Learn more about Brian Graham
We told you about Tim Jones, co-founder of Uncle Tim’s Centre. Now meet the other founder, Brian Graham (64), who, until this day, works with Jones.
BCT: Tell us about your move to Benoni?
BG: I have lived in Benoni since 1975, moving up from my home town, Louis Trichardt, when I started working for SAA.
It is in Benoni that I bought my first house together with Tim.
It was all we could afford back then and it was a quaint old house although it almost backed onto the railway tracks in Moore Avenue.
We had fun refurbishing it, slowly but surely restoring it to its original splendour – sanding down the wooden windows by hand was surely the cause of my carpal tunnel syndrome which resulted in both wrists being operated on.
In 1984 we moved to Rynfield where we still reside today.
BCT: What is your involvement in Uncle Tim’s Cabin/Centre?
BG: Tim and I are partners since meeting in 1979.
As a flight attendant, I was able to source lots of beautiful furniture from the various cities and areas we flew to.
After I left the airline in 1993, it seemed the natural thing to do, to combine our efforts and energies into developing Uncle Tim’s Centre.
Every few years we would develop a new section of Uncle Tim’s, providing extra shops for new and interesting businesses.
It was a difficult decision to let go of our “Uncle Tim’s Centre” but Uncle Tim’s Cabin, the original antique shop in the Centre is still running with Tim and me at the helm, but as tenants now.
I also started The Secret Garden Restaurant in 1995 at Uncle Tim’s Centre, but I sold it as a going concern after 10 months and it is still going strong today.
BCT: Tell us about your hobbies?
BG: I have a passion for cooking and gardening – although as a committed vegan, I would also love to share my plant-based lifestyle with more people.
I am so excited by the challenges of vegan cooking and I am always thrilled to create tasty and healthy meals without the use of animal parts or products.
I enjoy playing canasta with my friends, going on local holidays (South Africa is beautiful and has a wealth of history), and cooking vegan meals for friends and family.
I am content in life and love.
Also read: Good wine, company and art get together for charity
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