Featuring: Rev Barry and Lynden Wittstock

The next St Patrick’s couple to highlight is the Rev and Mrs Barry Wittstock. Barry has been the Archdeacon of St Mark’s Anglican Church in Cambridge, East London, since 2006. During that time, he has also been involved with St Patrick’s, especially during the last few years. In fact, he is one of our two official marriage officers and has taken many weddings here. He plans to retire shortly to live in Hogsback where he has a house where his son stays. We have enjoyed the fact that he has been able to take services quite regularly. A bonus is that his wife, Lynden, is a superb pianist/organist and plays at services.

The wedding of Barry and Lynden at the Grahamstown Cathedral on 24 June 1978; Barry’s ordination at Holy Trinity Church, King William’s Town on 1^st June 1980, with his mother

Barry matriculated from George Randell High School in 1971 and gained his diploma in theology from St Paul’s College in Grahamstown. He has served in at least eight parishes in the Eastern Cape, starting with and ending at St Mark’s Cambridge. He went to Queenstown and returned there, Fort Beaufort where he was also responsible for St Patrick’s, Hogsback, Adelaide, Kidd’s Beach and Beacon Bay.  He was chaplain of many institutions. During this varied career Barry has got to know and been involved in many rural areas including being involved with Hogsback activities. He has been a part of Hogsback affairs as a landowner, a priest and has been on the board of the Hobbiton-on-Hogsback Association. During his career Barry has led social responsibility projects, been an invigilator for matriculation examinations, has led missions to other towns and many countries and has been involved with the training of ministers.

Barry, Barry’s brother, Rod holding Emily and Lynden; the Wittstock children Jonathan born in 1983 and Victoria born in 1981

 Lynden was brought up in Cradock where she went to St Peter’s Anglican Church. She studied nursing and has progressed to become a sister. Barry and Lynden married on 24 June 1978 at the Grahamstown Cathedral. Two years later, Barry was ordained at the Holy Trinity Church, King William’s Town on 1^st June 1980. They have two children: Victoria born in 1981 and Jonathan born in 1983. Victoria married Wesley Luff in 2003 and they have two children, giving Barry and Lynden two grandchildren studying at Stirling.  

The marriage of Victoria to Wesley Luff in 2003 at St Nicholas Church, Beacon Bay; the two grandchildren: Kiara and Kaylib in Stirling uniform

We thank Barry and Lynden for their service to St Patrick’s over many years and for their involvement in our activities.  We look forward to their retirement here at Hogsback in the near future and assure them that they will be much appreciated. 

Featuring: Tandy Makalima

Tandy Makalima with her daughter, Orienda, and grandson, Enkosi

Tandy Makalima’s father was a policeman at Hogsback. She was born on 1^st November 1970 in Auckland, went to the primary school and then Siyabonga High School where she matriculated. Her tertiary education was done at Fort Hare University where she gained a BSocSc in human resource management and a BComm Hons in industrial psychology. She has been working at Victoria Hospital in Alice since 1991. 

Tandy’s daughter is Orienda Makalima. She was born in Auckland on 3 July 1989. She went to the Auckland Primary School and then Nzululwazi High School in Alice to matriculate. She has a son, Enkosi, born 19 February 2014. The three of them live together and love spreading their wings by travelling. They have made trips to Aliwal North and to Cape Town where they loved going up Table Mountain, seeing the Waterfront, going by boat to Robben Island and eating seafood at Camps Bay, amongst other things. 

Tandy’s home in Auckland.  The family has lived in Auckland for generations, like so many other Mfengu people.  Tandy travels up from the valley for Sunday church services; here she chats to Norma during tea after service

Tandy posing; with friends including Hogsback; in traditional dress

Tandy is a star tug-of-war athlete. Here she is preparing for the tug-of-war; Tandy displays her award; friends celebrate Tandy’s award in the Games

The prestiguous Award ceremony; celebrating with friends

Tandy and daughter; three generations of the Makalimas beautifully dressed at The Edge

Travelling north!; playing in the snow at Hogsback

Tandy loves growing vegetables, eating them to keep her family healthy and selling them. Sometimes she brings her vegetables to sell at church.  

