NEW
MEMBERS
Neville Rudiger signs in from SA. Boys high
school 1970 for only one year and PTC 1971 - 1984
Arthur (Tolly) du
Toit signs in from RSA. He was Palmer House from 1960-64.
Coleen
Wallman (Nee Hunter) I lived in Mutare with my folks and sister Carol
up to 1964 when we moved to Salisbury as it was then. I went to St David's
Kindergarten (Miss Allen was the Headmistress then) and Umtali Junior
School and spent only about one and a half years at Umtali Girls High when
Miss Clarke was the Headmistress. In my circle of friends were Hillary
Forsyth (deceased), Melanie Lane and Di Lomas. I do not know their married
names and have lost touch with them.
Coleen resides in Zim.
June
MacDonald (Knight) signs in from Melbourne,
Australia.
MEMORIES OF UMTALI
Margaret Wessels (Pavier)
Some news from a
girl – I did all my schooling in Umtali, St. Davids Kindergarten(1951 and
then completed at UGHS under the firm guidance of Miss Clarke (sp). I was
a boarder at Tulloch House for a while too. We used to sit on the lawns of
Tulloch awaiting the welcome sound of the ring of the Ice Cream cart.
Clutching our tickeys (tickies?) we rushed to the gates to place our
orders for iced lollies or ice cream sandwiches- don’t think we got those
things with chocolate around them.
After finishing my course at
Salisbury Polytech and a few jobs later I went back to Umtali where I
worked in the Umtali Magistrates’ Court. The two magistrates then, were D
Knight and C. Redfern. All court notes were written down in long hand by
the presiding magistrate. They, of course, developed a “shorthand” of
their own and it was up to me to decipher this and type back? - how things
have changed…..
Early childhood was spent walking to the “Umtali
Baths”, the little one, opposite the park, and then home again, or
visiting the Vaudeville cinema and then later, the awe inspiring new one –
THE APOLLO. We gathered here on Saturday mornings, arms laden with comics
to swap, to watch such stars as Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Henry Fonda etc.
Lovely memories…….
Julie Atkinson Writes:-
Wow! What a brilliant
summary of growing up in Umtali, and what a great memory Cindy has!
Terrific read. Thanks
Peter Robey
Writes:-
Wonderful memories from Cindy !
She
mentions Noreen Stapleton, who is my cousin........possibly Cindy
remembers me as the spotty little yobbo who used to hang around them
sometimes !!
Noreen is in Sasolburg, and I have her address, if
Cindy doesn't already know it.
Marguerite
(Luff) Brooker Writes:-
Thanks so much for churning up all
those lovely memories of Umtali and the people and places.
I don't
remember you - most of those you mention were slightly older than me and
in those days that made an awful difference! I do remember Frank Kelham (I
was in touch with his sister a while back - I think Marion lives somewhere
near East London now but have lost touch). Another name I remember is Lee
Quirk - I think she was the Headgirl at Marymount when I was
there.
The old lady who used to wash her clothes was a Mrs. Ekstein
if I remember correctly - she also used to sit in the front left-hand seat
of the bus most days when we were on our way to school or town. She was
really scarry at the time!!
I have only been back once since I
left in 1972 - we were really shocked at the state of the town -
especially that area outside Meikles in front of the park - lots of street
traders. Anyway I suppose that's change for you!
Take care
Ian Steel Writes:-
I remember
Cindy's dad well at UBHS although he never taught me. The old lady that
she mentions doing her washing in Meikles, was Mrs. Eksteen. The poor soul
did seem a little deranged (she had a huge deep dent in her head
apparently from being attacked although I am not sure that it was the
cause of her problems?) Far from being the horrible old witch that many
people labeled her, she was actually quite nice. I helped her to carry a
big box of vegetables back to her house once and she was quite normal and
chatty.
Cindy sure has a good memory. I can't remember Rory
Hilton's band although he did tell me the name when I was still living in
P.E. as we used to see each other every now and then. I last spoke to
Tommy Goddard about a year ago (on the phone) and he is living in Jhb.
Great times, those days. please send Joss and Cindy my
regards,
John Valentine
Writes:-
I remember those times very well, but in the 60's I
was in the British Army. The description of Beira and Mocambique caused
waves of nostalgia !! I still tell a very unbelieving Canadian audience
that we used to get prawns peri peri as a bar snack with our beers at
Machipanda ( the railway station) and how the Elton boy got into trouble
(as did we all) when he laid out the bull with one punch at the bullfights
in Vila Perry. There was a petition going around scolding the Portuguese
authorities for using the sjambok on us innocents.
