Makhanda with SID PENNEY festival city
The city is renowned for its educational institutions, for being the national seat of the judiciary and for its cultural events
BEARING GIFTS
For the 70th year, carols by candlelight sees the light when the Rotary Club of Grahamstown presents the nativity play and singing of carols in the cathedral from 6pm on Tuesday November 28.
Taking to the stage in the cavernous cathedral on Church Square will be Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, three wise men bearing gifts, angels, shepherds, sheep, donkeys and the obligatory crib.
Carols will most likely include all the old-time favourites like Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
The adults and children attending are asked to bring toys for distribution to needy children, while cash proceeds will go to vulnerable children at local schools.
REMEMBERING
There were poignant moments aplenty when the Makanakop Shellhole of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (Moths) staged the Remembrance Day parade on Church Square a fortnight ago.
There were moments to remember, moments to reflect, moments to consider what is happening in the world today, as proceedings were conducted in a dignified manner under the watchful eye of the cathedral spire to the one side and the City Hall tower to the other side.
The pomp and ceremony, as one person termed it, was once widely known as Poppy Day. And Moths and the smartly-attired boys and girls of the St Mary’s Day Care Centre scout group were wearing their poppies.
During World War 1, much of the fighting took place in Western Europe and the countryside was blasted repeatedly.
While previously beautiful landscapes around Flanders became bleak and barren scenes, the resilient bright red Flanders poppies flourished.
The poppies making an appearance on blazers and shirts at this year’s parade took the writer’s thoughts back a few decades when groups of ladies gathered in homes across town to make the red, black and green-stemmed flowers using crinkle paper, thin wire and patience.
During proceedings a fortnight ago, Moths stood just metres away from the St Andrew’s College pipe band, one of whose members, piper Chris Terry, played The Lament during the laying of wreaths.
Having made his first appearance in the band in 1963 as a pupil at St Andrew’s, Terry has announced his retirement after scores of appearances at Remembrance Day parades.
Among the Moths present on the square were Old Bill Andrew Kirk, standard bearer for the umpteenth time John van Rensburg, Ben Bezuidenhout and his trumpet, playing The Last Post and Reveille, co-ordinator Milanda Coetzer, Sergeant Major Basil Mills and scout group trainer Steven Mills.
The St Andrew ’ s pipe band and guard of honour platoons took up different positions this year, the band in front of the memorial and the drill groups on the southern side of Church Square.
Wreaths were laid at the foot of the World War l memorial by a host of local citizens, from school principals, pupils, a lone policewoman, two military officers
and members of other organisations.
Makana mayor Yandiswa Vara and councillor Brian Jackson were there too, walking up to the memorial without a wreath, nodding their heads and making their way back to their places.
Nearby was the Kingswood College concert band with a full array of instruments — flute, clarinet, saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone), trumpet, French horn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, drum kit, timpani, bass drum, glockenspiel and a gong.
Meanwhile, former Grahamstonian David Stevens, now living along the Garden Route, writes as follows. “Reading about the Remembrance Sunday service in Church Square brought back vivid recollections of ‘church parades’, as they were called, when I was a pupil at Kingswood.
“The cadet corps (then comprising all the senior school pupils) marched down Napier Street, led by the marching band, across the now non-existent level crossing at the station and up High Street to Church Square.
“The square was filled with the bands and cadets of Kingswood College, St Andrew’s College, St Aidan’s College and Graeme College. And inevitably it drizzled on most occasions!”
There was a time, long ago it seems, that First City Regiment, Midland Commando and SA Police Service would also march onto the square and join the school bands and cadets.
GOOD VALUE
Here ’ s a message for golfers from Belmont Golf Club: “Play the Belmont on Friday, November 24 for only R100 — your pint round and of a 18 burger. holes”includes Bookings a are Castle essential Lite
WhatsApp Deon on 082-924-4797.
OUT AND ABOUT
The weather was perfect, the entry was good and 80 runners, joggers and walkers set off in the leafy couple of acres in Makana botanical gardens for their weekly dose of parkrun.
Kjetil Torp completed his 50th parkrun, Francois Hendrikz has one to go to his 150th, and Mike Weeks one to his 50th.
Recording personal best times were Anna Bloom, Ruva Chidziva, Amanda Masebeni, Zweli Mbenyana, Cathy Meiklejohn, Lauren Peinke, Andrew Rathbone, Edith Singini and Allessandra Wijtenburg.