Enkosi in the vegetable garden; Enkosi eating his vegetables

Thank you, Tandy and family, for sharing your story with us and contributing to St Patrick’s church services. We love chatting to you after church services and hearing your news. We appreciate the dimension you bring to the congregation. 

Enkosi kakhulu 

Profiles: Peter Smooi

As we are profiling some of the amazing members of our small congregation, this time we are casting the spotlight on Peter Smooi.

 Peter Smooi is one of the characters of Hogsback. He is recognisable in the community with a smile on his face, standing on the pavement selling mushrooms or walking sticks or walking with his dog by his side and his guitar slung across his shoulder.  He is a man of peace and of Africa and identifies with Rastafarianism.  He is a deep-thinker and has interesting viewpoints. 

Peter’s heritage is truly in the Amathole mountains where his family has lived for many generations. He was born at Daneswold in 1964. His parents lived in Hogsback, although his father came from the Kat valley. Peter has inherited characteristics from his Khoi grandfather who worked on a farm nearby. Although he grew up in Hogsback, he went to school in Alice up to Std 3 and then he worked in gardens and factories in many places including travelling to Cape Town to work in a factory. He has two children: Yoliswa born in 1984 and Anelisa born in 1990.

Since Peter’s daughters have left him, he lives on his own. A typical day in the life of Peter is to get up in the morning, have a cup of tea or coffee, and then walk into the forest to search for mushrooms in the summer, particularly under pine, oak and wattle trees. He will collect them and carry them to the village to sell them. The most popular mushrooms are the Bolitha and pine ring mushrooms. He also looks for suitable black wattle stems to make walking sticks to sell to visitors. The inscribed walking sticks have become a trade mark of the pavement sellers who congregate on the pavement opposite the hardware store and the shop. Many hotels buy them in bulk to sell as souvenirs. The other special trademark of the pavement sellers is the making and selling of clay cattle, hogs, horses and the chapel which they make from the local clay.  It is in this way that income is derived to buy pap and bread. One can imagine that there must be some days of no sales and therefore no food. And yet, even though Peter has so little, he will share what he has with Gas.

Jikani, which opened on 25 January 2014, has played a, invaluable role in many ways including supplying clothes to those who cannot afford expensive clothes. On Sundays Peter and Gas make the longer walk to St Patrick’s where they are regular members of the congregation.    

Even though Peter does not have many material goods, what he has he shares with his dog, Gas. Peter is an example of how one can live on little.  His life makes one feel humble as it shows that material goods that are so sought after by society are not the essential priorities. In many ways these St Patrick’s profiles make one appreciate some of the great messages of Jesus Christ, to see Christ in others, to be humble in oneself and to be kind to one’s neighbour, especially if he or she is in need.     

In admiration to all those at Hogsback who walk tall even with so little! 

Thank you, Peter; enkosi kakhulu, Peter. Ndiyabulela kuwe, Petros, esizithandayo wena

Profile on Mike and Carole Griffith

This lovely couple, Mike and Carole, were married five years ago, on 26 December 2013, in the chapel. The remarkable groom was 80 when he married and has gone around with a smile on his face ever since. Mike will turn 85 on 6 September this year. As Mike needs to spend much of his time at home now, Fritz has made a ramp at the entrance of the house and changed the bathroom into a shower room so that he can be more comfortable at home. Fortunately, Carole is able to care for him, so the couple make a good combination. They have many visitors.

Visitors are greeted with this cheerful sign above the door showing how visitors are appreciated

Mike greets visitors to his house on the ramp Fritz built

‘The happy lovebirds’

The legendary Queen Ann stove keeps the room warm;

 Mike was Sportsman of the Year at Selborne College way back in 1952. He played in three 1^st teams and captained two of them

Mike was selected to play for the South African Schools Cricket XI in 1952/3

Mike was selected to play for the Border Cricket XI for ten years

The Directors of the Weir Group of Companies, Mike was MD of the Agriculture Division

