for boys in Parktown, a suburb of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa. Parktown Boys' is well known for its emphasis on holistic education and in 2009 was rated as one of the top performing state schools in South Africa, and in the top ten schools in Gauteng
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
by the South African Sunday Times.
Parktown Boys' sister school is Parktown High School for Girls
Parktown High School for Girls
Parktown High School for Girls is a high school situated in the suburb of Parkview, Johannesburg, South Africa.More commonly known as Parktown Girls, the school's brother school is Parktown Boys' High School located in Parktown, Johannesburg....
, in Parkview
Parkview, Gauteng
Parkview is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It borders the suburb of Greenside and overlooks Zoo Lake, a park which lies on the opposite side of Jan Smuts Avenue from the Johannesburg Zoo. All of its streets are named after Irish counties....
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
.
Parktown Boys' has a rich history which includes the use of boater
Boater
Boater may refer to:*Boater, a type of hat*Boater, one of the first disposable diapers*Someone involved in boating...
s (called 'bashers'), a distinctive red and black uniform, school songs, and particularly 'Parktonian' language which has evolved over the years. The school motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is 'Arise' ('Surgite' in Latin). The original school buildings have national monument
National heritage sites (South Africa)
National heritage sites in South Africa are structures or defined areas of land declared to be of historic or cultural importance and granted certain legal protections...
status.
History
North Western Suburbs High School was founded in January 1920, in disused wood and iron buildings which had previously been Police Barracks at the top of Canary Street in Auckland Park. There were eighty-seven pupils in five Form II classes, four for boys and one for girls with acting Headmaster, C. Hare. The site is now occupied by the South African Broadcasting CorporationSouth African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
.
The Acting Director of Education, W.E.C. Clarke, the Inspector of High Schools, officially opened the new school with an address to the scholars and staff. He apologised for the lack of decent furniture and playing fields and promised that a new modern high school for boys would be built on the Parktown Ridge overlooking Milner Park and a new high school for girls near Zoo Lake
Zoo Lake
Zoo Lake is a popular lake and public park in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located at S 26° 9' 30.96" E 28° 1' 42.96". It is part of the Hermann Eckstein Park and is opposite the Johannesburg Zoo...
.
The first Headmaster, P.M. Druce, arrived at the beginning of 1921 and, in February, the name of the school was changed to North Western High School. In April the first hatbands and ties arrived. The colours were purple and white.
On 1 September 1921 the school was divided into five houses: Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Spartans
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
, Thebans, Trojans
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
and Tuscans. On the 19 September the name was changed again, this time to Parktown Boys' High School with the motto Arise, and the school badge a rampant lion. When the Rand Revolt took place in 1922 the school, which was in no-man's-land, had to be evacuated for a short while.
At the beginning of 1923 the masters and boys moved to the new buildings in Wellington Road on Parktown Ridge. They took little with them except the school name, motto and badge, the names of the five houses and the traditions they had built up. When the school reopened in the new premises, there were 435 boys on the roll and the school colours were changed to red and black. The girls remained at Auckland Park.
The Old Parktonian Association, which was formed in 1925, bought the grounds in Bedfordview but later moved to Craighall Park. Strong links with the school are maintained.
When Mr Druce retired in 1938 he was succeeded in turn by B.A. Logie, C.A. Yates, F.J. Marais, J.A. Cameron, N.A.M. Scheepers and T.P. Clarke, Parktown's previous Headmaster for 23 years.
In 1985 Druce Hall was opened to accommodate boarders and following the school's tradition in the classics, in 1987, the name Vulcan was given to the sixth school house to which all boarders belong.
Parktown Boys' High School was the first government school to allow boys who were discriminated against because of their colour into a mainstream white school in 1991. This was a bold step and can be attributed to the free thinking management which is passed down to the boys.
Parktown Boys' High School was the first school in South Africa to install an international standard water-based Astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
playing surface. This surface has hosted many national and international games. More recently, Parktown has built Surgite House overlooking the McCorkell Oval to incorporate the administration and entertainment needs of Old Parktonians, as well as the state-of-the-art Sydney Klevansky Sports and Cultural Centre.
