The Turner family story is a reminder of how deeply Highbury weaves itself into family life, shaping not only the boys who pass through its gates but often those who teach within them too.
Bradley Turner (Class of 1983), Ryan Turner (Class of 1988) and Miles Turner (Class of 1991) each experienced Highbury in different decades, while their mother, Pamela Turner, served as a teacher at the school from 1989 to 1996. Together, their memories paint a vivid picture of 13 years of Highbury life across the 1980s and 1990s.
Bradley Turner (Class of 1983)
After finishing at Highbury, Bradley went on to Hilton College and then to the University of Cape Town, where he completed a Bachelor of Business Science. He later moved to the UK, building a successful thirty year career in London. Now recently retired, he is married with two adult children.
Bradley’s memories of Highbury are rich in detail and tradition. He recalls inter house swimming galas where teamwork was tested by getting an entire house across the width of the pool as quickly as possible, annual braais held in the headmaster’s garden, and the ever present stainless steel jugs of soup.
He remembers the boarding house fire vividly, hosting fellow boarders at his home in the weeks that followed, and keeping small mementoes from the incident. He was also part of the group that started Highbury’s first computer club with Tom Godfrey, working on a ZX81 with just 1KB of RAM, which he eagerly took home over weekends to write programs.
Other stand out memories include Mr Kerley’s infamous two mile run at the start of rugby practice, encouraged with the help of “Busy Lizzie”, group haircuts at the start of term, speed reading exercises in the octagonal lecture theatre, woodwork lessons with Mr Harris, and the privilege of being asked by Mr Dauncey to ring the school bell between lessons.
Ryan Turner (Class of 1988)
For Ryan, one memory stands above the rest: the tuck shop game. Played around the old tuck shop, it involved games of catchers, vaulting low walls and sprinting around the building, with no limits on numbers and energy that only grew as more boys joined in. It provided hours, and years, of entertainment during school breaks in the late 1980s.
After training as an accountant in Durban, Ryan spent twenty five years working in commodities in London. More recently, he and his family relocated to a smallholding in North Devon, where they are embracing re wilding, consulting and part time community work. Life now includes two cows, a very energetic dog, and sweeping views of the Devon coastline.
Miles Turner (Class of 1991)
Miles left Highbury in 1991 in a high note, receiving the Chorister’s Trophy – the Special Headmaster’s Award – for his contribution to the academic and cultural life of the school. He went on to Hilton College, matriculating in 1995 and then studied Business and Law at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg before moving to Johannesburg in 2000 to begin his career at Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank.
In 2004, he relocated to London, where his banking career focused on emerging markets across Africa and China. Alongside his professional journey, he completed an LLB through the University of London and an MBA at Manchester Business School. In 2019, Miles moved to New York with Bank of America and is now based in Dallas, Texas, where he is a Director in their Global Corporate and Investment Banking business.
Married to his wife Morgan, Miles is a proud father to Andrew (9) and Peyton (7). Continuing a strong family sailing tradition rooted in their Highbury years, Andrew has recently begun sailing in the same 7ft Optimist dinghy.
Miles speaks warmly of his eight years at Highbury, including two spent in the boarding house. Despite living close to the school, he chose weekly boarding to fully embrace the activities and camaraderie, helped along by winter mornings that began with hot cocoa and Mrs Fuller’s famous French toast.
His memories include cross country runs featuring the famous big log and water jump, music, school plays, time spent in the library with Mr Gumede, and narrating the 1991 production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also recalls acting in a wildlife play about endangered baboons that was filmed and broadcast on MNet, and competing regularly in sailing regattas at Midmar, where Highbury often came out on top.
A particularly special memory was dining in small groups at the Daunceys’ home in Standard Six, with Janetta’s brandy snaps a highlight for those lucky enough to be there. Like many boarders, he also remembers the legendary late night “bunk outs”, one of which ended with the group being caught during the 1990 adventure.
Pamela Turner (Teacher 1989 to 1996)
Pamela Turner’s connection to Highbury adds another meaningful layer to the family story. She saw three Headmasters of Highbury in her time of parent and teacher and vividly recalls the retirement and departure of Sholto Mc Millan, the last family member to head up the school. Peter Dauncey’s guiding hand as Deputy Head and high expectations from the boys was inspiring. Her favourite subjects to teach were English, History and Art, which made for fun activities like dressing up as Vikings, holding Medieval feasts, making Castles out of boxes. In 1994, Pam remembers placing a time capsule into the ground with the boys and 25 years later, in 2019, the capsule was dug up, with many former pupils from that year returning for the occasion. Watching from the UK, Pam was represented on the day by Paddy Collins, a fitting symbol of how Highbury connections endure across time and distance.
The Turner family story is one of continuity, character and connection. Spread across continents, their shared memories return again and again to the same place, a reminder that Highbury is not simply a school you attend, but a community you remain part of for life.
