Soapbox champ - the Killarney Hill
Port Alfred - Page 2
If you go out boet, remember to tie the dog loose at the gate !
Then there was Terry Blenkinsop. I'm not sure what exactly Terry did - he may have been a farm manager, in fact I'm pretty sure that what he was. A fine gentleman who one saw around town now and again. And Garth - who walked and walked - all over town. Parents said at the time that he was "shell-shocked" after the second world war and walking was a defense mechanism against memories. At this time, the Slaughter's lived high up on the East Bank - the street name escapes me. But it was near where Gordon Rice lived. Gordon's son was Vernon and I recall seeing lately that they're now in Knysna now cultivating oysters - or is it the pearls, Vee ?
The Roman Catholic Priests were a most interesting species. We all used to freeze in our beer glasses when the Father walked into the pub at the Vic, only to relax when we saw that he'd come to spread the word amongst the men at the pub and, as is common with word-spreaders, needed to slake his thirst with a scotch or two. (Nobody counted).
Tribute
To those that were there, this is a fond and most affectionate tribute to
those that are not with us any more. Bob Gilder - you NEVER challenged
him at playing matches after 7pm. Junior Moolman - Dear, long-standing
friend of my age group - you were so dependable for so many years. Dennis
Paterson - whose Hudson Hornet I helped push umpteen times in my youth.
Rex Harris - a natural mathematical genius second to none - bar none. He
built a house up on the East Bank where the roof was made of cement, had two
peaks and two dips at opposite ends. All the rain ran off perfectly naturally.
Mike Haller - Easily the most natural singer (crooner) in town who had a
ready smile for everybody. Oupa Fred Jackson - hotelier and fisherman of
note. Once towed me back home from the East Beach after a Vanguard that I'd
bought for R 26,00 in the Langdon from Bruce Truter broke down on the
beach. Jimmy Goddard (actually Ivan - married KuKuu du Bruyn [Brother:
Braam]) who, when accompanied by Errol (Wire) Ridden, formed the most
dynamic duo south of the north pole.
Other names that come to mind
RaNdOmLy
Bozzie Sampson. Surely the most kind-hearted soul that one could ever meet.
Also, the strongest person that I have ever encountered in my life. At the West
Beach one day he lifted a car so that somebody could change the wheel - and held
it up while the whole process was in motion. Phew !
Cyril and Rosemary Gill. They always came to watch the town team play
rugby. I think Cyril was the town plumber.
Thys Koen. Our fullback with a booming boot. Also a grunter-catcher of
note.
Nev (and Sue) Connacher. Famous for Nev's chicken inn in Grahamstown.
Last time Tracey and I popped into the ski-boat club, Nev was on duty and he
told me that they have a house overlooking the sea on the West Bank. Fond
memories of Nev's Mini Cooper S - with twin side-draughts emerging through onto
the dashboard purely 'cos there just wasn't any more space in the engine
compartment. Often when a live band played in Port Alfred you'd find Nev up on
stage with his hip-shaking, eye-popping booming version of "Blue Suede Shoes".
(Shortly thereafter Graham Richardson got a new black Mini with so many
options that his girl-friend (and future wife) Delene had to sit in the
back seat).
Reverend Sheasby of the Methodist Church.
Uncle Basil Clayton with daughters Mary, Heather and....ummm, sorry can't
remember.
Andries Swanepoel and family who had the trading station just out of town
going to PE - on the left. I saw Andries a few years ago, now Andi -
Hairdresser.
John Howard (Horse) - our rugby captain and front row forward. I was best
man at their wedding in PE.
The pharmacist who came from Ceres ? The surname was Fox - had a son
Peter-John and a daughter Barbara. Then later Des Spencely had a pharmacy
where Nan Alcock worked.
Alec Goodlet - his folks had a farm just outside town. A MEAN darts
player. Moved to Bloemfontein. I could never understand that.
Also Fred Tocknell, moved to Bloemfontein - but his family had originally
come from there so I could understand that. An engraver of note.
Some things take understanding. Boet.
Seff de Vries had the jewellery shop on the corner.
Hugh Kelly built a magnificent house overlooking town, on the West Bank.
He had two sons, Michael and Roy and once they came to town with a new DKW
sportscar.
Uncle Mac MacLeod used to escape to the riverside up from the Langdon
where he'd throw his lines in, have an eye-opener or two and snooze. THEN ONE
DAY he was ranting and raging at some passers-by who, he claimed, had stolen his
one fishing rod. Then his brannewyn turned to embarrassed pain when he reeled in
his second rod, only to find that he had hooked his first rod which had been
pulled into the water by a twenty-pound cob whilst he had been snoozing. La
Bamba - Lets twist again !
