1989-April 1995 incl, I was employed as a biology & general science teacher at Selborne College, East London, Eastern Cape, RSA. Prior, I was trained at Durban Teachers Training College. Part time & full time, I read degrees at Natal University & UNISA & a Wildlife Conservation Diploma, Technikon RSA.
Before my arrival at Selborne College, I'd completed SADF commando conscription & had worked as a professional actor in Natal during my varsity student days. I'd worked as a labourer / clerk in England & Israel. I'd taught at 5 primary schools in Durban, Kleinzee & QwaQwa, class teaching & science specialist. I'd also taught at a Durban co-ed HS & 3 Durban boys' high schools, teaching specialist biology & general science, incl running the general science dept at Glenwood HS, a bigger boys' high than Selborne College. I'd also coached various school sports & directed many school plays & skits. In 1988, when I applied for my Selborne College teaching post, I applied for general science & biology teaching. RI was a no-no as it required specialist knowledge & training. I offered to coach hockey & cricket & direct full-length play productions. I did not offer to direct skits nor short plays, nor adjudicate house plays at Clarendon GH across the road! Because of international cultural boycotts in SA during apartheid, decent, contemporary plays were difficult to obtain in SA or produce in schools.
My FACEBOOK discussion on Selborne paedophiles at Selborne College, an East London boys' high school and Selborne Primary, an East London boys' primary school. The discussion was about depraved teachers & management I encountered at Selborne over 6 years. The discussion was amongst Selbornian Old Boys, (SA, UK, Sweden, Phillipines, Australia, NZ contributors) most of whom I'd taught, now in their 30s - 40s, two "Hillcrest Hooligans," now in their 50s, I'd taught at Hillcrest HS near Durban, a relative, a Durban North, Northlands OB & a Durban North friend who'd known me for over 50 years:
FACEBOOK post: 4 Nov 2016 at 3.54 pm.
Mark (NZ): Tim Gordon talks rubbish as he had a paedophile history teacher on his staff for years at Selborne College: School governing body groups slams sex pest teacher slip up. (Cape Talk 2 August 2016).
Sheila (RSA): OMW!!!! Nov 4 at 6.00 pm.
Hamish (UK): Et al. Nov 5 at 2.43 pm.
Dylon (RSA): We old Selbornians may have an idea of who was at times a little "over friendly" or am I the only one to have noticed some odd behaviour? Nov 4 at 9.42 pm.
Cass (Aus): Absolutely. Nov 5 at 2.43 pm.
Paul V (RSA): I think he was a big water polo fan. Nov 5 at 2.10 am.
Mark: Check out: Former private school principal back in court on pornography charges. (Lowvelder 27 July 2015).
Tim Gordon, 1989-92, before he left Selborne for Cape Town "promotion," insisted I work with Neil Malherbe at Clarendon Girls' High & Selborne, directing plays & adjudicating Clarendon house plays. When I refused to produce Selborne skits at the end of 1992 (during exam times) at Clarendon with Neil Malherbe, Tim Gordon threw a tantrum, posting a risible letter to my home implying I was an incompetent teacher. Never mind Tim Gordon moderating all my very successful biology, general science & history test & exam marks for 4 years without complaint. Nov 5 at 7.26 am.
Mark: At a Selborne athletics meeting at Clarendon, Tim Gordon & headmistress Judith Stuart-Watson wandered off in full view of boys & staff, then disappeared for an hour or so. I left early & saw Tim Gordon returning fast in his car, sans headmistress, with a big grin on his face. EEJIT! Nov 5 at 8.07 am.
Cass: Ya. That wasn't Mr Malherbe who taught English at Selborne College was it? Nov 5 at 6.38 pm.
Paul V: It's Malherbe the English teacher. Nov 5 at 6.38 pm.
Cass: OMG. Nov 5 at 7,15 pm.
Denzil (RSA): It's him Cass. Nov 11 at 6.54 pm.
Cass: Who was the paedophile history teacher at Selborne College? Nov 5 at 2.42 pm.
Paul V: Hectic: Former principal found guilty of child pornography. (Lowvelder 4 November 2016). Nov 5 at 6.43 pm.
David (UK): Indeed. He'll be sentenced next year. Nov 5 at 7.16 pm.
Mark: He & Gordon were in cahoots & caused me lots of trouble at Selborne. Nov 6 at 8.28 am.
Adam (RSA): The history teacher was Mr KH. Convicted about 10 years ago molesting little girls. Nov 11 at 8.58 pm.
David: Was KH actually convicted? I heard this at the time and it had to do initially with the grand daughter or something like that... Nov 6 at 8.59 am. [Concerned David had contacted Selborne headmaster at the time, Mr Gunn, but Gunn (history teacher) gave no info about KH. Headmasters habitually spin their schools as pure places].
Mark: Correct Adam. A nest of vipers at Selborne. See KH's Facebook profile. No mention of Selborne where he taught for years. He told me he liked Nazi leather uniforms. I was forced by Gordon to teach junior history for 2 years with KH & Peter Coetzee after my general science classes were taken away from me, no reason given by Gordon nor Max Norman who did all the timetabling at Selborne. KH did Selborne cadet band & musketry with no supervision from other staff. I once saw KH patting a boys' butt in the rifle butts. Winston Paxton did the other school band, a posher band paraded at Key Ceremonies & quadrangle concerts. Nov 6 at 9.06 am.