T.P. Clarke
Parktowns' previous headmaster was T.P. Clarke, the longest serving Headmaster of a public school in South Africa. Mr Clarke entered Parktown as a 'formie' in 1958. In 1975 he returned to the school as Head of Mathematics, being promoted to Headmaster in 1987. Guiding the school through the turbulent 1990s into a new millennium, Mr Clarke retired to great acclaim in 2010. Generations of Old Boys will remember his stentorian command in class: 'Squats!'Pre-1983
Parktown's previous Headmasters were (from 1920): Mr C. Hare (Acting), Mr P.M.Druce, Mr B.A. Logie, Mr C.A. Yates, Mr F.J. Marais, Mr J.A. Cameron, and Mr N.A.M. Scheepers.Academics
Parktown Boys' High prides itself on an outstanding academic record that boasts numerous awards. Past Matriculants have consistently achieved excellent results over the years. Parktown Boys' has produced a number of Rhodes Scholars.The school is divided from Grades 8 to 12 (Matric), and grades are referred to as 'Forms' at the school.
The academic subjects offered each year include:
- Accountancy,
- Additional Mathematics (Independent Examinations BoardIndependent Examinations Boardthumb|Independent Examinations BoardThe Independent Examinations Board or IEB South African independent assessment agency which offers examinations for various client schools. It is most prominent in setting the examinations for the school-leaving National Senior Certificate, or NSC, which...
), - Afrikaans,
- Art,
- Art Design,
- Biology,
- Business Studies,
- Computer Application Technology,
- Computer Science,
- English,
- Geography,
- History,
- Information Technology,
- Life Orientation,
- Life Science,
- Mathematics,
- Mathematical Literacy,
- Physical Science,
- Visual Art, and
- Zulu.
Cultural Activities
Cultural activities refer to all exta-mural activities excluding sporting activities.Recognised cultural activities offered to the learners at Parktown include:
- Cadet Band,
- Chess Club,
- Choir,
- Drama,
- First Aid,
- Heart of the Lion (the school’s charity programme),
- Media Centre,
- Oratory (Public Speaking and Debating),
- Photography Club,
- Stock Exchange Game and
- Traditional Dancing.
Recent additions to the cultural side of things include:
- The General Knowledge Quiz,
- ScrabbleScrabbleScrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
and - The Philosophy Society.
Cultural life also extends to visits to art galleries, museums and musical performances.
Sporting Activities
Parktown Boys' High prides itself on a tradition of sporting excellence, having had large numbers of SpringbokSpringbok
Springbok can have the following meanings:* Springbok , a small antelope inhabiting southern and western Africa.* South Africa national rugby union team, known as the Springboks....
, National, and Provincial sportsmen come from its ranks. Recently Parktown's First Waterpolo side were the best in the country winning two national tournaments, and Parktown's first Hockey side are regular Aitken Trophy winners.
Summer sports offered by the school include :
- Cricket,
- Rowing,
- Golf,
- Waterpolo and
- Swimming.
Winter sports offered by the school include:
- Athletics,
- Cross Country,
- Soccer,
- Hockey,
- Rugby,
- Shooting and
- Squash.
Tennis is offered throughout the year.
Rugby
Rugby is arguably the most popular sport at the school. Parktown Boys' currently fields 18 rugby teams from Under 14 to Under 18 level.Traditional rugby 'rivals' of the school include:
- King Edward VII School (Johannesburg),
- Jeppe High School for BoysJeppe High School for BoysJeppe High School for Boys is a public secondary school is located in Kensington, a suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, one of the 23 Milner Schools....
, - St. Johns CollegeSt John's College (Johannesburg, South Africa)St John's College is a private school for boys in Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.-History:St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898 and is an Anglican school....
, - St. Stithians College,
- Pretoria Boys High SchoolPretoria Boys High SchoolPretoria Boys High School, also known as Boys High or PBHS, is a public, fee charging, English medium high school for boys located in Brooklyn, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province of South Africa....
and - Potchefstroom Boys' High School.
The First XV are known as the 'Men in Black' (a reference to their all-black kit) and traditionally embark on at least on overseas tour every two years. Recently this has included tours to Argentina, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand. Parktown are also a regular fixture at the annual Easter Rugby Festivals held throughout the country.
Parktown hosts the annual Under 14 Rugby Festival, a national rugby festival aimed at giving under 14s a chance to experience the festival atmosphere and to play against teams that they would not ordinarily play against.