 Mike’s life has been one of service to his community. He has lived in Hogsback for many years during which time he has made an impact. As a businessman he ran the shop for a while and of recent years he has been an estate agent. Many of the house sales in Hogsback, have his imprint on them. He is a committed Christian who has been fully involved with the Chapel. For decades he has been a Chapel Councillor and a lay-preacher and there are many instances of his being in demand to take weddings and services. He and his friend, Neil Cooper, ran the Christmas and Easter Arboretum services for many years. He has also played a role in many aspects of Hogsback, for instance he was Chairman of the Hobbiton-on-Hogsback Association and spent many years on the Community Police Forum to ensure security for the Hogsback community. One of the most special aspects of his life is how he has gone out of his way to help the needy with some amazing accomplishments. On one occasion he heard a young primary school child, Sipho, sing in the kitchen of the Lighthouse Steak Ranch (previously called The Enchanted Tree House restaurant) where Mike was eating. He asked to speak to the boy and suggested they sing ‘Silent Night’ together, as it was Christmas time. Together the two sang ‘Silent Night’ to the delight of the other patrons. Mike managed to get Sipho to sing in the chapel during the Carol Service where he wowed the congregation and a visitor offered a donation for him to join the Drakensberg Choir that year! Mike managed to get him accepted and Sipho was able to experience the highest level of voice training and education for a year. Earlier, he was able to help another disadvantaged child from Hogsback, Luke, to be adopted, and after 13 years is now at Bishop’s in Cape Town. Mike has enriched so many both as a lay-minister compassionately taking wedding services and being a caring benefactor to the underprivileged.

Mike was born in Johannesburg but has spent most of his life in East London and Hogsback. His schooling was at Cambridge Primary School and Selborne College. He excelled at sport where he played 1^st team cricket, 1^st team tennis and 1^st team rugby in Standard 9 and 10. He captained cricket and tennis. He was outstanding at cricket reaching Border Schools and the national South African schools in 1952.  He was an all-rounder and is blessed with a beautiful tenor voice which he used in church and theatre. In his final year he was recognised as the leader of the school becoming Custodian of the Key and Head boy.  An interesting ‘world record’ was set up by the Queen’s bowler in 1950 against the Selborne 1^st XI. That was the year Mike joined the 1^st team. The Queen’s bowler, Edwards, claimed all 10 Selborne wickets without conceding a single run! Selborne was out for 10. Mike described this remarkable match, ‘It was a beautiful day. Play started a little late because of overnight rain and we were put in to bat. We had a very strong team containing several Border schools players, including Redmund Geach who had been selected for the SA Schools side. I opened the batting with Geach. In came Edwards, Geach played forward, got a nick to trevor Brown at slip and was gone first ball. Then followed a sad procession of quality Selborne batsmen as Edwards systematically scythed through the entire line-up.’  Top score was 3 with Mike scoring 2 out of the ten. ‘Edwards was magnificent, and I remember we all gathered round and heartily congratulated him.’

After school he stayed in East London where played cricket for Border as a batsman for 10 years. He worked for the Weir Group and became MD of the Agriculture Group. He led a superb team that resulted in him being declared the top dealer for three years. In 1982 he was awarded a trip to London to meet the President of Massey-Ferguson world-wide. To show his enterprise, he volunteered to go to Dordrecht even though it is an Afrikaans region and his Afrikaans was not strong. Not only did he learn to speak Afrikaans, but he stayed for three years and during that time he scored the highest turn-over ever. He did, however, have some rather strange experiences like having the police confront him to check that he was not playing golf when he went for a walk on the golf course on a Sunday!   During that time, in the history of South Africa, nobody was allowed to play or partake in any sport on a Sunday.

Mike bought his property as a holiday home for his family in Hogsback in 1980. The name says it all, Tranquility. He has three children. Michele, lives in Grahamstown, where she runs a project to restore the health of donkeys, named amaTrac uluntu, which is a training and development non-profit organization registered in 2012. AmaTrac uluntu works with the local communities to support working donkey owners and how to give guidance. Laurel is a housewife in Wellington, New Zealand and Gary whom he fostered as a 16-year old boy, is an Anglican priest in New Zealand, in fact he is the Vicar general of Otago. Mike has six grandchildren, one in China, teaching English, and the others are all in New Zealand.

