+  My Dad  RIP +

My Dad and I were pals from an early age. I am extremely proud to have come from his powerful genes and later in life learned many things which resulted in a fair outlook on life, consideration for others and humbleness when necessary.
 
As an Afrikaans boy, he took Latin and English and Afrikaans in higher grade in Matric in Indwe, resulting in him having a fine knowledge of the arts associated with the Latin beginnings of time. He was a mathematical genius capable of the most complex equations, long forgotten by us with computers and TV sets. He was the only person in the world to ever score 100 percent in his electrical examinations.
 
As a proud South African he placed great consideration on the cultivation of relationships with people from all walks of life. Regrettably living in Port Alfred in the fifties was not too easy, because a percentage of the farmer types were typical boorish 1820 settlers aftermath, who believed the world belonged to them because they grew pineapples. Not all of them, mind, there were also some truly wonderful people. I spoke Afrikaans to my Dad, as did my sister Priscilla, which resulted in us being totally bilingual throughout life. Due to my Dad we also learnt to speak Xhosa.

Of these idiotic 'settlers' one of them took great delight in calling me a "boor" at boarding school and laughing in his frogs eggs pudding. Harvey Drew, from Joburg, asked him : Kent, what does Kruger's Dad do. The reply came - he's an electrical engineer. Then Harvey Drew asked him : Kent, what does your Dad do. The reply came he's a farmer. So Harvey said to him you f***ing idiot, then YOUR father's the "boor", now shut up. Luckily I was a better sports player than Kent, so he got left behind to wallow with the minnows.

My Dad played rugby until the grand age of 44 and then refereed until the age of 57. I had the privilege of paying for Port Alfred for a time when he was referee.

He played cricket for longer than age 44, and the Port Alfred team was quite some team. Granville Bradfield was the remarkably astute captain. Arthur Walker was the wicketkeeper and Ramsay Forward was a furious fast bowler much in the mould of the famous Fred Truman. I am positive that facing batsmen felt the ground shaking as Ramsey started his run-up. If I recall correctly, Ronnie Tarrant was a left arm spin bowler.

Due to financial restraints, my Dad built our own house, with the assistance of Angus Hilpert and his family. We lived there for many wonderful years. One day my Mom RIP + saw the most beautiful log washed up on the beach and spoke about it. It wasn't long and Bozzie Sampson and brother Len had loaded the log up onto a truck and delivered it to my Mom, where it became a focal point in her garden. Man, what true gentlemen these were ! Pure gold.

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Drinking. Yep, sure. The whole town did. It was the sole source of entertainment. My Old Man, Dup du Preez, Dennis Paterson, Freddie Jackson, Rex Harris, Dennis Turner, Sid Alder, Bob Gilder, you name a name. Aaaaaaah - but they never fought. They laughed, they played snooker, they played matches, liar dice - a wonderful band of people.

At about age 62 my Dad gave up both drinking and smoking - and lived to a full score of 80 years.

Today, endlessly I still take lessons from him. When faced with a dilemma, usually involving staff, I regularly pause to take time to reflect what actions my Dad would have taken had he been in the same situation. He had very dedicated and loyal who stayed for years. Bob Webber, Brian 'Salty' Wright, Keith Hayward, Rogers Plaatjies, Kiti Damani.

My Dad was never, ever - but never, mean to me. He praised my achievements and helped my shoulder my disappointments. I could count on his support ANYTIME. As I grew beyond 21, my problems became my own. I had to fight my battles myself. He would listen and guide me, but would never interfere. This must have been really hard with an impulsive fast-moving youngster as I was. In later years my parents lived with me for months at a time, but time evolved, as is natural, that sister Priscilla was a better care-giver than I, for which I am eternally grateful. I was career-building at the time.

RIP + Dad and Mom RIP +

My Dad had one of these: