Peter Levick Anderson

I taught at St Mark’s in 1994, my first year as a teacher, and Peter Anderson—as my first head of school—created a strong foundation for me on what true leadership looks like in action. Peter and Elizabeth fostered a school environment that built strong foundations for students and teachers alike; they truly were the inspiration behind the success of St Mark’s. As head of school, Peter led with vision, passion, and integrity. He possessed an immense sense of compassion and understanding for his fellow human beings. In a South Africa still transitioning from the Apartheid regime, he created an environment that enabled social justice and betterment for many. To have lived a life of such consequence and deliberate purpose is no mean feat. I am infinitely grateful that I said 'yes' to that job offer on that Sunday afternoon just before sitting down to lunch. Thank you Peter and Elizabeth, for being beacons of inspiration to so many of us through the choices you made and the lives you lived.

Peter exemplified so many of the values that schools wish to instil in their pupils – his kindness to others, wisdom and humility, not to mention the immense courage and determination that he and Elisabeth showed in their move to Jane Furse. Spending just a year at St Mark’s, it was very clear that Peter was an extraordinary person who earned the respect of all those fortunate enough to experience his leadership.
My thoughts and condolences to the Anderson family.

Jon Bennett
Volunteer 1992-93

Mr Anderson was my first example of a strong leader - visionary, ethical and yet so caring. Although he was never my teacher he knew me personally and recognised my academic talent. I remember a conversation he had with my parents upon hearing I was leaving St Mark's for St Martin's. He was not impressed and tried to bargain with them showing them the cost benefit analysis. One of the things that stood out were his values...I can still hear him saying "keep smoking until you get emphysema". A leader par excellence..unmatched. A shepherd is seen by his sheep and he has produced so many pioneers and industry leaders. A great sense of humour. He truly shaped who I am as a person and leader. Robala ka khutšo

Rest in peace to a remarkable school principal. Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and the impact you made on so many lives.

We celebrate the live’s of Peter Anderson and his wife Elizabeth. My late uncle Rev. John Tsebe and his wife Norah introduced me to this dynamic couple at Jane Furse in 1994. I was impressed by their passion, integrity and love for people. Peter displayed great leadership, he was a visionary, a catalyst for positive change, and an exemplary Christian, who with his wife sacrificed much to serve this rural community.
Peter’s impact on the life of past and present members of the school is well documented. His influence was such that more than a handful of his relatives endorsed his vision and financed the school at the beginning or have been members of the UK Trust since 1990.
I can say and I believe my fellow trustees would concur with me, first that it has been a privilege and most gratifying to support the great work started in 1985; secondly, our ongoing commitment to the school, is in part to honour the great Anderson legacy and also to work for the successful practical outworking of the great vision of the founders, even if for the pupils’ sake it undergoes modification due to new socio-economic demands in Limpopo.
We thoughtfully and prayerfully remember the children, siblings and wider family in the loss of this great icon.
Sente Masemola

The baobab tree has fallen!!

We honour the life and legacy of Peter Levick Anderson — a legacy of impact and substance!! He was a person of unimpeachable integrity, courageous, accomplished, and a maverick at times!

We celebrate a legend, a pioneer with visionary leadership skills. A man who was the inspiration behind the success of our school. He has guided and nurtured our careers from the very beginning and for that we are forever indebted to him and his beloved late wife Elisabeth.

PLA transformed the lives of some of our disadvantaged peers and poverty stricken children from nearing villages surrounding the school. He is leaving us in good shape to continue to move our school forward and continue to develop to cater for the needs of the children in the Sekhukhune area. His example has set a high standard for us to live up to. We all benefited from his teachings and many words of wisdom.

So, as I reflect on PLA’s life, he compels me to reflect on my own and in how his legacy should live on in my contribution to our society.

I am so eternally grateful that you and Elisabeth had time for me when my career was taking an upward trajectory and there were basically few mentors willing to take a bet on young black women. I am replicating the seeds that you planted in me.

