Former white shebeen owner releases autobiography

Rex Wickins was born in Yeoville in 1940 and spent his school years at King Edward Vll in Houghton.

He then joined The Royal Air Force (RAF) in the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces formed toward the end of the World War I on 1 April 1918.

Now a Parkhurst resident, Wickins’ book is entitled, Seven Billion People and Me. He said he chose that title because when he was 20 there were two billion people in the world, but 50 years later when he was celebrating his 70th birthday there were seven billion people in the world.

“This means the world population increased three times in 50 years, so I imagined what I had done in the past 50 years. Initially I was writing for family, friends and former schoolmates, sharing my memories. But my editors and publishers told me it was a good book so we decided to make it available for everyone who was interested.”

The book features chapters on growing up in Yeoville, and a full chapter about being a white man running a shebeen in Rockey Street while living in a flat in Raleigh Street.

Wickins said, “Rockey Street was a cosmopolitan, multiracial street. I am sure no one can imagine a white person running a shebeen. I used to sell liquor to all races illegally, I spent some nights in John Forster Square [now Johannesburg Central Police Station].”

The book also features other interesting stories and iconic places such as Wickins running a restaurant in Norwood and pieces about Hillbrow. It features chapters about his 13 years at King Edward School, 10 years flying for the RAF and later joining South African Air Force. It also features his life in the army. It is almost 500 pages long and has 230 photos.

The book is about South Africa and the world of the ’60s and the life of a white person in Johannesburg during that time.

The father of three described himself as a world traveller. He has one foster son.

Details: Rex Wickins, rex@rw-art.co.za or 083 445 0102.