Druce Hall
Parktown Boys' High School has a weekly boarding establishment (i.e. from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon), which is known as the Druce Hall. The Druce Hall was officially opened on 9 June 1985 and is named after P. M. Druce, the first Headmaster of Parktown Boys’ High School.The boarding
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
is supervised with a ratio of one master to every 15 boys. A member of the boarding establishment is allowed the opportunity to experience life to the full at this fine high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
War Cry
Ukuloe Moena BaniUkuloe Moena Sebi
Ukuloe Moena Bani
Ukuloe Moena Sebi
Zingti Negeti
Illavoo
P - A - R - K
Zimba Zimba Zimba Zea
T - O - W - N
Zimba Zimba Zimba Zea
Arise - Arise
PARKTOWN
Old Boys of Parktown
Sung to the tune of the unofficial National AnthemNational anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
'Flower of Scotland
Flower of Scotland
Flower of Scotland is a Scottish song, used frequently at special occasions and sporting events. Although there is no official national anthem of Scotland, Flower of Scotland is one of a number of songs which unofficially fulfil this role, along with the older Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave...
', Old Boys of Parktown is sung at rugby derbys.
Last of the Mohicans
This chilling tune is played by the famous Cadet Band at rugby matches, as well as at the induction of every new set of Prefects where the entire school claps out the rhythm of the music and forms a symbolic passage for old Prefects and Matrics to leave the school.Quick, Quick, Quick
A chant used by boys to express their distaste at some perceived viciousness or illegal activity in a rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
game. The entire school will chant:
Quick, quick, quick with a very big stick to chase away the big baboon, baboon, baboon...
Sing Him a Hymn!
A Old Boy favourite because of its salty lyrics, this chant is used to express contempt and dislike for a particular individual, and perhaps even a rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
, in a way few other chants could. It is often said that if one would like to find other Old Parktonians in any room around the world one only needs to shout out 'Sing Him a Hymn...' and the answer will come back loud and clear.
'Formie' Orientation
As part of their orientation and initiation into the school, all 'formies' receive a coloured button to wear on their blazer which indicates their 'formie' status for the duration of their Form I year. Other activities such as remembering the names of all the members of all First Teams of that year, having to carry around bricks and posters in the second week of school, PT sessions, and other fun activities are encouraged. At the end of their second week of school, all formies are assigned a Matric 'Old Pot' who will help and guide that formie through their first few months at the school. The Old Pot/New Pot braaiBraai
The word braaivleis is Afrikaans for "grilled meat."The word braai is Afrikaans for "barbecue" or "grill" and is a social custom in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The term originated with the Afrikaner people, but has since been adopted by South Africans of many...
is held in the first term.
Cadets
Parktown Boys' High School is one of the few schools in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that proudly still continues with the tradition of Cadets and Cadet practice every week. This practice is seen as an exemplary way of instilling discipline and team work into young boys.
Memorial Parade
Parktown conducts a Memorial Parade and Service on the Sunday nearest 11 November (Remembrance DayRemembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
) every year for Old Parktonians and South Africans in general who have died in various conflicts around the world. It is compulsory for all Form Is and IVs to attend.
Interclass Games
To celebrate the school's birthday, interclass games involving touch rugby, chess, soccer, the obstacle course, hockey and numerous other games are held on an interclass basis on the last day of the first term. Boys are encouraged to bond with their classmates and are assigned different colours per class to distinguish themselves from other classes. Everyone is expected to participate and contribute.The First Rugby and Hockey sides to play the Old Boys are announced on this day.
Third Cricket/Hockey v Teachers Matches
Every year a fierce contest of will and sporting prowess takes place between staff and Third Cricket and Hockey sides.The White Blazer
A rumour had swirled around the corridors of Parktown for years concerning the mythical white blazer that was awarded for full colours in sports, academics, and culture, that was displayed outside the headmaster's office. In actual fact it was an Old Parktonian blazer and had had no official place in the school's history.In line with the ethos of holistic education at the school, Parktown introduced the award of the White Blazer in 2010. Although previous Matriculants would have qualified, M. Daniel (2010) was the first recipient of the award.
Old Parktonians
Old Parktonians, men and women, engage with the school(s) on many different levels, and are encouraged to contribute to the development of the school in any way possible, from attending annual reunions to coaching school teams.The Parktonian Foundation, Surgite House, the Parktown Waterpolo Club, a vibrant Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page, the annual Surgite publications and the Old Parktonian Sports Club, all aim to foster a vibrant Old Parktonian Community.
Old Boys' Day
Every year in the first term Old Boys are invited to play against current school First Teams in a variety of sports. The day culminates in a rugby game between the Old Boys and the recently announced First VX. It is said that that if the Old Boys win, the First XV will have a good season, and vice versa.Notable Alumni
Past Maticulants of the school have gone on to be leaders in all fields of South African life, from leaders in commerce, Members of Parliament, renowned academics, SpringboksSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
rugby players, other internationally renowned sportsmen, musicians and artists.
