Plumtree School is a boarding school for boys and girls in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe on the border with Botswana. Founded in 1902 by a railway mission, Plumtree School boards 500+ pupils. Recently the school announced it will start enrolling girls as of January 2016.
In 1897 a siding on the railway line between Mafeking and Bulawayo was named Plumtree. It lies on the watershed of the Western Matabeleland Highveld at an altitude of 1389 metres 100 kilometres from Bulawayo. During that time, the construction of the Cape-to-Cairo railway was underway and around 1902 the railway had just come through what was then the Bechuanaland Border.
The school was founded by the Railway Mission largely to cater for the children of the employees of the old Cape Government Railways at work on the Cape-to-Cairo railway who were resident alongside the line between Mafeking and Bulawayo. The first classes were held in a rondavel in the garden of Mr. And Mrs. S. J. Smith whose nine children formed the nucleus of the student body. Subsequently, classes were moved to the dining room of the Plumtree Hotel which doubled as the Station Refreshment room. A little later a large room was made available in the customs house.
In 1902 the school moved to the present site. The original 5-acre (20,000 m2) plot was steadily extended so that the school occupied a one square kilometre site bordering on Plumtree village.
In 1906 a much beloved headmaster Robert (Bob) Hammond (known as maTambo) was appointed to take the school from the family enterprise it had been to a school rated in the 1930's as one of the top ten leading schools in the Commonwealth. Under Hammond's guidance over the next 30 years, the character of the school was formed in a similar vein to Gordonstoun and Geelong - determined to produce the best leaders of the future. Due to its remote location, senior boys were allowed to hunt for the school pot, in groups of three plus a young Ndebele tracker. In doing so, they spoke fluent Sindebele, learned the ways of the wild and the culture of its people. During Hammond's time, the school became known not only for the number of Rhodes Scholars it produced, but also for the fact that the major percentage of school leavers opted to work with the Africans within the Native Administration Department, as Native and District Commissioners.
In 2015, the school was granted permission by the government to enrol girls in order to boost lowering enrolment figures. Although a handful of girls were pupils in its founding years, Plumtree School has been known as a boys school for more than a century.[1]
Housesedit
Gaul House
The school is at the edge of Plumtree. It is divided into four houses and one boarding hall:
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Plumtree School is a boarding school for boys and girls in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe on the border with Botswana Founded in 1902 by a railway mission Plumtree School boards 500 pupils Recently the school announced it will start enrolling girls as of January 2016 Plumtree SchoolPlumtree School CrestLocation Plumtree Zimbabwe Plumtree Matabeleland SouthZimbabweInformationTypePrivate Public boardingMottoAd Definitum Finem Latin To a definite end Established1902HeadmasterS KhumaloNumber of pupils500 approx Websitehttps plumtreeschool co zw Contents 1 Historical background 2 Houses 3 Notable alumni 4 References 5 External linksHistorical background edit nbsp Tom Sawyer 2001In 1897 a siding on the railway line between Mafeking and Bulawayo was named Plumtree It lies on the watershed of the Western Matabeleland Highveld at an altitude of 1389 metres 100 kilometres from Bulawayo During that time the construction of the Cape to Cairo railway was underway and around 1902 the railway had just come through what was then the Bechuanaland Border The school was founded by the Railway Mission largely to cater for the children of the employees of the old Cape Government Railways at work on the Cape to Cairo railway who were resident alongside the line between Mafeking and Bulawayo The first classes were held in a rondavel in the garden of Mr And Mrs S J Smith whose nine children formed the nucleus of the student body Subsequently classes were moved to the dining room of the Plumtree Hotel which doubled as the Station Refreshment room A little later a large room was made available in the customs house In 1902 the school moved to the present site The original 5 acre 20 000 m2 plot was steadily extended so that the school occupied a one square kilometre site bordering on Plumtree village In 1906 a much beloved headmaster Robert Bob Hammond known as maTambo was appointed to take the school from the family enterprise it had been to a school rated in the 1930 s as one of the top ten leading schools in the Commonwealth Under Hammond s guidance over the next 30 years the character of the school was formed in a similar vein to Gordonstoun and Geelong determined to produce the best leaders of the future Due to its remote location senior boys were allowed to hunt for the school pot in groups of three plus a young Ndebele tracker In doing so they spoke fluent Sindebele learned the ways of the wild and the culture of its people During Hammond s time the school became known not only for the number of Rhodes Scholars it produced but also for the fact that the major percentage of school leavers opted to work with the Africans within the Native Administration Department as Native and District Commissioners In 2015 the school was granted permission by the government to enrol girls in order to boost lowering enrolment figures Although a handful of girls were pupils in its founding years Plumtree School has been known as a boys school for more than a century 1 Houses edit nbsp Gaul HouseThe school is at the edge of Plumtree It is divided into four houses and one boarding hall House Year built Head of House 2018 ColorsMilner House 1911 L Kyle Lloyd House 1924 Thabo Newson Grey House 1926 D Terrence Gaul House 1941 Everson James Hammond Hall 1976 N A N ANotable alumni editSee also Category Alumni of Plumtree School Ralph Mupita MTN Group CEO Iain Butchart Zimbabwean cricketer Chris Dixon 1943 2011 Rhodesian Air Force pilot also known as Green Leader Terry Duffin headboy 2000 Zimbabwean cricketer former Zimbabwe Cricket captain Adrian Garvey Zimbabwean South African rugby player Rollo Hayman Rhodesian cabinet minister Anthony Ireland 1997 2002 Zimbabwean cricketer David Lewis Rhodesian cricketer 2 Henry Olonga headboy 1994 Zimbabwean cricketer Pat MacLachlan Rhodesian rugby player Tony Pithey Rhodesian South African cricketer 2 David Pithey Rhodesian South African cricketer and Rhodes Scholar 2 Des van Jaarsveldt Rhodesian South African rugby player 3 Lieutenant General Peter Walls 1927 2010 Rhodesian Army Commanderhttps www telegraph co uk news obituaries military obituaries special forces obituaries 7913263 Lieutenant General Peter Walls htmlReferences edit Plumtree High gets greenlight to enrol girls 28 September 2015 a b c Winch Jonty 1983 Cricket s Rich Heritage a History of Rhodesian and Zimbabwean Cricket 1890 1982 Bulawayo Books of Zimbabwe pp 200 201 I P Maclaren ed 1981 Some Renowned Rhodesian Senior Schools 1892 1979 Bulawayo Books of Zimbabwe p 219External links editOld Prunitians site Old pictures of Plumtree High School Zimbabwe Recent pictures of Plumtree High School Zimbabwe click on each picture for more 20 29 11 S 27 48 35 E 20 4864 S 27 8098 E 20 4864 27 8098 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plumtree School amp oldid 1171750508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
