Today, I accompanied Phillip to a welcoming session for 7000 odd first year students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) here in Port Elizabeth.
He was in his shorts, t-shirt and slops and I in my jeans, casual shirt and track shoes.
It took me back some 38 years when I started as a first year student at Stellenbosch University in 1976.
I recall my mother driving me to Stellenbosch and joining us at a welcoming dinner for first year students and their parents. I was then wearing a jacket and tie and she was wearing a hat – such was the auspiciousness of the occassion!
I was then the first in the Lunnon lineage to attend a University – part of a select few. If I remember correctly from the speeches today, we were told that from 25 000 applicants only 7000 made the grade this year at NMMU.
So, whatever the dress and wherever the University, it remains an auspicious occasion and a tremendous privilege to be able to attend an institution of higher learning.
It carries with it tremendous responsibilities and awesome opportunities to obtain the richest possible educational experience.
Arguably, the core purpose of a university is knowledge production and its use to make a difference in society.
Good luck, Phillip, the next generation! I must admit a tinge of jealousy today and I wish it were me doing it all over again. With the knowledge I have now, I would do it differently, or would I …?
Dare I hope to be here still when you graduate in 2017 with a B.Eng degree?
Monday 15 October 2012: 6 years 1 month on … Physical Advantage CBD/Mental Deuce
In my very first blog “Three Years On…” written on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, I wrote the following:
“October 2009 and it’s now been three years since I became ill in September 2006. When the illness was diagnosed in February 2007, Professor Carr said that I would, most probably, have another three years of quality life left. It was the morning of 8 February 2007 when he looked at me over his desk – “Go back to PE and enjoy the next three years”, he said, “that’s all you have left.”
I set myself three goals at that stage – firstly, I wanted to see Phillip leave Grey Junior School at the end of 2008 (tick!); secondly, I wanted to attend the 25th reunion of the 1984 Grey matric class in May 2009 (tick!) and then, thirdly, I wanted to be at the valedictory service at Grey High in October 2009.
…
Thursday, last week, was the valedictory service for the matrics of 2009 – the third of my goals and,yes, tick!. With it, came the big announcement of the 2010 prefects. We were proud when Sean’s name was read amongst the group of 21. So Thursday evening meant celebratory pizza’s, Sunday we braaied with the Clarkes (Graeme is Headboy and David, is a prefect too) and Stapletons, and Monday 26 October, saw us at the Induction Ceremony and tea at the school.
…
And I now have to reset my goals – Sean’s valedictory service and lunch at Old Grey (and Barney’s!) in October 2010 and – dare I beat the medical odds and plan so far ahead? – Valedictory 2012/2013 for Phillip!
“I set myself three goals, one of which was to see Sean finish his grade 11 year and enter his matric (Grade 12/Senior) year at High School. That was a year ago now, and I reached that goal quite comfortably. I then set a new goal of attending his Valedictory Service at the end of 2010. I have slowed down and it has been more difficult to get here.
But, here I am, and – thank God – still not severely incapacitated. Although I am aware that the last few weeks have been the most difficult so far, I am still able to manage well.
And, here Sean is, finished with High School and about to write his final examinations over the next six weeks.”
Well, another two years on and I have made it!
This past Friday 12 October 2012, was the valedictory service for the matrics of 2012 and with it, came the “big” announcement of the 2013 prefects.
I am still here – much slower than before, but Thank God, still here for Phillip! I am still able to manage.
As the parents are not told in advance who the prefects will be, we were not present at the announcement. But, within seconds of the announcement, Sean had BBM’d me to give me the good news. When I contacted Pera, she had already been told by the Junior School Headmaster, Lindsay Pearson.
We were proud that this time Phillip’s name was read out amongst the group of 20 odd. But with Phillip in the boarding house and Pera away at Kariega Game Reserve for the weekend celebrations of Sandy Rushmere’s 50th birthday, the celebratory dinner will have to take place next week. On Friday night, Sean and I did the “Barneys” thing!
On Tuesday 16 October we will attend the Induction Ceremony and tea at the school.