Lyndon (RSA): KH was not convicted. A family member lied... the whole story just vanished. Nov 6 at 10.25 am.
Mark: Do you have a link for the lying family member Lyndon? I tried to find a link for the Daily Dispatch article I read about KH years ago, but was unsuccessful. Nov 7 at 1.06 am.
Lyndon: There is no link as it was never published in any newspaper. [Huh?] The story just vanished. But the story that was in the paper was very thin to start with, a step daughter had said... Turns out it was more of an internal family feud. Nov 7 at 1.18 am.
Mark: Thanks Lyndon. Nov 7 at 1.40 am.
Stavros (RSA): But the history teachers name has been on facebook, and there you have it, the story was wrong. So now what? Your angry about something and your no saying. And that not good, cos your dragging a lot of good peoples names in the dirt. Its got nothing to do with the plays, or how he taught his classes. your pissed about something totally different. I mean this KH, did he deserve to be brought in the fray, and you are wrong, why dont you apologise now. And this post that your messenger. You are speaking on your behalf. Did you see what all happend to the messenger in that movie 300? Nov 11 at 1.18 pm.
Mark: Stavros there were media articles on KH & NM. As a former teacher & colleague of said teachers I'm linking to articles where possible & adding some of my inside info. If you find my linking & comments upsetting, you don't have to read them. I don't watch many movies nowadays, as being deaf I need captions & few movies are captioned. Nov 11 at 1.27 pm.
Adam: Guys I have edited the reference to KH. Unfortunately I never saw that the case was subsequently thrown in out. All that I recall is the story in the paper at the time. Sad that his name could be dragged through the mud in papers etc through a family feud. Apologies for this. The reference to history teacher lead me down this route. I did not intend harm. Nov 11 at 10.06 pm.
Anton (RSA): Wrong history teacher Adam? U know what I mean? Nov 13 at 12.17 am. [The other history teacher was Peter Coetzee, history HOD for many years & present vice principal of Selborne College. Headmaster Gunn, a history teacher, promoted Coetzee to vice principal].
Paul V. Jeepers, the double header. Nov 6 at 8.59 am.
Mark: Gordon created 3 more HOD posts paid by the PTA: Religious Education (Mandy), Sports Coordinator (Sandford), Public Relations (Malherbe). Makes you think ne? The crazy thing was that those 3 teachers appointed themselves to those posts with Gordon's approval. New head Gunn stopped that corruption after he arrived. BTW Malherbe was a Sunday School teacher at a local church too. Ian Forward has knowledge of that fiasco, his church connection. Nov 6 at 9.17 am.
David: Re: KH - Sounds like speculation & old grudges to me. Classic internet. [Trolling, years after David had phoned Gunn!] Nov 6 at 11.15 am.
Mark: Any better forum you recommend David? Nov 6 at 6.41 pm.
David: My comment stands... Nov 6 at 6.47 pm.
Mark: So what? Nov 6 at 11.34 pm.
Paul S (RSA): Listen here Mark justice will run its course. Do you think throwing good solid peoples names in the mix because you lost your general science classes is appropriate. Fck me get another platform to get your kicks. Very disappointed in you. Malherbe & crew will get what they deserve! Dont associate normal people with this ffs. Nov 6 at 11.41 am.
Mark: Paul what about Alan Emslie? Your pics show him as your Selborne Primary cricket coach, with Still, Fourie, et al. Nov 7 at 2.55 pm. [I was Paul S's std 8 class teacher in 1989. Paul S was once involved with a drunken absconding from Selborne hostel with another student. They both awoke in Tim Gordon's office. Neither Paul nor the absconder were expelled. In the staffroom, Tim Gordon happily regaled staff about the drunken absconding].
Denzil: Buck there are no normal people that have been named here. They are convicted criminals. Nov 11 at 6.58 pm.
Paul S: Denzil. Tim Gordon, Max Norman, Mr Forward, Mr Sandford, Mrs Mandy convicted criminals! What are you smoking boet? Nov 11 at 7.02 pm.
Denzil: He's talking about KH, AE and NM. Nov 11 at 7.03 pm.
Cass: I think it's appropriate. ANYONE who was / is involved with this fiasco is going to get what is coming to them. Nov 6 at 12.22 pm.
Mark: Thanks for your comments guys. Our perspectives are different. I worked with those creeps. You didn't. Look below the surface of what happened during those years Paul, including your "normal people." They may have been normal to you as a teenager, but to me their obsessions were abnormal and often hypocritical eg religion & sport. Nov 6 at 6.27 pm.
Alex (RSA): I would not normally comment on something like this, but Mark has a fair point. In cases like this everyone thinks the only victims are the children, they forget about the colleagues, parents and others that are affected. Nov 6 at 11.54 pm.
Mark: I've opened a can of worms. A request from a Selbornian who wishes to be anonymous: "Has anyone any comments about the Selborne Primary soccer teams about 86 / 87? Specifically the coach. I have stories which I saw with my own eyes at the age of 9. Not cool at all." Nov 7 at 1.29 am.
Jonathan (RSA): AE? Nov 7 at 1.45 am.
David: Jonathan that would probably be the coach, yes. He also had a troubled life in the end. Nov 7 at 2.14 am.
