The schools I call the KZN10 have turned out many distinguished alumni and one of the alumna who surely ranks high among this grand group of gentlemen has to be Westville Boys’ High School’s Errol Stewart, who has recently been elected chairman of the board of governors at the iconic Durban Country Club, which celebrates its 100^th birthday on 9 December, 2022.

If one were to write a P.G. Wodehouse-type schooldays novel, one could think of few better than Errol Stewart upon which to model one’s central character.

A gentleman’s gentleman, Errol has distinguished himself in a host of fields and endeavours and is a fine example of the principles that Westville Boys’ High School seeks to instil in its learners… resilience, respect, discipline, humility, character and dignity.

 

 

Among the many hats he wears, and has previously worn, Errol is one of the founding directors of the WBHS Foundation which, among its signature achievements, successfully engineered the establishment of the boarding house facilities at the school.

Apart from flying aeroplanes when he has a chance, the mind of this UKZN Law School graduate is no doubt well employed in his executive position at one of South Africa’s leading banks, as well as in the various other roles, both official and unofficial, in which he contributes add-value to society.

His academic prowess notwithstanding, this 1987 SA Schools rugby player and cricketer was also the recipient of WBHS honours awards in two other sports in which he gained provincial representative colours, namely hockey and athletics. Those schoolboy sporting achievements alone set Errol apart.

 

 

Post-school, Errol played provincial cricket (wicketkeeper/batsman) and rugby (centre) for Natal as well as being capped for the Proteas, and has another rare distinction to his name – being a member of both the Natal cricket and rugby teams that were the respective Currie Cup champions of South Africa in 1995.

Oh, and not surprisingly Errol plays off a single-figure handicap when he gets time to launch his drive down the fairways of one of the world’s most renowned golf courses… at Durban Country Club.

A man of conviction, Errol retired from top-level cricket in 2003 (a 15-year first-class career) when, on principle, and in the face of much official pressure, he refused to accept the captaincy of the South Africa A team that was selected to tour a deeply troubled and divided Zimbabwe.

 

 

The griffin is symbolic of WBHS… a mythical being that is part eagle and part lion, blessed with remarkable strength, unfailingly protective instincts and zero-tolerance for evil.

Errol Stewart… a man of many parts… a true WBHS Griffin.

 

 

Sources: DCC, WBHS, CricInfo, News24