A Brief History of the Origins of the Zululand Branch of the Maritzburg College Old Boys’ Association
On 19 January 1961 a GA Paul from Sugar House, Empangeni, sent out a letter to a number of College old boys known to be residing in Zululand from “Mandeni” on the Tugela river to Maputaland in the north and west to Nqutu. A total of 96 old boys were listed with contact details and he wrote: “A number of Maritzburg Old Collegians have asked that a register of Old Boys in Zululand be compiled to enable contacts to be made, and if possible, to get some social and sporting activity organised.”
Clearly a need for an Old Collegians’ branch in Zululand was manifesting in those early years.
The earliest record of a formal meeting of the Zululand branch is dated 26 February 1973 and was held at the Empangeni Rugby Football Club. The Old Collegians present were Doug Pepworth, Arthur Powell, Dave Leys, Beverley Hill, Naughton McIlrath and Lance Edmunds. It was recorded that the meeting unanimously elected Arthur Powell as Chairman and Lance Edmunds as Secretary/Treasurer. After some amendments a draft constitution was approved and the “Zululand Branch of the Maritzburg College Old Boys Association” came into being. An annual subscription of R2.00 per member was set.
At a subsequent meeting on 15 August 1973 the first mention was made of the Triangular Sports Day with Michaelhouse and Hilton College old boys. An annual occasion, that year it was to take place in Eshowe hosted by Michaelhouse.
The first AGM of the Zululand Branch took place on 17 November 1973 at the Mtunzini Hotel. The first Chairman’s report given by Arthur Powell listed a number of activities of the Branch, the delegation of Doug Pepworth to represent the Branch at the Association’s committee meetings held at the school, a paid-up membership of 39 Zululanders and a congratulations to Don Balmer for his selection as Zululand Sportsman of the year in December 1972. The office bearers elected were the same as those that were present when the constitution of the Branch was accepted at the inaugural meeting earlier that year.
The AGM was followed by the Branch’s first annual dinner at which the guest speaker for the occasion was Graham Maxwell, the President of the Association at the time. The Headmaster, Hector Commons, Deputy Headmaster, Skonk Nicholson, other masters and all their wives were invited to attend the dinner but we do not know for certain who was in attendance from the school.
At the dinner Andy Rance fined all members who had failed to wear their Old Boy’s ties. The money raised from this was spent on squash racquets which were then donated to College to promote that fledgling sport.
The Zululand Branch was well on its way and became a very active Branch in its own right and in its support for the Association and College.
David McIlrath
Current Branch Chairman
November 2025