Carole, nee Minnaar, hails from Pretoria. She became a professional model, married in 1970 and has a son Bertus Smith. He is a lawyer, married to Adele and they live in Pretoria. Carole has 2 granddaughters.  A fascinating time for Carole was when she joined the South African Embassy at Abrahamskraal in Umtata when the Transkei was an ‘independent’ Bantustan. The Transkei became an independent state in 1976. Amongst other jobs she would check passports into the ‘independent’ Transkei. Then she joined the East London Publicity Association in the late 1970s. At that stage she was a single parent with a son and Mike was also a single parent with 2 daughters and a foster son. They met for the very first time at the Arminel Hotel, where Mike and his 2 daughters and Carole and her son were spending the weekend. They met, and went out for a few years.  After East London  she spent 25 years with Nedbank at George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.  It was much later that she and Mike got together again. This time it was a romantic engagement and they married in 2013. Carole moved to Hogsback where the couple are happily married at their home Tranquility.

Profile on Leon and Elzette van Niekerk

Our next St Patrick’s profile in 2018 is on Leon van Niekerk and his family. Leon has made a huge impact on the St Patrick’s congregation since about three years ago when he took up a post at Fort Hare University. He was staying at Hogsback looking for a house and involved himself fully in all activities and was a popular figure in the community. Apart from his helpfulness and commitment; he has three strings to his bow: a Psychologist; an Academic and a Dominee! In addition, he took the Afrikaans services and was elected to the Chapel Council. Unfortunately, the house he found was in Gonubie which suited Elzette as she had been offered a post at Fort Hare as well, in the East London branch. However, their loyalty to St Patrick’s was such that they have continued to be part of the St Patrick’s congregation by travelling from East London up to Hogsback on the first Sunday every month to take an Afrikaans service organised by Norma who also plays the piano. Leon has touched the congregation through his warmness and superb sermons. He has also been valued for his counselling. He has been the leader of two of our annual retreats, each of which was memorable.

The Van Niekerk family: Rudolph, Elzette, Leon, Frances

Leon and Elzette van Niekerk were married in July 1992 and are newcomers to the Eastern Cape. They have been living in East London since January 2016. Leon was born in Vereeninging, where he grew up and completed school in 1981. He studied at the North-west University (then Potchefstroom University of Christian Higher Education) till 1989, where he completed his BA degree, Hons degree in Criminology and B Theology. He served as pastor in churches in Warrenton (where he met his wife Elzette in 1991), Sasolburg and Johannesburg, where he has been a Minister of Religion for 25 years.  He also completed his Honours, Masters and PhD in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. He completed a Masters’ Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium. He is a registered Counselling Psychologist and taught Psychology and Sport Psychology at the University of Johannesburg for 15 years, before taking his current position of Professor is Sport Psychology at the University of Fort Hare.

Elzette also studied at the North-west University since 1984, where she completed a BSc degree and received her HED from the University of Pretoria in 1988. She started a teaching career in Kimberley (where she met Leon) and taught in various schools (Sasolburg, Johannesburg, King Williams Town) till she started a career as E-learning specialist at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Fort Hare.

Leon and Elzette have two children, Rudolph (21) and Frances (19). Both of them are currently students at their Alma Mater (North-west University) in Potchefstroom. After completion of Diplomas in Game farm management and Hospitality, Rudolph is now studying a B Com (Tourism and game farm management), while Frances is studying a B Com (Chartered Accounting).

Leon is a keen golfer and squash player, while both he and Elzette enjoy doing Park runs on Saturdays.

Leon and Elzette keep themselves fit, here Leon has just run the Surfers Marathon; When Leon and Elzette come up on a Sunday, members of the congregation enjoy hosting them, as Maggie did on this occasion

Leon led the popular and stimulating Retreat at Hunterstoun in 1916

Leon led the lovely two-day Retreat at Grasslands farm in 2017 where some spent three nights and others came during the day

We thank Leon and Elzette for the huge spiritual impact they make at St Patrick’s, and for their friendliness and support. We have been hugely blessed by their presence. 

Ons is baie dankbaar vir Leon en Elzette se vriendlikheid en kosbare bydra tot ons gemeente. Ons waardeur dit baie. 

Profile: The Dicks

Quinton and Jeannette Dick are a major force at St Patrick’s. Jeannette is the sacristan and used to clean the chapel weekly; Quinton is Alternate Chapel Warden, Treasurer and lately has played a huge role in building up the chapel garden to magnificence. Their loyalty, service and devotion are an example of disciple hood.

