2nd Rugby Test Between South Africa and the British Isles – 1903

On 5 September 1903, the second rugby test in Kimberley between South Africa and the British Isles ended in a tie, as the first had.

From the Ashes: The Keeley Park Sports Pavilion – 2026

On 5 September 2026, St Patrick’s CBC officially opened the new Keeley Park Sports Pavilion, an important addition to the school’s sporting facilities and one with an unusually powerful connection to its history. Mr Neave opened the ceremony, with Bishop Rose blessing the new building. Mr Goncalves, Chairperson of the Board of Governors, formally opened the pavilion and unveiled a commemorative plaque.

What makes the pavilion particularly significant is the material it was built from. Every brick used in its construction was reclaimed from the former Oppenheimer House hostel following the devastating fire that destroyed the building. Some bricks still bear the marks left by the fire. Rather than allowing the remains of Oppenheimer House simply to disappear, St Patrick’s gave them a new purpose. The bricks that once formed part of generations of pupils’ lives now form a building that will serve generations still to come.

The symbolism was particularly appropriate as St Patrick’s CBC celebrated its 129th year. The pavilion represents more than a new sports facility: it reminds us of the school’s resilience and its ability to preserve the memory of the past while continuing to build for the future. As the school expressed it at the opening:

“The fire may have left its marks on these bricks, but it did not destroy the spirit they represent. From the ashes, we have risen. From the past, we continue to build our future.”

One school. One family. One beating heart.