G.F.(Graham) Balcomb (30-40), Mtunzini, had his sugar badly hit ^ drought, but late rains gave better promise for next year. The infestation of the borer worm also played havoc with the crops.To our great surprise (and sorrow) we learn that Graham and wife Judy are to emigrate to Australia at the end of 1983. They will leave behind a host of relations and friends, and some very happy memories. In the meantime he is not selling his Zululand farm. G.G. (Gsof) Ballard (39-41), Box 1695, Pinetown, runs two very profitable book and stationery shops in Pinetown and Hillcrest. D.L.(Donald) Blaka (36-42), Box 67363,Bryanston,one of the Old Boys from both schools, writes with customary nostalgia about the happy days at the "old" Kearsney, which appear to have laid a firmer foundation than anyone realised at the time. He calculates that he has now motored three quarters of a million kilometres in his work as a medical representative. At the moment he is involved in promoting large volume intravenous infusions in hospitals and clinics, and has been able to give lectures on allied subjects to nursing staff and student teachers in nursing hospitals. With ultimate retirement in view, he is building a new home to the north of Bryanston, so freeing himself of a large bond, for he has a 6-acre property. An interesting sideline is that he is compiling a history of the Douglas Dakota aircraft, which has been in flying service for nearly fifty years. This involves a tremendous amount of research. Last May we had a whole day's visit from W.R.G.(Roy) Blondin (31-35), 129 Alexandra Road, Pietermarltzburg. It was his great grandfather who made world fame by tight-rope walking over the Niagara Falls, once blindfolded and once pushing a wheelbarrow (with a man in it!) Roy has retired after a lifetime on the railways. Being now widowed, he devotes his time to helping elderlypeople who need help In one way or another. With a very sharp memory of the days of the "old Kearsney", most of the conversation began with the words"Do you remember?" E.C.B. (Edgar) Brown (35-40), 395 Prince Alfred Street, Pieter marltzburg, has been absent from our news section for many years. He has just retired after 43 years with the Natal Provincial Adminis tration, which started the day after he left school. He has now attained the age of 60. He is involved in church work at the Boshoff Street Methodist Church,and is Secretary to their Trust Committee. From time to time he meets the occasional Old Kearsney boy. It is time he came to see his old school again: he will be surprised at the development. L.G. (Lyonel) Capstickdale (31-32), 62 Rutland Road, Parkville, Johannesburg, continues to pour out very readable articles for "Panorama". At the wheel of his car, and with pen and notebook ready, he must be one of the best-informed men in the country. His articles on Mariannhill and on the University of Zululand were especially illuminating. The compilation of these Old Boys Notes would be quite Impossible without the ready help of J.A. (Tony) Chick (33-38), Bursar. His advice re dates, addresses, and pieces of news is invaluable. It Is almost a full-time job in itself. Why do Old Boys change their addresses without letting the School know? "Gone away" or "un known" letters come back with great regularity and cause the Bursar much work. H.C. (Humphrey) Corbishley (36-41), Melpark, Elandskop, con tinues to manage his farming successfully, though a stroke several years ago has deprived him of the power of speech. J.G.A. (Alex) Coutts (31-35), 111 Umtata Avenue, Doringkloof, was offered the post of Auditor General to Bophuthatswana, but declined it. After 42 years of this work he had had enough. Glad to see him and Glynn again. He found the photo in the last Mag of the 1935 prefects (Including himself) very nostalgic. Two of the sex tette, John Larrlngton and Dr Ken Dyer, have passed on. M.F. (Michael) Crookes, (39-44), "Crosby", Renishaw, phones to say "farming as usual" with the help of a manager. The drought has reduced his cane crop by 25 percent. His name is, of course,associ ated with Finningley House, where he was a foundation member. D.N. (Donald) Crowder (37-40), Box BE 116, Belvedere, Harare, gave us a most surprise visit, after 43 years, together with his two daughters, son-in-law and grandson. Last seen in 1940, he was still very recognisable. In his trip round the school he noted that eleven boys of his form had been killed in the War. He is Organisation Officer, Grain Marketing Board,Harare,and runs a caravan park as a sideline. Since his return to Harare he has written me the longest letter I have ever received, full of nostalgic memories of days gone by, especially at the Old Kearsney (some of them coinciding with my "A Final Tribute"). Those of his era who wish to read it should apply to me. There is no doubt that the intimacy of the "old" Kearsney led to many personal recollections, and what he and so many others refer to as "fun". He writes"The