Photographs from The Falcon 1982
The first photograph in this edition of The Falcon reminds us that we certainly didn't always have the modern facility for recording and storing practically limitless hours of video on what are now pretty much ubiquitous mobile phones. The piece of kit in the photograph was a recent acquisition by the College, and what better way to record the proverbially exciting races on Founders' Day?
There were fewer College Prefects in 1981 than the previous year, but DET could always be relied on to make the right decisions in this regard. Looking at the young men chosen to take on this responsibility, I think we would have been confident to see some strong leadership.
After the bush war was over and the legitimacy of our government was recognised internationally, we were able again to recruit staff from overseas. The first post-independence appointment in this category was Mike Dobson to teach Music. His first foray into the world of musicals was The Dracula Spectacula written by John Gardiner with music by Andrew Parr. We were joined by girls from Montrose Girls' High School in Bulwayo and production standards were high. Easily identifiable in the two photographs below is Thomas Rudd who played Count Dracula. Another cast member of note was one David van Wyk, the College's current Headmaster. But in this incarnation he was one of the Zombies! The Zombie on the left in the second photograph was John Siyachitema My contribution to the production was the special effects, amongst which were various explosions and evil-coloured solutions. I shudder to think what today's Health and Safety executives would have to say about the means used to get the desired results. One special effect which was achieved entirely fortuitously: the production was, of course, in the old school hall, which was a favourite haunt of bats. They did not let us down, and added considerable ambience during the show!
The photographs of the 1981 teams followed in the sequence below.
Outdoor activities continued to play an important part in College life as evidenced by the following three photographs, firstly of a boy abseiling, then the ever popular Woodsmoke Club, and finally the hugely popular pursuit of falconry illustrated here by Ian Blevin with his black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris).
Finally we had photographs of the December 1981 Exploration Society Expedition to the Okavango, led by John Stakesby-Lewis, Tony Davey and Tony Gane. Below we see an item essential to basic comforts: loading the fridge.
Crossing a mopane pole bridge.
A mole rat.
Two photographs of Commerson's leaf-nosed bat.
And finally, four photographs of the crossing of an Okavango channel by pontoon.
