‘Beer, secret to long life’
SANDTON – Sunninghill resident, 100-year-old Cyril Crompton is still playing bowls with passion.
Age is just a number for 100-year-old, passionate bowls player, Cyril Crompton.
Having reached the one century mark on 7 July, Crompton is the Rivonia Bowls Club’s oldest member.
He joined the club in November 1997, but has been playing the sport for more than 30 years. Crompton was encouraged by his late wife, Veira, to start bowling to stay active and healthy.
“I used to bowl three times a week, but had to cut down to once a week when I was 99 years old. This is largely because I lost my driver’s license a while back because of my poor eyesight,” said Crompton.
The bowler said that it feels wonderful to be 100 years old and explained that his fondest memory of living in the Sunninghill area was joining the Rivonia Bowls Club.
Within the mind of this cheerful father of three is an exciting and eventful history. “I was a prisoner of war during the time that I served in the army during WWII. I was captured in North Africa and was sent to Italy on a ship. Unfortunately, this ship was sunk by an English submarine.”
He went on to explain that, as a strong swimmer, he was able to swim to safety and save many of the other passengers’ lives. After desperately attempting to escape the grasps of the Germans with no success, he was later rescued by the allied troops and sent to England to recover.
It was during this time in England that he met his beloved wife of 63 years, Veira May Good, who was serving in the British army at the time.
Crompton returned to South Africa and was later joined by Veira once she was discharged from the army.
“My daughter, Julie de Wild, cooks for me all the time and she makes the most amazing curry. I have two sons, Peter and Clive, and even have a great-grandchild,” said Crompton with pride.
At the moment, he is unable to read because of his failing eyesight and shakes too much to write. It is for the reason that bowls is a highlight for him as he enjoys this fun and active sport.
He concluded with a grin, “My secret to a long life is Castle Lager and cane spirits, my two favourite drinks.”
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