The 2023 Chronicle

for London, where he played for the club Harlequins for a few seasons before an injury saw him hang up his rugby boots. During his time in London, Chris started working for a large events management company where he worked his way up to management level. He also met his Australian wife, Julia, in London and they were married in 2006. They travelled extensively throughout the UK and Europe but decided to relocate to Western Australia, where their son Nicholas was born. Chris took up an exciting position working for the Western Australian government as an advisor to farmers throughout the state. He loved his job as it would take him to far-flung places where he met all sorts of different people and got the chance to get to know the “Aussie outback”. Weekends would see Chris back out on the rugby field, where he got involved in coaching and mentoring young players. Chris’s son Nicholas has inherited his love of rugby and is excelling in the U15 ranks at the moment. Chris never lost his love of South Africa and always planned to bring his family back on holiday, so they could see it for themselves. He is greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. ROBERTS, FREDERICK ANTHONY (TONY) SKELTON Born 1931, Died 2023 Michaelhouse, 1945-1949 Born in Germiston, Tony attended Parktown Preparatory School and then Michaelhouse from 1945-1949. He was a prefect, First XI hockey captain, played First XI cricket, Second XV rugby, and was Farfield House Captain. Tony studied accountancy at Wits University and did his articles in Durban, where he then worked, and met his wife, Wendy Ernst. They were married in Durban in 1961. He was transferred to Johannesburg and spent most of his working life with South African Breweries. He played hockey for Southern Transvaal and Natal (captain).

on Fire Team and a flypast of two spotter aircraft and a Working on Fire helicopter. He died from complications of surgery in Tzaneen Mediclinic on 7 August. He is deeply mourned by his wife Mariska (née Barnard) and children Zané, 18, Matthew, 16, and Sarah Leigh, 10. He also leaves behind his parents, Robin (OM 1958-1962) and Dale, sister Shaneen Kryza (née Phillips, Kingsmead College) and brother Douglas (Tatham, 1991-1996). PITTS, CHRISTOPHER (PITTSIE) Born 1975, Died 2023 Michaelhouse, 1990-1993 Chris, or Pittsie as he was known by his friends, died suddenly in Perth, Australia, on 30 March, leaving behind his beloved wife Julia and son Nicholas. Chris spent his formative years at Clifton, Nottingham Road, where he developed a deep love for the outdoors and for wildlife. His wicked sense of humour ensured that he made many friends which remained constant throughout his life. Chris then joined his older brother Mike at Michaelhouse in 1990, where he spent many hours playing water polo and developing a love for rugby. Chris played for the first team in his matric year of 1993. Chris’s love of the outdoors saw him embark on a career of game ranging and tour guiding as soon as he left school. He was in his element in the bush and loved entertaining gullible tourists with far fetched stories around the campfire. Chris then decided to join his brother back in Johannesburg as a partner in a distribution business and a small- scale farming enterprise. The brothers were hopeless business partners but their farm was famous for the parties that were held there nearly every weekend. Many Michaelhouse old boys would attend these get-togethers and much fun was had by all! https://bit.ly/TrevorPhillipsMem

bell-ringer, where he created several tunes and published a booklet recording the available tunes. Some of those tunes are played to this day.

He was refused entry into the school Fire

Brigade, but ironicaly he later in life became a leading national expert in wildfires and their management. He joined a forestry company in Haenertsburg and attended Saasveld College, where he received his Diploma in Forestry, this was converted to a BTech in Forestry when the college achieved university status. He worked as a forestry manager and became an independent forestry consultant until his death. Trevor was extremely active in the Haernertsburg and Tzaneen community, where he served on many committees and community forums, and was chosen by the community to be the spokesman, in order to voice community concerns to the State President, Cyril Ramaphosa. He was chairman of the Limpopo Umbrella Fire Association (LUFPA), the Letaba Fire Protection Association and a Member of the National Fire Committee. In those roles he was a leading figure in the implementation of the Working on Fire Teams in the area. He was acknowledged as one of the leading experts in wildfires and their management. He served as an expert witness in several legal cases. A quotation from a colleague: “In my 15 years of working with Trevor, he established and led district and regional fire protection, building the organisations into some of the best in the country. I believe that without him, much less would have been achieved.” His family can be proud of his heritage, and may that knowledge support them in the days that lie ahead. Recognition of his contribution to the community was evidenced at his memorial service, where some 300 people were in attendance. He was honoured with a marching demonstration by a Working

Chris’s love of rugby then saw him leave

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