This time Lloyd Brown is the Headboy. Congratulations Lloyd. Just that name comes a long way!
I have come many years with the Brown family. In my first year of teaching, Lloyd’s uncle, Lindsay, was in my mathematics class and in the 1984 matric class. The Seiko watch I wear today is a result of the generosity of Linday and that maths class!
Through him, I became friends with (Uncle) Peter and (Aunty) Dr Lorna Brown (Lloyd’s grandparents), Wayne (Lloyd’s father) – then a first year accounting student at UPE – and his girlfriend Janet (Lloyd’s mother), and Duncan (Lloyd’s uncle) who was still at Grey and also one of my erstwhile maths students.
We visited often in Villiers Road – it was a home from home! We (including Dickie Ogilvie and Neil “Tommo” Thomson) attended the opening of the Brown’s Long Room, the 21st parties at Arlington Racecourse and climbed through windows in Villiers Rd in the early hours of the morning when returning from the “beachfront parties” and waking the household – the house was seldom securely locked.
The Opening of the Browns’ Long Room – Villiers Rd, Port Elizabeth
We did the “land support thing” of the Texan Challenge from Port Elizabeth to East London, the Keurbooms River thing, the” Taurus Rising” video series thing and all the “things” and gadgets and foods that Peter bought for his Long Room – he had wireless TV long before any one else had dreamed that it was possible to have a TV set in every room of the house!
In later years, my family and the Brown families have continued those friendships. Shortly after I became ill, I was kindly hosted by Lindsay and Elaine (and their two children Martin and Meggie) at their lovely home in Andoversford, Gloucestershire, near Cheltenham in England .
Sadly, Uncle Peter – who I was also privileged to do the Rotary “thing” with – is no longer with us. Lloyd, I know, like us, your Gampsy is a proud granddad today!
Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian who jumped from a height of some 36km yesterday and in so doing broke four world records (highest manned balloon flight, highest freefall, fastest freefall and longest freefall), said the following:
“Sometimes you have to go up really high to realize just how small you are!”
That is so true in life for any achievement – Headboy, prefect, captain, MD, headmaster, President, whatever. Let us never forget that!
Good luck Lloyd, Phillip and all those who will be in leadership positions in 2013.
Wayne Browns 21st Arlington Race Course port Elizabeth
Friday 24 June 2011: 4 years 9 months on … Game ED!
INVICTUS
(from the Latin meaning Undefeated or Unconquered)
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
English poet: William Ernest Henley (1849–1903)
At the age of 12, Henley fell victim to tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 17. Stoicism inspired him to write this poem. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53.
The poem was written in 1875 in a book called Book of Verses, where it was number four in several poems called Life and Death (Echoes). At the beginning it bore no title. Early printings contained only the dedication To R. T. H. B.—a reference to Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce (1846–1899), a successful Scottish flour merchant and baker who was also a literary patron. The title “Invictus” (Latin for “unconquered”) was put in the Oxford Book of Verse by Arthur Quiller-Couch.
The poem has Influenced the arts ever since.
In the 1942 film Casablanca, Captain Renault, a corrupt official played by Claude Rains recites the last two lines of the poem when talking to Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, referring to his power in Casablanca. The irony in the reference is that the theme of the poem refers to self-mastery, when in fact all of Renault’s power in Casablanca is merely granted.
In the 1945 film Kings Row, Parris Mitchell, a psychiatrist played by Robert Cummings, recites part of “Invictus” to his friend Drake McHugh, played by Ronald Reagan, before revealing to Drake that his legs were unnecessarily amputated by a cruel doctor.
While incarcerated on Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message of self mastery.
The poem was used in a voice-over by Lucas Scott in the television series, One Tree Hill.
Canadian poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen recited the poem as an introduction to his own song “The Darkness”, during a couple of shows on his 2010 world tour, most notably at his State Kremlin Palace show.