Quinton John Dick was born on 3 May 1937 in King William’s Town. His father was Charles Wallace Dick and mother Eleanore Myrtle Dick nee Passmore.  ‘At age two I was so severely ill that Dr Doran was prepared to sign the death warrant. Mom had a convincing vision that I would live. I did.  In my formative years Dad was a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany. He was forced to do the six hundred-mile walk across Germany, and eventually to freedom, so Mom had to raise me over those four years.’ Quinton continued, ‘I was the younger son by five years, so was subject to some bullying but I survived. I went to St Andrew’s Preparatory School and St Andrew’s College for my education.

At Stellenbosch I completed a BSc with Agricultural Economics as a major.  I played hockey uninterruptedly for Stellenbosch 1st team and Western Province Country Districts and was twice selected as the SA Country District goalkeeper. Coming back to the Eastern Cape, I represented Border and Border Country Districts at Interprovincial hockey festivals.’

‘I farmed with Dad until the war damage caught up with him. In 1963 I had the luck of my life. I found a wonderful woman who agreed to marry me. One doesn’t get luckier than that? We have four sons in our married life, who have all done especially well in life – far better than their father.

Financial problems forced me to further my education and I took eight years to qualify as a Chartered Accountant while farming. The hours were never long enough to do all that was required. I qualified with a B Compt (Hons) degree and a CA, SA.

‘While doing my articles as an accountant, Jeannette ran the farm better than I ever would have and we managed to keep the “magistraat” from the door. Although our sons had an amazing life style on the farm, none wanted to farm, and preferred to follow their chosen careers, so we sold our Quit Rent Grantee farm, and moved to Tilty Hill, a farm in the Nahoon Valley of East London, where we grew 30,000 banana palms on drip-irrigation, had a Touch farm and Tea garden, and a Bed and Breakfast (16 beds) and Conference Centre. We sold Tilty Hill in 2006 and came to a jungle at Hidden Away in Hogsback.

‘A lot of hard work and inspiration went into developing an exciting garden which we trust will really glorify God. We just love to show visitors our garden and the many ways that God can cause stunning pleasure to all that come to see His creations.

St Patrick’s has been a very important part of our lives and we feel completely at home in the positive atmosphere of our congregation. We feel really proud to be part of it too.

Jeannette Dick was born on 18 July in Bedford as the 4^th of 6 children (3 girls and 3 boys). Her father was Pieter van Aardt of Patryshoogte, Cookhouse and her mother was Cynthia Hundermark originally of Jagersfontein. Jeannette had a carefree childhood on the farm, Eastpoort. She still remembers ‘the smell of pepper trees on a hot day, rain falling on the hot earth, coffee beans roasting in a wood-fired oven and newly-baked bread’. Her ‘best friend and nanny was Annie Pungulwa, who told Xhosa stories, read from her Xhosa bible’ and the whole family went to her funeral in Cookhouse. The family lived through droughts, floods, hard times and fun times, ‘and then there was school’.

Jeannette was sent to school at North End Grey in Port Elizabeth with her sister. Like so many others, her bad memory was being sent to the dentist. Months later a farm school was started called Nil Desperandum to which she was sent. At this school, a male teacher taught four levels – Sub A to Std 3 - and used a quince stick on those who did not do their homework. Nevertheless, he was not liked ‘hated’ and the children hoped the tokoloshe would get him. What was great fun was going to school in a donkey cart driven by Blokkie and racing the other donkey cart with the three Moolman kids. Being closer to school, she normally won until the Moolmans upgraded to a mule cart. So, her Dad also upgraded to a mule cart and they were back in the race, ‘but just seeing the dust bowl coming towards us along the road turned us frantic and we had to hold onto our starched kappies so as not to lose them, we sped to school.’ 

Her 3^rd school was Belvieu in Somerset East while her two older brothers went to Gill College. She remembers ‘wurgpatats’ (sweet potatoes) whose fibres choked the children so that when they were given envelopes to write home on Sundays they would put the sweet potato scrapings into the envelopes and post them into the rubbish bin! In Std 2 she went to the Bedford Convent, (imagine an Afrikaner among the Roman Catholic Rooinecks!). She struggled with doing embroidery which was compulsory. She remembers being rationed sugar which had to be shared between the porridge with worms, a slice of bread with fat and weak tea which is what the meal consisted of (no wonder she still has a sweet tooth!). Then the family moved to King William’s Town and Jeannette was able to repeat Std 3, come in the top three and enjoy school, especially gymnastics and swimming. She remembers racing a handicap race against Joan Harrison when she started on the count of 1 and Joan on the count of 20. They were both disqualified! 

