Well deserved rest for retired Amanzimtoti principal
I never wanted to teach high school, preferring primary school.
Retired Amanzimtoti Primary School principal, Doug Lanyon is enjoying the break from stress. The 58-year-old retired at the end of last year, which was a shock for the school, but he said it was a decision that was a long time coming. He opted to call it a day due to health reasons.
Doug was injured in a car accident in 1976 when he was 14-years-old and suffered nerve damage to his back. “I have suffered with back pain since then, but recently it has degenerated. The last two years were the worst. Plus the stress of running the school and dealing with the department of education didn’t help. But Amanzimtoti Primary was hard to leave.”
Doug was born in Durban and was a prefect and part of the first class to matric at Pinetown Boys High. He was also a prolific rugby player, playing on the wing, and provincial athlete, but after his accident, had to drop the 100m sprint and concentrate on longer distances.
“After school I wanted to go into medicine, but my parents couldn’t afford it. Teaching was my second choice. I studied computer science at the Edgewood campus. I never wanted to teach high school, preferring primary school.”
Doug taught at Virginia and Lyndhurst, before moving to Warner Beach Prep to teach Grade 7s music and art, with his talent to tickle the ivories.
READ ALSO: New head at Amanzimtoti Primary School
He was head of department at Athlone Park Primary and Durban Primary, before moving back to Amanzimtoti Primary to take up the deputy principal position and teach technology and computers in 2000. In 2002 he was acting principal and then principal from 2004 until 2019.
He married Liz in December 1984 and they have a son, Keegan, who is a social science teacher at Amanzimtoti High.
Over the years, he was instrumental in the growth of the school. He was behind introducing computer programming at the school and researching coding and robotics with a team of teachers to introduce it into the curriculum.
He helped build the computer room, install an astro turf field, heat the swimming pool, boost arts and culture and lay irrigation for the sports fields. he introduced first class cricket and elevated the school to boast the biggest sport codes on the South Coast. Sport at the school was so strengthened, they competed in the Durban league. The choir was voted number one in SA in recent years and they are proudly one of the top eco schools in the programme.
“We also focussed on academics, with a number of our learners being offered bursaries. The values programme we introduced changed our children for the better. The school produced children with character.
READ ALSO: Kingsway High School deputy principal retires
“I will miss the children, the hellos and hugs – it’s tough not to. I will miss the amazing staff. It was a happy school to work at. It’s hard to not pop in for a visit, but I don’t want to poke my nose in. We had a plan to raise up leaders, so we have a junior team to take over should someone leave, which is a big strength of the school. We have a strong leadership structure. With my retirement I’m enjoying the lack of stress and once we have sold our house and downsized, I will enjoy it more.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
To receive our free newsletter click here
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
