It is with deep sadness that St John’s College mourns the loss of one of its finest and most influential teachers, Mrs Sandy Frewen, who passed away on Monday, 29 June 2026.
Some teachers are never forgotten. Through the different experiences that school brings as one grows older — as the workload begins to increase, sport becomes more competitive, and friendship groups expand and become more complex — there are teachers who will forever remain present, like a golden thread that runs through the school years. These are the teachers who create safe spaces for their students, simple classroom understandings that lead to strong relationships. In this way, Maya Angelou’s famous words ring deeply true about the influence of a teacher, especially in the younger years of a school: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
One such teacher was Mrs Frewen.
Mrs Frewen was deeply rooted at St John’s College, both as a teacher and a mother. She joined St John’s Pre-Preparatory School in 2002, becoming part of the Grade 2 team for many years before moving to Grade 1 and taught at the school for a remarkable 23 years. In addition, her son Leslie (Hill 2010) attended St John’s College, as did her son-in-law, Matthew Vyvyan-Day (Thomson 2013), who is married to her daughter, Tessa. Mrs Frewen delighted in the endlessly rowdy, energetic rough-and-tumble of a boys’ school Grade 1 class, expertly bringing together a love of learning and an exciting environment, with secure boundaries, in which the boys thrived. She was particularly fond of teaching mathematics. It was the way she made the boys feel that was most important: each boy in her class belonged, each boy learned, each boy had fun. Ms Jane Lane, former Headmistress of the Pre-Prep, remembers Sandy Frewen in this way: “Sandy had a special talent for building relationships which helped her understand the boys in her class and to tailor their educational experience perfectly for each of them. She was much more than just a teacher.”
In 2025, she was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (B-ALL). The College community immediately gathered around her, organising a drive to find a bone-marrow transplant donor. Another drive was conducted in Cape Town in September last year. A donor was eventually found, and Mrs Frewen underwent the transplant. Tragically, with her immune system compromised, she fell ill, and despite the hope that had carried her and all those around her, she could not recover. Through everything, she drew strength from those around her. In an interview with Good Things Guy, she said: “I am surrounded by the most faithful and loving family and amazing, warm and caring friends who have shown deep compassion, laughed with me, cried with me and most importantly, prayed with me. I feel very blessed. All these incredible people and most of all my amazingly supportive husband, Paul, have helped me persevere through this challenging time.”
Mrs Frewen’s legacy will be one of a dedicated teacher at the Pre-Prep, respected by her colleagues; a teacher to whom others would go to seek advice and guidance. She was always well-prepared and willing to take on additional tasks and roles. Her classroom was a learning haven for the boys, and she achieved an honest, thoughtful relationship with the parents of her boys. Her influence and impact will be felt for years to come in the lives of those she touched, as teacher, colleague and friend. She will be dearly missed at the Pre-Prep and at St John’s College as a whole.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Paul, her daughter, Tessa, her son Leslie, and all her family and friends at this time.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 2 pm in the Memorial Chapel at St John’s College, followed by drinks and snacks at The Johannian Club. All members of our community are warmly invited to attend.
Sandy had an incredible love for her community. She cared deeply for everyone who worked alongside us and was always looking for ways to support others. Peter, our ice cream man, held a special place in her heart, and long before Servest came to St John's, Sandy quietly cared for and supported many of the older staff members she had worked with for years.
I know so many people came to Sandy when they needed help, whether it was financial assistance or an old cell phone, because they knew they would be met with kindness and generosity. She honestly would have given you her last R10 if it meant helping someone else.
Sandy believed in giving people opportunities. Every year she proudly supported Titch, a local bead maker, by purchasing our beautiful, beaded Christmas decorations from him. She also championed the opportunity for him to sell his work at our Carol Service because she genuinely wanted others to succeed.
Sandy's passion for Mathematics was inspiring. She firmly believed that every child deserved the support they needed to thrive and was a strong advocate for both Maths support and enrichment. It was through Sandy's persistence and determination that the school eventually established a Maths support and enrichment programme, something that continues to benefit so many children today.
She was also passionate about her own learning. Before she became ill, she was preparing to begin the remedial course at Bellavista. I have no doubt she would have made an exceptional remedial teacher. It was where her heart truly was.
Sandy was deeply committed to her profession and took teaching seriously because she knew the impact a great teacher could have on a child's life. One of her favourite stories was observing an intern's lesson and giving honest, constructive feedback. The intern turned to her and said, "You take this too seriously." Sandy was always in shock when telling that story because, in truth, she did take teaching seriously. She cared deeply about doing the best she could for every child. She worked incredibly hard, often leaving school late, and was always eager to keep learning and growing.
Sandy had a wonderful love of colour. It was reflected in her vibrant wardrobe, which perfectly matched her joyful and positive personality. Her beautiful garden was another expression of that love, filled with colourful flowers that she nurtured with great care.
Above all, Sandy loved life and embraced it wholeheartedly. She enjoyed a good glass of white wine, loved eating out with friends, going for walks, getting lost in a good book, or binge watching a great series. She found joy in the simple things, and few things made her happier than a St John's sausage roll, a packet of chips, and a Coke.
Former Headmistress Florence Fawdry affectionately nicknamed her "Dizzy Sandy", a name that stuck over the years and became part of her charm. Sandy would always laugh and say that she was probably correct as she insisted that she was not an A type personality.
Those of us who had the privilege of calling Sandy a friend will always be grateful for the laughter, the honesty, the kindness, and the countless memories she gave us.
Whenever I hear a story that sounds just a little too good to be true, I know I will smile and hear Sandy's voice saying, "She's a stranger to the truth." It will make me laugh, remind me of her. I can't think of a better way to remember a friend who filled my life with so much colour, kindness, loyalty, and joy.
Tucha Elliott, Pre-Preparatory Teacher