Thank you for your kindness, humility and most of all for taking me under your wing.

Go well PLA, go reunite with your beloved ELA. May your soul rest in power and rise in glory. Your spirit and memory will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

OUR heartfelt and sincere condolences to Peter Jnr, Janet, Megan, Pippin and the entire Anderson family.

“Little Hazel”

A true leader with vision, passion, courage and the love for people. He created a strong foundation for multitudues of pupils. May we remember him fondly and with honour. May His soul rest in eternal peace.

Our deepest condolences to the Andersons. May they find comfort in knowing that Mr Anderson touched and inspired many lives.
His voice still guides us and his dedication to our education will never be forgotten.
For sharing your wisdom with us, we salute you Mr Anderson. Rest in peace and rise in Glory.

Today, I pause to honor a man who was more than a principal — he was a father, a teacher, a revolutionary builder of lives!

Mr Anderson, thank you for the discipline you instilled, the values you upheld, and the belief you carried in each of us, even when we did not yet see it in ourselves.

I smile as I remember how, whenever we asked for extra time at the disco, you would firmly say “no” to our faces — only to later announce at the end of your speech that it was allowed after all. In those moments, we saw not just a principal, but a father — wise, measured, and always in control.

You were equally firm when it came to discipline — especially around breaking rules and lateness. At the time it felt tough, but today we understand it as a gift. You were shaping character, teaching us accountability, and preparing us for life beyond school. Your leadership went beyond the classroom and the school grounds — it shaped direction, resilience, and purpose. Many of us walk boldly in the world today because you once stood firmly, guiding us.

You have run your race with excellence. Your legacy lives on in every life you touched. The sting of death cannot diminish the flame on your flag!!

Rest well, Sir. You will not be forgotten.

My sincere condolences to Pippin and the Anderson family.

Thank you for living a life of purpose and showing us what it truly means to lead. You gave us more than an education, you gave us belief. You taught us that no matter where we come from, we can rise and make something of ourselves.
Thank you for your kindness, your wisdom, and everything you poured into us. Your impact will live on in all of us.
Farewell, Sir. Rest well.

We pay tribute to our late former headmaster, Mr Anderson, whose legacy continues to live on in all of us.

During the difficult years of the apartheid era, he made the remarkable decision to leave Cape Town with his family and dedicate himself to serving the rural community of Jane Furse. In a place marked by hardship and limited resources, he brought vision, discipline, and unwavering commitment to education.

Through his leadership, the school grew into a beacon of hope and excellence, producing graduates and entrepreneurs who have gone on to make meaningful contributions across various sectors. He believed in the potential of every learner and worked tirelessly, alongside his team, to create opportunities where there once were none.
We are who we are today because of his sacrifice, guidance, and belief in us. His impact reaches far beyond the classroom.

Robala ka khutšo Ntate Anderson!

Reflecting on the life of Peter—as he insisted we call him after our final matric exam—one cannot help but sit in awe of what a remarkable man and human being he was.

Alongside the vivacious and uncompromising Elizabeth, he was driven by a deep sense of social justice, a profound love for humanity, and strong Christian values. These values were not abstract—they were lived. They were grounded in empathy, dignity for all, and an unshakable belief that every person is created with purpose. Peter’s purpose was clear: to help unlock that potential in those who had been marginalised and excluded under apartheid, simply for being Black.

He left behind the comfort and prestige of life in Cape Town, at Bishops College, to pursue a far greater calling—to build a school in the dusty village of Jane Furse. In that decision, one could see that a powerful seed had been planted.

There are many stories that could be shared, but a few stand out for me.

A conversation I had with Philip Pare a few years ago made me realise something we perhaps didn’t fully appreciate at the time: the depth of sacrifice and adaptation required of the Andersons and the teachers who came from Cape Town. They did not arrive as outsiders imposing ideas—they immersed themselves. They took time to understand and embrace the Bapedi culture, the rhythms of village life, and the intricate dynamics of the community.

