The streets of Grahamstown came to life on Friday when St Andrew’s Prep held the first of its 125th birthday celebrations as they paraded from St Andrew’s Prep to Church Square.
Preppies, old preppies, teachers and parents marched through town excitedly waving flags with the St
Andrew’s crest printed on them accompanied by floats, vintage cars and a donkey cart.
The streets of Grahamstown came to life on Friday when St Andrew’s Prep held the first of its 125th birthday celebrations as they paraded from St Andrew’s Prep to Church Square.
Preppies, old preppies, teachers and parents marched through town excitedly waving flags with the St
Andrew’s crest printed on them accompanied by floats, vintage cars and a donkey cart.
The floats included a colourful cake, a 125th birthday panel, a Land Rover with canvas banners and a float made by the pre-primary kids which was drawn on a donkey cart.
The parade congregated at Fairlawn Field and made its way to Church Square along Somerset Street and High Street with many passersby applauding as the parade went past. DSG and St Andrew’s pupils lined the street outside St Andrew’s, shouting “Happy birthday!” before joining the parade.
The parade ended in Church Square where St Andrew’s Prep headmaster, Graham Gooden thanked the
various schools in Grahamstown for their involvement and support.
Makana Council speaker Rachel Madinda accepted a framed collage from the school and The Dean of the
Cathedral, Andrew Hunter spoke of the significance of the event and said how all involved were part of history.
Friday’s celebration, held on the actual day that Prep started 125 years ago, was to involve and bring the celebrations to the Grahamstown community. Other 125th celebrations include a Sport for All conference for primary school coaches and teachers in March, while a reunion celebration is scheduled for September.
The schools also handed over a number of books (collected by the pupils) to the Community Library in
Currie Street, while hundreds of tennis balls were handed to the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and
Culture.
After the parade, two birthday cakes were cut by the Folds family to show the generations of pupils who have come through St Andrew’s Prep. Bill, his son William and grandson Daniel cut a cake at the City Hall,
while Bill’s wife Heidi and their two daughters Amy and Laura simultaneously cut a cake at Fairlawn Field.
The cakes were donated to Somerset Place and Eluxolweni Shelter.
