Royal Signals Corp visits Ethelbert

AMANZIMTOTI Sports Centre (ASC) hosted the Amanzimtoti Cricket Club as well as the Royal Signals cricket team of the British Army in a friendly cricket match recently. The match was attended by Ethelbert’s PRO, Gaylene Allen, who then invited the Signals to spend an afternoon at the home.

Two Kombies arrived and dropped off the team. Three small cricket fields were set up on the main field and a few children started a game with some of the Signalers. As the laughter, high fives, low fives and back flips increased, so did the number of children. With all three fields fully occupied and children still arriving, the Signalers’ organisational talents became fully apparent.

SC’s Rex Hindman said the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. “Some of them placed themselves in strategic positions around the fields to help the children. Others organised batting and bowling orders. The manner in which these men transformed garden cricket into important test matches for these children was something to behold and the sheer joy and excitement that radiated from the children surpassed anything that I have ever witnessed,” he said.

After an absorbing afternoon of cricket, the children went back to their cottages for dinner and in the swimming pool afterwards to cool off. “I unfortunately had to leave before dinner and the pool party but I am told that the children loved every minute of their time in the water with the Signalers. The team left shortly before the children went back to their cottages for bed time,” said Hindman.

Since their visit, the Signalers collected more than R9 000 among themselves which they spent on groceries for Ethelbert. The centre’s monthly grocery bill comes to around R7 000.

“When one thinks of all the time and effort that goes into fundraising and organising a tour of this nature, one would expect that these young men would have only two things on their minds – play hard and party harder. The fact that this team saw fit to take time out on a short tour to entertain children is a credit to them and their Regiment. What is really mind blowing is the manner in which each and every one of them involved themselves totally in making it so special. I believe that the children will relive the afternoon with the British Royal Signals Corps in their minds for a long time to come,” said Hindman.

“Gaylene saw an opportunity to possibly have a little joy spread among the children of Ethelbert but I believe that even this seasoned professional got a lot more than she ever expected. Well done Gaylene,” he added.