St. Charles College, Pietermaritzburg

St Charles Grammar School for Boys was established on 26 July 1875 by Bishop Charles Jolivet of the Order of Mary Immaculate (OMI), in Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg. The school was later sold to the Marist Brothers in 1912 who renamed it St Charles College. Growth was so substantial that 14 years later it was necessary to move the college out of its cramped buildings in the city to the suburb of Scottsville, also in Pietermaritzburg. Undergoing rapid expansion, particularly in the 1950s, the future of St Charles was seemingly assured until, with declining interest in vocations in the Catholic Church, the college almost closed its doors in 1978. It was saved by the eleventh-hour intervention of a small group of Old Boys who worked to re-establish the college, resulting in a non-denominational school with a secular Headmaster.

An Aerial view of the college in early 2011

Entrance to St. Charles College on Harwin Road

There are currently four houses at St. Charles College, with equal numbers of students in each. O'Meara House was disbanded by former Principal, Mr Ronnie Kuhn, in 1991 due to small numbers at the college in the early years of his Principalship. Kuhn's reasoning for disbanding O'Meara House was that the numbers at the Senior School were at about 180 which meant four Houses had approximately 45 boys each – three Houses meant 60 boys per House.

• O'Meara House (Green)   – O'Meara House was named after arguably the most prominent benefactor of the School – after founder, Charles Jolivet. Thomas Patrick O'Meara was a very successful timber merchant in the city with three sons at the School: G O'Meara, James Justin O'Meara and Michael Henry O'Meara. The last two were killed in the First World War – and are duly recorded on the Roll of Honour in the chapel. TP O'Meara was a great benefactor of the college and a good friend of founder Bishop Charles Constant Jolivet. He was still going strong in an officiating role at the college in the late 1920s – he died on 19 February 1929 at age 90.
• Conway House (Red)   – was named after Miss Mary Conway – the singing and music teacher who arranged the concerts in the Old Scott's Theatre. Mary Conway, daughter of James Patrick Conway (1885–1914) had her sister, Ellen Hunter (née Conway) a music teacher at St Charles College as well.
• Delalle House (Yellow)   – was named after Fr Henri Delalle, Principal of the School in 1896 – he later became Bishop. He was instrumental in getting the Marist Brothers to take over the School in 1913.
• Smith House (Blue)   – was named after Mr John Leslie Smith, a model pupil at the School in the early to late teens of the 20th century – and a great benefactor of St Charles College – as have his family members over the years subsequently – Mr Patrick Leslie Smith and Mark Leslie Smith.

• Denis Hurley (bishop) - Roman Catholic Vicar Apostolic of Natal and Bishop, Archbishop of Durban
• Pierre de Charmoy – Singer & songwriter
• Mike Antelme - South Africa national rugby team player
• Matthew Dobson – Rugby Union player
• King Misuzulu Zulu – reigning King of the Zulu nation
• Arthur Harcourt – Cricketer and judge
• Sarel Erwee -South Africa national cricket team player
• Graeme Beghin – Cricketer
• Wesley Madhevere – Zimbabwe national cricket team player
• Matthew Sates – Olympic Swimmer
• Michael Phelps - Non-Olympic swimmer and recognised by faculty (Prizegiving 2000 ceremony) as Chief Anarchist

• Official website

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