Andrew Elkington

Tradition. It comprises the very brick and mortar of our beloved institution. In the age-old song of tradition we hear the echoes of those who came before us. The toll of the Swain bell rings true in our hearts. Bowdens, the consecrated battlefield where the relentless fight to defend the badge rages on. Three words, “Incepto Ne Desistam”, hang over us not as a burden but as a reminder of what we stand for. 

Tradition. It is what binds us. It gives us a sense of togetherness and instils pride. Westville Boys’ is a school built on these values. It is important as it is what gives us a sense of identity. As a collective we are defined by these traditions and the practice of them. They are passed down from each generation of Westville boys to the next as a rite of passage, a sign of boys passing through the school.  The Barnard Quad, The Swain Bell, The Matric Corridor, Bowdens—respect the traditions attached to these things because they are the foundations of our school’s history and identity and one day the responsibility to uphold these traditions will fall to you. 

It is all our duty to carry on these traditions, as many fail without such continuity, but also add to them, brick by brick, so that the story of WBHS may live on long after our time. In the words of Ms T. Vawda: “A tradition is not something that can necessarily be enforced but rather an ethos or ideology that is infused into people through practice and modelling”. That is what tradition is, an ethos. We, as Westville Boys, must instil this ethos, for the sake of our predecessors, the current generation of Griffins, and for those who are still to come. The mantle rests on our shoulders. The flame will be passed to all of you one day, so make sure you are strong enough to keep it burning.