Jonathan: Didn't know him well David. I was in std 2 in '87 and even at that young age I remember the stories that began circulating. And they continued through my school career. As for the end I know nothing. Nov 7 at 2.27 am.
David: Died a few years ago. Took his life I understood at the time. Circumstances were odd is all I can offer. The sad thing is that all of those stories - true or not - sit in opposition to the experiences that 99% of us had of these teachers. My worst teachers were just fallible individuals with apparently questionable credentials when it came to working with children. Nov 7 at 5.59 am.
Mark: I'd also heard whisperings about Alan Emslie. Hearsay, like your above comments & innuendo, but enough for my wife to ensure our eldest son was not put in AE's class at Selborne Primary in 1995. Nov 7 at 6.38.am.
Mark: Anyone who wants anonymity on this thread just message me & I'll publish your message without name. Nov 7 at 6.43 am. [Two expat Selbornians referred me to Daily Dispatch and pressreader articles about Neil Malherbe].
Stavros: Im annoyed Mark, you are actually a wanker with a huge chip on your shoulder. If you know about a teacher being up to something and you never reported it, then you are a super wanker. You have a lot to say, and you are far way, where you seem untouchable, launching your attacks, as the messenger. You are a clown. I really thought more of you. Nov 11 at 1.29 pm.
Mark: You're welcome to your opinion on my Facebook thread Stavros. Your words show your character. Nov 11 at 1.33 pm.
Stavros: Mark. You dont know nothing of my character. Your just an annoying little man who has a huge chip on his shoulder. Bringing peoples names into disrepute for your own agenda. Your audience is small and getting smaller. You can try and patronise me and tell me about this and that, but you dont know me, and its better that way. The problem every teacher leaves something with his pupils to remember him by. You left nothing. Nov 11 at 10.24 pm.
Mark. You asked for info Stavros. You got it. I never taught you. Nov 11 at 3.01 pm.
Denzil: Is there still time to get popcorn? Nov 11 at 7.02 pm.
Hamish: Gents. A word of caution. This is not the forum to have such debates. It's public. There are accusations which cannot be validated and ultimately become personal, from any side is destructive. Education and awareness is good. Accusation and finger pointing bad. Nov 11 at 10.16 pm.
Gareth (RSA): Hamish I agree with you. Mark you got an axe to grind about the way you were handled at Selborne this is not the forum for it. Neil will get what is due to him for his crime. But to carry on like a spoilt child as you are does not show good on your personality. You had your say move on. Nov 12 at 11.48 pm.
Mark: Thanks Hamish & Gareth. Several of you Selbornian OBs want to shut me down with insults, which doesn't reflect well on Selborne. (BTW Gordon used put downs on staff just like yours). I asked David above to recommend a better forum. Any ideas? Nov 13 at 9.23 am.
Anton: Mark I agree with you 100% I know what I saw and witnessed during my schooling! So any of u cowards want to give me a call u welcome to! Pathetic really. Nov 13 at 9.47 am.
Mark: Anton you are not alone. Nov 13 at 9.50 am.
Anton: Mark have a look at the Bee Hive junior school magazines! Filled with inappropriate pics of boys in showers! Now I'm no rocket scientist, but how that was allowed I don't know! At least the photographer killed himself after being suspended! Teachers that worked with him should be ashamed of themselves. Christians, I think not!!! Nov 13 at 10.01 am.
Mark: Will do thanks Anton. Nov 13 at 10.09 am.
Cass: Yeah I agree. I also witnessed it. I don't give a damn if this is public or not, this stuff should be made public. I would never send my kids to Selborne knowing what I know now. Thanks to Mark for revealing this non-Christian predatory activity at a public school. Nov 13 at 2.13 pm.
Gareth: No one is trying to shut you up. I just believe this is not the right forum to air your comments. If you have information pertaining to the case contact the police and tell them. As for extra posts the school board or governing body of the day would have been a better place to air your views and concerns. Airing them 20 years later sounds like sour grapes. Nov 13 at 5.43 pm.
Mark: Gareth 20 years ago so what? What don't you understand about self appointed HODs being corrupt? I could've appointed myself HOD (Drama) but chose not to, as the whole stunt by Tim Gordon was staff bribery & narcissistic, like Malherbe blowing his own water polo trumpet, polishing his "reputation." Religion & Sport hypocrisy already mentioned above. Nov 13 at 6.11 pm.
Mark: Cass. Good on you. Nov 13 at 6.12 pm.
Darryl (RSA): Gareth I think you hit the nail on the head. I also don't think this is the right forum to air views. If anyone has any information it should have been dealt with 20+ years ago. I also don't think it is fair to talk about people when they are no longer around to defend themselves. Let the courts be the judge here and one day those who have offences will have to answer for whatever they did while on earth. If one has any issues with TG then take it up with him and leave the school name out of it.
I believe we have a good judiciary system that will take care of all offenders. Don't judge them via the media.
Little words to live by ... "do unto others as you'll have done to you." Nov 14 at 2.16 am.
Mark: Yawn. Do you also believe in fairies Darryl? As you're commenting on my Facebook page your hypocritical preaching is toxic to an agnostic / atheist. What's your alternative forum? A dead person is impossible to libel. I had lots to say to Tim Gordon at Selborne College 20+ years ago. But you wouldn't want to know? Fact: Teachers mentioned above worked at Selborne College & Selborne Primary for many years & affected other staff & pupils, my family & myself included. Messrs Gordon, Blumrick, Gunn, Schaffer & Voke were headmasters during those teachers' tenures. Nov 14 at 9.26 am.
