Hilton College (South Africa)

Establishment

The grounds on which Hilton College is located were established as farm by pioneering Voortrekkers. Ongegund, as it was then known, was sold to a young Englishman, Joseph Henderson, by Johanna Grobbelaar, widow of the original owner, in 1849. Later in 1857 Henderson and his wife renamed the farm Hilton, after Hilton Hall in Staffordshire, England

The first of the founders, Gould Arthur Lucas, left for South Africa in 1851 as a lieutenant of the 73rd Foot Regiment of The British army. He had been one of three surviving officers during the sinking of the HMS Birkenhead, in 1852. Following this he was reposted as a district adjutant in Pietermaritzburg. It was here in 1855 that he met the Rev. William Orde Newnham, who had arrived in Natal at the request of Bishop John Colenso to become master of the new Pietermaritzburg Grammar School. It was during this time that the two became close friends. In 1867, after a period in England, Newnham returned to Natal and left to establish a school in Ladysmith, with the encouragement and support of his friend Lucas.

However the school did not prosper and Newnham found "the summer climate there too oppressive". In 1871, upon hearing of Newnham’s troubles, Lucas offered to help establish a new school near Pietermaritzburg. He arranged to purchase part of the farm Hilton from the Hendersons on which a school could be founded. Newnham arrived at Hilton on 27 January 1872 and two days later, on 29 January 1872, Hilton College was officially opened. The first 50 pupils were housed in dormitories built near the stables and the original farm house was enlarged to serve as the main school building. Newnham continued to run the school until he returned to England at the end of 1877.

Modernisation

In 1878 the lease of the school was taken over by Henry Vaughan Ellis. Ellis, a Rugby old boy, sought to reform Hilton College around the English public school system. Ellis brought many of the Rugby traditions to Hilton; thus beginning an unofficial link between the two schools, perpetuated today in the Hilton crest and motto. In 1903, Ellis announced his intent to retire, but wished to ensure the survival of his school. It was suggested to him by Ernest Acutt, a founding pupil and Mayor of Durban, that the farm and school should be sold to a company formed by Old Hiltonians which became the Hilton College Ltd. The capital raised by the old boys was intended to be used to buy the school from Ellis and for the construction of new buildings.

Shortly after Ellis' retirement the position of headmaster was taken over by George Weeks. However he too resigned that year and another new headmaster was needed. The position was awarded to William Falcon in 1906. Under his headmastership Hilton College grew from 50 pupils to over 200. Many buildings were completed such as the William Campbell building and the school chapel. The original school buildings, which were red brick, were changed to the present Cape Dutch style. The present school uniform was introduced along with the house system (the first three houses being Newnham, Ellis and Weeks (later renamed Pearce)). Falcon also lead reforms in the school's academic curriculum and, foreseeing the inevitable union of the South African colonies, replaced French with Dutch as the official second language in 1907.

On 31 March 1928 the original shareholders of Hilton College Ltd. signed a Solemn Covenant of Dedication which, in 1930, established the Hiltonian Society, a non-profit sharing association of the Old Hiltonians which take over the original shares and thus would own and control the school.

Relationship with Michaelhouse

Hilton College and Michaelhouse have enjoyed a history of friendly rivalry. The two schools have much in common and are the only two full boarding schools remaining in South Africa. The schools are located near one another in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

The bond between Hilton's "old friend and rival, Michaelhouse" has developed since 1904 when the two schools played their first rugby match at Hilton College, which Hilton won 11-0. Both schools consider each other their main fixture in all sporting disciplines. The high point of this rivalry is the biannual Hilton-Michaelhouse Day. This event, held alternately between the two schools, sees them play one another in rugby and hockey. The culmination of the day is the main rugby match between the two schools' 1st XVs, which is the oldest continuous rugby fixture in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Hilton College Guard

The Hilton College Guard was a mounted unit established on 4 June 1872 by Rev. William Newnham and lasted until its disbanding in the mid-1980s. As the oldest cadet corps in South Africa, the Hilton College Guard enjoyed the position of Cadet Detachment No. 1. Since its establishment, members of the Hilton College Guard and Old Hiltonians have fought in the Anglo-Zulu War, the South African War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the South African Border War.

