High Bray Primary School, Brayford, Barnstaple,

01598 710345

email JW@highbray.demon.co.uk

website http://www.highbray.demon.co.uk/

Experience.

• Suitable bits - Primary School Head aged a tiny bit over 21 which is great considering I’ve been a head for ten years (early maturer)
• Teaching head with particular interest and expertise in I.T, computers and photography. Very interested in Developmental Education

Crossings

I particularly hope to make a worthwhile and sustainable link (email and snail mail) with a South African School and at the same time make a worthwhile contribution (web site and photography) to the project as a whole.

Personal interests

• Mayor of Barnstaple
• Keen photographer
• One time commissioned officer, British Army (TA)

Impressions of Capetown

How can the experience of a lifetime be condensed into a few short words? The maelstrom of emotions and memories is still deeply unsettling, making it difficult without pain and resentment to settle back into a routine in this cold, wind swept, rain beaten country.

Memories of a country so beautiful that it was difficult to turn any corner and find an uninviting view - memories of magnificent houses and township shacks, each with the backdrop of breathtaking mountains.

Memories of warmth and hospitality, of being invited, unknown, into people's homes and sharing with them their precious time, and yet being made to feel very welcome and special.

Memories of shop assistants saying "Have a nice day" and actually meaning it, of people from the townships with so few possessions seeing us drive through in our top-of-the-range bus and waving and smiling.

Memories of township schools battling against the odds to provide an education but making the most of what little was available with that indomitable spirit that would signal success.

Memories of Grove and Kirstenhof Primaries where I was made to feel so very welcome and where people went out of their way to speak to me.

Memories of whales seen at close quarters and of being bashed up by a baboon on the way to Cape Point.

My father's troop ship stopped off at Cape Town for a few days during the war. He told me it was the prettiest place in the world. Dad, if you can hear me now, you weren't wrong. I would go back tomorrow with no hesitation whatsoever.

John Wilsher

Life's like that ... and that's the way it is