Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

Twenty four children, aged between four and 14, from the Port Alfred and Grahamstown area gathered at the well-known Three Sisters Horse Trails outside of Port Alfred on Saturday for a day dedicated to having fun with horses. On arrival, the children were sorted into groups according to age and ability and throughout the day teamwork and sharing were the keys to success as they negotiated obstacle courses, played gymkhana games, rode out on the farm and groomed the ponies until they glowed. At lunch time everyone enjoyed healthy, home-made snacks and drinks while Robyn Moolman from Equine Lingo and…

The Wamkelekile Garden at Rhodes University may be small, but it got a big purpose.  By Carey Finn If you’ve been to the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes, you may have spied a tiny garden full of food and life. Squeezed into and around the edges of a red-brick courtyard, the Wamkelekile Garden stands out as a symbol of sustainability and connection. The garden is part of the ELRC’s “Sustainability Commons”, a collection of practical projects that engage diverse groups of people to innovate and learn together about sustainable living. It has been cultivated by staff and students…

A new tendency appears to rearing it’s ugly head in Grahamstown. We live in Park Road and on Tuesdays, when black bags are collected by the municipality, folk from other streets around us are dumping their blacks bags across the road from our house. I have confronted a person doing so and was told they do so because the vagrants and donkeys tear open the bags in front of their house – so they’re now placing the bags for collection in Park Road instead. All this means is that the vagrants and donkeys still tear open the bags but in…

Since 1878, St Andrew’s College and Graeme College have enjoyed a long history of Derby Days and have had many pupils passing through their corridors who are well known in rugby circles, including the likes of Nick Mallett (St Andrew’s), Russell Bennett (St Andrew’s), Hennie Le Roux (Graeme) and Dirk de Vos (Graeme) to name but a few. The two schools have had the longest rugby rivalry in both their histories – for approximately 140 years. The first printed reported rugby match was on 13 April 1878 with Graeme winning by a try to a goal and the St Andrew’s…

This weekend (5 May), the Rhodes University Rifle Range will once again be the venue for Eastern Province Small-Bore Rifle Association Championships. About 40 athletes from around the country are expected to compete in the various classes in one of the biggest and strongest fields in recent years. Last year’s winner, William Reed, and runner up, Basil Human, will be up against fellow Grahamstonian and Rhodes student, Graeme Schmeldt. Schmeldt missed the EP Championships last year, but was in fine form at the National Championships earlier this year, winning a Gold, a Silver, and two Bronze medals in the B-Class.…

Erin Powers, a Grade 8 pupil at the Diocesan School for Girls, has had a very busy start to the 2018 sporting season. In February, after being selected for the Makana U14 Netball Team, the Makana Track & Field team and the Sarah Baartman Track & Field team, Powers won gold in both shot put and discus and silver for javelin at the Makana Track & Field Meeting. She went on to win gold for shot put and silver for discus at the Sarah Baartman District Track & Field Meeting in Port Elizabeth. However, it is in the dance studio…

SPCA Tip of the Week 17 If you are having behavioural problems with your pet, it could relate to anything from excessive energy, a change in the environment or even a health problem. Try understanding your pet and contacting your vet before giving them away because you can’t handle them. The SPCA will never refuse to take in and care for any animal handed in to us and we are the best option if you feel you cannot look after your pet anymore. For more information or advice, please contact Grahamstown SPCA: Please remember for any animal related emergencies and…

By Lorraine Mullins St Andrew’s Prep Grahamstown regrets to report the death of Anthony Hugh Parnell, Headmaster from January 1971 to December 1980, at his home in Kenton-on-Sea on Thursday 3 May. Old Johannian Anthony entered Prep from St Andrew’s School, Bloemfontein armed with a BA (Wits), BA Hons. Cum Laude (UOFS), a Grade 1 rugby referee’s certificate and fresh and critical eyes. With support of the Board of Governors, he made changes to a school steeped in the traditions of 86 years, while suffering under the financial restrictions of declining numbers. Under his leadership the School was extended with…

Ibanathi Jali is a wonder to watch on the sports field. Either on the running track or the rugby field, Jali is always looking to impress. A specialist at the 800m and 1500m distances on the track, Jali was fifth and fourth respectively in the recent district trials. However, it is on the rugby field where Jali really hopes to excel. The fullback, who has also been known to play on the wing, has been selected for the Albany team on occasion, and has had a tremendous rugby career with Nombulelo High School in recent years. When he is not…

A few days ago I found myself chatting with the fine Grahamstown poet Dudu Saki about (naturally enough!) poetry. He feels that sometimes people don’t understand his work because he writes figuratively, using similes, metaphors and other devices, rather than using a straightforward narrative. But isn’t this precisely what poetry does? Not for the sake of obscurity but rather to suggest an unusual relationship between one thing and another. If employed skilfully and creatively, metaphor has the potential to reveal new ways of seeing, new ways of understanding, that plain statement cannot achieve. “Tell all the truth but tell it…