Shaun: Getting a tad "uncomfortable" with this talk gents. Mr Esslemont sir, you know I appreciate your non-conformance with the "Selborne Establishment." And there were plenty of students on that side of the fence and adding fuel to this fire that is burning out of control. But. On the other side. I played Selborne soccer from U9 and have a huge amount of respect for Alan Emslie as coach and teacher. What exactly are we trying to achieve by this discussion? Nov 16 at 11.29 pm.
Mark: Discussion has been achieved Shaun. Check out Lancelot Gobbo's speech, The Merchant of Venice, where Lancelot Gobbo battles between his conscience and the fiend. That's what happened in this discussion, some vehemently for, some vehemently against. If you're uncomfortable - achieved.
I was very uncomfortable having to work with above mentioned creeps, especially Neil & history creeps. My intuition told me something was radically wrong at Selborne, tho at the time I couldn't put my finger on it. Selborne was the worst disciplined boys HS I taught in. (Gordon had no disciplinary code, just an ad hoc, mini policy). I'd taught at Glenwood HS, Northlands BHS, Beachwood BHS & Hillcrest HS, a co-ed (& 5 primary schools) before arriving at Selborne. In hindsight, abused, angry boys caused lots of discipline problems at Selborne eg. Why do my school work, homework etc? Fuck you Sir! Nov 17 at 8.27 am.
Shaun: There were plenty of great students and teachers at SC. The usual suspects with a bit of a rebel attitude. And a fair share of @holes. But I am sure that is true of all schools and life in general. Nov 17 at 9.06 am.
Another FACEBOOK post: Nov 11 at 11.24 am:
Daily Dispatch / pressreader: Convicted Neil Malherbe child porn case ex Selborne College teacher
(pressreader from Daily Dispatch 10 November 2016).
Mark: I taught with Neil Malherbe during his 7 year stint at Selborne College. His std 8 biology testing was weak. I went deaf & Neil helped me doing Clarendon house play adjudication speeches, 1989-1992. When I co-directed My Fair Lady with Neil, 1990, a Selborne / Clarendon production at Guild Theatre, Neil's direction was poor regarding costuming the 100 cast & organising props, both huge tasks which he neglected in favour of Selborne water polo coaching. Nov 11 at 11.24 am.
Stavros: Hey Mark what has made you so acid and angry? Nov 11 at 12.11 pm.
Mark: Your opinion Stavros. You're attacking the messenger. I offer observations as a biology / general science teacher at Selborne 1989 - April 1995 incl. Nov 11 at 12.18 pm.
Stavros: Not attacking anyone just want to know whats made you angry. Is it that he left you to do the play? Is it because you werent teaching certain classes? What has made you angry? Was it the way the establishment was run? What? Nov 11 at 12.51 pm.
Ash (Fin): Very defensive Stavros, something we should know? Nov 15 at 4.06 pm.
Stavros: Im not attacking anybody, just want to know what has made you so angry? Nov 11 at 12.50 pm.
Mark: I'm not angry. Nov 11 at 12.50 pm.
Stavros: So then why state his teaching, or the other things you have brought up, what does it have to do with whats going on? His knowledge was bad about the costumes and the props, what? It is easy to slate someone but you gotta have the balls to say why? Why has he annoyed you, and you are not saying that! Nov 11 at 12.57 pm.
Stavros: I gotta get sleep, nice chatting Mark, the sun already rising here. Nov 11 at 12.59 pm.
Mark: Already stated Neil neglected co-direction of My Fair Lady, as he was involved with water polo simultaneously. I directed as well as coached cricket simultaneously, a 40-60 hour working week with unsociable hours directing plays at night. If you'd participated in plays you'd know times involved. Nov 11 at 1.01 pm.
Mark: Neil also annoyed music director Lloy Brent (patronising casting without consulting Lloy) & choreographer Ginny Theunissen with his slackness. Never mind causing the former choreographer [Mrs Hubbard] to have a "nervous breakdown". (Tim Gordon's words). She'd bollocked Neil at a dinner party in my house together with Lloy, then a few days later bollocked Neil in Selborne staffroom before staff. Enough skande for you Stavros? Nov 11 at 1.10 pm.
Averil (RSA): Stavros Mark made an observation / gave an opinion which he's entitled to as is everyone on FB. Personally don't know the "gent" you are talking of... he's been found guilty... Nuff said. You're the one attacking Mark rather aggressively I may add. "Anger" issues?! Known Mark since 1960s... Never known him to have "anger" issues. In fact quite the reverse / opposite. Nov 11 at 4.32 pm.
Paul S: Averil you clearly don't know Stavros!! Nov 11 at 5.05 pm.
Averil: Don't need to... His attack on Mark was enough. Nov 11 at 5.39 pm.
Paul S: Please... Averil!! Nov 11 at 5.40 pm.
Averil: Ha ha ha ha ha... Paul! Nov 11 at 5.43 pm.
[Stavros repeated verbatim his onanism / clown / teacher, ad hominem attack, as above]. Nov 11 at 7.43 pm.
Dylan (RSA): Sjoe! Nov 12 at 12.46 am.
