Cordwalles Preparatory School Old Boys' Club

Cordwalles Preparatory School Old Boys' Club To be a boy’s best Foundation for Life. Cordwalles Preparatory School enrolment has now grown to more than three hundred and sixty boys in 2021.

Cordwalles Preparatory School is situated in Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in the Republic of South Africa. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Baines in 1912 as a direct result of Michaelhouse moving from Pietermaritzburg to Balgowan and needing a preparatory school of its own to ensure its future enrolment. Boarding facilities are available for boys from Grade 4 to 7. Cordwalles is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA). A focus of personal excellence; an emphasis on christian values; long-standing tradition - these are just some of the facets which make Cordwalles Preparatory School a popular choice for young boys. The seventh Headmaster, is Lance Veenstra.

What was it really like to be a Cordies boy more than 70 years ago?Icy cold showers, games of marbles, wartime air-raid ...
18/09/2026

What was it really like to be a Cordies boy more than 70 years ago?

Icy cold showers, games of marbles, wartime air-raid alarms, strict schoolmasters, boarding school mischief and plenty of stories to tell.

We recently sat down with three Cordwalles Old Boys, John Fowler (Class of 1948), Martin Hill (Class of 1952) and Dan Wardlaw (Class of 1952) and asked them to take us back to Cordies in the 1940s and 50s.

Their memories painted a very different picture of school life. John remembers diving under desks during wartime air-raid alarms, Martin remembers it as “just fun all the time,” and Dan recalls plenty of adventures and a little mischief along the way.

But when we asked what they missed most after leaving Cordwalles, all three gave the same answer:
Friends.

More than seventy years later, much has changed. The friendships, the memories and what it means to have been a Cordies boy haven’t. - Stef Ortmann (Archivist)

𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿!The Headmaster, Mr Lance Veenst...
17/09/2026

𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿!

The Headmaster, Mr Lance Veenstra and the staff invite the boys, parents and past staff to the Class of 2021 (Matric 2026) reunion on Sunday, 11 October 2026.

Please RSVP by Friday, 25 September 2026 using this link: https://forms.gle/hUwgAg4EyJKYFtKK7

We look forward to catching up on your adventures and hearing about your future plans.

𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝟮𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴Some friendships never fade - they simply pick up where they left off.Recent...
17/08/2026

𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝟮𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴
Some friendships never fade - they simply pick up where they left off.

Recently, Cordwalles Old Boy Sibusiso Shelembe (Baines, Class of 2000) travelled to the United States carrying something very special in his luggage: a Cordwalles Old Boys’ cap for his lifelong friend and fellow Old Boy, Dr Rhorie “Koos Kombuis” Kerr (Baines, Class of 2000).

Their story began long before they became Cordwalles boys. The pair first met at Sunnylea Pre-Primary before joining Mrs Usher’s Class 0 in 1993. From there, they journeyed through every year at Cordwalles together, graduating as part of the memorable Millennium Leavers of 2000. In 2001, they both headed to Michaelhouse before the Kerr family emigrated to the United States later that year.

Twenty-five years after Rhorie’s departure from South Africa, the two friends were finally reunited in person.

The presentation of the Old Boys’ cap was more than a gift - it was a reminder that no matter where life takes our Old Boys, they remain part of the Cordwalles brotherhood. Across continents and decades, the bonds formed in the classrooms and on the sports fields of Cordwalles continue to endure.

Thank you, Sibs, for proudly flying the Cordwalles flag overseas and helping keep the Old Boys’ connections alive.

Always proud to see our Cordwalles Old Boys making their mark beyond the Cordies gates. ⚽Congratulations to Cordwalles O...
17/08/2026

Always proud to see our Cordwalles Old Boys making their mark beyond the Cordies gates. ⚽

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boys Dumisane Mwakalombe (Class of 2025) and Jayden Wiltwer (Class of 2023) on their selection for the Midlands Soccer teams. Dumisane was selected for the U14 team and Jayden was selected for the U16 team.

If these photos could talk, what stories would they tell?Who crossed the finish line first? Which House was the loudest?...
05/08/2026

If these photos could talk, what stories would they tell?
Who crossed the finish line first? Which House was the loudest? Who insisted they were robbed of first place?

Recently uncovered in our archives, these photos capture Athletics Day at Cordwalles in 1940.

If there's one thing we're sure of, it's this: House pride, fierce rivalry and the determination to beat the other House have been part of Inter-House Athletics Day at Cordwalles for generations.

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boys, Rourke Champkins (Class of 2024) and Jacob Pooler (Class of 2025) on their perfo...
13/07/2026

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boys, Rourke Champkins (Class of 2024) and Jacob Pooler (Class of 2025) on their performances at the Impi Hard Enduro.

Rourke successfully completed the gruelling three-day Bronze Class, and Jacob competed in the Iron Class, climbing from 205th after the time trial to finish 89th overall.

We look forward to cheering them on when they take on the Roof of Africa in September.

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boy, Sahil Naidoo (Class of 2025) on his performance at the National Premier Cricket L...
08/07/2026

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boy, Sahil Naidoo (Class of 2025) on his performance at the National Premier Cricket League in Mpumalanga.

Representing the KwaZulu-Natal Central Rebels, Sahil finished the tournament ranked No. 27 among South Africa's U14 cricketers.

Congratulations on this well deserved achievement. We look forward to following your journey.

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boys, Jim Brooke-Leggatt (Class of 2023) and William Eustace (Class of 2022) on being ...
07/07/2026

Congratulations to Cordwalles Old Boys, Jim Brooke-Leggatt (Class of 2023) and William Eustace (Class of 2022) on being selected for the 2026 South African Junior Boys Polo Team.

We wish you both every success as you represent South Africa at the Junior Internationals.

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗪” 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵? While clearing out the attic at Cordwalles, a space we believe may once have serve...
23/06/2026

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗪” 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵?

While clearing out the attic at Cordwalles, a space we believe may once have served as a dorm for boarders, we stumbled upon something unexpected - an old suitcase marked with the initial “W.” Naturally, one name came to mind, Wilbur Smith.

What makes the mystery even more fascinating is the old Rhodesia sticker still attached to the suitcase, a small clue that caught our attention, as Wilbur travelled between Rhodesia and Natal during his school years.

We couldn’t help wondering what it once carried, school books, cricket gear, tuck or maybe the early sparks of stories that would one day captivate millions.
Sadly, no unpublished manuscripts were found (yes, we checked).

What we do know is that finds like this offer a wonderful glimpse into the rich history of Cordwalles and the many boys who have walked through our red brick arches over the years. - Stef Ortmann (Archivist)

Address

101 Howick Road
Pietermaritzburg
3201

Telephone

+27333423077

Website

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