Reg Catterall Writes:-
Good Evening from
Perth
Just read a lovely long letter on Umtali and one name brought
back a memory. Swailes . I knew Derrick Swailes well. When he worked for,
I think, the Electricity Supply Corp.. I stayed several times with him at
his home in the Vumba. His Mother had a place just below his on the same
large plot. Digressing, he had 3 Bars and didn’t drink. When we stayed
there we helped rectify the matter.
One trip there I had car
problems before getting into Umtali and needed a tow in. It was on a
Saturday so nothing could be done. I stayed over the weekend and on the
Monday he took me into town and we took the car to a Garage. He managed to
get them to fix my car that day so I was able to get back to Salisbury..
Unfortunately I hadn't the money on me, a few hundred dollars, to pay the
Bill so Derek paid it for me . He was a great Guy.
On a sober and
sad note…Derek (not certain of the spelling as you will have observed)
died a few years ago. I am not certain now whether it was in U.K. or
Canada.
Gaynor Hood (Dobell)
Writes:-
What an amazing, and interesting letter from Cindy
Jordaan,- wow what a memory she has. I've actually printed her letter off,
and will keep it always, as a reminder of all the wonderful and privileged
times we had in our youth. Thank you so much Cindy for bringing back all
those fun memories.
That old batty lady Sandy mentioned was Mrs. Eksten
(sp). she was a wonderful piano player in her young days .Story was she
was hit on the head with a panga - one could actually see the indent on
the side of her scalp - resulting in the way, we all remembered her I can
remember her spending hours in the tearoom at Meikles on a Saturday
morning going from table to table eating everybody's leftovers! Very sad
really.
Tyrone Williams
Writes:-
Boy that is one hell of a nostalgic letter,
unfortunately I left Umtali in 1959 but remember the over border trips
very well. The nice demijohn wines, the spicy snacks etc, with good pals
in the likes of Terry Perkins, Chris Moore, Harry Sutherland, Finlay
Alison, Ian Odendaal just to mention a few.
Talking about the then
in international groups can anyone shed light on a local band we had in
Umtali called the Kariba Kids, one of their favourites was MIDNIGHT
SPECIAL, that had every one on the floor.
Really as you write more
and more comes to mind.
Keep em rollin” You Umtali folk, we love
it.
Dave Macdonald
Writes:-
Thanks Cindy - so beautifully recollected
...
You mention Jimmy Macdonald (no relation) who became postmaster
at Victory Ave Post Office before transferring to Fort Vic. My Mom worked
at Vic Ave during the years Telephone Accounts operated from there. Jimmy
(a real bachelor lad) was a great guy with friends all over the world. As
a kid he used to give me stamps from all his letters - the foundation of
my long forgotten but still held stamp collection.
Those were the
days my friend, we thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance for
ever and a day
We’d live the life we’d choose, we’d fight – and never
lose
For we were young and sure to have our way …..
If
only!
Sandy Cox (nee Webster)
Writes:-
I loved Cindy story on Umtali, brought tears to my
eyes, I remembered all the Girls she wrote about.
Angela Heynes Writes:-
Cindy’s wonderful,
evocative posting brought memories flooding back. We were contemporaries.
I was at UGHS from 1961 to 65 and then went to work at the post office. I
well remember Mr. Harvey and Mr. Ehrke. I’d already started working there
before our O level results came in and Mr. Harvey let me open them when
they arrived in the post from England. We lived on Third Street (quite
close to Mrs. Ecksteen) and I ran home at lunch time to tell my folks I’d
passed. (We didn’t have a phone.) My dad worked for the railways and was
home that day. Also, Brother Augustine who taught at Carmel College, where
my brothers went, was having lunch at our house that day. They all
congratulated me and that afternoon my mum brought cakes for everyone to
the post office. I remember Frank Kelham. Didn’t he die in an unfortunate
accident before the wedding of a couple of other people who worked at the
post office? His younger brother, Georgie, was friends with my brother and
they’re still in touch. My brother, Jimmy, lives in California and George
lives in Canada. My other brother, Brian, lives in Sydney.