Ash: Stavros, You're a fat, ugly, bald cunt. And you can't spell for shit. Guess I'm lucky MY English teacher was concentrating on language. Good times? Nov 15 at 4.09 pm
Julie (RSA): I'm sure if Mark had noticed anything funny about Malherbe he would have reported it. The article reads that all the Heads of schools where he taught reported that no incidences were noticed or reported. I pray that he didn't interfere with any children, and they kept quiet. Nov 11 at 8.28 pm.
Averil: Absolutely Julie couldn't agree more... Stavros go over your & Mark's comments, he's in fact said nothing about your character, yet you have of his. He's stated his observations, everyone is entitled to that... And by the way, Mark's pupils hold him in high regard. He's left plenty to remember him by. Nov 11 at 9.12 pm.
Denzil: Too true! Nov 12 at 2.04 am.
Shaun: That's your opinion Stavros. I remember Esslemont as a great guy and teacher. I don't remember Malherbe for much other than water polo coach. Nov 11 at 10.01 pm.
Dylan: A fucking great water polo coach he was. Nov 12 at 12.54 pm.
Ash: I bet mate. Nov 15 at 3.12 pm.
Gareth: My two cents worth. Neil was my class teacher for a couple of years and at the time and up until this article I thought a great man. He has been found guilty of a terrible act (it could have been worse, he was in possession of, not partaking in child porn). Mark you have your issues with the man and apparently the school, but is this really the place to air them? I am sure there are lots of pupils that have issues with you and other teachers, but airing them here is not right. Nov 12 at 2.05 am.
Ash: Really? This should be made public. As a teacher myself I am entrusted with the safety of my pupils. The fact that you defend a guilty paedophile piece of shit makes me worry about how you care for your own kids. Nov 15 at 3.12 pm.
Mark: My thanks to those in support. Those in opposition, chat to KH & join the dots. Nov 12 at 7.25 am.
Louise (RSA): Mark you were a great biology teacher, and I remember the many hours both you and Leah put into The Importance of Being Earnest. (I was Gwendolyn). Wow! Such angry, touchy people around. Nov 12 at 9.08 am.
Ash: Well that explains a lot about that shitty dump of a school. Wasn't he in charge of the hostel for a while? Nov 15 at 3.09pm.
Mark: Neil Malherbe was definitely a hostel master at Selborne College during my early teaching years there, 1989, 90... Malherbe was in the hostel with Latin / English teacher Vaughan Paterson. Max Norman was in charge of the hostel at that time. Nov 15 at 3.17 pm.
Ash: Mr Paterson was not involved with this shit was he? I hope not. Nov 15 at 3.33 pm.
Mark: I doubt it Ash. He's married with kids & has taught in England for years. Nov 15 at 3.37 pm.
Ash: Good. He was the reason I became a teacher. Hell, he was the only teacher who could teach me! (Sorry for being so shitty in class mate). Nov 15 at 3.39 pm.
Mark: No worries Ash. At least Vaughan got through to you. You have turned out well. Nov 15 at 3.42 pm.
Ash: Thanks mate. I stumbled for a while, but ironically found myself in the line of work I despised the most. Who'd have thought I'd be good at it? Biology wasn't my scene, nor science or maths, so I didn't pay any attention to them, not your fault. Hehe. I still remember the day you opened my book (a few months into the year) and all I'd written was a contents page! The look on your face when you banished me to Batman's office was priceless!!! Nov 15 at 3.47 pm.
Ash: Is Vaughan still around. I've heard conflicting stories... Nov 13 at 3.48 pm.
Mark: Ash. Hilarious. All is forgiven. After Selborne, Vaughan was Latin HOD at a Cape Town school for a while... Years later I received an email from Vaughan, from S England where he'd settled with his young family, happily teaching. Haven't heard from him since. Nov 15 at 4.27 pm.
Ash: Well at least that explains Mark R. Yes ladies and gentlemen, shots have been fired. Nov 15 at 3.36 pm.
A December email exchange with Vaughan Paterson discussed our expat families & our ex Selborne College lives. I commented on Selborne College, ex principal, Tim Gordon, who'd favoured Neil Malherbe, enabling Malherbe to develop his water polo cover:
Selborne College: I survived it. At times I questioned my sanity there. Before I left for NZ in 1995, Selborne was an endurance feat, no longer fun. Gordon enjoyed manipulating people, causing psychological damage, myself included. Gordon showed no conscience, nor remorse for his ways before & after he left Selborne at the end of 1992. After my many complaints to Gordon & also complaints to his new head office boss, CED director, Gordon refused to apologise for his discriminatory ways regarding libellous notes about me in boys' files, my toxic timetabling & non lab allocation for my general science & biology teaching.
As for Malherbe, I'd be interested to know your take on the man, as you would have insight to his Selborne hostel master days. My experience of Malherbe was that he was good at polishing his reputation, especially water-polo coach, but not much good as a junior biology teacher [e.g. Malherbe's std 8 biology test was too easy, resulting in all std 8 biology classes having to resit another biology test, reset by Malherbe] & an indifferent play director. During the 6 years our paths crossed at Selborne I saw no signs of Malherbe's paedophilia. Google searches weren't available then. I didn't teach English with Malherbe & after My Fair Lady (1990) he did no more play directions, in favour of water-polo coaching. (At the end of 1994 Malherbe left Selborne for DHS). In hindsight, I remember Malherbe greeting my 4 year old son backstage at My Fair Lady, Guild Theatre, with a hearty, "Hullo ...!"