Some of these include:
- Sir Henry BensonHenry Benson, Baron BensonHenry Alexander Benson, Baron Benson was a British accountant best known as a partner of Coopers & Lybrand, an advisor to the Bank of England, his work organising the accountancy profession as president of ICAEW and for the part he played in various Royal Commissions.Born in Johannesburg to...
, President of the ICAEW, Member of the House of LordsHouse of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, - Eric Samson, businessman and founder of Macsteel,
- Ian Davidson (South African politician)Ian Davidson (South African politician)Ian Ormiston Davidson is a Member of the South African Parliament from the Democratic Alliance.- Education :After Matriculating from Parktown Boys' High School, Davidson went to the University of the Witwatersrand where he studied law...
, Member of Parliament and Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, - Dr Bertie Lubner, businessman and philanthropist,
- Wayne FerreiraWayne FerreiraWayne Richard Ferreira is a former tennis player from South Africa. He attended Parktown Boys' High School....
, international tennis player and Olympic silver medalist, - Eric SturgessEric SturgessEric William Sturgess was a South African male tennis player. Eric Sturgess attended Parktown Boys' High School in Johannesburg...
, international tennis player who reached the finals of three Grand Slam singles tournaments and won six Grand Slam doubles tournaments, - Joseph WolpeJoseph WolpeJoseph Wolpe was born on April 20, 1915, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and died on December 4, 1997, from lung cancer. He is one of the most influential figures in behavior therapy....
, psychologist and psychology theorist, - Byron BertramByron BertramByron Bertram , is a former professional tennis player from South AfricaBertram attended Parktown Boys' High School. During his career he won 1 tour doubles title. His career high singles ranking was World No...
, South African professional tennis player, - John Copelyn, Member of Parliament, Trade-Unionist and CEO of Hosken Consolidated Investments,
- David IppDavid IppDavid Andrew Ipp AO QC is the Commissioner of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.Ipp was formerly a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court...
, South African and Australian jurist, - David Soggot, human rights and anti-apartheid lawyer,
- John BurlandJohn BurlandJohn Boscawen Burland CBE, DSc, FREng, FRS is an Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Investigator at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Imperial College London.-Early education:...
, C.B.E., engineer and researcher, - Christo Coetzee, distinguished South African artist,
- Manfred Gorvy, businessman and founder of the Hanover Acceptances Group,
- William Cobbett, South African political author,
- George Getzel CohenGeorge Getzel CohenDr. George Getzel Cohen was born in 1927, attended Parktown Boys' High School and the University of the Witwatersrand and is the founder of Harry's Angels, an innovative flying doctors project which flew specialists from South Africa to Swaziland through the 1970s, bringing free specialist...
, radiologist and anti-apartheid campaigner, Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, - Murray BallMurray BallMurray Hone Ball ONZM , a New Zealand-born cartoonist, has become known for his Stanley the Palaeolithic Hero , Bruce the Barbarian, All the King's Comrades and the long-running Footrot Flats comic series...
, renowned New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cartoonist, - Maj Cornelius Arthur van Vliet, South African Major and Battle of BritainBattle of BritainThe Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
pilot, - Maj Gen Philip Pretorius, South African General,
- George Seddon Harrison, Chemical Engineer and lecturer, University of Stellenbosch and University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape TownThe University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, - Sidney Charles Hossy, surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons,
- Adam KuperAdam KuperAdam Kuper is an anthropologist most closely linked to the school of social anthropology. In his works, he often treats the notion of "culture" skeptically, focusing as much on how it is used as on what it means....
, anthropologist, - Leon David Markovitz, former Mayor of Cape Town,
- E.S. Newson, Springbok cricketer,
- Alfie Hughes, South African soccer captain,
- Abraham Morris Rudolph, paediatrician and Honorary Professor,
- Paul Fryer, Olympic swimmer,
- Miklos Salamon, businessman and chairman of mining houses in South Africa,
- Jack PennJack PennJack Penn , M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.S.., Mil. Dec. M.B.E., S.M., was a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, sculptor and author, who was also for a time a Member of the President's Council in South Africa.-Early years:...
, M.B.E., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, author, and sculptor, - Bradley CarnellBradley CarnellBradley Neil Carnell is a South African retired football defender.-Career:Before joining Karlsruher SC, Carnell played for Borussia Mönchengladbach , VfB Stuttgart , Kaizer Chiefs and Wits University . His greatest success came at Stuttgart where he helped win the league silver in 2003...
