Collen Hawley Junior, a stalwart of the Primrose business community, died recently.
“As his family we loved and admired him for his tenacity and determination to make a success of his life,” said his sister, Theresa Duffield.
“As a businessman, he did his father and family proud.”
Theresa added that his sudden passing left a huge void in their family’s life.
He was a leader, a dignified businessman and contributed a great deal to the community.
He showed a great deal of empathy and kindness towards others.
The history of the Hawley family and 95 Rietfontein Road, Primrose is a long one, dating back to 1947.
This is their story told by Theresa:
“Collen (name spelt this way as it was a family surname) Eastland Hawley (Senior) our patriarch and Engela Elizabeth (Pretorius – maiden name) our beloved parents purchased 95 Rietfontein Road when we were young children.
“Collen Eastland Hawley Junior, Ian Lionel Hawley and Theresa Elizabeth Hawley were all young siblings at that time.
“Our father started a Monumental Masons business from our home and he would receive phone calls day and night.
“Out of frustration he had an office built a few years later in the front yard.
“He also had a display yard of memorial stones in the front of the house.
“As children we used to frighten the people who walked passed at night by placing white sheets over our bodies and pretending to be spooks.
“Thus was the start of our lives in Primrose with a father who had passed Standard Four and a mother who had passed Standard Seven.
“They put their hearts and limited knowledge into starting a life for their offspring.
“Lalie, as my mother was loved and known, started her own business from the new office.
“She went for lessons for flower arrangements with artificial flowers and subsequently started hiring out arrangements to the local businesses on a weekly basis.
“I remember her carrying the arrangements with an assistant to the various businesses every week.
“My father gave us all an opportunity to learn the business and assist in forming his empire.
“However, the kingpin turned out to be Collen Junior – he just fitted in like a glove.
“Over the years his wife Jean (Holder) joined the team and became his main assistant and confidante.
“Two more brothers, Charles Thomas and Trevor Hawley, the ‘laat lammetjie’ (both born in the home at 95 Rietfontein Road) assisted in the business.
“Trevor became general sales manager and was part of the business from the time he started working. “The business was the oldest contributor and advertiser in the Yellow Pages in the country.
“We had a special upbringing – our neighbours knew that our home was a roadhouse and our mother extended her hospitality beyond all borders.
“Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and the Platters were a part of our daily ambience.
“We would dance and jive day and night – our parents were conveniently deaf.
“Primrose had its own character and as long-time residents of this historical suburb it is sad for us to see the closure of an era.”
Hawley Marble and Granite, as the business was later named, is now closed and in addition the property, which later encompassed the entire business premises, is now up for sale.
“So for us as family members it is very sad that it will no longer be part of our family,” said Theresa.
This is a poem written by Ian Hawley, who lives in the United Kingdom, about the family’s history at 95 Rietfontein Road.
“Ninety Five”
In London, it’s the age of a “naval” duke,
Or name of garments with an “Afro” look,
In God’s word it refers to inspired psalm,
Or Gibeon’s sons returning to a land of calm.
In Primrose it is the official “dead centre”,
Memorial stones, no thief would dare enter,
To dad it remained, home and castle grand,
To mom a place to feed all with open hand.
To us children a haven from many a storm,
Doors and hearts wide open, devoid of scorn,
To many faces, the place for tea and a pee
Arrived feeling hopeless, left feeling free.
Neither lavishly rich nor distressingly poor,
Content to live in the middle, close to the core,
Life is more about loving, less about having,
“Ninety Five” taught us, life’s gift is giving.
The time to say goodbye to “95” will soon arrive,
Lost its “Generalissimo”, how will it survive?
End of a nostalgic era for us, has now come,
Let’s treasure memories, try not to feel glum.
Recall bricks and mortar only made the house,
Love and understanding made that house a home,
The house, not our home, is now on the market
Our fond childhood memories of “95”, Collen and family are not for sale, not now, not ever.
