Margate Moves: Landmine survivors are reunited after 40 years

SIX soldiers who survived a landmine explosion 40 years ago were recently reunited on the South Coast.

On January 12, 1979, 11 young men from 54 Battalion were on their way back to South Africa from the Eenhana base in Namibia (formerly known as South West Africa) when the Buffel vehicle they were travelling in, hit a landmine. Two men, Attie Krog and Deon Bekker were killed and Francois Cloete, Gary Russouw, Bruce Forbes, Gregan Greet, Syd Bradbury, Derek Copp, Gerald Crerer, Graeme Wood and Armpie Lewis survived. The television show Kwêla documented their emotional reunion at which six survivors were present. The segment aired last Sunday (20th) on Kyknet’s channel 144.

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The reunion was held at the Combined Ops Shellhole and Gerry Gregory is thanked for the use of their facilities. Part two of the reunion was held at Bruce and Linda Forbes’s restaurant ‘The Lobster Pot’ in Ramsgate where the reminiscing continued.

Oh to have been a fly on the wall to listen to their incredible stories.

Get registered

Make sure you are registered to vote in this year’s general election. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be on hand at voting stations to assist with voters’ roll checks this Saturday (26th) and Sunday (27th). Voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm. First time voters are especially urged to register. You can also sms your ID number to 32810 or by accessing the IEC’s website.

Road crumbling

The stretch of the Main South Coast Road between the Hibiscus Mall/Margate Police Station traffic lights and the Ramsgate Boulevard shopping centre is crumbling and every day another dangerous crack appears. As this is not a municipal road it never seems to be fixed properly – it is peppered with grey patches where potholes have been filled in only to be washed out when it rains. Would it be possible for the local authorities to put pressure on the roads department to repair the road urgently?

Get quizzical

If it is the last Friday of the month it must be `Braai and Brain’ time again. The Ramsgate Lions Club invites everyone to the first of its monthly social braai and quiz evenings for 2019. Get down to the community centre (old bowling clubhouse) in Glenmarkie Road for some good old fashioned camaraderie. Take along something to cook on the fire (which is ready from 6pm) – salads are provided at R30 per person and soft drinks will be on sale – if you would like something `stronger’ to drink, please take your own.

After supper it is time to turn on the brain power for the pub quiz. Teams of four compete for some great prizes. For more information contact Lion Warren Theron at 082 4149589.

Good music

Ramsgate’s iconic music venue Rocky Ridge will be back in action from next month. Please watch the press for details as there are some exceptional performers lined up.

And that other famed entertainment venue Azalea Hall at Margate Retirement Village also kicks off from next month.

Welcome wagon

The red carpet is rolled out for regular Ramsgate visitors – Wendy and Roy Nolan from Johannesburg and Frans and Elvira Boom who arrived on the South Coast from Utrecht in Holland last week.

The Booms, who have an apartment in Ramsgate, have visited each year for almost 20 years and say it is like “coming home” when they head south from the airport.

Mo McColl, former nursing sister at Hibiscus House, Margate Retirement Village, is also back in town for her annual sojourn from Hastings in England. They are all wished happy and restful holidays.

And finally welcome home to Mark and Roz Hooper who have returned to Ramsgate after spending more than a month in the UK visiting family.

Condolences

Deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Cheryl Galloway who died last Friday. She leaves behind her husband Terry, son Terence and daughter Melanie. Her memorial service takes place at the Uvongo Methodist Church this Friday (25th) at 2pm.

Good wishes

Celebrating birthdays this week are Bruce Hodson, Bingo Chetty, Ron Mitchell, Roz Hooper, Reece Mills and Judy Reid-Robertson (23rd), Kerry Booth, Natasha Cooke and Greg Small (24th), Helen Dodge, Stella Bromfield, Sophia Drakopoulos and Riek Lenoff (25th), Vera Bode-Smith (26th), Connor McCarthy, Pat Brown, Janine Cottrell and Ivor Aylward (27th), Rowan Hooper and his twins Chloe and Liam, Kerry McKillen, Alexi Loukakis, Rene Krauss and Yzelle Greyling (28th) and Bodette Smit (29th).

Happy anniversary wishes go to Donna and Kevin Krummeck who celebrate their 31st on the 23rd and to Gunther and Riana Worthmann for the 27th.

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