Adieu: (From left) Retirees Prof David Beatty (39 years), Molly Tagg (10 years), Edmund Hendricks (42 years) and Prof Rob Scott Millar (39 years) with the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Njabulo Ndebele (middle).

There have 840 years' service between them and one candidate, Ivan Hendricks (health sciences), has been with UCT for 42 years. That's the crop of 19 retirees, who celebrated the culmination of careers with the university at a special dinner last Wednesday.

The full list is: Edward Abrahams (Baxter), William Adonis (molecular and cell biology), Malcolm Attfield (electrical engineering), Professor David Beatty (paediatric medicine), Reginald Binedell (traffic office), Dr John Cridland (pharmacology), Professor John Field (zoology), Associate Professor John Greene (electrical engineering), Ivan Hendricks (health sciences), Tobeka Jordan (public health services), Gordon Lister (mechanical engineering), Associate Professor Robert Millar (cardiology), Professor Anthony Murray (surgery), Professor Doug Pitt (commerce), Dr Gisela Prasad (Energy Research Centre), Professor Heinz Rode (paediatric surgery), Ronald Smart (human genetics), Associate Professor Andrew Smith (archaeology) and Molly Tagg (Institute of Child Health).

Many will be taking time out for some well-earned rest and relaxation, like Ronnie Smart. Smart worked in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Edinburgh before coming to South Africa.

He's doing the, well, smart thing by moving out to Theewaterskloof once he leaves the university.

"I am looking forward to country life."

The highlight of his career at UCT?

"Being semi-academic, I guess, and being able to publish 35 papers - with one more accepted but still in press."