Bill Carter Tribute

It is with great sadness that St Stithians inform our community of the passing of William J. (Bill) Carter. Our condolences go to the Carter Family.

Bill and Denise Carter joined the Saints family in 1972 and were College parents for 20 years. Their four sons Alain (Class of 1977), Guy (Class of 1981), Pierre (Class of 1984) and David (Class of 1991) all attended St Stithians and subsequently two grandsons Greg (2007) and Michael (2014)  also attended Saints.

It was not long before Bill became involved in the school, serving on the Parents’ Association committee in 1973 and 1974 and as Chairman in 1975. From 1975 until 1977 Bill served on the College Council as PA representative and thereafter as a representative of the Methodist Church of SA, serving continuously until 2003. In 1986 he was appointed as Vice-Chairman of Council serving under the redoubtable Rev Stanley Pitts and later under David Schroenn. Bill was appointed to the St Stithians College Trust as a Trustee in which capacity he also served continuously until 2003. With the establishment of the girls’ schools in 1995 and the Junior Prep in 2001, the Council portfolios were restructured: Bill’s responsibility on the Executive being Planning and Buildings.

Bill was instrumental in the success of the Adventurer’s Club which established the outdoor interest in the Boys’ College. Between 1975 and 1983 he led a number of trips into the Drakensberg mountains, hosting students at his mountain cottage en route and providing transport as well. Two of his sons, Alain and Pierre, took part in these trips and were no doubt influenced by their father’s love of the mountains.

Bill’s influence on the physical development of the College infrastructure was significant. In 1980, Bill was appointed as architect of the (at the time) state-of-the-art BC Resource Centre. He was also instrumental in designing the Macfarlane block in the BP and the Henning and Frost blocks in the BC as well as many other buildings on Campus. He was part of the team that conceived, established and designed Penryn College in the Lowveld. He also designed the Girls’ College and Girl’s Prep buildings in record time.

Bill conceived the built masterplan for St Stithians which included the parallel flows in our buildings, with the Saints Chapel and the Mike Roberts Outdoor Chapel purposely placed to be at the end point of the school journey, ensuring that students are guided towards God throughout their time at Saints.

The Honour Circle alongside Chapel Drive was donated to St Stithians by the Carter Family and is a fitting and timely reminder of the values and integrity by which Bill lived his life, and it, in turn inspires others to Honour God, Honour Others and in so doing Honour themselves.

Bill Carter was a true example of a servant leader and One and All at St Stithians and Penryn College are grateful for the life he led and for the immense and significant contribution of Bill and the Carter family.

To share a message of support with the Carter Fmaily or for longer condolence messages, please send them via email to Julia Phipps in Alumni Relations and Caitlyn Loneon (Old Stithian Association Secretary) on alumni@stithian.com.

We thank you for your support.