, South African football player, - Ralph Zulman, Judge at the Supreme Court of Appeal,
- Percy Baneshik, South African playwright and theatre critic,
- Jackie MeklerJackie MeklerJackie Mekler is a South African long-distance runner. His early life was spent in Johannesburg, where he attended Parktown Boys' High School.He won the Comrades Marathon five times as well as various other marathons around the world. He competed for South Africa in various international games.A...
, South African athlete and five time winner of the Comrades MarathonComrades MarathonThe Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 90 km run in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race...
, - Lloyd Strauss-Smith, opera singer,
- Raymond LouwRaymond LouwRaymond Louw is a leading South African journalist, editor, and media commentator in South Africa.Born in 1926, Louw attended Parktown Boys' High School in Johannesburg. He was the second editor of the influential Rand Daily Mail and has received numerous awards and accolades for his services to...
, journalist, editor and media commentator, - Martin IsraelMartin IsraelMartin Israel was an English pathologist, Anglican priest, spiritual director, and author of numerous books on Christian life and teaching.-Life:...
, pathologist and priest.
Notable academics include:
- Charles FeinsteinCharles FeinsteinCharles Hilliard Feinstein was a noted South African and British economic historian. He was born in Johannesburg, received his early education at Parktown Boys' High School and studied at Witwatersrand University and Cambridge where he completed his doctorate. In 1958, he joined the Department of...
, South African and British economic historian, CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and Harvard Professor, - Laurence Basil Geffen, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Flinders UniversityFlinders UniversityFlinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
, - Charles Isaacson, Emeritus Professor of Pathology, University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the WitwatersrandThe University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
, - Timothy Partridge, Honorary Professor of Physical Geography and ad hominem Professor of Cainozoic and Engineering Geology at the University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the WitwatersrandThe University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
, - Allan Macdonald Sinclair, Honorary Professor of Mathematics Edinburgh University,
- Selig David Saffer, Professor of Neurology.
- Hyman Barney Stein, Professor of Medicine, University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the WitwatersrandThe University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
, - Colin Caro, Emeritus Professor of Physiology, Imperial College LondonImperial College LondonImperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, - Peter Folb, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Cape TownUniversity of Cape TownThe University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, - Percy Grossberg, Professor of Textile Engineering, University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
- Peter Tyson, Emeritus Professor of Meteorology, University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the WitwatersrandThe University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
.
The following Old Parktonians have represented the South African Rugby National Team (the Springboks):
- Johannes Stephanus Albertus Oelofse (1926–1978): Scrumhalf playing 4 tests and scoring 2 tries in 1953 (also known as Hansie Oelofse),
- Alan MenterAlan MenterProfessor Alan Menter MD is an English-born dermatologist, and former flyhalf rugby union player for .-Rugby union:Menter played his first international game on the South African tour of France in 1968. The Springboks won both games...
: Came on as a reserve for the Springboks on the tour matches to France in 1968, - Peter Arnold Cronjé: Outside centre playing 7 tests and scoring 3 tries between 1971 and 1974 and
- Paul Campbell Robertson Bayvel: Scrumhalf playing 10 tests between 1974 and 1976.
- James DaltonJames Dalton (rugby player)James Dalton, born 16 August 1972 in Johannesburg, is a South African rugby union player, who played for the South Africa national rugby union team. He played as a hooker . He was educated at Parktown Boys' High School and Matriculated at Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg, South...
also attended the school for two years until Form II.
Some notable musicians who attended Parktown Boys' High School are:
- Watkin Tudor JonesWatkin Tudor JonesWatkin Tudor Jones , currently known by his stage name Ninja, is a South African rapper, record producer, performance artist and satirist...
(Aka Ninja, Die AntwoordDie AntwoordDie Antwoord is a hip hop group from Cape Town, South Africa, consisting of three members: Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek.-Background:...
) - Craig Hinds (WatershedWatershed (South African band)Watershed is a South African Pop-Rock band, which was founded in Johannesburg in 1998.-History:Most famous for their signature tune 'Indigo Girl' in 2002, Watershed became a 'natural' success when a German radio DJ heard the single whilst vacationing in South Africa and played it on the air in...
) - Trevor RabinTrevor RabinTrevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
, guitarist, composer, vocalist and, more recently, noted film score composer.
Aside from those mentioned above, Old Parktonians have been awarded the C.B.E., M.B.E. or O.B.E.s a number of times, these include:
- H. de la Hunt (M.B.E.), H.H. Greenwood (M.B.E.), J. Selikman (O.B.E.), and J.R. Stewart (M.B.E.)