Headmasters

Academics

The years of study at Hilton are referred to as Forms 1 to 5. "First Form" is the equivalent of Grade 8 and has boys aged 14. "Fifth Form" is the equivalent of Grade 12, also known as matric, and has boys aged 17–19. All Hilton College leavers write the Independent Examinations Board exams. Hilton has produced over 20 Rhodes scholars for study at the University of Oxford and two Elsie Ballot scholars for study at the University of Cambridge.

Sports

Hilton College's sporting tradition stretches back to its establishment in 1872. There are three sports seasons at Hilton College and sport is compulsory at Hilton College and every form 1 is required to play a team sport in term 1. Hilton's most popular sports are Rugby, Cricket, Water Polo and Hockey. The school has seen success particularly in rugby, producing several Springbok Rugby players and also lending its colours to the Natal Rugby Union, which would later become the provincial colours of Natal and subsequently Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The school offers a wide variety of sports:

Cultural activities

Houses

The house system at Hilton was created under the headmastership of William Falcon. Today there are seven houses, Churchill, Ellis, Falcon, Lucas, McKenzie, Newnham and Pearce which each occupy their own independent building. These houses serve as both a boys boarding and sporting house. Every new boy entering Hilton College is assigned a house which they stay in until Form 5. There is a rivalry between the seven houses who compete in inter-house tournaments such as swimming, athletics, rugby, general knowledge, debating and pancake eating. The matrics take responsibility for the running of the houses under the supervision a housemaster and deputy housemaster who live in adjoined apartments.

Spiritual

Hilton is a non-denominational Christian college, and Christian worship, values and principles are the foundation of Hilton College life. Pupils attend chapel service twice a week, including Sundays. About 40% of the school pupils come from Anglican backgrounds; 15% from Roman Catholic; 13% from Methodist; the other denominations are less than 10% each.

School songs

Hilton College has two school songs. The formal 'School Hymn' is Lift Up Your Hearts!, an English hymn written in 1881 by H. Montagu Butler. It is sung during chapel services such as Remembrance Day and Opening and Closing Services. The informal 'School Song' is Oh Boys of Hilton, which was written by Bobby Skinstad in 1993, and is sung to the tune of Flower of Scotland.

Exchange program

Hilton College has a student exchange programme with Eton College, Harrow School, Wrekin College and Framlingham College in England, Gordonstoun and Strathallan School in Scotland, Schule Schloss Salem in Germany, The Scots College, Knox Grammar School and Canberra Grammar School in Australia, and Charlotte Latin School and Woodberry Forest School in The United States of America.

Estate

Hilton College is situated on a 1,762 ha (4,350 acres) estate that includes a 550 ha (1,400 acres) wildlife reserve that borders the Umgeni River. The school campus, which has been described as one of the most beautiful in the world, is home to all school buildings including the Crookes Block (main teaching block), the Hilton College Theater, the William Campbell Building and the Hilton College Chapel. Immediately beyond the campus is the school farm which includes wattle plantations and natural grazing areas and is used by boys for running and cycling.

The lower portion of the estate is the Hilton College Nature Reserve. Hilton boys have access to the reserve and make use of the grounds on Sundays for swimming, tubing, mountain biking, fishing, bird watching and exploring. In addition, academic departments make use of the reserve as part of the curriculum (e.g. Art, Biology, Geography)

Notable Old Hiltonians

Hilton College has produced a number of notable old boys. There have been eight Springbok Rugby players including two captains (Gary Teichmann and Bobby Skinstad) and two constitutional court judges (John Didcott and Arthur Chaskalson). Hilton also educated the soccer player Josta Dladla, as well as rapper and producer Riky Rick.

Hiltonian Society

The Hiltonian Society is a non-profit organisation that owns and runs Hilton College. It was formed in 1930 by the share holders of Hilton College Ltd., which owned the school at the time. Any Hilton Old boy or past teacher is eligible to become a member of the Hiltonian Society.

Feeder schools

The following schools are all considered Hilton feeder schools and pupils are eligible to receive closed scholarships to Hilton College.

Memberships