If you have an interest in history, and even more importantly the history of Sarel Cilliers High School, you might want to sit down and have a cup of tea and a chat with Paulos Ntshingila who has been working for 43 years at the school and has many a tale to tell.

A quiet humble man with an infectious sense of humour, Paulos has seen many changes over the years and has many an amusing anecdote to tell of his many years spent as the head of the groundsmen– like the time contractors from out of town painted the school roof and when the heavy rains came, most of the paint washed off again, meaning that the job had to be re-done; the time a herd of goats (or was it sheep) spent the holidays trimming the school lawns and flower beds, constantly being chased out but only to return again and again.

Paulos speaks of fondly of the school and its history – he remembers when there were cadets and the school used the shooting range, when there was a marching band and drill practice on Fridays. He laughingly regails us with stories about naughty school learners and their antics and tells of how the school has grown from a handful of students to the one thousand plus learners of today.

He can tell you about every secret room and cupboard of the school and it is evident that he is not only proud but very fond of his workplace. As the head of the groundsmen, Paulos has been instrumental in the smooth running of the school – making sure the fields are freshly mowed and the chalk lines drawn for sports events, putting up tables and chairs for many a prize giving or function, maintaining the classrooms and the grounds.

He is a person who has had great responsibility resting on his shoulders and says that now it is time for him to finally rest and take life at a slower pace, he is no longer a young man and his health is not what it used to be. After 43 years of loyal service Paulos has decided that it is finally time to retire and enjoy his autumn years with his family, breeding goats and working on the farm.

His wife and two sons and two daughters will be glad to have him home. When asked of future plans – he says he plans to invest in a bakkie but other than that, the future will take care of itself. A pragmatic man who quietly goes about getting things done, he will be sorely missed at Sarel CIlliers. The school plans to honor Mr Paulos Ntshingila’s many years of service at their next prize giving. We wish him well and hope that he will return to the school to visit.

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