The Chronicle 2022

programme which ran between 2014 and 2018, the publication of Daniel Dolpire’s coffee table book The Sentinels and, most importantly, the training of conservation educators and an educational programme raising the awareness of conservation in many underprivileged schools. Jon has generously given of his time to his beloved Michaelhouse, playing a principal role in the establishment of the Weaner Scheme which has allowed many Old Boys to enjoy the opportunity to send their sons to Michaelhouse. He served on the Michaelhouse Board for two terms of four years each, taking charge of the Buildings and Grounds portfolio and playing a significant role in the process regarding transformation and social development. Similarly, Jon served on the Clifton Nottingham Road Board for ten years and was Chairman for four years and he served on the St Anne’s Board for four years. Jon is a man of integrity and compassion. He is committed to his beliefs and has given selflessly of his time without asking for anything in return. He is a community-minded person who metaphorically rolls up his sleeves in the support of others, particularly those young people in the realm of education. He is a most worthy recipient of the St Michael Award. The immediate success of these early courses in training boys to become leaders was followed by successive courses, each building on gained experience, innovative ideas and all-round improvement in standards, recognising the need for scouting to keep abreast of new developments in a changing South Africa. From 1959, he held various positions, including that of Area Commissioner, KwaZulu-Natal and he became National Commissioner for Training South Africa and Chief Scouts Commissioner South Africa (1995 – 1999). He was also awarded the Long Service Medal for 40 years of service to Scouting. Dudley is a holder of the Wood Badge which is the highest achievement awarded to Scouters, registered Rovers and persons holding designated or Honorary Rank who complete respective courses of training. Wood Badge holders are seen as Scouting’s elite group. He is also a recipient of the Order of the Silver Protea , awarded by Scouts South Africa for distinguished service. His contribution to the Scouting movement in South Africa has been further recognised by the award of The Silver Springbok for Distinguished Service and inclusion in the list of ‘Legendary Leaders in Scouting’ . Apart from scouting, Dudley also served loyally for many years as an administrator in the Natal Schools’ Swimming and Diving Asscociation. Dudley Forde has proved himself an outstanding leader in the field of education. His headmasterships progressed from him the founder of the Patrol Leaders’ Training Unit.

plots within a 6.9ha subdivision of Fordoun . He set up a village committee which meets often to regulate the operation of the village and to ensure that its residents are cared for in an effective way. The costs to Fordoun in realising this project was over R3million and underlined the fact that the ethos of Fordoun was that of giving and sharing. For this rural village development, Fordoun was recognised when Jon received a Govan Mbeki Award for rural community development in 2015. In Nottingham Road itself Jon played a leading role in the Nottingham Road Relief feeding programme during the Covid lockdown in 2020. He is now a director of Love Notties NPC which is involved in humanitarian and environmental projects in the village and surrounds. Jon Bates has also made a significant contribution to conservation. Initially he donated land and buildings towards the establishment of the Usher Conservation Centre adjoining Fordoun . This was the embryo of what was to become the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Conservancy, an area of some 462 hectares bordering the Nottingham Road village. In particular, Jon was the driving force behind raising most of the funds for the Wattled Crane isolation rearing facilities and management eginald Dudley Forde was born in Johannesburg on 20 April 1940. His junior schooling was at Clifton, Nottingham Road, followed by his senior schooling years at Michaelhouse in Balgowan. He then studied further and, in 1964, he was the Student of the Year at the Durban Teachers’ Training College. Dudley holds four degrees from the University of Natal and UKZN: a BComm; BA (Hons); MA in the Philosophy of Leadership and, in 2011, he was awarded a Doctorate for his thesis: Minds and Hearts: The Role of the Teacher as a Leader in the Classroom . If there is one word that defines Dudley Forde, it is ‘Leadership’. He is well known in most spheres concerned with leadership training and has published several papers on his studies and practical work in this area. Dudley has devoted a significant part of his life to altruistic work in the realm of leadership: training leaders in the fields of scouting, education and community. He has served on the boards of schools, community organisations and education trusts where he has worked tirelessly for no financial reward. His wisdom and advice continues to be sought by numerous organisations operating in these fields. Throughout his entire career he has inculcated strong values of leadership, discipline, and commitment in young people. He ran his first leadership course at the age of 19 in the early days of his long association with the Scouting Movement of South Africa. One of the long term results of this was that Dr Forde became R

DR REGINALD DUDLEY FORDE (PASCOE, 1956)

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