OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 89
OBITUARIES
When Kingswood came looking
for a young, energetic, reforming
headmaster, John was appointed
to the all-boys Methodist school with
its proud, rugged frontier tradition.
The school was to provide him with
both great success and his greatest
sadness. Skilfully, sensibly and
sensitively, he transformed
Kingswood into a co-educational
establishment with an inclusive,
open and caring culture – and
a much healthier bank balance.
JBG
square-set and slightly brooding
tweed-jacketed
with a dusting of chalk
John Brett Gardener
English teacher
cut from bespoke intellectual cloth
with his distinctive corrugated
underlip
and cup of tongue
his words incised
with modulated phrasing
and lyrical imagery
like gold inlaid in swarthy teak
I was always mesmerised
by the wild allure of conjured sound
how he would slow to emphasise
a phrase
and then accelerate away
his layered pitch and tone
uniquely able to lift the gist
phonetically
the footfall of his words
detached from all vocabulary
inflections woven into lines
pianissimo – fortissimo
the masterclass of cadence
that was his alone
By Archie Swanson (1973G), from
Beyond a Distant Edge (2021)
But tragically, in 1974, the family
lost their middle son, Richard Brett,
just short of his 14th birthday, after
a lifetime’s battle with asthma. This
prompted a move back to Cape Town
and Bishops, and another 17 years
of serving in innumerable roles the
school John loved. Ask any student
from any of his time at Bishops what
they recall of JBG, and you will get
a glimpse through many different
lenses of a heart of gold.
After John’s retirement as principal
in 1992, he and Beryl moved from
Rondebosch to Fish Hoek, where they
had many happy family associations.
Following Beryl’s untimely death in
January 2000, John continued his
work as chair of the Western Cape
branch of the Independent Schools
Association of Southern Africa,
through which he became involved
in the national Independent Quality
Assurance Agency, founded by Sue
Rees. A happy consequence of this
voluntary and all-absorbing work
was John’s subsequent 22-year
marriage to Sue.
In 2006, John and Sue relocated to
Claremont, settling into a lovely home
that quickly became the IQAA high
command. From there, they toured
the country as mentors, lobbyists
and coaches in a very specialised
educational field in which the ReesGardener team was highly regarded
– often with some trepidation.
Their final retirement spot was
Cle du Cap in Kirstenhof, where
John spent many happy years, with
one brief month in their excellent
healthcare facility. Sue continues to
live there, peacefully in her beautiful
garden corner, and forcefully in her
extensive governance role. She is
well supported by her three children
Jonathan, Jo and Simon, and their
respective families.
In 2024, John was awarded
the Order of Simon of Cyrene, the
highest layperson’s honour afforded
by the Anglican Church, both for his
many services to education and as
the author of scores of well-loved
hymns. One of these, “Who will save
our land and people?”, was due to
be sung at his memorial service in
the Bishops chapel. Published in 1983
using his sharp array of theological
and literary weapons, it is one part of
John’s long commitment to fighting
for social justice. Retaining all its
crusading resonance, the hymn is still
sung with fervour by congregations
throughout the land – and nowhere
with greater pride than at the Good
Shepherd, Kirstenbosch.
Bishops was always, to quote
Sue Gardener, John’s “happy place”.
In 2020, the school conferred on
one of its finest sons the Robert
Gray medal, awarded to ODs who
have provided distinguished service
in their chosen field. “There have
been ups and downs, with some
things I certainly could and should
have done better,” said John at the
time, reflecting on his more than 80
years of association with the school.
“But perhaps high on the okay list
has been the number of good
friendships there have been with
staff members, parents and boys.”
Our condolences go to Sue, James
and Andrew, and their families.
Vale, Mr Gardener, Sir.
Requiescat in pace.
“God from afar looks graciously
upon a gentle master.” – Aeschylus
Dr Paul Murray is ODU Ambassador.
He began his career at Bishops in 1991
as a teacher of history, hired by JBG.
See the “Modern Education” feature
in Issue 4 by Rob Worthington-Smith
(1978G) for John’s still-insightful
opinions on schooling today (along
with those of other OD headmasters).
Included as a sidebar to the article
is “The English Teacher”, a tribute
to John by leading South African
poet Chris Mann (1965O).
THE OLD DIOCESAN | 87