They engaged with the tribal council, the Anglican Church, and the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital. They listened, learned, and became part of a living, evolving community—especially during the turbulent final years of apartheid, when power structures and social realities were shifting.

Peter was also intentional about the community he built within the school. The students he admitted were never random—there was always a thread of connection, often just three degrees of separation. Family ties, community links, shared histories. He brought together young people fleeing township violence, those from rural villages, and even students from as far as QwaQwa.

At the heart of it all was love.

His and Elizabeth’s close relationship with the Tsebe family served as a spiritual anchor, reinforcing that love had to be central to everything they were building. That foundation has endured—not just in us, but in the values we now pass on to our own children. That is true wisdom. That is vision. That is legacy.

I cannot help but think that Peter would not have fully supported the idea of a narrowly focused school—one that elevates only a single measure of success. He deeply appreciated the diversity of talent within a school. While academics were central to his vision, he equally valued art, music—though he himself could not quite hold a singing note—sport, and practical skills.

He understood something many only realise much later in life: that talent expresses itself in many forms, and that each has its place and dignity. He made room for all of it.

And as we have seen over time, careers evolve. Engineers become bankers, artists find new paths through their creativity, and people grow beyond the boxes once defined for them. Perhaps, in that sense, I stand corrected—but maybe that was always Peter’s point: to give us a foundation broad enough to evolve, adapt, and find our own purpose.

Peter was an extraordinary man—a father figure, a mentor, and a nation-builder.

Above all, he instilled in us a deep sense of accountability. He taught us that when we do wrong, we must face the consequences. That discipline, that insistence on personal responsibility, was not about punishment—it was about building character. And for me, that remains one of the greatest lessons I carry from him.

Rest in peace, Mr Anderson.

Yours was a life well lived.
You truly belong to the ages

A truly giant tree has fallen. Very sad to hear of the passing of Mr Peter Anderson, a truly remarkable man. Words that come to mind include sacrifice, faith, Christian, committed, distinguished leader, accomplished, I can go on and on. Peter and Elisabeth have changed course of many children's lives that were otherwise destined for typical rural poverty. He lived and practiced Christian values that many struggle to live by. I consider myself very lucky to have benefited from your teachings not only at St Mark's but in adulthood as well. May your soul rest in peace Mr Anderson.

Eulogy for Mr. Anderson

Mr. Anderson.
You have walked the good walk. You have finished the race. You have lived a life of extraordinary, deliberate purpose — and we are all the better for it.
From where I stand, and from where so many of us stand today, the measure of your life is written not in accolades or comfort, but in the lives you quietly, stubbornly, lovingly transformed. You chose a path that demanded everything of you — and you gave it willingly, tirelessly, without complaint. For that choice, and for that sacrifice, we owe you a debt that words will never adequately repay.

Whenever I am asked about a defining moment in my life, attending St. Mark’s under your leadership is always among the first I name.
Think about what you did there. In a Black school, in a rural village, in a country that was telling us in every possible way that our horizons were narrow and our place was fixed — you opened a window to the whole world. You brought people from the United Kingdom, from the United States, from white South Africa into our classrooms and our lives, and in doing so, you sent us a message that rang louder than anything apartheid could say: you are equal to all of these people. You belong in any room you choose to enter.
And so we believed it. Paired with the liberal political education you championed, we walked out of St. Mark’s and into a deeply unequal world — not with fear, not with deference — but with the quiet, unshakeable confidence that we had every right to claim our own place in it.
That is not a small thing. That is everything.

You also had the wisdom to surround yourself with teachers you trusted and then set them free. You enabled them to push the envelope, to reach beyond what was considered possible for children like us — to enter us in olympiads, to pit us against the broader world and say, why not? It seemed audacious. It was audacious. And because you believed it, we believed it too.