Jeannette trained as a General Nurse in the Provincial hospital in Port Elizabeth and attended Sharley Cribb Nurses College where she won a gold medal and passed cum laude. Then she studied midwifery at Mater Dei in East London (now St Dominics) and passed cum laude. She became Sister on night duty at Grey Hospital, King William’s Town and then moved to Cape Town where she studied Mother Craft at Lady Buxton Home and loved the babies who were to be adopted. Then, ‘Quinton decided to ask me to marry him. He proposed on de Waal Drive. How could I not agree? We could have had an accident!’ They married a year later: Quinton studied accounting; Jeannette ran the farm. They had four sons who all had a wonderful childhood and matriculated from Selborne College. The family grew up at Tilty Hill farm outside East London.

 In 2006 Quinton and Jeannette left their farming friends and retired to Hogsback. They bought Hidden Away which had belonged to the Schonlands. The old buildings were knocked down and a magnificent home built. Hard work and dedication was also given to the garden which has become one of the finest show gardens of Hogsback. Jeannette and Quinton’s hospitality and magnificent meals are legendary. The couple are fully involved socially, and are vital members of the garden club, Probus, Jikani and St Patrick’s. 

Profile on Terence Barber

Our next member of the St Patrick’s congregation to profile is Terence Barber. Terence is an East Londoner, having been born in the Mater Dei hospital in 1958, the son of Noel and Colleen Barber. His schooling was at Selborne, from Sub A to Matric where he showed great talent at gymnastics. Of interest, is the fact that Terence was taught by Ann in Std 1 and taught by Trevor in Matric in 1976.

 

As a 7-year old Terence imagined himself as a muscular lifesaver; today he has proved himself in many different ways

A major influence on his life was attending Hobbiton in Std 2. The nature and freedom of Hogsback made an impact on him which he hankered after throughout his life. He realized how much he disliked city water. Terence learnt many plumbing and mechanical skills from his Dad. After school he joined the Merchant Navy in Cape Town and went to sea. He had two trips across to Europe but became upset with the style of life  - too much drinking and, anyway, it was boring. His adventures continued on the sea in a different way. He did ship repair work and was the skipper for the flamenco boat in Simonstown, shown below. His adventurous spirit resulted in his sailing solo across the Atlantic in a flamenco, an 8m boat without an engine.  He then moved into long-distance trucking across the country.

 The flamenco boat he skippered across the Atlantic; the truck he drove in long-distance trucking parked in front of his old school, Selborne College

Terence’s daughter, Candice Cotterill, lived with him while he was at Hogsback. She now lives in East London and has a daughter, Katherine, who is 8 months old, making Terence a grandfather.

Terence was able to fulfil his dream of living at Hogsback in 2002. He spent seven years in a rented cottage with his daughter.  He was able to do jobs in plumbing and building and kept horses. He was devoted to the horses which multiplied to 13. Unfortunately, in 2008, they were stolen while grazing near the microwave tower.  He spent 6 months in 2015 in Mozambique where he planted fruit trees.

His present home is in the veld at Bold Point which was a farm and is now commonage. Sinjani and the Bold Point residents are happy for him to stay there and no one bothers him.  In fact, like a 19^th century trekboer, he can’t see his neighbour’s fires!  Previously, he spent three years here. He loves the setting with the Elandsberg close by and the vista across Michell’s Pass and the Kat valley. The natural surroundings offer a spring close by where he is able to drink the pure, clear water.

The area Terence occupies is a km from the road in the open grassland where a pine forest has been cut down. As one travels on the tracks to his home one passes beautiful crowned cranes.  He has chosen a spot with an unused rondavel reservoir which he is repairing and roofing. He has two small boats to remind him of his sea cruising past. He lives in a tent close by under a tree. What a simple, natural and awesome home! 