Jeannie Slaughter was an Elvis fan and had the words 'Elvis' and
'Presley' stitched into the vee of her broeks, 'cos the skirts in those days
used to rise like the swings at the playground when the boy turned the girl in
circles. Sheeeeeesh I think the stuff was called taffeta and there was YARDS of
it. Douggie Randall was her boyfriend and he once popped traffic cop
David Elms in the eye at the Lagoon 'cos he was stirring amongst the locals.
Probably the grossest thing that I personally had to do whilst at the Port
Alfred school, was to cut the cake every year - as my birthday coincided with
that of the school. I must admit that I far preferred playing rounders.
Then Tom Neame married Wendy Heny and they moved to Jo'Burg where
they had drinks with us at the Holiday Inn Jan Smuts. Tom used to be very
helpful at the PAPA (Port Alfred Publicity Association) when flyers needed to be
distributed in town. Well done Tom - you're a star.
John (Porky) Jackson left town after school and was seen on TV recently
as a Master Chef. John, would those be the right words ? If not, email me and
I'll change them.
Sandringham was a boarding house, around the corner (and up the hill) from
our house. Funnily enough I received an email recently from someone in Australia
who had family that retired there in the fifties.
Soapbox champ - the Killarney Hill
Doug Heny was accredited as being the 'old man of the sea' - an
acknowledged expert on the many-faceted behavioural patterns of the Kowie River
mouth. His wife Jean regularly appeared in the town local amateur
dramatic productions. As I write, I notice (15th September 2002) that Uncle Doug
passed away in East London last Wednesday. Our sympathies, Jo Ann.
Recently Selwyn du Randt passed away. I'm not sure what Selwyn's latest
whereabouts were but Selwyn took over the Traffic Cop job in Port Alfred many
years ago. He did a lot for the town in cooling off some of the cowboys that
used to roar around. Speaking of cooling down, one day at the powerboat regatta,
Selwyn, in full regalia, helmet, gun and all fell into the river when, I think,
the jetty was bumped by a docking boat. Before Selwyn, the Regatta was a MASSIVE
annual event with these screaming powerboats in action from early in the
morning. Adrenaline stuff, those Carniti engines, with the covers off - reeking
of methanol. Our absolute hero used to be Wally Feiffer from PE with his
boat PHANTOM and number 64. Maaaaaaaaaaaan, this guy walked about
two feet above the water.
Young Kenny Turner was a rugby player of note and I thoroughly enjoyed
playing rugby with his natural class then the silly boy fell off a building and
had to have a steel plate put into his head. I think that this damaged what
could otherwise have been a promising rugby career. Then, equally silly, Twit
Barrow fell off a tractor and also had a steel plate put into his head. It
is rumoured that the steel plate is still recovering. Then Twit married Judy and
they live in Amsterdamhoek (when last I heard).
Mathilda Saltzwedel - just a name that popped into my head. They had a
black car and also went to the Kowie school.
A lot of weekends Tubby Bennett used to come to town - with Gwen. Then
they got married. Once Tubby had the new Ford Capri V6 nogal. He was also
involved in an engineering works with Barry Jones who married Wendy
Atherstone. I believe that her brother John Atherstone became a
doctor.
Then there was Mr. Evans from the Grand Hotel. He had a white car and was
very active in promoting the town. An astute gentleman with a shock of white
hair. For the life of me I cannot remember his first name. GODFREY...that's
what it was...
Once a year the Kowie Hospital used to have a fete on the cricket ground
at the foot of Southwell Hill. These were 'open' days where koeksisters and
pancakes were sold and where the public could see how the hospital was
progressing. Such a difficult role in life - assisting those whose mental
capacities were deficient, generally from birth. I'd imagine that the more
serious cases were promoted to Fort England in Grahamstown.
The cob that my old man used as live bait to catch a
big fish with
...Priscilla and me...
Anguishing times, as a youngster, when a boat occasionally overturned in the
mouth and my Dad would strap on a rope and swim out to save lives. More...when a
boat didn't return one day and everybody rushed to the West Pier where a
mountain of tyres was set alight to provide light to guide the fishermen home.
Here's another picture of the live
bait mullet that are used to catch the really big cob.
Olaf, friend of Dave Alcock's, on light tackle - in Gabon - its a Tarpon.
8th September 2002
