Thank you to our parents: Arnold Lorie Memorial Hall refurbishment
Monday 26 February 2018, Wynberg Boys’ Junior School: Headmaster, Mr Cedric Poleman, addressed a special Assembly of boys and parents in the newly refurbished Arnold Lorie Memorial Hall:
Arnold “Annie” Lorie, had a passion for this school. As the first Headmaster of Wynberg Boys’ Junior in 1946, when the ‘junior department of the Wynberg Boys’ School became an essential separate, but connected, institution’, Mr Lorie led us forward with a strength of Wynberg-purpose, toward what we are today, and will be in the future.
Mr Lorie retired from WBJS in 1971, but sadly didn’t live to see this Hall, opened in 1984. “Annie” would have railed against it being in his name, but he certainly would have applauded our boys, and had that rare tear in his eye, at our annual ‘Arnold Lorie Concert’ here, where we are this morning.
1984 is a long time ago, and I think of the thousands of Wynberg Boys who have gathered here over the years as a community, our Wynberg Family. A school hall is more than a building, it is the core of a school, and we can take pride in the foresight of those before us in providing us and future generations with this magnificent facility.
But our Hall had been beginning to look a bit tired with a floor covered with more than 30 years of polish and the seats having seen better days. We have gone to great expense to redo the floor and fit the new seating but it was well worth doing for more generations to experience joy and celebration here.
As the boys who will use this Hall throughout your schooling, we call on you to to take care of it so that it remains a space we can all be proud of.
I take this opportunity to thank our parents for making this refurbishment possible through their fundraising efforts over the past few years. The laminate flooring throughout the Hall, and the theatre-style chairs are superb. Whilst all our parents can’t be present today they, are represented by some members of our Parent Association. Thank you, on behalf of our boys.
Mr Cedric Poleman
Headmaster, Wynberg Boys’ Junior School
Opening of the Arnold Lorie Memorial Hall by Headmaster Mr Jan Oosthuizen, 31 July 1984
Headmaster Mr Cedric Poleman and Wynberg Boys at the Arnold Lorie Memorial Hall entrance, 26 February 2018
Arnold Lorie Memorial Hall refurbishment 2018