The 2025 Chronicle

primary schools. Together they created the school’s first professional marketing presentation, which was used at promo tional evenings. John also won over his old preparatory school, St Peter’s, which up till then had been lukewarm about Mi chaelhouse’s recruitment efforts. Places were found at Michaelhouse for the sons of three St Peter’s masters. These boys reported back very favourably to their parents, who then provided positive re ports on Michaelhouse to the St Peter’s community, with the result that St Peter’s soon became a major feeder school. The net effect of the Jardine/Anderson part nership was that Michaelhouse was re stored to full numbers within two years. In 1982 John was elected national presi dent of the Michaelhouse Old Boys’ Club, and in 1990 he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the school, a posi tion that he held for two full terms, end ing in 1998. In the early years of John’s tenure as a governor, he was heavily involved in fund raising for the school’s centenary appeal. Always his own man, he was never shy to put forward his views at Board meetings, famously proposing that girls be admitted to Michaelhouse. This was a losing battle, but his propos al to name the roads on the estate after past Rectors was passed unanimously. It may seem that John’s interests were confined to matters associated with Mi chaelhouse, but this was not so. He was passionate about bird shooting, flying (he had his own small plane), training of dogs for field work, and fly fishing. John was president of the SA Field Trial Asso ciation and attended the world champi onship event in France. For many years, John owned a property at Olifants River Game Reserve. The reserve was very close to John’s heart and he served on the board for several years. His close friend of over 60 years, John Mowat, re lates: “I will always remember John for his wry and self-deprecating sense of humour – he had the ability to see the amusing side of any situation. He was an accomplished raconteur, and his exploits and experiences in his early hunting, shooting and fishing days, and his later bush adventures, were the subject of many a hilarious after-dinner tale.” John believed passionately that the owners of properties in the Balule area of the bushveld should support the up liftment of local communities. As a re sult, John founded the Balule Outreach Trust and remained its chief protagonist and fund raiser until his death. Over the

elected a prefect in his House and was appointed vice-captain of the school’s swimming team. He also represented Pi etermaritzburg schools in swimming. After school, John completed his compul sory military service before enrolling for a BCom at Wits. In 1966 his uncle persuad ed him to gain wider business experience and he joined the packaging giant Barlow Weyerhaeuser. Three years later he was transferred to Durban, where he met the beautiful and vivacious Jenny Keal. They were married in 1970 and began a part nership of remarkable happiness and shared purpose lasting 54 years. Around this time, John received a call from his father inviting him to join his business, Afgen, a small company sup plying laser and mining equipment. John was thrown in at the deep end – his fa ther promptly departed on a three-month trip to the United States. Over time, John took control of the business and as CEO was intimately involved in the company’s operations until the time of his death. John’s involvement with Michaelhouse was rekindled in 1969 when Mike Rosholt (Founders, 1937), the CEO of the Barlow group, asked him to assist in revitalising the Old Boy activities in Johannesburg and to support the marketing of the school. John joined the Johannesburg Branch committee and subsequently became its chairman. The highlight of the branch’s calendar was the annual dinner. John no ticed that attendance at this dinner was declining alarmingly and decided to hire Glenda Kemp, the well-known topless ar tiste, and her python, Oupa, to perform at the next dinner. Despite some muttering from the old guard, the attendance at the dinner smashed all records and was a rip-roaring success. With regard to the marketing of Michaelhouse, John organ ised numerous functions and prospective parents evenings. Many of these were held at John’s home, with Jenny taking on the brunt of the catering duties. When Neil Jardine became Rector of Michaelhouse in 1978, the school was some 70 boys short of full capacity and Neil was charged by the Board with fill ing the school. Having heard of John’s achievements in marketing in Johannes burg, Neil approached John and asked him to work closely with him on recruit ment. Thus began a partnership which was to prove remarkably successful. John organised for Neil to meet head masters, not only of traditional Transvaal feeder schools, but also of government

years, despite considerable opposition at times, John built the trust into a sub stantial operation with involvement in five main projects: • The Sigagule Child Care Centre – funding a clinic and three class rooms and providing after-school lessons in maths, English and envi ronmental sciences. • The Maseke Drop-in Centre – pro viding meals for disadvantaged and orphaned children. • Lizvic Cleaning Services – providing support and mentorship to a local entrepreneur. • Enviro Training Africa – funding a lec ture room and bursaries for young people wishing to pursue a career in field guiding. • Southern Cross School – funding bursaries for promising students. John also took a keen interest in politi cal developments in South Africa. In the 1977 general election, John worked for the Progressive Party in Randburg, can vassing for Horace van Rensburg. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Progressive Party candidate was elected. Later, John became chairman of the 1926 Club, a well-known non-profit organisation which arranged talks and debates on public affairs, primarily politics, under the Cha tham House Rule. John had the honour of delivering the vote of thanks after Presi dent Mandela had addressed the club. For several years John suffered from se vere back pain. In the end, doctors dis covered that he had developed tumours on his parathyroid glands. This condition inhibited sufficient calcium from being delivered to John’s body which, in turn, re sulted in a severe and continuous deterio ration of the bones in his back and neck. Over the years the vertebrae in John’s back fused, leaving him unable to lift his head. John put up with this very painful and debilitating affliction for the rest of his life, but was never heard to complain. The courage, determination and dignity shown by John was quite extraordinary. Above all, John Andreson was a man of principle – a rare quality indeed. He could not stand by in the face of injus tice. His loyalty, integrity, humour and love of people earned him countless friends who will all miss him immensely. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jenny, and his children, Deirdre, Lucy and Niall, of whom he was justly proud. Written by Jamie Inglis

227