Miss Homes-Orr opens a modern school, built in late Victorian style, in a more upmarket part of Jeppestown.
The peace favours the Boers and jettisons any rights black South Africans feel they have earned by supporting the British cause.
Miss Holmes-Orr sends her boarders off to safety in the Cape Colony (Port Alfred) and close the College.
Lord Roberts sets his sights on reaching Johannesburg.
Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi are all to be found in the vicinity of Spion Kop.
Marie Victoria Williams (born 1882) completes her schooling at St Mary’s College.
Marie Victoria Williams (born 1882) completes her schooling at St Mary’s College.
Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi are all to be found in the vicinity of Spion Kop.
Lord Roberts sets his sights on reaching Johannesburg.
Miss Holmes-Orr sends her boarders off to safety in the Cape Colony (Port Alfred) and close the College.
The peace favours the Boers and jettisons any rights black South Africans feel they have earned by supporting the British cause.
Miss Homes-Orr opens a modern school, built in late Victorian style, in a more upmarket part of Jeppestown.
The South African War breaks out. Miss Holmes-Orr, fearing for her boarders, sends them to Port Alfred and closes the college.
The tide of war recedes from Johannesburg. Miss Holmes-Orr returns to find her school in disrepair. Relocation is an option, but Miss Holmes-Orr does not have the finances. The school’s future does not look promising.
The South African War ends, with Great Britain victorious.
At some time, a banner is produced bearing the words “St Mary’s College Jeppestown” and the inscription “United in love and always faithful”. The letters ER are a reference to King Edward VII who reigned from 1902 to 1910. But the banner disappears, until it is discovered in a school desk in 1982. It is framed and once again put on display.
Compensation for expropriation and a loan from her brother-in-law enable Miss Holmes-Orr to build a new school close to Belgravia.
The school opens, and will be St Mary’s home for 30 years. Miss Holmes-Orr is never able to repay the loan.
The school’s foundation stone is laid by Archdeacon Furse
LOVE | COMMUNITY | INTEGRITY
