Grey College (

Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

: ''Grey Kollege'') is a semi-private English & Afrikaans medium school for boys situated in the suburb of Universitas in

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein ( ; ), also known as Bloem, is the capital and the largest city of the Free State (province), Free State province in South Africa. It is often, and has been traditionally, referred to as the country's "judicial capital", alongsi ...

in the Free State province of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, it is one of the 23 Milner Schools. Grey College was ranked 1st among high schools in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

by Africa Almanac in 2003 and 2013, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.

History

The school was officially opened on 13 October 1855 and the first headmaster was the Reverend Andrew Murray. Believed by scholars and alumni to be the third-oldest school in South Africa, there are in fact several other schools that were established at earlier dates as far back as 1738. With formal education being established later in the northern regions of the country, it is the oldest school north of the

Orange River The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch language, Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibi ...

. During his presidential inauguration speech in 1896, while addressing learners from Grey College,

Marthinus Theunis Steyn Martinus (or Marthinus) Theunis Steyn (; 2 October 185728 November 1916) was a South African lawyer, politician, and statesman. He was the sixth and last president of the independent Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902. Early life The Stey ...

mentioned that he envisioned a university for

where youth from all over the country could come and study. He supported the idea that Grey College should provide higher education to the people of the

Orange Free State The Orange Free State ( ; ) was an independent Boer-ruled sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeated and surrendered to the British Em ...

. As a result, the

University of the Free State The University of the Free State (; Sotho language, Sesotho: ''Yunivesithi ya Freistata'') is a multi-campus public university in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State (province), Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. It wa ...

essentially came into existence in 1904 when a tertiary portion of Grey College was allocated for such purpose.

Grey College today

The school grounds consist of a number of historic buildings, of which five are Free State provincial heritage sites: the Main building and Hamilton Hall, the Andrew Murray House, the Brill House and the Tuck shop. The school offers a number of scholarships such as the Badawi Legacy scholarship given in partnership with Montpellier Rugby Club to promote rugby, education and French culture. Old Greys donate funds to the Jock Meiring Trust and Bram Fisher Trust, funds used for the administration of school grounds and granting of scholarships. Grey College is known nationally for being particularly strong at the sport of rugby, the "secret" handshake, and old boys speaking passionately about their school.

Gallery

Image:Grey College.JPG, Main Building Image:Tuck Shop.jpg, The Tuck Shop Image:Hamilton Hall, Grey College - panoramio.jpg, Reunion Hall

Notable alumni

Laurens van der Post Sir Laurens Jan van der Post, (13 December 1906 – 15 December 1996) was a South African Afrikaner writer, farmer, soldier, educator, journalist, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer and conservationist. He was noted for his interest in Jungi ...

Sir Laurens van der Post was political adviser to British heads of government, close friend of

King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

, godfather of

Prince William William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his p ...

, educator, journalist, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer and conservationist. *

Ernst Oswald Johannes Westphal Ernst Oswald Johannes Gotthard Gotthilf Westphal (Khalavha in Venda, South Africa, 1919 - Bredasdorp near Cape Town, South Africa, 27 November 1990) was a South African linguistics, linguist and an expert in Bantu languages, Bantu and Khoisan lan ...

, linguist and scholar, of the

School of Oriental and African Studies The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS University of London; ) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury area ...

and the

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) (, ) is a public university, public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university status in 1918, making it the oldest univer ...

. *

Jopie Fourie Josef Johannes "Jopie" Fourie (27 August 1879 – 20 December 1914) was a Boer soldier. A scout and dispatch rider during the Second Boer War, he later took part in the Maritz Rebellion of 1914–1915 against General Louis Botha, the prim ...

, military scout & dispatch rider *

Etienne Leroux Etienne Leroux (born Stephanus Petrus Daniël le Roux; 13 June 1922 – 30 December 1989) was an Afrikaans writer and a member of the South African Sestigers literary movement. Early life and career Etienne Leroux was born in Oudtshoorn in ...

, Afrikaans author and a key member of the South African Sestigers literary movement. * Charl du Plessis, pianist. *

Denis Earp Denis John Earp (7 June 1930- 19 May 2019) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force. Career He attended Grey College, Bloemfontein, Military College in 1948 and joined the SAAF in 1950 ...

