Fitting send-off for local surfing legend
Macgregor remembered for giving, adventurous spirit
The Port Alfred community came out in droves at Kelly’s Beach on Sunday March 10 to pay their final tributes in the form of a paddle out, to late surfing champion and Shaka Surf school and Surf Lodge founder, Dave Macgregor.
Macgregor a former journalist, whose passion for surfing was legendary, died while out surfing at Kelly’s Beach just over two weeks ago.
“Dave died doing what he loved doing,” said Kowie Boardriders chair Mickey Wittuhn, as family, friends, and surfers stood in circle formation on the shoreline. Tears flowed freely as sons, Cuan, 26, and Kye, 20, and their mom, stood with heads bowed listening to the tributes that followed.
An assortment of hibiscus flowers clasped in mourners’ hands and flapping in the slight breeze, was a poignant reminder that the community had been deeply moved by Macgregor’s loss.
“We are here because of the Macgregor clan. Our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathies on the passing of Dave Macgregor,” said Wittuhn. “Dave went the way I think all of us would love to go without having to suffer.
“Your life on earth becomes complete, so we make a circle, [on the beach] as Dave goes on to the next phase. When we paddle out to sea and make a circle again. We acknowledge and show respect to someone who was one with the ocean,” Wittuhn said.
Wittuhn read out Dave’s favourite poem: A Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski. “This [poem] reminds me of Dave 100%,” Wittuhn said.
A friend who grew up with
Macgregor in the 1980s, surfing Durban beaches, and who introduced himself only as “Rocky” continued the tributes, saying it was a “sad day” for all who were close to him.
“Dave was pretty down to earth and outgoing. We formed a bond at Durban’s South Beach, where I was waitering at the time. Dave would come to my place for a day which led to a week and maybe perhaps a month.
“From there we used to go surfing at South Beach and it was Dave who helped hone my surfing abilities.”
“Dave was an SA schools surfing champ and also represented KZN at a very young age. We used to catch trains from the old Durban Station to Port Shepstone. On route we used to jump off the train while it was still moving with our board bags and go hang out and surf Greenpoint.
“We had a most amazing time there, eating bread, chips bunny chows; anything that came in to our paws really.
Rocky recalled with fondness that as they got “slightly older” how the surfing adventures continued.
“We used to go to Ronnies and Club Med and sometimes from there jump into our vehicles with surfboards on the
roof. We surfed six foot barrels and it was just all about loving life. All I could remember is punching through the waves and seeing this massive dude [Macgregor] bottom-turning and the board fins as he launched it sky-high.
“He was a passionate surfer and committed to the ocean,” Rocky said.
“We also went to house parties and used to come home with loads of food and stock it in the freezer; so we always had food. As the years went on Dave studied journalism at the local technikon and his career skyrocketed from there.
“Dave then went on to start a beautiful life in Port Alfred where I know his sons, Kye and Cuan will continue to move his legacy forward.
“The Macgregor family will always stand strong and will always be part of my heart Dave is always with us,” Rocky said.
Former domestic helper Gladys Nyati delivered a poignant message on the shoreline saying: “It never felt like I worked for David it was like I worked with him.
“He had a pure heart. He was a man who loved everybody. He loved his family, and loved his children. I stayed with Dave and his family for a long time and I went together with him, Jill and family to places like Cape Town and Port St Johns,” Nyati said.
“I miss coming to the surf with David. Dave would take all of us to the
beach every day raining, not raining, we are there. Dave was like my brother. He loved my children. He paid my daughter’s school fees at Port Alfred High, and I did not have to pay a cent.”
Nyati said she was shocked when David went out to buy her a car. “He came to me one day and said, ‘here is your car’ and he didn’t even ask me if I had a licence and I didn’t have one,” she said to laughter.
“Dave and family always gave what they had. Thank you.”
The throng of surfers took to the water to begin their paddle out where they held hands in circle formation out at sea while hundreds watched from the shoreline. Once the circle was formed and after more tributes followed, they splashed water upwards in to the air in symbolic gesture that Macgregor’s circle of life had ended on earth.
Dave went the way I think all of us would love to go without having to suffer