Inspiring legacy of Helen Vintcent
The 50 Club committee, Mossel Bay:
Our club was started on 3 October 1993 by Helen Vintcent on her 50th birthday, hence the name “50 Club”.
Helen arrived in Mossel Bay as a 24-year-old bride to her beloved husband, Mike.
They settled down and had three lovely children.
Helen was not sure what she would do in Mossel Bay, but as her children grew, she saw needs and requirements for parents with growing children. It did not take her long to realise there was a need for a creche and she and her contacts started “Busy Bees” for little children.
Helen realised young children needed to learn how to swim and subsequently the Vintcent children were thrilled with the new swimming pool in their garden and Helen started swimming lessons. With the population of Mossel Bay increasing, Helen saw the need for a new English school and before long the Cape St Blaize (now Curro) school was started.
Helen continued with her estate agency business and got involved in various projects in Mossel Bay. She once sold a guesthouse to a foreigner. Not knowing how business ran in South Africa, he soon found himself in trouble. This bothered Helen so much she bought the guesthouse back from him and ran it successfully.
Helen and Mike had no experience in the hospitality field, but they bought a restaurant and made a great success of this venture.
The 50 Club meets once a month at different venues. The aim of the club is to build friendships and for members to gain confidence, share talents and listen to various speakers. The monthly meeting gives the club members a date to diarise and look forward to.
When Helen's health started to fail, she asked Shirley Greig and Ros King to take over the running of the club. This they are still doing this and along with the club members they have ensured that the 50 Club has kept going.
In celebrating our 30th anniversary, there is a very happy 80-year-old angel looking down on the club she started all those years back.
A special thanks to our sponsors for making our 30th anniversary lunch such a memorable occasion. Also, thank you Peter Carse for taking the time to come and sing and play music for us.