Durban High School
Class Of 1961
Richard Bell
| Last Updated: | April 22, 2023 |
| Residing In: | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa |
| Email address: | richardadrianbell@gmail.com |
| Education: |
B. Sc. Agriculture (Natal) 1966 M. Sc. Agriculture (Natal) 1974 Major subject: Entomology |
| Spouse/Partner |
Fiona Ruth Bell (nee Forsyth) B.Bbl. (Honours) (Natal) Master of Information Studies (Natal) Lecturer in Information Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Fiona retired at the end of 2015. |
| Children/Family: | Heather Frances Bell, born 1981 B.Sc. (Hons.) (UKZN) Geography major. PGCE (S.A.) Grade Seven teacher at Epworth Junior School. On 30 June 2012 Heather married Richard Frank Domleo from Byrne. They live in Pietermaritzburg. Heather continues to teach at Epworth Junior School. Richard ("Rich") runs an environmental & rafting school at Nyala Pans, on the Umkomaas River. On 26 December 2015, Erin Grace Domleo was born at Mediclinic, Pmb. Erin weighed 3.045 kg or, in language we can understand, six pounds 13 ounces. Hannah Rose Domleo was born at Mediclinic on 27 May 2019. Her mass was 3.480 kg, or seven pounds 13 ounces. Caroline Margaret Bell, born 1986 B.Sc. (Hons.) (UKZN) Zoology major. During 2011 & 2012 Caroline was doing research towards a Master's degree in Marine Biology at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. She graduated in April 2014. In 2013 Caroline registered for a doctorate in Environmental Education at Rhodes University. She graduated Ph.D. in April 2019. On 25 April 2017 Caroline married Philip Weyl from Mutare. They met at Rhodes University, where Philip was awarded a Ph.D. in 2015. He now works for CABI in Switzerland & he & Caroline live in Delemont, Jura Canton (a French-speaking Canton). Caroline teaches English to French-speakers at a language school & has a part-time job at CABI. In September 2019 Fiona & I visited Philip & Caroline in Delemont. While in Switzerland the four of us spent two nights in the Swiss Alps at Engelberg, ascending Mount Titlis by cable-car & spending the day on the top, surrounded by stunning Alpine peaks. We flew to Lisbon for three nights, then to the Azores, volcanic islands almost in mid-Atlantic. We spent four nights on Terceira & four on Sao Miguel, swam in geo-thermal pools & ate food cooked in "fumaroles", small, geo-thermally heated "boiling-pots" in the volcanic rock. The Azores are beautiful & the Portuguese inhabitants friendly & hospitable. The flight from Terceira to Sao Miguel took 25 minutes, my shortest - and most expensive flight - ever ! |
| Occupation(s) |
Joined the Department of Agricultural Technical Services in January, 1967. Spent a year in Pretoria & in 1968 was seconded to the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, for two years, for M.Sc. studies. Served as Entomologist for the Department of Agriculture, stationed at Cedara, from 1970 until 2010. Specialist Extension Officer, Researcher & Lecturer in Entomology & Public Speaking at Cedara College of Agriculture. Taught Public Speaking to second-year Cedara students for many years. This was interesting, as the students had funny - & often below-the-belt - stories to tell. |
| Hobbies/Interests: |
Travelling, editing Honours, Masters & doctoral theses, reading. Looking after Erin Grace Domleo and Hannah Rose Domleo ! Played social tennis at Natal Command Headquarters & at the Cedara, Scottsville & Pelham tennis clubs for 54 years. "Retired" from tennis at the age of 68. |
| School Story: | PLEASANT MEMORIES OF DHS Swimming for Swales House & the School. Running the 880 & mile for House & School (occasionally winning, but mostly coming second to Roger Sheppard or Ian Poole). Playing for the Under 14A, Under 15A & Under 16A rugby teams. Watching movies in the BE on a Saturday night. Acting as Fortinbras in "Hamlet" in 1961. A terrific production, with Rory Donellan playing the best-ever Hamlet, in my opinion. Cheering for the First XV on a Saturday afternoon (attendance & cheering were compulsory !). Bill Payn's English & Scripture lessons. John Nicholls' English lessons in Fifth Form & Sixth Form. Attending the Union Festivals in Bloemfontein in 1960. Four DHS boys attended this event, Lucas le Roux, Pat Dell, Leonard Carter & myself. Being the first occupants of the brand new Sixth Form Block in 1961. My classmates in VI AMB in 1961. Winning the Niekie Gerber Matric Prize for Afrikaans (jointly with Godfrey Mocke) in 1961. Our JC & matric dances in the school hall. UNPLEASANT MEMORIES OF DHS Being "taught" Physical Science by Jiggs Gray & Maths by Jock Mackay in III BB. In Third Form, getting three cuts from a prefect for not knowing the names of the First XV. Other corporal punishment has largely been forgotten. Dog Perkins' "Reign of Terror" in Biology. A pupil scoring less than 60% in tests was caned, the lower the score the more the number of strokes ! BD, i.e. Before Dog, Botany & Zoology had been my favourite subjects. |
| Comments: | I was proud of being at DHS, even though there were some mediaeval rules, such as wearing full school uniform in public, in the heat & humidity of Durban's summer, & the liberal use of the cane by all & sundry. |
| Military Service: | SAAF Gymnasium Air Navigation School.  |
Fiona and Richard Bell
A reunion with John Dickson at the Westville Pavilion on 12 December, 2012.
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