My son replied, "Are you the nerd?"
After Malherbe's dinner party fracas at my home with Lloy Brent & Mrs Hubbard, I didn't invite Malherbe to my home again.
05.05.17. Selborne teacher, Paul Wetmore Facebook-messaged me the 05.05.17 Daily Dispatch article regarding Neil Malherbe's sentencing. Daily Dispatch & Lowvelder reported that Neil Malherbe was given a 9 months suspended sentence, put on the child sex-offenders' list & forbidden to work with children or youth.
O5.05.17 FACEBOOK comments:
Anton (RSA): Slap on the wrist! So wrong!
Cass (Aus): And to think I was in his classes...
Dylan (RSA): Me too.
Robbie (RSA): Eish!
Denzil (RSA): Very disappointing outcome.
With his RSA criminal record, narcissist Neil Malherbe will find it hard to emigrate, travel overseas, or work as a teacher again, as he will never be able to work with kids or youth again. So much for his Selborne College overseas trip with school boys in 1989 (with Vaughan Paterson above) school water-polo coaching & national water-polo management. His crime discredited schools he taught at like Selborne College, water-polo organizations, other sports & church organizations where he worked or volunteered.
Kevin Taylor was Neil Malherbe's English HOD. Kevin Taylor was also Latin HOD at the time. Presently Kevin Taylor is Selborne College vice principal, portfolio discipline & hostel master. Kevin Taylor is still head of English. Like Max Norman, deputy principal & head of maths, Kevin Taylor has taught at Selborne College since 1979, so far 38 years.
As for Tim Gordon, Selborne College headmaster during Neil Malherbe's formative teaching years, Tim Gordon corrupted Neil Malherbe (Public Relations) & 2 other teachers (Mrs Mandy, Religious Education, Chris Sandford, Sports) enabling them to appoint themselves as HODs, paid HOD allowances by Selborne College, salaries paid by Cape Education Dept.
Tim Gordon was a mendacious psychopath, a Nowhere Man with delusions of grandeur (failed Eton job interview, 1990). His clown cabinet, a passively aggressive, toxic gang of gaslighters: Basil Blumrick, Max Norman, Ian Forword, Dave Bands. Example: Just before Tim Gordon left Selborne at the end of 1992, he posted the above-mentioned letter to my home, saying what a bad teacher I was. (He hadn't yet informed staff he was leaving!) For 4 years he had signature-approved all my test / exam / school report marks without feedback. When I queried his stupid letter, he & his stupid cabinet, at a meeting in his stupid office, wanted me to direct the 1993 school play production. Stupid Dave Bands said I must have relationships with boys! What did he think play direction was? Or sports coaching? My 1993, swan song, Charleys Aunt production at Guild Theatre was a great success. In short, Tim Gordon was a rogue headmaster, the worst I experienced in 22 years teaching in 3 provinces.
2024. Tim Gordon was one of the last white, affirmative-action headmasters during apartheid. His successor, Alan Gunn was Selborne's last white, affirmative-action headmaster. For the record, Tim Gordon condoned a negative work environment, doing his worst over 4 years to make obstacles & destroy my love for teaching, as follows:
* Hazardous teaching conditions, like no fulltime lab for my biology & general science teaching. I did most teaching in classrooms, begging lab teaching time from favoured teachers for hazardous experiments using dangerous chemicals!
* Poor staff stationery supply: I had to buy my own diary, markbook, pens, files...
* Demand from Tim Gordon that I do play rehearsals in Selborne College hall, but I had to cut & buy my own key for the school hall! (Hall key obtained from Neil Malherbe).
* Tim Gordon's poor scheduling of school play productions at nearby Guild Theatre. Play rehearsals clashed with sports practices / matches: e.g. cricket, water-polo, rowing...
* Tim Gordon's poor communication / staff supervision for Guild Theatre productions: e.g. Neil Malherbe swanning around water-polo pools instead of doing his artistic director duties for My Fair Lady (1990): costumes, stage-sets, stage-props... I supplied most stage-props like personal furniture, silverware, jewellery ... for all productions I did at Guild Theatre!
* Tim Gordon demanded skits, house plays, full-length, play productions with little knowledge or understanding of requirements. e.g. Stage-props acquisition. No staff wanted to be involved in stage-props acquisition, a time-consuming, multi-skilled task. For 3 major productions at Guild theatre I had to miraculously produce scores of stage-props as follows:
1. 1990. My Fair Lady: Neil Malherbe was in charge of stage-props. He did nothing. I found the lot: begging, borrowing, stealing from rubbish dumps, businesses, Amateur Drama Society, using my own possessions, like furniture, silverware, jewellery... When I asked vice-principal Peter Reed if I could use a bookcase in his office, he refused. A "personal possession" he said. During the Guild Theatre run, Peter's Clarendon-teacher wife was in charge of stage-props behind-stage. Peter complained she was working 6 nights at Guild Theatre. I told him: "I had nightly rehearsals for the last 2 months, including Easter holidays!"
