John was educated at St. Stithians where he was a member of the 1st XI hockey team and the head of the “Dukes”. He completed his National Service in the S. A. Navy, and spent a year studying Mechanical Engineering at Wits Technikon before moving on to the University of Port Elizabeth where he completed a Ba(Ed)Hms degree. It was during his time at UPE that John really began to enjoy the outdoors. Having qualified as an openwater SCUBA diver, competing in triathlon, mountain biking, hiking and climbing were the order of the day. He continued to play hockey at club level until recently.

John commenced his teaching career with a spell at Dale College after which he spent time teaching in the United Kingdom. On his return to South Africa he took up a post at Wynberg Boys’ High School before joining the staff at St. Peter’s School in 2006. During his career he has spent many years as a Boarding Housemaster and more recently has played the role of the Head of a dayboy house. He has also held the positions of a Grade 7 Coordinator, served on the Executive Committee and has been the Head of Design and Technology. John is married to Su and they have two daughters, Megan and Joselyn who are both in the Pre-Primary at The Wykeham Collegiate. John believes that children should learn to take responsibility for their actions as early as possible and this is reflected in his approach in the classroom. He is a great believer in the experiential learning which takes place in the natural environment, and the opportunities which it offers for the growth of self and self-esteem as young people find success in performing various tasks and challenges. Whilst at St Peter’s he has introduced the Hurt Free Schools programme, founded the Keys Explorers and is known for the importance he places on pastoral care.

Lance was born in Estcourt and is the eldest of 4 children. He went to Drakensview Primary School. After finishing primary school he followed his fathers footsteps and went to Maritzburg College where he played 1st XI cricket and 2nd XV rugby. Lance was captain of Athletics and Deputy Headboy.

After matriculating at Maritzburg College, Lance studied at the Johannesburg College of Education. It was here that he started his coaching career. He coached rugby and cricket at King Edward VII School. He was also one of the first coached, under Dr Ali Bacher, to go into Soweto and coach cricket in 1986.

After graduating he did his National Service in Pretoria and Nelspruit and became a Lieutenant. In 1991 Lance started teaching at his old school, Maritzburg College. He taught Physical Education, History and coached cricket and rugby and ended up coach of the 1st XV. At different stages of his career at College, Lance was a House Master, Subject Head of History and Physical Education, Master in charge of Rugby and Head of Department in charge of Prefects. Lance is married to Belinda, a Grade 1 teacher at Cordwalles and has a daughter Jemma at The Wykeham Collegiate and a son Matt who is at Cordwalles.

Antoinette spent her happy childhood in the little farming community of Cato Ridge, amidst a family of Portuguese heritage. After obtaining her matric exemption pass at Carter High School Antoinette completed her CFA qualification and at the age of 20 Antoinette was entrusted with the entire accounting function of a division of Corrida Shoes, a 'proudly South African Company'. Antoinette managed and controlled the finances of 7 retail stores across the country.

In 2003 Antoinette joined Cordwalles Preparatory School as the School Bursar. She is married to Ian and has two boys Hayden and Cameron who are pupils at the school. In her leisure time, Antoinette is a keen runner and enjoys mountain biking, belly dancing, horse riding and hiking

Alex was educated at Dale College in the Eastern Cape and furthered his education at the University of Port Elizabeth (now NMMU) where he obtained his Bachelor of Primary Education Degree.  Alex has taught at Dale Junior School, St Georges’ Preparatory and Woodridge Preparatory Schools, all situated in the Eastern Cape.  At varied points in his career Alex has taught most learning areas and has gained experience in  Grade 5,6 and 7 classrooms. Having been a former Director of Sport, he thoroughly enjoys his time outside of the classroom and has coached Hockey at 1st XI level  both at College and Prep School and has been involved in provincial selection in the Eastern Cape for many years.  He has involved himself both within school structures and provincially as a coach/manager and selector of cricket in the summer seasons.  Having been extensively involved in outdoor pursuits, he has a clear understanding of the benefits derived from such activities, particularly for boys.  He is very eager to continue these pursuits with our boys and to develop characteristics within them that are achieved through the challenges the outdoor classroom can provide.  Leadership, integrity, trust, co-operative skills, environmental awareness and lateral thinking all being characteristics young boys can achieve with great success when faced with the challenges of the outdoors.

Alex is married to Rosemary and father of two sons, James and Jonathan who are at Cordwalles.  Coming from a family of four boys, being the father of two sons and an all boys school education is perhaps what has brought him here to Cordwalles. He loves living in Africa and enjoys the wonderful environment in which we have been blessed.  Travelling, camping, fishing, cycling, paddling or simply being outdoors with his boys and Rosemary,  and ending the day around a fire are his greatest pleasures. 

