17 March 2023
Northwood has announced a new tradition at the school. On Thursday, The Bashford Bell was unveiled, and with it comes the tradition, which will surely become extremely popular among future generations of Northwood boys.
Headmaster Paul Viljoen explained: “Before the 1st team plays on this field, the Bell will be rung by the Head Boy of the school, and that will be the call for the boys to run onto the field.”
The bell carries the family name of Grant Bashford, who was a teacher at the school and coach of the 1st XV from 2014 to 2021.
Heartfelt appreciation
Turning towards the Headmaster, Bashford said, in a brief speech: “I don’t think you know how much this means to me. I get emotional when I talk about things like this.
Pointing towards Northlands Primary School, he said: “I spent my primary school career there. I spent my high school career here.” Indicating the Northwood classrooms, he continued: “I spent 12 years there, teaching, and I spent another eight years coaching, again here.
“I’ve spent 30-odd years of my life here… I actually don’t have words. I just want to thank you very much for doing this. It’s unbelievable. It means everything to me.”
With his family at his side, Bashford was, then, accorded the honour of becoming the first person to ring The Bashford Bell.
Coaching career
After a very successful coaching career with The Sharks, Bashford, together with Dick Muir, was coaching the Russian national team until March 2022. Unfortunately, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought that to an end, with the country being banned by World Rugby. Ironically, when the ban was announced, the two countries’ national teams were training together in Turkey.
While Bashford has worked extensively with Muir, he also served under John Plumtree at The Sharks. In March, it was announced that Plumtree will be returning from New Zealand to take charge of the team once again.
Talented sportsman
A talented all-round sportsman, Bashford represented Natal in cricket, as a wicketkeeper/batsman, and in rugby, as a scrumhalf.
Later, he served as Kevin Putt’s understudy at scrumhalf for The Sharks. He joined the union as an assistant to Dick Muir in 2006. The following year, he teamed up with John Plumtree.
Currie Cup winner
While he was on The Sharks’ coaching staff, the team twice won the Currie Cup, beating The Blue Bulls 14-9 in 2008, and smashing Western Province 30-10 two years later.
They also twice finished as runners-up in Super Rugby, famously going down to The Blue Bulls 19-20 in 2007, after a last-gasp Bryan Habana try, and, subsequently, suffering a 6-37 loss to The Chiefs in the 2012 final.
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