When you look at the products of St. Mark’s, certain qualities appear again and again: the confidence to pursue bold ambitions; the discipline of hard work and persistence; and above all, the audacity to dream beyond what circumstance prescribed. Many have gone on to lead, to innovate, to transform institutions and communities — not despite where they came from, but in part because of it. Because of you.
You were pivotal in creating the conditions where people like that could be nurtured and grown.

To simply say thank you feels wholly inadequate — and yet, thank you. There are generations of families whose fortunes in life have been immeasurably changed as a direct consequence of your contribution, your commitment, and your unwavering consistency of vision. We honour you. We are profoundly grateful — for you, and for your beloved Elizabeth, who stood alongside you in this work.
Every milestone in our careers, every moment of impact in our lives, we dedicate to you both.

Mr. Anderson, as you step into whatever comes next, I hope you carry with you the knowledge that you did a good job in this lifetime. More than a good job. You did a great one.

“May the LORD bless you and protect you; may the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace. Amen.”

Rest in peace, Mr. Anderson. Go well — and enjoy the reunion with your dear Elizabeth.
So long.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Peter Anderson was not only our princi




pal but our father.He used
to love singing in that off key voice of his,so enthusiastically ,took long walks in his kilt with his dog, encouraging us to showcase and develop our talents.May he rest well with Elizabeth,his great love and may Pippin and her siblings find comfort in knowing he was loved

A visionary leader, a father, a son, a brother, a husband, a teacher, and a headmaster. Many have had the privilege of going through his hands as pupils and others had their professional paths cross his as a colleague. Peter touched our lives and left an indelible mark. His was a life well lived in the service of humanity. He fought the good fight, ran his race, completed the course, and kept his faith. Tsela tšhweu, go fihlela re kopana. Pula

As one of the Volunteers, i spent a wonderful year at St Mark's College, and remember the warm, headmasterly character of a very engaging man. He and Elizabeth brought so much to so many for so long. I always have such special memories. My thoughts go out to his beloved family.

Heartfelt condolences and sincere gratitude to the Anderson Family, may his soul rest in eternal peace. Amen!!!

I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL!!!

#ALifeWellLived #Gratitude #GodIsMyCEO

To Peter, Janet, Meghan & Pipoin, keep on keeping on as Father John Tsebe would say🙏🏾🙏🏾

Written words nor utterances made can never adequately encapsulate the essence, demeanour, grit & dexterity that was embodied in PLA.

A final cheers to a grand timer who took our little hands & together we shook consciousness into generations of emboldened & unifying care for each other & the rest of humankind.

Fare thee well Sir

😔 May his legacy live on through the school and the lives they've touched. May your soul rest in peace🕊️🕊️🕊️

I got to know Peter when I was living in Jane Furse working with Thušanang Study Project. Everything about Mr Anderson spoke of "Headmaster" 😊, and even though I wasn't part of St Mark's, I was able to witness his efficient running of the school while being father figure to all those young people. It was therefore difficult to hear about his declining health and to even imagine that this was possible. At least now he gets to join Elizabeth, and he gets to be free and whole again, and fully himself.
My condolences to all the family.

With his wry and quick sense of humour, astute insight and under his firm but gentle guidance Peter cemented my desire to become a teacher. Initially a volunteer, he quickly slotted me in where needed and later asked me to stay on to start the art department.

An accomplished sculptor himself he understood the value of art education and supported the fledgling art department with a small budget and lots of interesting donated materials (a parachute! piles of wool). Backed by Peter’s enthusiasm and interest these were possibly my best years teaching art.

Rest in peace Peter, my years at St Marks will remain with me forever.

My condolences to Peter, Janet, Meghan and Pippin

HONOURING A LIFE THAT SHAPED GENERATIONS, AND A LEGACY THAT MUST SHAPE THE FUTURE.

Yooooh, it feels like losing a father.

