Highbury Old Boys

Don't forget!
The Highbury Old Boys Reunion is happening THIS SATURDAY 20 June 2026 at Spirit Day!
RSVP: https://hps.devman.co.za/devman/register/55779/

• 09h00 - Gather in the Chapel for a welcome from Headmaster, Mr Roland Lacock.
• 10h00 - School walkabout and the chance to support our boys as they take on Cordwalles in rugby and Benjamin Pine in soccer.
• 12h00 - Old Boys Reunion at the Cricket Pavilion with eats, drinks, and plenty of time to catch up and share memories

As we celebrate 35 years since the Class of 1991 left Highbury, we are shining a spotlight on Hilton Greig.

Hilton was a member of Mr Paddy Collins' Grade 8 class (then known as Standard 6) and immersed himself fully in school life throughout his years at Highbury. A boarder with many fond memories of his time at the school, Hilton served as a monitor, played front row for the 1st XV rugby team, was goalkeeper for the 1st hockey team, sang in the choir, and proudly represented Duff's House in numerous sporting activities.

Like many boarders, Hilton's Highbury years were filled with unforgettable experiences. He recently shared a wonderful collection of photographs capturing life at Highbury in 1991 including 1st Team Rugby, the Zululand Tour, Tugela River rafting adventures, and the much-loved Mr Godfrey. More than just photographs, they capture the spirit of friendship, adventure and camaraderie that has long been part of the Highbury experience.

He recalls early morning hot cocoa followed by prep, skateboarding on the basketball court, playing marbles, building forts, running through the azalea bushes, and enjoying social tennis and touch rugby in the mist. Other cherished memories include squash and gymnastics at Kearsney College and bunking out of the dormitory for a swim on the last night of term.

The Greig family's connection to Highbury spans generations. His father, Roger Greig (Class of 1958), uncle, Tim Greig (Class of 1962), and brother, Norman Greig (Class of 1995), are all Highbury Old Boys, making the school an important part of the family's story.

After Highbury, Hilton attended Hilton College before pursuing a path that combined his passions for leadership, ministry and music. He worked for a record company, toured with bands during the late 1990s, released solo projects, and later became lead singer and guitarist for 24 Skies. Their debut album, Endless Anthem, received a South African Music Award nomination. Through his music, Hilton has travelled extensively across Africa, the USA, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Today, he serves as Executive Head of Open Skies Collective, a network comprising three churches and three non-profit organisations. He and his wife, Giannina, are also the lead pastors of Open Skies Church - Kloof. Together they have four children.

Hilton has remained closely connected to Highbury. He was the guest speaker at the 2016 Highbury Awards Evening and recently returned to address staff at a chapel service at the start of Term 2.

This year marks 35 years since the Class of 1991 left Highbury so celebrate this milestone and join the Highbury Old Boys Reunion on 20 June as part of Spirit Day! RSVP: https://hps.devman.co.za/devman/register/55779/

Fifteen years after leaving Highbury, Jared Meyer's words capture something many Old Boys would agree with - The lessons learned on the sports field, in the classroom, in the boarding houses and through friendships often prove just as valuable as anything found in a textbook.

This year, the Class of 2011 celebrates its 15-year Highbury reunion, and we would love to welcome Jared and his classmates back to where their journey began. Join us on Saturday, 20 June for the annual Highbury Old Boys Reunion as part of Spirit Day. Reconnect with old friends, revisit familiar corners of the school and celebrate the bonds that have stood the test of time.

RSVP here: https://hps.devman.co.za/devman/register/55779/

John Pampallis (Class of 1962) passed away earlier this month, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

At Highbury, John was a dedicated boarder student from 1955 to 1962 and a budding pianist, who could often be heard practising Beethoven’s Für Elise in the music rooms. In his final year he was part of the scholarship class - a reflection of his academic commitment and character. During school holidays, he and his friends would watch Elvis Presley films before heading to his father’s coffee bar for free hamburgers and double-thick malted milkshakes.

His passing has been widely noted, including a recent Daily Maverick tribute, which reflects on his strong foundation at Highbury and a lifelong contribution to education in South Africa. We remember John with respect and gratitude for the incredible impact he made in education and public life.

Daily Maverick tribute to John Pampallis:
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-09-john-pampallis-the-man-who-fought-apartheid-with-a-textbook/

This Sunday, 14 June, over 21,000 runners will take on the ultimate human race - the Comrades Marathon. If you are a Highbury Old Boy, past or present parent, member of staff or friend of Highbury taking on this incredible challenge, we wish you the best of luck and would love to cheer you on.

Please send us a photo of yourself or your running kit, along with your Comrades race number, so we can support you on race day. And once you’ve crossed that finish line, don’t forget to send us a pic. We would love to celebrate your achievement with the wider Highbury community. Email [email protected].

