A group of Oribi boys recently came across a letter stashed under the floorboards in one of the hostel’s rooms.
It was written and signed by 10 Grade 10s in 1997 and placed in a hole. The idea was that anyone who finds it from then on should add his name, and some small item, and close it up again.
In the hole when they placed the letter there were items that has been put there down the years, including a cricket pad belonging to NR Weightman, who was a very good cricketer in the 1960s. He took 6/35 vs Parktown and 5/25 vs Highlands North in 1960; and made 114 vs Potchefstroom High School for Boys in 1961.
There were also sweet wrappers, priced at 2 and a half cents; and a toy with the name “n!
The 1997 authors noted that Mr Quail had retired and Mr George Currin was the acting headmaster; and, of course, they complained about the hostel food. All of it written in cursive, with the standard poor spelling.
It has been decided that there were too many risks involved in having a hole below the floorboards in the house, so it has been filled in and the tradition will not be continued. Instead, the letter of the Oribi Grade 10s of 1997 has been framed and will be hung on a wall in the hostel.
Oribi is our oldest house – established in 1913 – it has a rich history and G Bushney, N Robins, C Baclhou; J Trollope, J Tofas, C Torley, W Knoesen, G Berretta, A Aeires and C Garden tried to add to it in 1997. T Sebatana and S Robins took it a bit further this year.
