John Clark Collection
Aubrey Samuel Langley (1871-1939) This unforgettable personality was the headmaster of one of the two great schools of Natal, in this case, Durban High or D.H.S. as it is universally known. When he was appointed as a young man to the staff of Maritzburg College in 1897, the Black servants named him 'Madevu', the Zulu for 'Moustache', a description meant as an honour. In 1910 he took over D.H.S. and administered it until his retirement in 1931. During these 20 years or so he brought the school to a high pitch of efficiency despite the upset caused by the outbreak of World War I. He loved sports, particularly rugby, and was a good cricketer himself. Despite some actions which might have appeared tyrannical, he loved his school and its scholars. He was a legend in his lifetime and has remained so since his death in 1939.