Old Dalian Union History

In 1893 the Old Boys Union was formed, largely through the efforts of the Rev. J.G. Sutton. Sir Langham Dale had accepted an invitation to become its first president and had promptly sent them a cheque for five guineas.

The first meeting was held in the College Hall on 24 July 1893. After several speakers had addressed the gathering, Mr W.A. Lord moved that an Old Boys’ Union be formed. The first office bearers were:- President – Sir Langham Dale, Vice-president – Mr J.J Yates and Committee – Messrs A.C. Brown, W. McIntyre, A. Ellis, W. McCormack, J.W. Rahn, G. Randell, J. Sansome and J.G. Weir. This motion was carried with enthusiasm. It was further resolved that all the Dale College staff be ex-officio members of the committee, and all those present, who were not old boys of Dale, be honorary members of the Union. The minimum subscription for ordinary members was to be five shillings per annum and for honorary members, one guinea. The Old Dalian Union has functioned ever since and at present has branches all over South Africa.

History of the Old Dalian Union’s contributions to the College

The very fine Memorial to the fallen of the 1914-1918 war in the Hallowed Courtyard, to which was added the memorial scrolls after the 1939-1945 war and subsequent involvements when Old Dalians gave their lives.

The ‘C and D’ sports fields and the Memorial gates.

The beginnings of the tuckshop at the main sports field – later enlarged and expanded and recently developed into the staff entertainment centre, now known as the ‘Gouv’.

In 1956, when the present College was still in embryo, the Administrator of the Cape Province issued an ultimatum – he gave the school committee a deadline of two weeks within which to deposit £20 000 cash to underwrite the building of the school – in particular, the Department would, in those days, only contribute £10 000 for a school hall. By depositing the required money, the present magnificent College Hall was guaranteed.

Who contributed the £20 000? The Headmaster, Mr R.W. Searle, approached some Old Dalians – Elliot Roach immediately wrote a cheque for £4 000 and offered more; others also came up with significant contributions. That is why the College Hall has a plague indicating that it is the Old Dalian Memorial Hall.

The Athletic ’cinder’ track was built in 1964 and named after Mr R.W. Searle, the B.N. Rowles ‘Olympic’ size Swimming Bath was built in 197- and the Colin Thompson Squash Courts were built in 198-. The Malcom Andrew Sports Centre consisting of a new tuckshop, run by the P.T.A., and a multi-purpose hall with a kitchen and a licensed bar, was originally built in 1987 and extended in 199-. The above sports complexes were all named after the Headmaster at the time.

In 2006, a donation was received from Dave Ellwood (1977) for the upgrading of the college gym. It was named after the late “Dooks” Andrews, who had twice served as chairman of the Johannesburg Old Dalian branch.