In 1966, businessman and Old Grey, Errol Wise and his wife, Stella, walked into the office of the then Headmaster of Grey Junior School, Mr SF Edwards, seeking to continue a legacy of the Wise family’s involvement at The Grey and to enrol their son, Peter, at the School.
But Peter had been born with a condition, labelled Arthrogryposis (a congenital condition), caused by a virus which his mother had picked up during pregnancy. This condition, which affects tissue in the joints, resulting in fibrous, stiff joints, inflexibility and deformity, is found in 1 in 20 000 babies. It is a rare, debilitating condition.
The Wise family were referred to the School’s doctor who suggested that they would do far better to enrol their son at a school specialising in dealing with children with Peter’s condition.
However, the Wise family had Grey blood flowing through their veins. Grandad, Dad and Dad’s brother were Old Greys and Dad was adamant. And Dad was an insistent man. New Headmaster, Mr Alec Jardine signed the papers which would offer Peter the opportunities that the Grey offers to give him the chance to live a schoolboy life as a conventional Grey boy.
He would, as far as possible, stand on his own two feet and strive to achieve the goal of being a normal Grey boy.
Preparing for his first day at school, Peter asked his mom when he could come home.
“When the bell rings,” she replied. When the bell rang at the end of the first period, Peter packed his bags and walked out, alone. Teachers saw him walking out of the school and followed him, collecting him at the school gates. The bell system was explained and that there were still nine periods to go before the final bell.
How pertinent would it have been, had today’s tradition of Matrics ringing the bell under the Tower as they leave the school, to have been in place during Peter’s years.
Left: Peter’s first day of school
So began an illustrious career at the School and in life, which most would be proud to achieve. Peter was resilient. He fought and survived, steely and determined. He did whatever he could do on his own, but his schoolmates were magnificent in supporting him. Carrying his bags. Helping up the stairs. Down the stairs. Cricket coach, Charlie Pautz, encouraged Peter to get involved in scoring and, as a lover of sport, Pete became known amongst Grey boys and boys from other schools as the sharpest, go-to-guy for neat, correct and consummate scoring. Gradually, he was becoming more and more involved. And despite his condition, he even learned to swim: “Didn’t quite make it to the inter-house galas,” Peter quipped. Should he have swum, he may have been un-medalled, but, undoubtedly, loudly applauded.
To add arrows to his quiver, he was involved in various societies such as the SCA and The Wildlife Society. Despite numerous corrective surgeries which kept him away from school for long periods, he was strong academically and was appointed as a Monitor at the Junior School. One of his responsibilities, ironically, was to check for neatness of the boys in the corridors and before assemblies. This embarrassed him, as understandably, he was not the tidiest pupil at the School unable to pull up his socks constantly or to tuck in his shirt.
Peter had become an accepted and popular figure at Grey.
Moving into the High School, several decisions and opportunities directed the path towards his future. Firstly, taking IsiXhosa with Ron Endley impacted his thinking greatly and tempered his understanding of different cultures. The second was his involvement in the School’s newspaper, Grey Matter, where he soon became the Sports Editor. Seeds had been planted, requiring just a little fertilizer and nourishment towards a career in journalism. While he still scored for the under-age sides, he also qualified as an official Cricket Umpire where he stood in First League matches often having to censure some fiery fast bowlers who overstepped the sledging and chirping when decisions were wisely turned down.
Life as a teenager at high school was still tough, but Peter, named as such by his god-fearing mother, Peter The Rock, stood firm. Despite offers for help, Peter became more independent as he grew older. Adamant that he needed no help, he would crab-walk up the stairs with his back to the wall for support. And as he stood firm, so others learned to respect his determination. No one looked for excuses for him, not to be involved or to achieve. Even during Cadet Periods, he was tasked with other responsibilities. One, he remembers, was having to walk the school identifying all the different trees and labelling them.
As much as Peter tried to involve himself at the school, he also had to balance his life. His muscles growing, the tissue at his joints tightened and his body cramped. Consequently, he also had to spend many hours alone, resting in the afternoons on his bed. Here, Springbok Radio, was his constant companion and the likes of David Gresham, started planting more seeds towards a life and a love, and a passion for radio journalism, a career path which was to bless him for the next 40 years.
Matriculating with a University Exemption, Peter already knew where he is passions lay, but he followed his dad’s advice in completing a B Juris Degree, but spreading his interests and subjects widely, so as not to restrict him to a lifetime defending criminals and administering bonds. Here, in the realms of law, ironically, an interest in politics was also born.
If Grey Matter had sparked an interest, the UPE campus newspaper, UPEN, lit a fire. Here too, Peter became the Sports Editor and he was a regular companion with students over a beer at sporting events and functions. It was while at UPE where his first real opportunities in radio arrived, as one of the co-founders of Radio Uppie, together with long-time friend, Shaun Van Eck who has been so committed to growing the Eastern Cape as a tourism attraction.
Peter Wise has gone on to achieve more than most in his life, becoming the voice of seven different radio stations and, in 2020, he was inducted into the South African Radio Awards’ Hall of Fame.
The Grey, the teachers, the pupils and friends have walked, carried and encouraged Peter through a tough life where he has risen above many to become a shining example of the School’s motto, “Tria Juncta in Uno”, three joined in one, the balanced development of Body, Mind and Spirit.
Left: Peter pictured recording for LM Radio station
His achievements are a drum roll of success, a symphony of body, mind, and spirit:
- Merit Awards for Service from Grey High School (1978) and the University of Port Elizabeth (1983)
- Voted top SA Campus radio DJ in 1982
- Over 40 years, the voice that has linked and been common to seven different radio stations including Algoa FM, Radio Highveld and, eventually, the iconic LM Radio.
- Club, Regional and National President of Leos (Junior Lions Clubs International)
- President of the Lions Club of Northcliff, Johannesburg, from 2013 to 2015
- Named ‘Best Leader of the Year’ by Lions District 410B (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Swaziland) in 2015
- Nominated for ‘Best Evening Radio Show Presenter’ at the 2018 SA Radio Awards
- Inducted into the SA Radio Awards ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2020
Should The Grey ever launch their own Hall of Fame or Honours Board to recognise and celebrate successful Old Greys, Peter Wise would be a worthy Inductee.
Now, happily transferred to his home town, Port Elizabeth, and living at Cheshire Homes, Peter continues to run his shows from a temporary sound-conditioned studio at the Home. Since 2015, Peter has been confined to a wheelchair and, with rising medical costs, life has not become any easier.
Still resilient, he resolutely rolls on. Grey friends, just as they did at school, believing in him, have risen in support, some anonymously, some, actively organising functions to raise monies and, just recently, a Port Elizabeth ophthalmologist, together with the support of “Right to Sight”, saved Peter’s failing sight through two pro-bono cataract operations.
The example set by these Grey friends is testimony to Grey High School and its powerful network of friends in locking hands and standing by their fellow men. Long may this continue, bright may their example shine, and loud may their chorus sing. With boyhood’s laughter and joys. Long may the support continue.
Peter Wise deserves this. His example should be an inspiration to us all. He surely must stand as one of The Greats in his generation of Old Greys.
Written by Alan Stapleton