The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Thursday, September 8, 1966 — The headboy of Milton School, Peter Jones (18), is to fly to South Africa tomorrow to attend the funeral of Dr Verwoerd on Saturday. Dr Verwoerd was one of Milton’s distinguished old boys.

Confirming this last night the chairman of the Milton PTA, Mr A Knight, said that the decision had been prompted by the many phone calls he received during the day. Peter, he said, would fly in the special SAA plane leaving Salisbury tomorrow. Peter is a Milton boarder who lives in Salisbury.

“As Dr Verwoerd is an old boy of Milton we feel it is only fitting that the school should be represented at his funeral”, said Knight. Sympathy for the people of South Africa Association, Bulawayo branch, sent a cable of condolences to the South African President, Mr CR Swart, said the chairman, Mr Solly Jossel.

It read: “Please convey our deepest sympathy to Mrs Verwoed and her family and all South Africans in the tragic and untimely loss of their leader.”

Mr Charles Harrison, chairman of the Old Miltonians’ Association, cabled the acting South African Prime Minister, Dr E Donges.

“Distressed tragic news. Sad condolences to Mrs Verwoerd and bereaved family”, it said.

Mr Harrison said he would call a committee meeting of the association soon to decide whether it should be represented at the late Prime Minister’s funeral.

Dr Verwoerd was a pupil at Milton School and won a Beit Scholarship from there to Stellenbosch University in 1915.