Dundee pioneer dies at the age of 97

Basil Osborn, considered by many to be a pioneer of Dundee, recently died in Welkom at the grand age of 97.
He attended Dundee High School as a young boy and lived in Cornhill Street. He was a keen cricket and rugby player. His father was the manager of Standard Bank. He studied dentistry at Wits, only to later return to his family farm, Ellies Glen, where he took up farming.
He later became a director of the Estcourt Bacon Factory, served on the Meat Board of SA, The Pig Development Association and became a life-long member of the Dundee Farmers’ Association, as well as a member of the National Agricultural Union for many years. He served as a deacon at the Anglican Church and was instrumental in the building of the church hall.
He retired from farming at the age of 50 and lived at 99 Smith Street. When his wife, Dolly Osborn died, he established the “Dundee Dienssentrum”, where he served for many years as president and got involved in community projects. He immigrated to Australia to be with his son Michael Osborn for four years in 2002, but returned to Welkom in 2006, to live with his daughter, Marie Jean.
He moved back to Dundee five years ago and spent the latter part of his years there.
He suffered a stroke in July and never recovered. He passed away three weeks later in Welkom on August, 19. He was a true gentleman, a shrewd businessman and a very wise grandfather, who will be remembered by most as a legend and by his family as ‘The rock upon which they are built’.