The 2025 Chronicle

screen while our Aussie friends wondered why thousands of people were watching a school rugby game. We were proud of the win – and deeply regretful we couldn’t storm the field and make some good memories (potentially inappropriate ones) at the red/black after-party. Then, of course, came the C Block Journey. We were geared up to conquer whatever was in front of us. A day did not go by without Funi struggling or complaining about some injury, MJ spat in our food one night, and Matthew Butcher stole all the bar ones – out of hunger, I’m sure. Last year, the boys had finally landed, and we were all ready to be the seniors of the school. With heads down, it was a year in which the boys were now clicking through the gears with ease. Whether it was in the classroom, the cultural sphere or on the sports field, each boy had his own craft going for him. Then finally, 2025. What a year. The show was stolen by Oliver Davis and his Tatham team when they orchestrated the biggest night run in Michaelhouse history. At least 600 boys escaped the Houses to have fun and cause mayhem (with no harm in tended). We all know how that went down. When Mr Gittins put on the school prefect group, “We are not impressed,” we knew we had made history. We truly do apologise, sir. Seeing a mob of boys rush down from the Houses to the fields, whistling and shouting (in hindsight, this was not our smartest move), moving goalposts on to the road and singing “Stars of the Morning” at 11pm on Baileys with their brothers was unforgettable. As was seeing Reily Elliot and Dom Sesink Clee, in the midst of winter and chaos, AND in their speedos. I remember turning to Dom and saying: “Dom, we’re going to be in big trouble tomorrow.” I tried to avoid the wrath of Mr Jeffrey when I was called for roll call. I threw on my gown, acted half asleep, and even shouted at a few boys in the quad to get back to their Houses. Despite the chaos, it showed me how strong the red-and-white DNA is, especially when things are done together. And when things are done to gether, we truly are “Michaelhouse rangers”. To get back to what I mentioned at the beginning of my speech. Only at the end do we truly understand what the Michaelhouse armour means to us. The first four years are a crucial part of that understanding: term by term, year by year, we equip our selves with the armour. In E Block, the belt of truth. It’s the foundation, the moment we learn what it means to be honest with ourselves and each other in a new environment. D Block, the breastplate of righteousness. We see how our choices affect others. We learn to stand up for what’s right and protect the good in ourselves and our Housemates. C Block, we lace up the shoes of peace. It’s a crucial year where we start to find our place in the wider school community. Friendships become stronger, and the importance of unity is instilled in us. B Block, we raise the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. Faith in ourselves, faith in our brothers. It’s the year of leader ship in the making. The shield becomes our protection against doubt. The helmet protects our mind, reminding us to stay hum ble, disciplined and focused as the finish line approaches. And finally, in A Block, the mighty sword of the spirit, symbol ising our readiness to face the world beyond these gates. It is through these years that a Michaelhouse boy is shaped into the man he wants to be.

Michael’s armour. We, like Michael, are fully equipped with the tools we need for battle. Good afternoon, Chairman of the Board, Rector and deputy rec tors, our esteemed guest Mr Inglis, members of staff, parents, members of the Michaelhouse community and men of Michael house. It is a privilege to stand before you all as the Senior Prefect of Michaelhouse. I am profoundly grateful to those of you who have supported me along the way. And, as the Senior Prefect of this great school, I am also sincerely proud of flying the Lesotho flag high. Hence, it is imperative for me to pay hom age to the time I have spent here with my brothers over the past years. This is the biggest address thus far in my life, and according to Ziyanda Hlongwa, “The Senior Prefect has to cry in his speech for everyone to consider it good and memorable. The ones without tears are quickly forgotten.” There is, clearly, a lot on the line today. Big blazers, big hopes. Half a decade ago, the Class of 2025 trudged through the gates and entered the red-brick fortress. Most of us were all clean-shaven (or not really shaving), in nocent young boys from across the country and the world. It was, however, concerning to see the formidable builds of Oliver Bruyns and Sean Erasmus – towering, muscular St Stithians lads who looked more like men than boys. It is with some re gret that I say this: their prime arrived too early. Five years on they’ve barely added an inch. So, 2021 began with uncertainty. Online lessons, quiet quads, no fixtures nor war cries – just life inside the Michaelhouse bubble. Naturally, this was a call to action to make up our own routine, rules and regulations. The only problem was… no one actually followed them. There were golf cart thieves amongst us – Alex Ardé, Jacques le Vieux and friends nearly ran over the Rector on a night run. House kidnappings were the norm. And on a more personal lev el, I still remember the Mackenzie cack run. Naturally, some of us were more prepared than others. The skinny boys like Dillon Lahaye, Sumbi and Louis kept up with the fitness whilst others, like me, could not even do a pull-up. Mr Jeffrey, our newly ap pointed Housemaster, watched from the amphitheatre with his coffee in hand. We thought we knew from that moment that he was not on our side. Despite the chaos the school marched on, teaching us to ap preciate the things that we so often take for granted: fixtures on weekends, supporting on the stands as a school, and just, simply, being with each other. D Block was perhaps the most enjoyable for our group but not so much for the staff. This was the year when we “acted like hooligans” according to Ms McConnell. This was also the year Mr Gittins took office and “cleaned up the school”. His office became the most visited attraction on campus, and I still sus pect it was for our year that iSAMS was signed into the new constitution of Michaelhouse. The situation got so dire that the Senior Prefect, Andrew Davies, punished almost every Grade 9 with earlies in the Main Quad, expect Agang who bunked the earlies. We have come a long way since those days. In no time, C Block arrived. Most of the boys were unscathed going into the year, myself included, until Tinashe Simelane and I escaped Michaelhouse to wreak havoc in the land Down Un der. Little did we know that while we were there Michaelhouse would secure its 100th win against Hilton. Allow me to set the scene: Saturday 17 June, 9pm Aussie time, we were watching the derby in the dorm, cheering like lunatics and yelling at the

29