, chief of the

South African Air Force The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II a ...

Bram Fischer Abraham Louis Fischer (23 April 19088 May 1975) was a South African Communist lawyer of Afrikaner descent with partial Anglo-African ancestry from his paternal grandmother, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti- ...

, anti-apartheid activist and advocate for

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

in the

Rivonia Trial The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in apartheid-era South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964, after a group of anti-apartheid activists were arrested on Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia. The farm had been the secret location f ...

Steve Hofmeyr Steve Hofmeyr (born 29 August 1964) is a South African musician, writer and actor known for his prominence in the Afrikaans music scene. Outside of music, he is best known for his long-running role as Doug Durand on Egoli: Place of Gold, as well ...

, singer, songwriter, actor, political activist *

Deneys Reitz Deneys Reitz (3 April 1882 – 19 October 1944), son of Francis William Reitz, was a Boer soldier who fought in the Second Boer War for the Boer Republics against the British Empire. After a period of exile in French Madagascar he returned to ...

, Boer soldier, South African soldier in the First World War, and politician. *

Martinus Theunis Steyn Martinus (or Marthinus) Theunis Steyn (; 2 October 185728 November 1916) was a South African lawyer, politician, and statesman. He was the sixth and last president of the independent Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902. Early life The Stey ...

, president of the

* Pieter Uys, Vodacom CEO * Pierre van Ryneveld, founding commander of the South African Air Force

Athletes

Ryk Neethling Ryk Neethling OIS (born 17 November 1977) is a South African businessman who rose to prominence as a three-time World Aquatic Champion and four-time World Record breaking Olympic swimming champion, participating in four Olympics for South Af ...

, Olympic gold medalist swimmer *Pierre-Gerard Geldenhuys, South African Men's Field & Indoor Hockey * L.J. van Zyl, athlete,

Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists mostly, but not exclusively, of territories of the former British Empire. The event was first held in 1930 ...

champion in the 400m Hurdles *

Wayde van Niekerk Wayde van Niekerk (South African English: , ; born 15 July 1992) is a South African track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. In the 400 metres, he is the current world and Olympic record holder, having set the rec ...

, Olympic Gold Medalist 400m Athlete & World record holder 400m track *

Richardt Strauss Richardt Strauss (born 28 January 1986) is a former professional rugby union player who played as a hooker. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, he began his career with the Free State Cheetahs and played for the Cheetahs in Super Rugby before movi ...

, Ireland international rugby player ;

South Africa national cricket team The South Africa men's national cricket team, also known as the Proteas, represents South Africa in men's international cricket and is administered by Cricket South Africa. South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council. T ...

players *

Kepler Wessels Kepler Christoffel Wessels (born 14 September 1957) is a South African-Australian cricket commentator and former cricketer who captained South Africa after playing 24 Tests for Australia. Since retiring he has been a lawn bowls competitor. He ...

* Victor Mpitsang *

Nicky Boje Nico Boje ( ; born 20 March 1973) is a South African former cricketer who played in 43 Tests, 115 One Day Internationals and single Twenty20 International for South Africa. Boje was a member of the South Africa team that won the 1998 ICC KnockO ...

* Hansie Cronjé (his ashes are kept at the school) *

Ryan McLaren Ryan McLaren (born 9 February 1983) is a former South African professional cricketer, who played in all formats at international level. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. McClaren signed a contract with English Coun ...

Boeta Dippenaar Hendrik Human Dippenaar (born 14 June 1977), known as Boeta Dippenaar, is a former South African cricket team, South African cricketer who played all formats of the game. He is also a member of List of African XI ODI cricketers, ACA African XI. ...

;

Springbok The springbok or springbuck (''Antidorcas marsupialis'') is an antelope found mainly in south and southwest Africa. The sole member of the genus (biology), genus ''Antidorcas'', this bovid was first Species description, described by the Germa ...

rugby players * CJ van der Linde * Flip van der Merwe * Francois Venter * Popeye Strydom *

Deon Stegmann Gideon Johannes Stegmann (born 22 March 1986) is a South African professional rugby union player, who most recently played as an openside flank for Honda Heat in the Japanese Top League. He made his Super 14 debut for the Bulls in 2008 at th ...