A typical day starts when he wakes to the splendour of the magnificent sunrise.  He works on the rondavel to erect a roof and drives to the village to do odd jobs. He is happy, satisfied, his ‘own-man’. Is he lonely? No, he is content. He described the lot of the sailor who  has left his boat, he is ‘on the beach’, waiting for his ship to come in.

Terence’s temporary home is a tent in the veld where he is able to fulfill himself in the beauty of the Hogsback nature

 Terence’s future home which he is building in the rondavel where he will grow vegetables and enjoy God’s beauty uncluttered by human ‘progress’

I came away from my visit to Terence absolutely awed by his humility, courage and his acceptance of his lot.

Trevor Webster

April 2018

Celebrating the life of one of our worthy chapel woman

Yesterday we had a high tea in Hogsback to celebrate the value of woman, all woman, but especially one woman who has made an incredible difference in the lives of not just woman, but everyone on the mountain. Her name is Norma and she is a prayer warrior.

Norma stands for everything that is gentle, kind, generous, caring and worthy. She was the doctor here in Hogsback for many years, caring for the sick and running an AIDS outreach. Even after she finally retired (after her initial attempt at retirement to Hogsback), she still remains totally invested in our little village as part of the executive board for our local outreach, Jikani, and as part of our Chapel lay preachers and pianists, as a friend, a wife and a mother to all.

Silke's poem for Norma says it all:



For a text copy of Silke's poem, download it from here: goo.gl/KgChgf 

Norma read to us the story of when God created woman to remind us of our biggest flaw....

 

So, Norma, on your 70th celebration month, we can only say that you mean the world to us and that we appreciate you more than you can imagine! As you did not want to be honoured with presents and accolades, we would like to ask everybody to acknowledge you by making a donation to your hearts project, Jikani (www.jikani.com) at the following banking details:

FNB

Acc name: Jikani

Acc No: 62391132075

Branch: fort Beaufort / 210419

Reference: 70th

For all the photos from the event, see here: goo.gl/XQ6dts

Profile on David and Gill Williams

The next family to be introduced to the St Patrick’s congregation is the Williams family. We are very familiar with David Williams travelling up from Fort Beaufort to take the third Sunday service of the month at St Patrick’s. We are acquainted with his oft-made comments about fixing his car, the reason why he’s wearing that particular tie, especially the Welsh one, and about Gill’s disapproval of something he’s done. The congregation appreciates his conscientious preparation and his compelling presentation. He normally brings with him an item to illustrate his children’s message which is much enjoyed. His sermons are always clearly explained and backed with sound theological thinking as one would expect of a Professor of Theology. David certainly enriches St Patrick’s in a deep way. His past sermons can be sourced on the St Patrick’s Blogpage – they make for informative reading.    

David and Gill grew up in England. David's father was in the permanent airforce and so he moved around whereas Gill lived in Bath.  David read engineering at Cambridge University with particular reference to aircraft. He worked for the Royal Aircraft Establishment before going to Bath University to do a Diploma in Education and, by correspondence, a Diploma in Theology. Gill did a Certificate in Education at Salisbury College as part of Bristol University. She taught before going to the London Bible College where she acquired a Dip LBC and a Diploma in Theology. After a Wycliffe Linguistics course, they were married in 1970. They spent a spell of working as assistants at their church in Bath and working mornings at the City of Bath Boys’ School to support themselves.  In July 1971 they moved to Swaziland with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship. They taught at the Mankayane High School, one of only two Swazi schools that were teaching to Matric level. Their son, Paul, was born in Swaziland.

The mission transferred them to Durban where they did hospital visitation and supported the Africa Evangelical Fellowship churches. That was where David began his ministry to schools. They had a sabbatical in the UK where David went to the London Bible College to complete his Bachelor of Divinity and their daughter, Ruth, was born in the UK. Back in Durban they opened a ministry which became the Umhlanga Baptist Church, as a daughter of Durban North Baptist Church where they put their children into Sunday School. At this stage, Luke and then, Sara, were born. They also started planning to open a degree-level Bible College which has become the Bible Seminary in Pietermaritzburg. 

