Going beyond the call of duty

A popular and instantly recognisable figure at Kingswood College is security official Mini-Meyer Dial – stationed at the main entrance to the school.

Employed by Grahamstown-based Hi-Tec Security, Dial has been at his present post for the past three years and such is his passion and commitment to his duties that it has inspired numerous letters of commendation from parents of pupils, as well as a Service Recognition Certificate from Kingswood.

Parents have also shown their appreciation for Dial’s dedication to his duties by writing to his employers. Married with five children, Dial says what he enjoys the most about his job is helping and protecting the pupils of both Kingswood College and Kingswood Junior School.

“I work the 6am to 6pm shift, and one of my first tasks each day is to help the smaller children across the pedestrian crossing from their boarding houses to the dining room for breakfast.”

All the junior school pupils know him as a kind, caring and helpful man with a huge smile – they fondly refer to him as Mr Dial. One of the junior school teachers says the children feel safe when Dial is on duty.

In winter months he waits until the junior pupils have finished supper and then sees them back safely to their boarding houses.

Dial has wiped tears, assisted children lost on the sprawling campus and taken pupils with sore tummies to the school sanatorium.

The smartly uniformed security official is often seen collecting items left behind by pupils after school, chapel and sport, and places them in safe-keeping.

“I know most of the pupils, and return the items to them personally,” he said. But it is not only during school hours that Dial can be encountered at the main gate.

At home rugby matches he can be seen walking slowly and watching all thetime as he meanders around the fields and the campus. He says:“It is my job to look after the children and the school, and I love my work.”