Woodridge 30-Year Reunion Visit

A few days after returning from the UK to our yacht in the Seychelles, I left my family to attend my 30-year reunion at my old school, Woodridge, just outside Port Elizabeth. My wife often wonders why I have such a strong connection with the school and many of my former classmates. The truth is, I spent my entire school life at Woodridge. As a full-time boarder from the age of five, I spent far more time at school than at home, and when I look back at my childhood, it’s mostly school memories that stand out. Not all those memories are fond, but they are certainly vivid.

But before I could visit the school I had two days free to meet a few of my best friends on Stuart Curtis farm near Adelaide in the Winterberg mountains of South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Grant Paxton was also there but Riem (Bernard) Taljiaard was sadly missed because of the passing of his Dad. He was a wonderful farmer, father and husband. He was always amazing, kind and generous to me. And I will always remember him fondly. My love goes out to the whole family. 

On the farm we spent two days hunting Kudu bulls but found none. I had one shot at a Red Hartebeest but sadly a wire got in the way. Dont ask. Long story but great excuse I guess. 

Over the years, I have attended several reunions—10, 20, 25, and now 30 years—but for some reason, this one felt the most meaningful. I have always harboured some regrets, pain, and unresolved issues with the school. I think I’ve been a bit angry about the way the system worked and how I felt throughout my school life. While I won’t delve into the specifics of the pain and hardships I experienced, I will say that my school life was not all sunshine and roses, as I’m sure some others might also feel. I also recognise that a significant part of the reason was my own doing. I was certainly no saint and often rebelled against the system. I must have been a challenging student to manage, and I truly regret any difficulties I may have caused for the teachers.

Despite these feelings, the school remained a crucial part of who I became. The lessons I learned at Woodridge gave me a solid foundation for life. I’ve always approached things with full commitment, and Woodridge imparted some incredibly valuable life lessons.

Circle of Life: Borrowing from my favourite movie, “The Lion King”, I appreciate how everything is interconnected. Nothing changes without a cause-and-effect relationship, and our environment is at risk from human impact. Woodridge, with its strong connection to nature, exposed me to this concept more deeply than any other school I’ve seen. The core philosophy is that nature should be respected, and our actions have direct consequences. Farmers, for instance, understand how their actions affect their yield. We cannot mistreat nature and expect no repercussions.

Help Yourself: This lesson, while a credit to the school, also highlights a slight critique. Learning to look after oneself is crucial, and I learned this at Woodridge simply out of necessity. It taught me that there’s no substitute for hard work, and relying on others is not always an option. If you put in the effort, others will support you if you’re on the right path.

AQ (Adversity Quotient): This concept, which is about not giving up when things seem bleak, taught me the importance of persistence. Just try harder when you feel all is lost.

Friendship: Boarding school in the bush for an extended period definitely forges unbreakable bonds. I treasure the friendships I built at Woodridge, and many of those friends remain some of the best in my life.

Woodridge is set in the most breathtaking environment. As a child, I didn’t always appreciate these nuances, but as I’ve grown older, I realise how fortunate I was to spend 12 years there. There truly is no place like Woodridge.

Finally, I had the privilege of speaking to the current students at the school. To my mild annoyance, a few of my old classmates also attended, making it feel like I was back in school. Although I frequently speak in public and usually feel comfortable, I was quite nervous on this unique day. I spent weeks preparing my speech, reflecting on my childhood and career to find the right words. I’m pleased to say that my words seemed to resonate with some of the students, who later thanked me—ironically, they were the naughty ones!