Hilton College (South Africa)

right|thumb|300px|Main administrative block

Hilton College, more commonly referred to as Hilton, is a South African private boarding school for boys located near the town of Hilton in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and is situated on a 1,762 ha (4,350 acre) estate that includes a 550 ha (1,400 acre) wildlife reserve and the 150 ha (370 acre) school campus

Hilton College was founded in 1872 by Gould Arthur Lucas and Reverend William Orde Newnham as a non-denominational Christian boys' school. It follows English public school tradition and is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of only two such remaining single-sex boys' schools (the other being Michaelhouse) to continue this practice in South Africa.

Hilton's 500 pupils each have access to a personal tutor and have a bespoke academic plan. It has maintained its position as the most expensive school in South Africa.

History

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 , 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, 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.

School life

Sports

thumb|300px|Hilton College paddler shooting Mission Rapid during the Dusi Canoe Marathon

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:

Athletics
Basketball
Cross country
Kayaking/Canoeing
Cricket
Golf
Hockey
Mountain biking
Rowing
Rugby/Rugby 7s
Shooting
Soccer
Squash
Swimming
Table tennis
Tennis
Water polo

Cultural activities

Art
Choir
Debating Society
Drama Society
Book Club
Catholic Society
Chess Club
Christian Fellowship
Computer Club
Enterprise Club
Film Society
First Aid
Fly Fishing Club
Health and Fitness Club
History Society
Hollerith Society
Jazz Band
Marimba Band
Senior Foreign Affairs Society
Wildlife Society

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 (Grade 12). 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 A. Douglas. 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 United States.

Estate

thumb|300px|A giraffe on the Hilton College Estate

Hilton College is situated on a estate that includes a wildlife reserve that borders the Umgeni River. is a South African cricketer.

Paul Maritz was previously Vice President of Microsoft and CEO of VMware

Fundi Sithebe former CEO of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and 4Racing.

Conor Mccreedy Swiss based artist and engineer. In 2022 a rare 4 kg book was made about his work by the publishing giant Assouline. Mccreedy has been described as the Blue Sultan of the Art World.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is a politician from Canada and attended in 1995 for the historic elections. He was a member of Falcon House.

Neil Smith, class of 1997, Pearce House is an Emmy award winner for his contribution to Broadcast Technology at Super Bowl LVIII (Las Vegas 2024). He has been nominated for four other Emmy awards including the George Wensel Technical Achievement award for the 2023 Masters golf at Augusta.

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.

References

External links

Old Hiltonian News
Old Hiltonian Club United Kingdom branch