Dr Allan James Desmond Williamson 1931 – 2017

WELL-known Kimberley veterinarian, Dr Allan James Desmond Williamson, passed away in the city last week.

Known as “Doc Des” to many, he died on Monday July 3 at the age of 86.

Williamson was born in Cathcart in 1931. He grew up in Durban, where he matriculated at Marist Brothers

College in 1948. He then studied at the Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, qualifying in 1955. He joined the Division of Veterinary Services, as a government veterinarian.

He started his veterinary practice in Milner Street, Kimberley, and earned the princely sum of one rand for his first consultation.

In the 1960s, while doing a house call, which was common for both veterinarians and doctors at that time, he was bitten by a rabid dog. He had to drive himself to Bloemfontein to receive intraperitoneal injections to prevent him from developing rabies.

During the outbreak of Rift Valley fever in the Northern Cape in 1974, he contracted the disease and became severely ill. According to his family, he still had antibodies to this disease when tested last year, more than 40 years after contracting the disease.

Williamson was the honorary veterinarian of the Kimberley SPCA for more than 50 years, and was on the management committee, volunteering extensively until January 2017, when he lost his beloved wife and his mobility became severely impaired.

After his retirement, he continued with his hobbies of photography and inventing things in his workshop. Williamson had also assisted his wife in setting up Tshepang, Place of Hope, in Galeshewe, as well as St Teresa’s Hospice. These hospice services were launched out of the original surgery office, located at the family home in Milner Street.

He was a devout Catholic, attending daily mass for many years at the Nazareth House chapel.

He leaves behind nine children, 20 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The requiem mass will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday at 2pm.