This year, a total of 14 teams competed for glory on the cricket field. The carefully crafted programme featured a mix of T20 matches, 50-over games and declaration matches, promised an exciting and varied cricketing experience for both players and spectators alike.

We welcomed Framesby High School, Victoria Park High, Westering High School, Muir College, Lilyfontein School, Edgemead High School, Rand Park High, DF Malan High School, Cradock High School, Daniel Pienaar THS, Nico Malan, Stirling High, DF Malherbe and our very own 1st XI.

Per tradition, we were delighted to host our annual cocktail function to officially kick off the 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 and warmly welcome all participating teams.

During Mr Pringle’s address, special mention was made of Standard Bank for their generous sponsorship of the festival. Standard Bank was represented by Mr Kobie Venter, Head: Local Market, Business Banking, Eastern Cape, and we extend our sincere thanks for their continued support.

A special word of appreciation was also extended to Tyremart Graaff-Reinet for their valued contribution in the form of new kit for the Union team.

The evening preceded the much-anticipated 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝘃𝘀 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 T20 at the Botanics Sports Grounds, featuring two players from each participating team to form the competing sides.

We are pleased to share our final 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 for the year, as our school community heads into the festive season and a well-deserved break.

This year, we find ourselves closing the chapter on one of Union High School, Graaff-Reinet’s most cherished and transformative traditions.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲, we reflect on the Salisbury Cathedral School Exchange Programme – 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘦.

Born from a simple phone call in 1992, when Old Unionite Billy Teeton reached out to Mr Bruce Maree, the programme grew into something extraordinary.

From the first Gap student, Rhett Newton, who bravely ventured across the seas in 1993, to the first junior exchange in 1994, this partnership blossomed into a tapestry of shared cultures, meaningful connections and unforgettable experiences.

𝗕𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 – an institution dating back to 1091 – learning and living beneath the soaring spire of one of England’s most iconic cathedrals.

𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤-𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

Yet the true heart of the programme lay not only in the places they visited but in the relationships they built. Families formed bonds across continents, exchange students returned to visit again and again and some even made the United Kingdom their permanent home.

Many of our Gaps continued to meet up as young adults, exploring Europe together, attending sporting events or simply reconnecting to relive the memories they once made abroad. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 – 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘧𝘢𝘳-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦 – 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆. Changes to visa regulations in the United Kingdom have made long-term participation impossible. The Youth Mobility Scheme, which has replaced the previous arrangements, sadly excludes South Africa. As a result, our students can no longer stay for the full year required and the programme cannot continue.

We therefore honour our final two Gap students for 2025: 𝗖𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗮𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 and 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲. Their year at Salisbury will not only mark a personal milestone, but also serve as the poignant closing of a programme that shaped the lives of generations of Unionites.

As we reflect, we celebrate every learner who walked the historic corridors of Salisbury Cathedral School; every family who opened their homes and hearts; every friendship that crossed oceans and every shared experience that enriched our school community. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻.

We are delighted to share that construction has officially begun on the brand-new 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 at the Union Schools’ pool today!

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆, promising a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for our swimmers and spectators alike.

𝘞𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩-𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵.

Our community is truly enriched by such support!

Following the recent and much-celebrated restoration of Union High School’s magnificent Blüthner Patent Grand Piano, we are delighted to share that 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲. This cherished instrument, which has accompanied countless music lessons, rehearsals and performances over the years, has begun its journey toward renewed brilliance.

To undertake this meticulous restoration, we have enlisted the expertise of Mark Davis from Mark Davis Piano Service in Cape Town, 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.

The scope of work is extensive and unfolds over several weeks, involving both detailed mechanical servicing and partial structural restoration. From filing, voicing and refitting hammers, to restringing, repinning, repairing chipped ivories, regulating the mechanism and ultimately tuning the piano back to concert pitch, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Once complete, this restoration will significantly elevate the standard of Union’s music programme.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. These restored instruments will enrich ensembles, support teaching excellence and enhance the quality of every concert and cultural event hosted by the school.

We extend our 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦 to Montego Pet Nutrition for their generous contribution to Union’s music programme, which has made this venture possible. We are equally grateful to the 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟵𝟳𝟱 for their valued support of this costly and highly specialised project. Their commitment ensures that Union’s proud musical heritage continues to flourish for generations to come.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 – 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.