François Steyn François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn (born 14 May 1987) is a South African former professional rugby union player. A Utility player#Rugby union, utility back who represented his South Africa national rugby union team, country, he was able to play a ...

* Johan Goosen *

Coenie Oosthuizen Coenraad Victor Oosthuizen (born 22 March 1989), nicknamed 'Coenie' or 'Shrek',http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/article1067479.ece/30-Seconds-with-Cheetahs-prop-Coenie-Oosthuizen TimesLive: 30 Seconds with Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen ...

Ruan Pienaar Ruan Pienaar (born 10 March 1984) is a retired South African professional rugby union player who played either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half for the in the Currie Cup. Pienaar is the son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar. Ru ...

(also played for Ulster) * Pieter Muller *

Ruben Kruger Ruben Jacobus Kruger (30 March 1970 – 27 January 2010) was a South African rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He had two daughters Zoë (b. 2002) and Isabella (b. 2005). Isabella played quarter final on the junior tournament at the ...

( Rugby World Cup 1995 winning team) *

Ollie le Roux Andre-Henri "Ollie" le Roux (born 10 May 1973) is a South African rugby union footballer with 54 caps for his country. Rugby career Le Roux was born in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape. In his professional club rugby career he has played for: the , ...

Tiaan Liebenberg Christiaan Rudolph Liebenberg (born 18 December 1981) is a South African professional rugby union player who played as a hooker. He started his career at the in 2002 before joining the following year. He made 64 appearances for the Kimberley- ...

* Louis Babrow *

Heinrich Brüssow Heinrich Wilhelm Brüssow (born 21 July 1986) is a South African former professional rugby union player. His usual position was as open-side flanker and his most recent club was Northampton Saints in the English Premiership. He played for th ...

Naka Drotské Allen Erasmus Drotské (born 15 March 1971), commonly known as Naka Drotské, is a South African former rugby union player, who played as a hooker. He played for the South Africa national team, the Springboks, 26 times between 1993 and 1999. P ...

( Rugby World Cup 1995 winning team) *

Bismarck du Plessis Bismarck Wilhelm du Plessis (born 22 May 1984) is a South African former professional rugby union player, who played for the in the United Rugby Championship and for the in the Currie Cup. He played for the in 2003, before moving to the in ...

(

Rugby World Cup 2007 The 2007 Rugby World Cup () was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by Fr ...

winning team) *

Jannie du Plessis Jan Nathaniel du Plessis (born 16 November 1982 in Bethlehem, Free State) is a former South African rugby union player, who played as a prop for in the French Top 14 and the Lions in Super Rugby. He played for the in the Currie Cup and the i ...

(

winning team) *

Morne du Plessis Morne, Morné, Mörne, etc. may refer to: People * Morné (given name) * Morné (surname) * Arvid Mörne (1876-1946), a Finnish author and poet Places * Morne a Chandelle, a village in the Sud-Est department of Haiti * Morne-à-l'Eau, a commu ...

(member of the

International Rugby Hall of Fame The International Rugby Hall of Fame (IRHOF) was a hall of fame for rugby union. It was created in 1997 in New Zealand and is run as a charitable trust with an address at Chiswick in London. Most of the trustees are also inductees. IRHOF accepted ...

) * Wian du Preez * Charl Marais * Johan Styger *

Heinrich Füls Heinrich Theodor Füls (born 8 March 1971) is a South African former rugby union player. Playing career Füls made his provincial debut for Transvaal in 1992. He also played for Eastern Province, Western Province and the Border Bulldogs in ...

* Werner Swanepoel * Helgard Muller *

Adriaan Strauss Jan Adriaan Strauss (born 18 November 1985) is a South African former professional rugby union player who played first class rugby between 2005 and 2018. He played in 66 international test matches for (captaining them in 2016) and also featured ...

* Andries Truscott * Cobus Reinach * Jaco Reinach ; Bafana Bafana football players * Tshegofatso Mabasa(Orlando Pirates Player)

References

External links

Grey College Official Site

Grey College High School

Grey College Primary School

Grey Rugby Stats & Historic Overview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grey College, Bloemfontein Boys' schools in South Africa Boarding schools in South Africa Schools in the Free State (province) Education in Bloemfontein Educational institutions established in 1855 1855 establishments in the Orange Free State Herbert Baker buildings and structures