FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

are under 40. Some of the young Old Boy rising stars include Peter Campbell in the US, Kyle Dutton in Cape Town, Scott Wadeson in the UK, Brendan Bergs in mainland Europe, Mike Scott in East Africa, Nick Tatham in Durban, Mike Stannard in Joburg, as well as Ray Mkhulisi, Teddy Khuzwayo and Ngisana Mngomezulu on the central committee. Be assured there are many, many more. I must add that being young, having lots of energy and knowing how to drive the internet is no prerequisite and is only some of the puzzle. More senior Old Boys have continued to form the bedrock of our club, not least by giving wise counsel and perspective to youth and enthusiasm. Wise heads such as Rich Chennells, Brett Davidson and Wayne Witherspoon, and elder statesman such as Callum Smyth, Chris James, Rick Peacock Edwards and Charles Phillips – to name but a few – remain critical ingredients. Penultimately, our deliberate plan to ensure our club remains relevant and is a force for good has given us a greater sense of purpose. We are looking further into the future than we have ever done. The Board is about to launch the Michaelhouse Generational Plan 2046, a public document that will confirm what Michaelhouse is, what it stands for and the beginnings of a 25-year roadmap that aims to: one, ensure that our school and our club are still here, still needed and still thriving in a generation’s time; two, ensure that Michaelhouse becomes more accessible, not less; and three, ensure that the Michaelhouse of

2046 is the kind of school that the boys of today will want to send their sons to. The part that the club will play will be to continue our journey to realising the club-for-life vision, with an increasing focus on developing “follow-on infrastructure”, which is our ability to bridge the gap – when needed – between boys leaving Michaelhouse and becoming men who are self-sustaining, contributing members of society. Finally, I would like to thank: our patron the Rector for his enduring support; Rich Bates, my vice-president and your president-elect, for going above and beyond for the club every day; Murray Witherspoon for holding the fort and being our front man; Aphiwe Mthalane for being an eternal optimist and giving life to the idea of a “friend-raiser”; Ray Mkhulisi for his unabating completer-finisher dedication to the club and to Michaelhouse; the central committee for your determined service, passion and support; the dozens of Old Boy volunteers around the world who find time in between work and family to make our club what it is; and the 6 950 living Old Boys (and the 2 000 who have passed on to higher service). You are proof that Michaelhouse produces decent men who have contributed – and continue to contribute – to the betterment of humanity. I will dedicate the final year of my presidency to ensuring that those who come after me can build on the small contributions we have made. 202