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It was most saddening
to hear of Neilen's passing away EXACTLY the same day in 2006 as
my Mom in 2004. It was wonderful seeing him at the 40-year
reunion in Grahamstown in 2004. He related a tale, which I had
forgotten in the interim, of how he had stayed with me at my
parents house for our Matric weekend SippUp (for want of better
words) and how my Mom woke up when we got home...vrot as
fowls...and Neilen was paying homage to Ship Sherry in the
bathroom basin. This would have been one of very few
embarrassing moments in this fine man's life. At school he was a
model scholar and a fine gentleman. Imagine, forty years later
still apologising for a humanly scholarly part of life thing.
One of the TRUE gentlemen that life produced.
RIP, Martin
Thank you for
the notice regarding Neilen Locke. It is always
very sad to receive news of this nature.
However, life goes on for us all. My sincere
condolences to his family. Kind regards
Ronnie Kelly
Very sorry to hear the
sad news. Neilen will be well remembered by
all who knew him. Best regards Ceddy
Miller (The Strand)
I have just
arrived back from a 3 week holiday only
to be met by the sad news of Nielen's
death. It is a harsh reminder that we
are not immortal and sometimes difficult
to comprehend that we are now of an age
when people we know will be passing
on. The age of 60 creeps up on us all
far too quickly!!!!! When I hear
something like this I feel that there is
insufficient time to do what I wish to
do. Thank you very much for passing on
the news. Kind regards, Peter Martin
(in Australia).
Thank you so much for keeping us
posted. Look forward to meeting up
again. James & Annie Dyer
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Memorial honours 'dedicated' Transkei judge
By Mike Loewe
AN UNUSUALLY candid portrait of a South
African judge as a courageous fighter for justice as well as a
dedicated sports coach and fan was created at the memorial
service for Transkei judge Neilen Bruce Locke in Grahamstown
yesterday.
Locke died on July 20 this year at the age of 60.
Judge Jeremy Pickering, in delivering the eulogy for his friend and
close colleague on the bench, announced the formation of the
Neilen Locke Memorial Fund.
The Fund has been kick-started with a R100 000 donation from
Locke's lifelong friend and former rugby player Donovan Neale-May,
who would also make an annual donation of R15 000 to be awarded
to the Neilen Locke Coach of the Year at the Rhodes Sportsman of
the Year dinner.
Pickering described Locke as a kind, courageous and dedicated
advocate and judge - and a wildly passionate South African rugby
fan.
Pickering was addressing about 200 family members and
friends, among them senior Eastern Cape judges and advocates,
who filled St Peter's chapel at Rhodes University. Some
had travelled from Mthatha, Cape Town and abroad.
Pickering said it had been a "tragic irony, that a man so
physically strong" had been diagnosed with advanced cancer of
the colon at the age of 58.
"The cancer beat him physically in the end as it had to do.
But it never beat him mentally."
Locke served his advocate's pupilage under the now-second most
senior judge in the Easter Cape, Judge Jos Jones.
Pickering said Locke's death had left "a huge gap on the Transkei
bench".
Locke leaves his wife Debbie, who, speaking through Pickering, said
she had lost "her soulmate", daughter Kirsty and son Andrew. -
ECN
The Herald - Tuesday, 25 July 2006. |
