Letter from Malcom Barker

Dear Headmaster,

Here, as promised, are the photographs of my classes in 1944 (Standard IV), 1945 (Standard V) and 1946 (Standard VI). I’m enclosing the original prints with, on the backs, the lists that I wrote at the time. Also, I’ve enlarged the originals with the lists beneath them, making it easier to identify each one of us. I was born in London in April 1933, so I was only 11,12 and 13 in these photos.

Here, too, is Headmaster Evans’ testimonial for me when I left and returned to England with my mother, brother and sister in July 1946.

As I read on your website the reminiscences/ testimonials of recent students I am reminded of the great loss I felt cutting short my time at DPHS and, subsequently, denying me the opportunity to move on to DHS. I had been there only three years but in that time I had forged strong friendships with boys I would never see again, nor hear from. In particular, I missed Derek Wade and Michael Moon.

During a one-day visit to Durban in February 1975 I took a taxi to visit the old school. I had assumed everything would be as I last saw it 29 years earlier, and was not ready for this stunning contemporary building that now stood in its place. I wandered through the halls feeling so sad, so alien, until I found myself facing a portrait of my headmaster, Dr Evans. I was transfixed! OK, yes, here he is, and here I am. After all these years!

My reverie was broken as a teacher asked if I needed help. I told her I attended classes here in the 1940’s and that this was my first time back – and how sad I was that they had torn down the old school building.

“But we haven’t,” she said. My hopes soared as she took me to where the older building still stood, tucked somewhere around at the back. But it took me a while to realise that here was that huge building I’ve carried in my memory all these years – that it wasn’t so huge after all, just that I was so small! I had to duck down to look into the windows of these tiny rooms with tiny desks.

I then saw the library – a room that had been, for me, the assembly hall. Again I was surprised at how low the ceiling was, and how small the room. It had seemed so huge when we assembled there for morning prayers. The war was still on, and occasionally the headmaster would announce that another convoy of ships from England had been attacked, and several ships sunk. That was our cue to sing “For those in peril on the sea”. Even today, when I hear that hymn, I am back in that school hall with its high ceiling and huge windows.

As I recall, once a week the service, or part of it, was in Afrikaans. But I cannot vouch for this.
Looking at your website, I suspect the old building has since been torn down. Am I right? Do you have any photographs of it and its rooms?

Also, are there any names on my lists that you recognise?

In retrospect, I am so very proud of being “an old boy” of such a fine and well respected school, and I am very glad to send you these original class shots of the 1940s for your archives.

MALCOLM E. BARKER
San Rafael, 94901 –6803
California
USA