2. 1991. Murder at the Vicarage: Teacher Vaughan Paterson was in charge of stage-props. He did nothing, except finding a plastic telephone! I found the rest. Prior to rehearsals Vaughan shared a bottle of shiraz in my home. He later had the cheek at the post-play, Green Room party to accept a memento mug from Tim Gordon for his stage-props job. Gullible Tim Gordon was duped, Vauhan worked so hard! Vaughan wasn't invited to my home again. Teacher Blyth Eadie was the only other staff to supply a prop for that play, a small table, stored in her garage.
3. 1993. Charlies Aunt: When I asked vice-principal Ian Forward to help find stage-props he did a disappearing-act for the duration of rehearsals & Guild Theatre run. I found all stage-props!
Despite recalcitrance about stage-props acquisition from sporty teachers, I had unconditional support (always conditional from Selborne management) from parents & teachers: e.g. Lloy Brent, music; Virginia Theunissen, choreography; Mrs Perlman, Anne Stonier, costumes; Mrs Hubbard, makeup; Henry Niit, Owen Cronje, Rob Piderit, set construction; Charles Coppin, set & backdrop painting; Anna O'Connor, photos, programmes, mementoes; Paul Wetmore, Front Of House, incl tickets; Winston Paxton, stage management; Bossie Ferreira, Keith Hanger, transport for invited audiences to full dress rehearsals. My job: Interpret & animate the play script by auditions, rehearsals, blocking cast moves, teaching / showing players their parts, as well as coordinating the above-mentioned professional tasks with parents, Clarendon staff, Guild Theate staff & backstage crew.
* Tim Gordon's immorality: While having an affair with the Clarendon headmistress, Judith Stuart-Watson, Tim expected Neil Malherbe & myself to produce skits & adjudicate house-plays at Clarendon. Neil & I refused in 1992. That miffed Tim Gordon causing him to post the snarky letter to my home! Tim had Judith as guest-of-honour at some Selborne functions!
* Rotten management of laboratory resources: I was discriminated against for 6 years without fulltime lab allocation by the following: principal Tim Gordon, 16 terms; professional ululators, Max Norman, Basil Blumrick, aka acting principals, 3 terms; new principal Allan Gunn, 6 terms. Max Norman (maths HOD) favoured maths teachers by timetabling their fulltime maths teaching in labs: Mrs Leurs, later Mr Bently, a waste of lab resources! Also fulltime lab allocation for Jay Midlane, biology HOD; Rob Piderit, science HOD. Also fulltime lab allocation for more favoured maths teachers: Mike Wirth, maths / biology; Derek Fish, maths / science. Also unqualified teacher, Brian Ashmead, science, hogged a lab fulltime while I taught at Selborne. Other coming / going teachers allocated fulltime labs: Eddie Vink, biology; Chris Allam, biology; Kenneth Ball, science. Messrs Midlane & Piderit were the worst HODs I experienced in my teaching career!
When I arrived at Selborne in 1989, there were 2 biology labs, 2 science labs. Later Charlie Coppin's art room was converted to a 5th lab, hogged by maths teachers. While teachers came & went from Selborne, the 2 science labs were occupied by Piderit, Ashmead, Fish, Ball. The 2 biology labs were occupied by Midlane, Vink, Allam, Wirth. That left me discriminated against, without a lab for 6 years!
Consequently I was unable to teach many syllabus-required, practical lessons involving lab experiments, microscope work, dissections, etc. I taught theory, but did minimal practical work in classrooms & borrowed labs. It would've been impossible for elderly lab assistant, Stan Burmeister to lug lab equipment / chemicals to my classes for my practical teaching. There was no safety-equipment in classes, like running water, storage cupboards, first aid kit, fire extinguishers, fume cupboards... Boys' lab-books for recording lab-work were non-existent!
* Poor planning & resourcing of school computers: 1. For years, only one pc available for staff use! 2. After Science HOD, Rob Piderit went on a pc course, pcs for boys were installed expensively in a pokey classroom at the end of a top floor corridor! Later the same pcs were expensively reinstalled in a more available classroom near the staffroom! (In comparison, Glenwood HS where I taught in Durban, 1982-84, installed a computer-lab in 1982 together with a computer-science teacher, not only providing computer studies for Glenwood boys, but also providing computer studies for students of other schools in the afternoons!)
* No disciplinary code, pathetic school discipline: e.g. Selborne uproar every 40 minutes while boys moved from class to class! When I taught at Glenwood HS, Durban, there was no noise when boys moved from class to class, they knew silence was golden. 1992. Before Tim Gordon left Selborne, after my sending many boys to Tim Gordon for discipline, he recited his ineffectual disciplinary policy to me in his office, then gave me silent-treatment while I complained. My last words to Tim Gordon: "You're a bully!"
* Rotten school maintenance, supposedly supervised by messrs Cronje, Forward: Bottom floor classroom I was allocated for 3 years, after geography teacher, McCallum's relocation, was poorly cleaned by contract cleaners, only once a week. Broken window catches allowed easy access for burglars. (2 of my sports jackets were stolen!) On my arrival, 2 wooden cupboards were so rotten their wooden shelving was covered in black mould. I disposed of one cupboard, revealing a leaky water pipe below. After slow replacement, atop the leaky pipe, the new cupboard soon rotted again. I bought my own storage cupboard! Took months for a broken overhead-projector screen and broken window panes to be fixed! When I complained about broken door locks below Selborne sports stands where black vagrants slept, Ian Forward said, "You're a racist!"
