Fitting tribute for Chris ‘Shrek’ Bouwer
Bikers and community pay tribute to Chris 'Shrek' Bouwer who passed away last week after a brief battle with cancer.
THE thrum of bike engines filled Sunningdale on Friday last week as more than 40 bikers paid tribute to a man they called ‘a gentle giant’. The bikers participated in a mass ride from the North Durban Presbyterian Church on Round the Green to the German Club in Westville.
Durban North resident, Chris ‘Shrek’ Bouwer, passed away last week after a battle with cancer. His wife, Candy, who spoke to Northglen News last week, said her husband was ‘an adrenaline junkie of note’.
“Chris passed away peacefully. I made a decision, and told him that he had permission to go and ride the golden highway if he needed to. He confirmed that he knew where he was going and did not want me to be sad. He was well-known in the biking community and I was incredibly touched by how many bike clubs turned out today to pay tribute to my husband.
“Chris fought bravely and passed very peacefully. He was an awesome husband, father and friend and I am blessed to have spent the last 15 years with my gentle, grumpy ogre. This has come as a shock to us all and I wanted to thank everybody in the community who has shown their support to me and the family. I also wanted to thank the residents on the Durban North Neighbours Facebook page,” Candy said.
A Facebook page, In Memory of Chris Bouwer, has also been set up to honour him.
John Geeson, a member of the Durban Chapter of Ulysses (which Chris was a member of), also participated the moving tribute.
“I think Chris is watching this from Heaven and smiling. He was a big, soft giant with a heart of gold. We are going to miss him, and I think this was a fitting way to show him our support,” Geeson said.