Good luck to all our runners - we are behind you every step of the way!
Jamais Arriere - Never Behind!

From Dux of Highbury to acclaimed author, Imraan Coovadia (Class of 1983) has built a remarkable career shaped by curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning.

In his final year at Highbury, Imraan was named Dux and received Std VI prizes for Latin, Mathematics, Public Speaking and English, as well as the Highbury Closed Scholarship to Hilton College. In his Dux speech, he reflected on his years at the school, describing Highbury as "a home away from home".

Today, Imraan lives in Cape Town and is one of South Africa's most celebrated writers, academics and public intellectuals. A graduate of Harvard College, he is the Director of the Creative Writing Programme at the University of Cape Town and has taught 19th-Century Studies and Creative Writing at several universities in the United States. As a novelist, essayist and academic, Imraan's work has earned widespread recognition. His writing has received numerous awards, including the Sunday Times Fiction Prize, the University of Johannesburg Prize, the M-Net Prize and a South African Literary Award for Non-Fiction.

We are delighted to add his latest novel, A Spy in Time, to our Highbury Authors Collection, where it will inspire a new generation of readers, thinkers and storytellers.

Imraan shares: “Some of my most treasured memories of Highbury are simply having the chance of reading in the sunshine in the middle of quiet afternoons when most of the other boys were playing rugby. At quite a difficult time in the history of the country, when my own parents were very involved in political affairs, Highbury was in certain respects a safe place for reading. And I still remember teachers like Mr. Kerley for their mixture of affection, intelligence, and scepticism."

Thank you, Imraan, for continuing to make the Highbury community proud. Your achievements are a wonderful reminder of where a love of learning, nurtured from an early age, can lead.

If you are a Highbury Old Boy who has published a book or two, please get in touch. We are building our Highbury Authors Collection, and would love to feature your book!

This year marks 50 years since the STD 6 Class of 1976 left Highbury, and we look forward to welcoming you back on Saturday, 20 June, to celebrate the friendships, memories and cheer on the current Highbury boys at Spirit Day 09h00 - 13h00. Join Mark Meyers, Tooky Johnson, Richard Cole and Steven Moor for a Highbury Old Boys reunion as part of Spirit Day at Highbury.

RSVP here: https://hps.devman.co.za/devman/register/55779/

Your final year at Highbury was one to remember. Under the leadership of Mr Sholto McMillan, the school was alive with ambition and energy, not least the exciting construction of the new Resources Centre library extension, a landmark project for Highbury's future.

Beyond the classrooms, school life in 1976 was rich and varied, with boys involved in the Debating Society, Trout Club, Radio Highbury, the Junior Scripture Club and the Swop Shop, alongside the full programme of sport and activities that made boarding life so memorable. A highlight of the year was the trip to Waterford-Kamhlaba School in Swaziland, where 16 Std 5 and 6 boys spent an extraordinary weekend living, learning and competing alongside boys of different backgrounds. Your year also saw a remarkable 1st XI cricket side go through the season winning 12 out of 13 completed matches, while the Under 11 rugby team was equally impressive, going through their entire season of 12 matches unbeaten.

Robinsons' House had a particularly strong year, claiming the House Trophies for Tennis, Cricket and Hockey, while Escombes' dominated Athletics, winning the Inter-House competition and the C**k House trophy.

Jamais Arriere

Nine years ago, a little Grade 2 boy left this message written on the board in the Highbury Library: “The library is the best place to go when you’re feeling bored because books can be your friend.”

Simple words, written with complete sincerity, and yet they capture something timeless about what a library should be.

For generations of Highbury boys, the library has been a place of discovery, imagination, comfort, and curiosity. A place where stories become companions, where knowledge opens doors, and where boys quietly begin shaping the way they think about the world around them.

As we launch the Highbury Library Legacy Appeal, moments like this remind us why this project matters so much. Our vision is to create a modern, inspiring library that continues to nurture a love of reading and learning for generations still to come, while also preparing boys for a future shaped by technology, artificial intelligence, and rapid change.

The planned upgrade will include:
• A modernised IT and Robotics area
• A contemporary library and study space with reading nooks and new shelving
• A dedicated storytelling area for younger boys

The library was last significantly updated in 1980, and with the support of our Highbury community, we hope to transform this important space once again.

Please donate via our online giving page:
https://hps.devman.co.za/Devman/librarylegacy/giving/

Donors contributing R20,000 or more will be recognised on the Library Legacy Plaque, while all supporters will be acknowledged in a commemorative Library Legacy Book celebrating the history and future of this special space.

All donations are tax deductible through the Highbury Education Trust, a registered Public Benefit Organisation, and Section 18A tax certificates are available.