Because of the rioting it became impossible to continue working in the townships. While they were praying about their future, Sandown Union Church contacted them and they moved to Sandton for David to become the minister of that church. He contacted UNISA and started on his doctorate as well as continuing to take school assemblies, this time in Alexandria. Gill also started studying with UNISA to obtain a Bachelor of Theology.

David was taken seriously ill with a heart problem and after being hospitalised twice they were advised to leave the high veldt. David was unable to fly so they could not go home to England. They had no idea how they could get off the high veldt. Once again God worked and they had a very unexpected call asking David if he would be interested in a post lecturing Theology at Fort Hare University. They had to look for a map as they had no idea where Fort Hare was! In 1983 they moved to the Eastern Cape. David started visiting High Schools for assemblies in this area.

After the children were all at school Gill was offered a post teaching music at the Fort Beaufort High School but when her qualifications were evaluated she was told she was totally unqualified! She therefore stopped teaching and helped for a short while at the Baptist Bible Institute, Debi Nek.

Gill then went to Fort Hare University for a year and upgraded her qualifications by taking a Bachelor of Education Honours degree! Following that she decided to take a Master’s degree in education and also started to teach at Davidson School in Alice where she later became Deputy Head and then Principal. Gill was also a leader in Brownies and then Girl Guides as well as Sunday School and later Bible Class for teenagers. She was involved with the Christian movements in Fort Beaufort School, Winterberg and Wings Academy. She also ran a ladies Bible Study group and started a feeding scheme for children in the Fort Beaufort Township which, after 14 years, was taken over by the government social services.

After Gill and David retired he was asked to be the temporary minister of St John's United Church in Fort Beaufort. Temporary has stretched to 8 years so far!

We thank Gill for this profile of her family, we are grateful for the considerable way St Patrick’s is enriched by David’s preaching – perhaps Gill will play the piano on occasions - and we express our deepest condolences to the family on the premature passing of their son, Luke. How wonderful that the Williams family has crossed our paths.

St Patick’s Chapel Congregation Profiles 2018: The Keeses

This year, 2018, has started with trying to get to know one another a little better. We are aiming to do profile features of our Chapel's congregants and supporters, as well as the wonderful clergy and laymen (woman) who liven up our chapel life and inspire us to be better and be more loving members of our community! We will from time to time ask for input and photos, to make sure that we tell the whole story of our profiled community members. Trevor has enthusiastically volunteered to put the profiles together, elaborate thereon (in his role as historian and storyteller of note) and then pass it on to be featured here on our Chapel blog site.  Our  first St Patrick family to be featured is the Keese family, who has been outstanding as an example of family unity and support within our little Chapel community!!

The Keese family consists of Mark a farmer/entrepreneur, his wife,  Grace, more affectionately known as Tippie , and their three gorgeous daughters, Chane a third-year student in the Arts/Law Faculty at Rhodes University, Christean and Kathleen, pupils at Lillyfontein in East London. Tippie is also the esteemed principal of  Davidson School in Alice.

The Keese family plays an invaluable role at St Patrick’s. Tippie is a significant member of the Chapel Council and organised Xhosa services for many years with Harold Mrashula as preacher. The family takes sidesman duty for two months of the year when they host services and the girls bake goodies and make tea while the adults greet visitors – what a model arrangement!

Tippie grew up in Cradock as a loving member of the Moolman family and keeps in contact with her two sisters, on occasions going on holiday together. She became a teacher in Cathcart where she met the young Mark Keese, son of the Alice Magistrate (his mother stayed with them for many years).  They courted and got married in Jeffrey’s Bay where they have a house. They have been married for 24 years and live happily in Hogsback along with their many dogs, chickens, geese, pigs, goats, sheep and cows. The children have grown up looking after animals and being
close to nature. At one stage they ran a shop and have a self-catering cottage – so they are busy, or Tippie is! The family spend a lot of time bonding together and love outdoor activities.  For a birthday party you’ll find the family out in the veld braaing together.  They laugh a lot, are grateful for their many blessings, dream big, create memories, never give up and love one another. No wonder that the Keese family are a model family at St Patrick’s – they attend services when they can and always lower the age-level. They are faithful, sincere and outspoken.

Thank you Keeses for enriching St Patrick’s with your presence and your love for life. You are a blessing to us. 

Trevor Webster

Chapel Warden