highlight of my visit to Natal was the trip to the present Kearsney after43 years. It was indeed a sentimental journey down memory lane, and I thank the Lord he has spared you to welcome back the prodigal son. I was greatly impressed by the development at the school ... I can only thank you and the dedicated staff of those far-off days for all the love and care you showered on us up at the old Kearsney and then at Botha's Hill, and the miles you went out of your way to give us a decent and balanced education." R.G. (Railton) Foss (39-47, Head Prefect), Felixton, cane farmer and horticulturist, has branched forth in another direction and bought three restaurants, two of them in Pinetown. Hungry Old Boys...try the Pinetown Tavern,Glenugie Road. D.H.(Don) Gilliat (31-35), 371 Blackburn Road,Red Hill, Durban, writes a fascinating long letter on travels in Spain (especially Madrid) and in the Antipodes(hot springs at Rotorua, Opera House in Sydney). This trip celebrated his ruby wedding. He has now had 48 years in "print", with two more to go, though now pensioned. He now ends 9 years on the National Executive of the S.A. Typo Union as General Vice-President, and 20 years as part-time official. He writes "Regrettably with the coming of these electronic type setting systems the art has gone out of print, and with the change has come a sharp decline in the quality of typography. Untrained ladies have come into the trade and been retained because of their dexterity at the keyboard, so that the craft of the journeyman is being overlooked in favour of speed and production." J.L. (Laurie) Good (31-35), 2 Moodle Street, Rynfield, Benoni, writes interestingly from the Rand. He went on pension in 1977, but found he did not like idleness, and joined the Allied Building Society where he handles Insurance claims and arrear payments on Bond Accounts. He finds relaxation in bowls, and after two yars as secretary was voted into the Chair of the Northmead Bowling Club. This keeps him busy at weekends. He also has a large work-shop, built up over the years, but seldom gets the chance to use it. As he so seldom sees his old friends, he wishes to be remembered to them via the Magazine. It was a great pleasure to have a visit from F.R.C.(Eric)Groom (3740), Box 63.Kokstad, while on a business trip to Durban. He came out of his way to see us. His lame hip has responded perfectly to the operation and he is back at his beloved bowls again. Scoring centuries and playing on the wing for Natal ...these were memories recorded. H.G.(Harold) Hackland (30-33), Cromleigh, Ixopo, has handed the working of his farm overto his son,while he merely "potters about" and does the books. My own visit to his home,50 years ago, was associated with torrential rain, and he says he will willingly come and fetch me, if I could produce the same result again. However he has a borehole that produces copious water, so is better off than many. For 30 years he was Circuit Steward to his Methodist Circuit, and is now Secretary to the QuarterlyMeeting. His wife is similarly well involved in Church work. Rev. W.B.(Bill) Jacobs(39-44),who entered the Methodist Ministry late in life, writes from Box 96 in far-away Tsumeb. He has an enormous area to cover, and his nearest minister is at Windhoek, over 400km away. Sundays are quite hectic, as he leaves for Grootfonteln, back to Tsumeb, and on to Nomtsoub,and hopes with all this practice to preach a good sermon some day. As regards the dangers of living so far north - his principal dangers are the wild animals he encounters on the roads. He writes with gratitude for the Kearsney Chronicle,a link for him with distant friends. P.R.(Peter) Jonsson (39-44),3 Braby Place, Cowies Hill, retreated some years ago from the hurly-burly of the Reef to a quieter life in Howick, where he was a Director of several companies. He now helps his son to run Natal Inter-School Services(Pty) Ltd.,and S.A. Safaris, while retaining an Interest In a butchery in Howick. As Kearsney cricket captain and wicket-keeper, he was one of the school's earliest boys to make the Natal Schools'side. We hope to see him sometimes now at the school matches. P.A. (Peter) Lee (36-41), 669 Essenwood Road, Durban, has to companies on the go. One is an Agency Business selling textiles from all over the world, with seven salesmen,including himself. The other is an Industrial Sewing Machine Co., hard work but successful. He also has the Toyota franchise, with a full staff of mechanics, sales force, etc. At the time of writing, he was off to Japan, Korea,Hong Kong and Taipei. A.P. (Tony) Lowe (32-38, Head Prefect), 7 Conifer Road, Pietermaritzburg, twice Head Prefect and twice Rugger and Cricket Captain, is with the Forestry Department and holds the position of Chief Agricultural Officer in the Department of Development and Co-operation, being in charge of all the Trust land from the Tugela to Matatiele. 76
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