Of course, parkruns throughout SA and indeed the world could not happen without the input of volunteers. Saturday ’ s helpers were Fey Caiger, Daniel and Nadia Czeredrecki-Schmidt, Liz Farquhar, Lawrence Ferreira, John Haydock, Andiswa (Codie) Kaule-Nyakotyo, Cathy Meiklejohn, Connie Mokwena, Tonderai Musarurwa, Peter Stockwell, Wayne Tammadge and Mikaela Webber.
Parkruns are held at 8am each Saturday from the entrance to the botanical gardens in Lucas Avenue.
MONUMENTAL MOSAIC
Prestige School of Dance presents Mosaic, a showcase of dance, in the Rehearsal Room at the Monument on Friday November 24 (6pm). Tickets are R80 (adults) and R60 (children). For more info, phone Nicole on 082-365-5526.
OPEN IN THE VALLEY
The winning twosome of the Settler City Toyota Belmont Open at Belmont Golf Club on Saturday November 25 will be awarded the Viv Jordan floating trophy. The betterball stableford will be followed by live music by Greg Short plus an auction.
BAZAAR IN HILL
The ACVV Senior Citizens’ centre at 2A Hill Street holds a bazaar from 9am to 2pm on Saturday November 25, and the usual fare will be on offer, including cakes, pancakes, boerewors rolls, plants, toys, clothing and odds ‘n’ ends.
NEW TENANTS
It was drizzling moments prior to the start of the Remembrance Day parade on Church Square the other day, and the writer took cover on the veranda of the pillared building that once housed Standard Bank.
He peeped inside and noticed the new tenants of the immaculatelyrefurbished interior are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
MAKE THIS MARKET YOUR TARGET
It’s almost time for the legendary Christmas market to take place in the PJ Olivier school hall on the hill from Wednesday November 29 to Saturday December 2. Times for the first three days are 10am-7pm and for the Saturday from 9am-3pm. The emphasis is on gifts, but there’s also a coffee shop and stalls selling sweet treats, clothing, food and more.
ECHOES
The Music Society of Makhanda presents
Send your news of local events and achievements, or of any issues you might be having to
Echoes of Mozart, Garreth Robertson’s PhD recital in the Beethoven Room in Somerset Street on Friday December 8 at 7pm.
Featured musicians are Robertson (piano), Sharon de Kock (violin), JanHendrik Harley (viola), Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello) and Mariechen Meyer (double bass).
Tickets are R100 each (adults), R80 (pensioners) and R50 (students), while there’s no charge for society season ticket holders and school goers.
FIVE IN THE TEAMS
St Andrew’s College players selected for the EP cricket teams are Matthew Beamish, Sibusiso Mxube and Matthew Poole in the EP U19 team, and William Beamish and Samuel Scheckter in the EP U16 side.
ANDERSONS LIVED HERE
There were several Andersons living in Grahamstown in the 1800s, and Anderson Street running parallel with and within 40m of the railway station platform, could well have been named after one or more of them. George, Robert and William Anderson were settler carpenters, Alexander Anderson was a resident in 1836 and Henry Anderson was manager of SA London Bank in 1877.
IN THE TEAMS
St Andrew’s College players selected for provincial tennis teams are Cameron Bennett, Qhawe Mbetshu and Karabo van Heerden (Eastern Cape Aloes U19), Jacques du Toit and Lourens Coetzee (Synergy U19A team), and Joshua Stapylton-Smith (Synergy U19B team. The Synergy Cup tournament will be held in George in March 2024.
NINE IN THE TEAMS
Graeme College players selected for EP cricket teams are Aphiwe Mnyanda (EP U19), Luphelo Mdyesha (EP U16A, captain), Rhys Wiblin (EP U16A), Zuko Pontshi (EP U16A), Connor Holder (EP U13A), Caleb Jattiem (EP U13A), Ashton Burger (EP U13B), Iyazi Zwedela (EP U13B) and Bukho Hoboshe (EP U11A).
ICED BUTTER
Makana Municipality posted on social media last week there had been a breakin at the Butter and Ice sub-station, leading to a power outage. Some residents may well wonder where this sub-station is situated.
It’s up there just above the Kingswood College campus, in the Currie Street/Carnarvon Street area.
Grahamstown Butter & Ice Factory, managed back in the 1960s, 1970s and maybe even later by Keith Craig, had its factory, offices and factory shop at 2 Froude Street, which runs parallel with Frere Street. Besides butter and ice, what else did Grahamstown Butter & Ice make in the factory and sell in the shop?
Incidentally, Grahamstown Farmers’ Dairy had its premises behind Butter & Ice, at 6A Frere Street.