The 2025 Chronicle

Southern Station, the Radcliffe Observatory (associated with Oxford University) and the Hartebeesthoek Satellite Tracking Station. The latter was built by NASA. Because of the curvature of the Earth, space probes from Cape Canaveral would lose contact with all monitoring positions, except South Africa, for a few vital minutes after take-off. So the Hartebeesthoek sta tion was erected as a vital link in the tracking system. Thus, the Apollo 15 moon landing was partly controlled from Harte beesthoek. All of the above unique aspects of the Magaliesberg have been captured in a series of fascinating books and articles written by Vincent. These include: • The Magaliesberg (1990, 2007, 2014) • Cradle of Life: The Story of the Magaliesberg and the Cradle of Humankind (2019) • Illustrated History of Hartbeespoort Dam (2022) In addition, Vincent has written a captivating series of articles and memoirs under the title of The Magaliesberg Heritage Collection . No review of Vincent’s work would be complete without mention of his wife, Jane. Jane is an outstanding academic and author in her own right. She is currently Emeritus Professor in the De partment of History at Unisa. Jane specialises in environmental history, and her book The Kruger National Park: A Social and Political History has become a standard reference. Jane has been an immense source of assistance and encouragement with Vincent’s work. No person has done more to bring the world’s attention to the unique aspects of the Magaliesberg biosphere. Its recognition by UNESCO is a wonderful achievement for South Africa. It was Pope John XXIII who is reported to have said: “Do not walk through time without leaving worthy evidence of your pas sage.” Vincent Carruthers has given that evidence. You do us an honour in accepting the St Michael Award.

And thank you, Sean, for presenting me with this this wonderful award. Thank you, everyone, for being here to share this occa sion with Kit and Sandy and me. The St Michael Award is a magnificent tribute, and I believe it is a tribute to Michaelhouse itself, just as much as it is to the recipient. Because, as every Old Boy knows, Michaelhouse provided us with much more than a superb formal education. During the four or five years we were here, principles and val ues were established that set the guidelines that shape the rest of our lives. These are the guidelines that have directed us to this occasion today. Now, I must say immediately that I have not always followed those guidelines, and the citation that Lerotholi has just read is mercifully silent about the many times that I have messed up. And regretted it. But it was here at school – in classrooms and laboratories, and especially in the surrounding countryside – that I began to realise and respect the enormous importance of the natural environment. So that later I was able to understand that envi ronmental issues are not peripheral, they are central to human existence, and I could try and do something about it. But no one achieves anything on their own. I have been immense ly fortunate to walk this path alongside colleagues, conservation ists and scientists who are not only leaders in their fields but unbelievably generous in sharing their knowledge and expertise. Top of that list is Jane, my wife. Her intellect, and her unwavering belief in the work we do, has been a constant support. We were both terribly disappointed when her work with the EU conspired against us and she was unable to be here this evening. There is one other thing for which I am immensely grateful: the way this award has brought me into the Michaelhouse commu nity in such a generous manner. That is very special, and very important to me because I am not a very gregarious person. Although I have always been aware of, and proud of, my school, I have not been in close contact with it and I have not attended many Old Boy functions. This is only the second time I have visited Michaelhouse in the 65 years since I left. So thank you, the Old Boys’ Club, for this very warm homecom ing. Thank you, Michaelhouse, for a splendid start to life. And thank you, most of all, for this wonderful honour and recognition.

ACCEPTANCE RESPONSE FROM VINCENT CARRUTHERS

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and everyone gathered here this evening. Thank you, Lerotholi, for that very generous citation.

SANDY INGLIS

Dr Alexander Sandy Inglis (Farfield, 1983) is an international specialist emergency medicine and trauma doctor and a human itarian worker for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He spent a large part of 2024 helping to set up and clinically manage a field hospital in Rafah, Gaza, as part of the humanitar ian aid effort where it was most needed in the Israeli-Hamas war.

help began at an early age. At Michaelhouse he was awarded his Service Tie for community service for, among other things, assisting at Sunfield Home in Howick, where he helped intellec tually disabled residents with their daily activities, and in the Umgeni Valley, where he was part of the invasive bugweed erad ication team. Sandy was selected by his peers to receive the Farfield Fellowship Award in 1983 for his service and human qualities, with the award recognizing “what the House stands for: leadership, humility, service, humanity and kindness”. Later, in September 2017, as the doctor in charge of the emer gency department at a private hospital in Pietermaritzburg, he

Born and bred in KwaZulu-Natal, Sandy’s desire to serve and

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