Dear fellow Old Rhodians,

I'm afraid our news gets gloomier as the year goes bye.

Just to let you know that Mike Orchard (64 years old) passed away on the tennis court this past Saturday whilst playing in the  Cape Town Vets league.  He had a heart attack, having experienced two heart attacks and two stent implants 10 years ago.

He was due to retire in January 2014.

Mike was a very good squash player at Rhodes and many an opponent underestimated his slight frame and build when playing him. He was very competitive and always enjoyed a good "challenge" on the court.

Those of you who played against him will no doubt remember. He enjoyed his games against Dave Scott(Springbok squash player) most of all.

He was a Maritzburg College Old Boy and very proud of the schools sporting achievements.

Mike and his wife Moira (Jones) [ also an OR] live here in Pinelands Cape Town having both graduated from the Rhodes Pharmacy Dept. during our time.

Although Mike and I were in the same Residence at Rhodes (Walker

House) it was only when I moved to Cape Town that I really got to know Mike and Moira.

We became good friends and  he literally "forced" me to join the local Pinelands Tennis Pub, I mean Club a few years ago so that we could both go on the annual  Vets Tennis tour to the Eastern Cape. We went as recently as May this year  playing against the local Grahamstown club and staying at the [In]famous Victoria Hotel during our stay. Say no more!!!!!!!!!

Mike and I took time out to again stroll accross the Rhodes Campus which  brought back many fond memories of our Varsity days, little did we know that this would be his last visit to his old alma mater.

Go well Mike and thanks for the journies we travelled together.

Regards

Jumpy Wilmot

Last Modified: Mon, 08 Aug 2016 14:57:40 SAST