* I taught std 6,7 general science & biology incl matric. 1992. Timetabled by Max Norman, my general science classes were replaced by history & English classes! Tim Gordon & his stupid cabinet never explained why?
* 1989. I directed 5 house-plays without staff support in extremely limited time! (Impossible for me to direct 5 house-plays simultaneously! I tried that impossibility for 2 miserable years. House-plays were cancelled thereafter!)
* 1989-92. Entitlement from Tim Gordon that Neil Malherbe & I adjudicate Clarendon Girls' High house-plays at Clarendon and direct skits there! (1992. I refused skits direction close to school exam times. Ditto: Neil Malherbe!)
* Tim Gordon liaised with Clarendon Girls' High headmistress, Judith Stuart-Watson, timetabling shared maths & language classes between schools. That caused Selborne distruptions: students wasting time wandering from school to school, arriving late for other classes!
* Unsuitable plays which Tim Gordon asked me to direct, showing his ignorance: Our Town, The Mousetrap, Conduct Unbecoming... I rejected those.
* 1991, 1995. I was willing & able to direct The Matchmaker. (Hello Dolly adapted from it.) Neither Tim Gordon nor his successor Alan Gunn had the guts to go for it!
* 1989-90. Demand from Tim Gordon that I run debating & chess clubs without Tim Gordon nor any staff bothering to ask! (I ignored those manipulations. Prior, Primrose Mackenzie coached debating. Later, Shane Viviers coached chess. ).
* 1991. Cadets: Afrikaans teacher, Bossie Ferreira, cadets supervisor, listed me to coach cadets, without bothering to ask me. I refused! That prompted Science HOD, Piderit to loudly rant in the staffroom about my refusal. Piderit: bully! Gordon: bully! Gordon condoned bullying of boys & staff! (Instead of doing cadets, I introduced English as a Second Language, ESOL, for black students during cadet times. Some black students didn't do cadets during SA's transition from apartheid to democracy). Bullying examples, 3 cases, Gordon did nothing about it: Two Old Boys now live in England, one a headmaster, one a businessman: the former bullied in Selborne hostel, the latter didn't finish matric at Selborne due to bullying by boys & staff! Another Old Boy became a SABC reporter at the UN, New York. He was bullied by boys & Tim Gordon, who again did nothing to stop bullying!
* No performance appraisals, no exit interview, no recognition, nor remuneration for times I coached extra-curricular-activities. e.g. Many Saturdays umpiring cricket, many months doing show business.
* Tim Gordon's malicious use of the school intercom (heard simultaneously by everyone in the school) to summon boys & staff to his office, or interrupt lessons, especially last period Fridays!
* 1992. Tim Gordon secreted libellous notes about staff in boys' files, for other staff to read, without copying his note to the teacher he libelled! When I confronted Gordon (incl sending naughty boys to his office) he refused to apologise making lame excuses like: "My obligation... context... that's confidential... this is not a tribunal... you can send boys to me any time [ineffectual]... I don't mind you shouting at boys... settling scores... parents complained... I don't think the parent will think less of you"... After Gordon left Selborne, I complained to his new boss, CED director. The libellous notes soon disappeared from boys' files! More Tim Gordon quotes: "Be the best!... I'm cynical... Shifting blame... What do you get out of producing this play? (Murder at the Vicarage.)... Be enthusiastic!... No fear nor favour!... What's said in the staffroom stays in the staffroom!..."
* In addition to play direction, I coached hockey & cricket teams up to 4th, 3rd team levels, requiring extensively driving my car to sports venues in East London & out-of-town Komga, King Williams Town, Queenstown, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth. Example of Tim Gordon's "stupid is what stupid does": While driving from East London to PE, for sports at Grey HS, Tim Gordon driving his car tried to pass my Golf GTS by tail-gating at speed! He stopped tail-gating my car only when we descended Keiskamma River valley! Never mind car petrol expenses & wear & tear expenses during such extra-curricular-activities! After Tim Gordon left Selborne at the end of 1992, I complained to the School Board while Basil Blumrick was acting principal. The School Board thereafter paid staff for out-of-town petrol expenses!
* 1992. Demand from Tim Gordon that I drive a school minibus transporting Selbornians to sports venues when I had intermittent vertigo due to hearing loss! When I refused to get a separate licence for that travesty, Tim Gordon attacked, "You drive your family in your car!"
* Demand from Tim Gordon that I teach a full daily timetable, then do afternoon sports coaching, then direct plays at night incl, My Fair Lady, Murder at the Vicarage... During the latter, I refused to coach cricket, (terrifying deputy principal, Basil Blumrick: "Ï'm surprised you attended Chris Allam's home-warming party!") prompting vice-principal Ian Forward, when I left Selborne, to farewell me: "You no longer work for De Beers... You gave us lots of shit!"
While the above carried on, Tim Gordon was divorcing his wife. He eventually married Clarendon headmistress.
Coda:
Six years after his arrest, Neil Malherbe's conviction was scrapped due to an invalid search warrant.
2023. Neil Malherbe was SA National Director of ACSI: Association of Christian Schools International.
Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Principal's child porn ruling dumped over invalid warrant.
See Headmaster's child porn conviction scrapped over invalid search warrant (TimesLive).
See No jail for ex teacher found guilty of child porn possession (Daily Dispatch).
See See former principal in child porn case gets slap on the wrist - police (Lowvelder).
See Selborne College.
See Selborne Primary.
