Chaplin High School

Chaplin High School Logo

Chaplin High School is situated in Gweru, Zimbabwe, and was started in October 1902.^[1] It was started in a building of the Trinity Church, Gwelo and first named as the Trinity Church School (1). The school caters for boys and girls from form 1–6 and has boarders and day scholars. There are two boarding houses for boys named Duthie House and Coghlan House while girls are housed in either Lenfesty House or Maitland House. Maitland House is the sister hostel for Duthie while Lenfesty is the sister house for Coghlan House.

History

Seven children reported for school in October 1902 when the school was first started. At that time, it was called the Trinity Church School as the building was in the Trinity Church of Gwelo. The first headmaster was Mr Watkinson while Miss Coates-Palgrave was the Assistant to the headmaster. The following January, 16 children moved to the current school grounds.

In 1909, Mr A McDonald was appointed as the headmaster of the school which had been renamed the Gwelo Public School. He continued as the headmaster of the school until 1927 when he retired.

In 1911, the government built a schoolhouse which was the first school hostel in the country. This schoolhouse was later renamed Duthie House after being opened by Mr George Duthie FRSE. Also 1911 saw Chaplin playing rugby against other schools for the first time. They lost to both Plumtree High School and Milton High School but were later to improve greatly providing players for both Rhodesia and Zimbabwe.

In 1914, the first school magazine was printed. In 1923, the first girls hostel Maitland House was opened by Sir Drummond Chaplin and the school was renamed Chaplin. In 1928, Coghlan House was opened with Lenfesty being opened in 1950. In 1937, the seniors and the juniors were separated, which was the start of Cecil John Rhodes Primary School. On 7 July 1953, The Queens Gate was opened by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Sports

Traditionally the school has athletics and swimming in the first term then rugby, hockey, Soccer, Cricket, tennis, volleyball and basketball during the second term. Some of the sports however are no longer being played consistently.

Headmasters

1902-09 Mr Watkinson
1909-27 Mr A. Macdonald
1927-41 Mr Leonard Ray Morgan (after whom Morgan High School in Harare is named)
1941-46 Mr H. H. Cole
1946-52 Mr A. E. Farrell
1952-56 Mr H. C. Hamilton
1957-64 Mr I. A. A. MacClean
1965-82 Mr J. M. Alers
1982 Mr J. Jones (acting)
1983-87 Mr E. Utete
1987-88 Mr Mutubuki (acting)
1988-90 Mr Mudubiwa
1990-94 Mr J. Magadzire
1994-2013 Mr H. Magusha
2013- Mrs Marufu

Notable Alumni

Ian Smith, Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 1964 to 1979, was a student at Chaplin from 1933 to 1937 (Duthie) and head boy in 1937. He was the captain for rugby, cricket, athletics, tennis and boxing.
Chris Duckworth,^[2] cricketer
Steve Elworthy,^[2] cricketer
Richard Kaschula,^[2] cricketer
Robert Ullyett,^[2] cricketer

References

↑ (1)
1 2 3 4 Jonty Winch (1983), Cricket's Rich Heritage: a History of Rhodesian and Zimbabwean Cricket 1890-1982, Bulawayo: Books of Zimbabwe, pp. 199–201

Bibliography

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