Three weeks ago, we gathered to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of St Mark’s. The celebration reminded us of something far greater, the impact the school has had on society, shaping individuals of character who, in turn, have shaped society for the better, and the strong foundation upon which the school has been built.

That foundation is not abstract, it is personified in individuals like Mr and Mrs Anderson. Their unwavering, Christian-led character, their steadfast guardianship, and their commitment to purposeful living are not only a reflection of the school’s values, they are the very standard upon which St Mark’s was built.

As St Mark’s now evolves to meet the demands of a new era, repositioning itself as a specialised mining and engineering school, it is not starting anew, it is building forward from that same foundation of character, discipline, and purpose that the Andersons embodied.

The launch of the Peter & Elizabeth Anderson Legacy Fund at the 40th Anniversary is therefore not just symbolic, it is directional, ensuring that the values that shaped the past actively enable the future.

The challenge for the Strength of St Mark’s (Alumni) to raise R10 million by the 50th Jubilee Anniversary is a call to guardianship, ensuring that the legacy of the Andersons is not only remembered, but lived, scaled, and institutionalised through the continued evolution of St Mark’s.

In doing so, we honour them best, not only by remembering their names, but by building on the foundation they helped lay.

I am blessed to have been a beneficiary of Mr Anderson’s life. He was the personification of a life well lived, defined by unwavering, Christian-led character, grounded in steadfast guardianship, and a purpose fully realised.

To the family and loved ones. May the legacy and memories you shared with Mr Anderson bring you comfort during this challenging time.

Rest in peace, Mr Anderson.

Mr P, ur dedication, fatherhood and love that u have shown to the students and people of sekhukhune, we will forever be great full fothe learning opportunities, discipline that u taught us, the great values and respect for all human beings, rest well u legacy will definitely continue to live on.
L C Matjomane (Makhubele)

**Appreciation and Tribute Statement**

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Headmaster and Founder of St Mark’s College for the remarkable vision and dedication shown in establishing this institution. Through your leadership, you have not only created meaningful job opportunities for teachers and support staff, but you have also built a nurturing and inspiring learning environment for our learners.

Your contribution has gone beyond the walls of the school, positively impacting and developing the broader community. Many lives have been transformed through education, empowerment, and the opportunities you made possible.

Your legacy will continue to live on through the generations of learners, educators, and community members who have benefited from your selfless commitment and passion for education.

May your soul rest in eternal peace. You will always be remembered and deeply appreciated.

**Rest in Peace.**
Ramonyai AT
St Marks College
Principal

My dear condolences to the Anderson family. He was a father, a teacher, a true leader. We will remember him by the good he did. May his soul Rest in Peace. He will be missed.

Peter Anderson truly was the most influential person in my life as a teacher and school principal. Reading the comments, I am reminded of some of the things that I learnt from him that I forgot came from his example - like knowing the names of the students in my care. Peter taught me most through the congruence between how he lived his life and how he spoke. From my background, we tended to look for faults in people (and their work) to correct them; observing Peter, I learned to flip that: people have an essential goodness in them, and our first responsibility is to draw on and develop that goodness (academic and behavioural discipline follows rather than precedes this recognition of goodness). I learnt from Peter that once a student had joined your school, they become like family: you tried to stick with them through thick and thin. I buckled more to pressure to remove students who had broken serious rules, but I always thought that Peter's approach was the more profound, and more Christian. As others have said, Peter was a giant of a person and we who came under his influence and care consider ourselves to have been blessed. May his soul rest in peace.

