Sybil Language, the wonderwoman of Toti

THE wonderwoman of Toti, Sybil Language has lived a life of excellence, having positively impacted many different sectors of the community.

The local heroine will be 94-years-old this March and is well-known by the Toti community for her amazing achievements.

Sybil Maud Brown was born on the 22 March 1923 in Ladysmith, Natal. She was born into a musical family and as an only child, her love of music and dancing was encouraged. Twenty years later she married Ivor Language and in 1948 they moved to Amanzimtoti, where their four children, Hilton, Rozanne, Dimity and Keith were born. Due to Ivor’s work commitments as a journalist, they lived in many different places but always considered Toti their home. Sybil referred to the Toti river as her ‘silver thread’.

Besides being a wonderful wife and caring mother, Sybil accomplished much in her lifetime. Involving herself in numerous activities such as Sunday school teaching, Sybil was a member of the Amanzimtoti School Parent Teachers’ Association and became a committee member of the Women’s Institute in 1947, assisting in the establishment of the Toti Child Welfare Society in 1952. She was chosen as ‘Woman of the Year’ at the Women’s Institute 60 year diamond jubilee celebrations.

Over the years, she was involved with compiling the quizzes and was the drama convenor and narrator of numerous fashion shows, musicals and plays. Sybil was involved with ‘Carols By Candlelight’ and in 1969 the South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA) made her an honorary member of their society, which assisted under privileged members of the community. She was also made an honorary member of the 21 Club as she had been a founder member since 1952.

So great was Sybil’s passion for the community and civic affairs, that she was elected as town councillor of Amanzimtoti four times and served as chairman of the health department for many years.

Sybil wrote fairy stories for children and was a member of the ‘Toastmistresses Club’. She enjoyed tennis and badminton.

In 1965 Sybil and Ivor’s eldest son, Hilton (18) was tragically killed in a motor accident whilst doing his two year military service in Pretoria. This was devastating to the family as a whole. He was given a full military funeral.

In 1970, when Ivor was transferred to Fleet Street in London, they were afforded the most wonderful opportunity, together with Rozanne and Dimity to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. This occasion, together with receiving a special invitation to ‘Trooping The Colour’ added to the many memorable moments in her life. During their stay in London, Sybil and family celebrated Rozanne’s 21st birthday at the Savoy Hotel in the Strand.

Tragedy struck again in 1986 while Keith (28) was doing his two year conscription service in the police force at Scottburgh. He was deliberately run down and killed by an overloaded taxi, just for wearing a police uniform. He had a full police funeral. The family were never the same again.

Father Ivor Language died four years later and Sybil moved into a flat in Toti, where she lived alone for the next 19 years. Only her enduring faith and courage carried her through. Some of the highlights of this period in her life were a trip to Canada in 1993 to stay with Dimity and her family for five months, experiencing three of the different seasons there.

A few years later, she was invited by her cousin’s family to spend a holiday at the Victoria Falls in Zambia and travelled in a ‘banana boat’ up the Zambezi River, which was full of hippos. Due to a stroke in 2008, Sybil moved into the frail care section of Mooi Hawens, a care facility in Winklespruit and is still there today.

She is a proud grandmother and great grandmother, adored by many.

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