Geo Parkes and Sons one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary celebrations

GEO PARKES AND SONS SPOKESPERSON THE celebrations arranged to mark the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the Company by Mr. George Parkes took place from Tuesday 14th February to Sunday 19, and were many and varied.

Valentine tea: The firm Geo Parkes and Sons were the sponsors together with K & S Consultants for a Valentine Tea for the residents at Loeriehof Home for Senior Citizens. Advertised as being the medium for a fascinating talk by Mrs Margaret Parkes, one of Knysna’s most senior, and historically knowledgeable people on the Knysna she has known over the years many people tickets. Comments after her talk spoke of her fascinating knowledge and her ability to connect with her audience. It was voted excellent, and in keeping with her reputation for super teas after Yacht Club Races. The Company wanted to their appreciation to the elder citizens of the Town who had helped to build the Town and hence their company. The proceeds were donated to Loeriehof.

Anniversary dinner: The Company sponsored a formal dinner at the Knysna Yacht Club for the Directors, Shareholders, Family, Customers and Friends. The elegant dining room at the Club was a fine setting for this celebration dinner, which was opened with an address by the Chairman of Geo Parkes and Sons, Mr Ivor Morgan. He sketched the history behind the formation of the company, and provided anecdotes of the career of the Managing Director, Mr Jim Parkes, who had joined the family firm after an accounting career at the Argus Group. Jim followed with a review of the state of the company, and dwelt upon the family feeling engendered amongst all the employees, some who had over 50 years of service. All toasted the company and its future.

Tree planting: The firm Geo Parkes and Sons has always promoted the timber industry in the area as being a fine tradition and way of life for many of the Town’s citizens, enabling them to earn a living in a delightful environment. Saddened by the number of the old oak trees of the Town having died and was part of their 125th anniversary celebrations , they decided to donate 100 trees to the Knysna Municipality , as part of their 125th Anniversary celebrations, they felt they should donate 100 trees to the Knysna Municipality. A variety of indigenous trees which stood 2 metres tall in their planter bags, was donated to the Parks and Gardens team to be planted with 6 trees tree in the Memorial Gardens / Templeman Square area to begin the project. Thereafter they moved to the original management officers of the Company in George’s Street, for the opening of the Parkes Family Museum. The day ended with a braai for Family, Shareholders and employees at the Company farm Hoogekraal next to the Swartrivier .

Launching the training vessel: For the past 20 years the Company Geo Parkes and Sons has assisted the Local Sea Cadet Unit. The Sea Cadets seek to provide young people with lifeskills in an atmosphere of maritime discipline, while having “serious fun”. The company felt that this was a very worthy cause, and over the years have assisted with providing all the knotty pipe ceiling timber to do the ceilings and wall panels of the units 6 new compartments, with the restoration of three EX SA Navy oared cutters, and the restoration of an EX SA Navy “THREE-in-one” Whaler, one of only two left in South Africa.

This help culminated in sponsoring the restoration of a twin masted gaff rigged sailing vessel, which took the Cadets 11 months to restore, and was launched by the Chairman and the Managing Director of Geo Parkes and Sons, Ivor Morgan and Jim Parkes on Saturday 18 February. She was blessed, with all her crews to come, by the Venerable Colin Paine of St George’s Church, and was named the Training Ship Eriksen by Mrs Margaret Parkes to honour the man who has spent 25 years in the service of Knysna Sea Cadets. The launching took place before Rear Admiral Theo Honiball, President of the Sea Cadet Association, and Rear Admiral Koos Louw, Chairman of the Sea Cadet Company.

The stained glass window: The Parkes family, having been associated with the timber industry for 125 years, and being loyal members of the congregation at St. George’s Anglican Church, wanted to donate a stained glass window to St. George to fill a blank wall behind the pulpit. The theme selected Joseph, the Carpenter, father of Jesus Christ.

He is shown holding the infant Jesus, with tools of his work as carpenter, while watched from the side by the Virgin Mother Mary.

The window is mounted in a wooden frame to echo the stone surroundings of the other windows, and is equipped with lighting from behind to show the glorious stained glass colours.

During the service on Sunday 19th, the actual anniversary day, the lights were switched on by Mrs Margaret Parkes , Jim and George Parkes, after the blessing by Father Collin Paine. There was an admiring gasp and applause from the very large congregation.