I am who I am today because your vision charted my path. Thank you greatly Mr Anderson, rest in peace

Condolences to the Anderson family. We've lost a great man and father. May his soul rest in peace and his legacy live forever. 🙏🏽💐🌹🪦

Mr Peter Anderson was a true giant of his time. St Marks was fortunate to have him as the first headmaster. He shaped my life beyond the classroom where he had encyclopaedic knowledge of many things. My love for hiking comes from our wonderful walks on the weekends in the Koppies teaching us of history while it sounded like stories. I till today cannot stand to see litter and if I do I pick it up because your environment is your responsibility. Our clean up days at school were such lessons beyond the classroom. The sense of community and belonging to a wider world taught me that serving others is the best way to gain joy from your work. Believing that everyone despite of their background has potential and giving me a huge sense of self-belief are such lessons I learnt from him. Thank you Mr Anderson.. I can certainly say you shaped my life. O Robale ka Khutso. May Pippin and the rest of the family be comforted in your immense contribution and a life well lived!

Dear Mr Anderson .
May your soul rest in eternal peace and May your legacy of wisdom and guidance continue to inspire us.We'll always remember your dedication to St Marks.
Prayer:God grant me serenity to accept the things I can't change.
Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference..
AMEN.

He made an unmesuarable educational contribution to my community Jane Furse that will remain standing for the generations to come

I give thanks for Peter and Elisabeth, who took courage and moved to Jane Furse to start at Mark's College.

The Legend has fallen. He ran every inch of the race. Shaped individuals, a community and the whole country. Always spoke his mind with clarity, had no grey lines. Showed how he felt on each occasion. Sadness, anger, disappointment or joy. He did not hide it. Go well Chief. We were led. Rest in peace P.L. Anderson.

This is a great loss. Mr. Peter Anderson was not just our principal, he was a father to many of us. He gave us a life blueprint and instilled values that will stay with us forever. What a great leader...May his soul rest in peace

HONOURING A LIFE THAT SHAPED GENERATIONS, AND A LEGACY THAT MUST SHAPE THE FUTURE.

Yooooh, it feels like losing a father.

Three weeks ago, we gathered to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of St Mark’s. The celebration reminded us of something far greater, the impact the school has had on society, shaping individuals of character who, in turn, have shaped society for the better, and the strong foundation upon which the school has been built.

That foundation is not abstract, it is personified in individuals like Mr and Mrs Anderson. Their unwavering, Christian-led character, their steadfast guardianship, and their commitment to purposeful living are not only a reflection of the school’s values, they are the very standard upon which St Mark’s was built.

As St Mark’s now evolves to meet the demands of a new era, repositioning itself as a specialised mining and engineering school, it is not starting anew, it is building forward from that same foundation of character, discipline, and purpose that the Andersons embodied.

The launch of the Peter & Elizabeth Anderson Legacy Fund at the 40th Anniversary is therefore not just symbolic, it is directional, ensuring that the values that shaped the past actively enable the future.

The challenge for the Strength of St Mark’s (Alumni) to raise R10 million by the 50th Jubilee Anniversary is a call to guardianship, ensuring that the legacy of the Andersons is not only remembered, but lived, scaled, and institutionalised through the continued evolution of St Mark’s.

In doing so, we honour them best, not only by remembering their names, but by building on the foundation they helped lay.

I am blessed to have been a beneficiary of Mr Anderson’s life. He was the personification of a life well lived, defined by unwavering, Christian-led character, grounded in steadfast guardianship, and a purpose fully realised.

Rest in peace, Mr Anderson.

The baobab tree has fallen 💔💔💔

We honour the life and legacy of Peter Levick Anderson — a legacy of impact and substance!!

We thank you PLA, go well and reunite with your beloved ELA.

OUR heartfelt and sincere condolences to Pippin Anderson and family. May Peter's soul rest in power and rise in glory.

I am forever grateful that Peter saw something in me and welcomed me to teach in St Mark’s second year despite me being a fresh university graduate without a teaching qualification. My one year (1986) proved a seminal year that confirmed a love of teaching, the importance of staff community, the curiosity of students given an environment enabling growth, the significance of mentoring. My time under the Andersons’ leadership, though short, has been foundational in a fairly unconventional life as an educator.