In Napoleon Hill’s book, Think And Grow Rich, this poem is quoted and discussed. Hill added that, we are master and captain, “ . . . because we have the power to control our thoughts”. We are warned that this “power”, alluded to in Henley’s poem, “ . . . makes no attempt to discriminate between destructive thoughts and constructive thoughts”. Napoleon Hill explains that the conscious choice is laid upon the individual and suggests that the poet left others to, “. . . interpret the philosophical meaning of his lines”.
The poem was important to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who recited it on the day of his execution.
Novelist Jeffrey Archer quoted the poem in the first volume of his A Prison Diary series ‘Hell’ which recounted his time inside HMP Belmarsh.
“Invictus” is also a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted here following the dismantling of apartheid. Freeman and Damon play, respectively, South African President Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby team, the Springboks. (1)
The 1995 Rugby World Cup Final was played between the Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg exactly 16 years ago today on Saturday 24 June 1995.
For three weeks, prior to this big day, we had lived through World Cup euphoria (something similar, although not quite as big, as last year’s Football World Cup).
Together with friends and family, we had planned a day of festivities around the Final and which would culminate in that South African tradition of all traditions, the all-important braai!
Well, we never got to participate in the events planned for the day.
Pera was six months pregnant and due at the end of September 1995. (We previously lost a second son who had been still-born in November 1994.) Early on the morning of the Final, I woke up to hear her screaming in the kitchen. The baby (at 26 weeks) was threatening to come out and I rushed her to St George’sHospital, where we spent the rest of that day. The doctors managed to prevent the birth, Pera remained in hospital and late that evening I drove up Cape Road on my way home.
Everywhere, the fires were burning, people were partying in the street and ecstasy, excitement and exhilaration pervaded the country. We had beaten the All Blacks 15 points to 12 and the World Cup was ours – the rugby kings of the World! (To this day, I have never watched THAT game in its entirety, but, of course, I have many times seen the photograph of THAT drop goal that sealed the game in our favour and which hangs in just about every boardroom and pub in this country!)
It was a tremendous boost for our fragile new democracy born in 1994 and barely one year old!
But talking about births … for the next two weeks, the baby threatened to be born. On the night of 6 July, with Pera’s gynaecologist, Dr Caras Ferreira, out of town, Dr Ivan Berkowitz was hurriedly called from a formal dinner to St George’s Hospital when, once again, it was touch and go. He arrived at midnight in his tuxedo and bow-tie.
(I knew Ivan and Harriet well, and we have remained friends to this day.
Ten years prior to this, in June/July 1985, the Grey First Eleven went on the first Grey overseas cricket tour to England and Holland. Darryl Berkowitz was Headboy of Grey in that year and a member of the touring team that I accompanied, together with Rod McCleland, Keith Crankshaw, Dickie Ogilvie, Neil Thomson and Charles Pautz. We sold tickets for that dreaded VW Golf and raised funds together with the Berks (and all the other parents) and also had our return party at their home in Conyngham Street.
It was so good to meet up with many of the members of that touring team at last year’s and this year’s 25th Reunions at the school. And, as I write this, the Grey cricket team is once again touring England. We wish them good luck and happy travelling!)
Anyway, Ivan explained that Pera would have to remain in hospital for the rest of her pregnancy, and that if he did not deliver the baby soon, we would lose either Pera or the baby.
And, so it was, on the next morning, Friday 7 July 1995, sixteen years ago, that our second son (and we had previously been told by the gynaecologist to expect a girl) was born by caesarean section at twenty seven weeks and weighing 1,3 kg. Our previous son was due to be called Phillip, so this baby was named Phillip John. He spent the next two months in the incubator at the hospital, and cost the medical aid about double the price of our very first house that I had bought!
Phillip John Lunnon (our Dr Phil!) celebrates his sixteenth birthday in two week’s time. Now, at six feet and three inches, he is the tallest in the family, beating me at six feet and Sean at six feet and two inches!
He is our fighter – our very own Invictus.
There have been times that I did not think that I would make it to his sixteenth birthday but I, too, am a fighter.
I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
BrainStorms - Ed Lunnon's Blog 