Gill was born in Durban on an undisclosed date in the 1960's. Her father was transferred from Kloof to Pietermaritzburg when she was in Grade 4. Primary schooling was at Kloof Primary and Athlone Primary and thereafter completed senior school at Pietermaritzburg Girl's High School in 1978. The hotel industry had been quite appealing, so she completed a 3 year National Diploma in Hotel Management in Johannesburg. Having discovered that this was not what she had thought it would be, she left the hotel industry and worked for a safari company in Botswana for a while before enrolling to study as a teacher at Natal Training College in Pietermaritzburg. She graduated at the end of 1987 and a few weeks later married Linton. 

Her first teaching post was at Clarendon Primary. Gill was there for one year before being offered a post at Cordwalles in 1989. After 13 years at Cordwalles, they left South Africa for England, where they lived in the stunning county of Dorset for 6 years before returning to South Africa at the end of 2007. She took up the role of Head of Department at Cordwalles on her return. In the little spare time she enjoys gardening, walking, cycling, reading and playing squash.

Carol matriculated at Vryheid High School a long time ago! She excelled at sport, and in particular, in swimming where she attained her Natal colours. Carol qualified with a Higher Diploma in Pre-Primary Education from the Natal College of Education and began teaching in 1984. She has since taught in various schools in Pietermaritzburg (as well as her own successful playschool), and was Principal at Epworth Pre-Primary for a period of time. Carol is also trained as a Psychomotor Educator.

Carol is married to Des, a director at Price Waterhouse Coopers, and they have three children – Andrea, who is practising as a Speech Therapist in Johannesburg, Rogan, who is studying towards his Masters and Chad who is a Cordies Old Boy, is in Grade 10 at Michaelhouse.

Carol has completed two Comrades Marathons as a walker, the Midmar Mile and joins the family in cycling and golf. She particularly enjoys the outdoors, reading and listening to music.

Denise was born in ‘Sleepy Hollow’ in 1963. Tragically her father was killed in a car accident when she was just three years old. Her mother, Wendy, then married Eric Eaglestone, who had lost his wife to cancer – the big family was born! Wendy contributed three blonde girls, while Eric contributed his three children and when Bruce was born it completed the adage of ‘yours, mine and ours’. Denise vividly remembers her formative years watching cricket. It was where her love for sport in general was born. Teamwork both on and off the field became one of her strong points. It is something which she holds dear and which has been important in keeping the dynamics of a large family in check. She attended school in Ixopo where her outstanding leadership potential was recognised and she became head girl. Her love of people ultimately decided her career choice. Denise completed her diploma in teaching at Edgewood and accepted her first post at Port Shepstone Senior Primary School. The sport field would also determine Denise’s future, as it was on the hockey field that she met Kurt. She was HOD of four Grade 5 classes and later was the HOD of sport at the school. She taught at Port Shepstone for 13 years. Denise has two sons, Brian who is studying at UCT, and Michael who is at Hilton College. She is passionate about their sport and tries to watch their matches over the weekends when she is not coaching at Cordwalles. Denise has taught at Cordwalles for a decade and has now been appointed Head of Pastoral Care, which involves running of the chapel, outreach and Cordies Families

Ruth is proudly a ‘born and bred’ Zimbabwean! She grew up in a small farming community called Belingwe where there were only 27 pupils in the whole primary school. At the end of Standard 4 Ruth’s parents bundled her off to board at Gweru Convent for her last 2 years of junior school in preparation for Bulawayo Convent (High school) – doesn’t that sound familiar with Ruth’s role in encouraging boys to come and experience the wonderful opportunities Cordwalles has to offer in preparation for High School! Ruth and Mick (boy friend then) left Bulawayo in the early eighties to travel ‘down south’ to South Africa where they lived in Johannesburg, Klerksdorp (!) and Cape Town. During this time Ruth was involved in the travel industry being a co-owner of company called Platinum Tour. Her responsibilities included marketing and promoting the company as well as co-ordinating the travel arrangements for foreign travelers in either the FIT, Incentive or Conference market.

In mid 2001, Ruth and Mick (now very much married) with their sons relocated to Pietermaritzburg. Although Ruth hoped to be a ‘lady of leisure’ she soon realized that she needed to get busy and get involved with ‘something’! It was in 2004 that she joined Cordwalles where she is now very happy, very busy and  very passionate about this special school!! Mick is the Managing Partner for Ampath (KZN), Kyle is a 3rd year Business Science student at UCT and Ross is in Grade 7 at Cordwalles.

Chris started at Cordwalles in January 2010 and is married to Heather who is a teacher of the Red Group – Grade RR. They have two children, Kirsten who has recently matriculated from The Wykeham Collegiate and Gary, a Cordwalles Old Boy, who is in Grade 10 at Michaelhouse. Gary spent seven very happy years at Cordwalles!
Chris comes from a farming background, having spent the last 18 years on Heather’s family farm in New Hanover. Since the farm was sold as the family immigrated to Australia, Chris felt it was time to try something else. The chance to work at Cordwalles at the Support Services Manager has been a fantastic opportunity to stay associated with Cordwalles!