I was
friends with so many of the people mentioned by Cindy, and went out with
quite a few of the boys! When I was going out with Stu (Stodge) McClain my
best friend Dianne Ferguson was going out with Eddie Norris. She later
married Phil Lennon and moved to Bulawayo. Big groups of us including
Clive Schweggman and the Rimmer brothers (Keith, Martin, and ?) went to
all those sessions at various church halls when the Silhouettes and
Outlaws were playing. For some reason, I particularly remember Tommy
Goddard singing “Johnny B Goode.” I think it was the song that got
everyone on the floor. I also remember some people – not me, of course –
going outside behind the hall and putting brandy in their bottles of Coke.
I do remember attempting to smoke at some dance because I thought it made
me look grown-up. But it made me sick and I never tried again.
Some
other people I was friends with and have often wondered about are Marlene
Swanepoel, Juanita and Ian (Ratty) Broadhurst, and Roz Andrews (was a
ballet dancer).
One of my enduring memories is playing volley ball at
the Catholic youth club on Thursday nights. One night we came out and a
group of boys was sitting in a car outside and they told us that they’d
heard on the radio that President Kennedy had been shot. I’ve lived in the
United States for 30 years and everyone remembers where they were – but I
may have one of the more unusual stories.
I’ve become a writer and a
few years ago, I wrote a story for The Los Angeles Times newspaper about
eating piri piri in Mozambique. Other Beira memories include jumping off
the wreck – until my mother found out and had a fit, sneaking out of the
chalet window to go to the pavilion after my parents were asleep, meeting
people from Salisbury who seemed so much more sophisticated than us. I
still have a Chinese teapot and a couple of rice bowls from those Asian
shops.
I could go on, but I just wanted to add a little to the
collective memory, and look forward to hearing other people’s stories. We
are all so scattered – yeah for the internet and thanks to the people who
started this
Olga ( nee Udwin) Hounsell
Perth Australia Writes:-
I thoroughly enjoyed Cindy's letter
as many of her memories were mine too! Thank you for that! The lady who
used to wash in the Meikles cloakrooms was Mrs. Ecstein ( sp?) She was one
of our Umtali characters. An ex piano teacher I believe. She used to enter
all the talent contests - and there were many in Umtali! We would all
groan when she came onto play the piano as the poor old thing just would
not stop. Often, whoever was organising the concert would finally just
bring the curtain down on her - to wild applause from the audience.! Mrs.
Ecstein would interpret this as enthusiasm for her playing and enter more
contests, feeling she had been cheated of a win, I think! Just some trivia
for you and Cindy
Jenny Buxton (nee Barnard)
Writes:-
Gee the story written by Cindy Jordaan could have
been written by me - we virtually did the exactly same things except it
was with Megan, Linda (Harries) and I and we followed Dave Richard's band,
called Gypsy at the time I think. George Perhat was on the drums, Doug
Kennedy singing, Ralp Pitt, Dave and a few others that used to do various
gigs. Mrs. Harries would only trust Teddy Weber to take us to the sessions
held at the WI, Queens etc. We had some fab fun times in Umtali during our
teenage years.
Keep the fun stories rolling - brings back good
memories.
Anthea Laughlin ( nee Hywood)
Writes:-
Thanks for the memories, I remember all those and
more, I was also in No No Nannette and a few more of the shows at the
theatre.
June MacDonald (nee Knight)
Melbourne Australia
I could not believe my eyes when I read
Cynthia Crapper's article about her memories of Umtali. I remember her
well. It was such a blast from the past - a real walk down memory lane. I
left in 1965, went back in 1966 for a short stay and never returned. It
was a wonderful place to get through our teenage years.
Thank
you.
BARCLAYS BANK PHOTO OF 1970
Shirley Van Rensburg Writes:-
I am in the pic
but never seen it before!! Brings back many happy memories of my working
days at Barclay's Bank Umtali.
Thanks
Rogan Webster Writes:-
What a pleasant
surprise this photograph is !!!!
I, in the same period was at
Netherlands Bank of Rhodesia and daily interacted with Miss A. N. M.
Hardman (Trustee Branch), of Barclay's.
Would you have any idea at all
how I may contact her please?
That would be a wonderful
outcome.
Thanks in anticipation.
Best
regards.
MISSING PERSON
John Graham Writes:-
Does anyone know where
Alex (Alexandra) Hardman is?
Please remember
to send in your memories and also current
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