A man who believed, who built and who gave so much of himself to something greater than himself. Rest well, Sir… your work lives on.

Oh Peter Anderson. Rest well. You have run a great race. Your legacy lives on. We are because you were

A saint if I ever knew one- rest in the Lord 's glory Peter Anderson.

A man who believed that a black child can be an engineer. May his soul rest in peace.

Papa rena! Ke thomile go tseba Lekgowa ka Mr Anderson

Mr. Anderson...may your beautiful soul rest in eternal peace 🙏🏾.
Thank you for your positive vision for all of us who came under your wings for guidance and wisdom.
Thank you for loving us ❤️.

Let's take comfort in knowing that Mr Anderson left a very happy and proud soul. Just after such a prestigious occasion, then he decides to leave us. He is happy to go, because he has ran his race, his efforts did not go in vain His children are following in his steps, fighting the good fight that he has always fought for us. We have come a long way as the Strength of St Mark's, and we have achieved beyond measure, and he knows that. Let let him rest in peace, he has molded each and every one of us, to become the men and women that we are today.

He shaped our lives with so much love,care and patience, condolences to the family and may he rest in God's perfect peace 🙏🏽He truly ran a great race and left an admirable legacy behind💙

One of the realest men to ever come around. Condolences to family and loved ones. We will carry you in our hearts till eternity. May his beautiful soul rest in eternal peace. What a legend!

“Funny” how I only spent 2 years ko St’ Marks but I still talk about that man like he raised me. Just the other day I was talking about him in an interview. Rest Well Dear Sir. Thank You 🙏🏾. You serve a round of applause
👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾

My heartfelt and sincere condolences to you and your family. He has indeed ran his race. We will honor his legacy forever. It's painful though. Rest in peace Papa Anderson 💔💔💔

To the Andersons. I am so grateful for the positive impact you made in mine and other's life. You taught us self belief and that has been a life lesson that has held us steady up to this day. "Thuto ke lesedi" May you rest in peace. Condolences to Pippin and Siblings....thank you for sharing your parents with us.

You have run your race, and left an impactful legacy. Rest well Sir.

May the entire family be comforted.

Mr Anderson was the very embodiment of humility. The impact he made on the socio-economic development of so many lives is immeasurable, yet he never once sought recognition for it. He was, without question, a transformational leader whose influence uplifted thousands of black individuals and families.

I will forever cherish the many telephone conversations we shared over the years, as well as the letters we exchanged. It is through his encouragement that I serve on the St Mark’s College Council today, he called me to return and sit on the Council.

This moment calls on all of us to preserve his legacy and ensure that the footprints he has left behind are never washed away by time.

Rest in peace, Mr Anderson.
Because you believed that a Black child could be, we dared to become.
Your legacy lives on through us. 🌻✨
May your soul rest in eternal peace, reunited with your beloved wife. 🤍

My Father after returning from exile bundled me and my sister off to St Marks.

Upon arrival, dad just walked straight into Mr Anderson’s office and demanded that we be placed in our appropriate grades 🥴.

Of course Anderson could was not moved but stubborn dad explained that there is no other school that will accommodate students who are not fluent in Sepedi.

To cut the story short, Mr Anderson sent me off to the library to grab a book and come later to tell him all about it. The book of choice was “ The sly young fox and the little red hen”.

This was the beginning of the foundation of excellence that built my life, the lessons of which I still carry today.

He resumed the most important task at St marks of being the career guidance teacher and most of us were shipped off to engineering, doctors, accountants and many more wonderful careers

He came, he saw that a black child is capable and he conqured the apartheid legacy through education

May his soul rest in peace 💐💐

Mr Anderson was more than a headmaster, at least to me. He was sharp, disciplined, invested and quietly hilarious in the way only certain school heads can be. He had a dry wit, a strong presence and a way of making you feel both watched and cared for at the same time.

I vividly remember one morning after chapel,when he called me aside, looked at me and said, “Nice blouse.” That was all. No shouting, no public scene, just one perfectly placed comment. I knew immediately what he meant. The blouse was not school uniform, and the matter was settled.

I also remember the night before school closed for the holidays, when my father came to fetch me from the boarding house. In true Mr Anderson fashion, he said, “Mr Mahlo, I want to make this as difficult as possible.” What started as a standoff over rules somehow became the beginning of a friendship between the two of them. There was something about him that inspired that kind of respect. He stood his ground, but he did so with conviction, humour and heart.

Later, when my family moved out of the country, he again tried to make things difficult for my father, this time because he did not want to let me go so easily. In the end, he recommended a sister Anglican school for me. It was stricter than St Mark’s, I must say, but that recommendation spoke volumes. He cared not only about where we were but about where we were going. He wanted the children under his care to be well placed, well guided and well formed.

He built relationships of trust in the most unexpected ways. At some point, he seemed to think I should also serve as his eyes and ears in the girls’ dormitory. I still laugh when I remember the time we were looking for a girl who had bunked out of the hostel and traced her all the way to via Glen Cowie 🤣. That was life under Mr Anderson: disciplined, watchful, full of stories and never dull.

He was firm without being cruel, observant without being intrusive, and funny without ever trying too hard. He had that rare gift of making children feel that they mattered enough to be corrected, guided and remembered.

Mr Anderson leaves behind more than the memory of a well-run school. He leaves behind a legacy of character, standards, loyalty and care. For many of us, he will always remain part of the shaping of our lives.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.💖🕊️

The most principled person I've ever come across, leadership impersonated. He imparted a bit of his moral fibre in every one he came across, ourselves included. May he rest in eternal peace and condolences to Pipps and the whole Anderson family.

A big tree has fallen. We have lost a giant. South Africa has lost a giant. The world has indeed lost a giant, our beloved headmaster, Mr Peter Anderson.

For all of us who passed through the gates of St Mark’s College, Mr Anderson was more than just a headmaster. He was a father figure, a mentor, a disciplinarian with a soft heart and a man of deep courage and conviction.

In 1985, at the height of apartheid, he and Mrs Elizabeth Anderson chose to build a school in rural Jane Furse. They built a school in a rural black village in Northern Transvaal, at a time when such a vision required extraordinary faith and bravery. They did not just build classrooms and dormitories. They built hope. They built dignity. They built opportunity.

St Mark’s College became a beacon of excellence because of their sacrifice, leadership and belief in the potential of every child who walked through its doors. All of us are who we are today because Mr and Mrs Anderson saw something in us before we saw it in ourselves. They demanded excellence, instilled discipline and nurtured character.

We lost Mrs Elizabeth Anderson last year, the gentle and quiet strength behind our school. Now, with Mr Anderson’s passing, a great and beautiful era truly comes to an end.

It feels symbolic that he departed on Good Friday. A day that reminds us of sacrifice, service, and love. Mr Anderson’s life embodied those very values. He served selflessly. He led with principle. He loved St Mark’s and its students wholeheartedly.

May we honour his legacy not only with words, but by continuing to live out the values he instilled in us. The values of integrity, excellence, courage and service.

Rest well, Sir.
Thank you for seeing us.
Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for building something that changed our lives forever.

St Mark’s will always stand because you built its foundation strong.

With deep gratitude, respect and love ❤️ Rest in glory Mr Peter Anderson 🙏🏿🕊️🕯️

You believed in each and everyone of us. You ignited the light within us and allowed it to shine brightly for the world to see. "Wendy has an aplomb spirit", you once told my parents. Those words have carried me through difficult moments. They reminded me that if someone of your calibre could see it in me, then it truly existed within me. Rest in peace , Mr Anderson. We will forever be grateful for your steadfast leadership and the lives you shaped.

A blueprint for how to live and lead. Your legacy lives on in many. Go well.