DIARISE THIS

The MOTHS Battleaxe Shellhole has re-started its functions as follows: Monthly meetings: second Sunday of the month, 11am to 12 noon. Monthly social bring ‘n braai: fourth Sunday of the month, 12 noon onward. All ex-servicemen and their families are most welcome. Annual Remembrance Parade dates will be announced. Contact numbers: 082-454-5868 or 083-325-0000 or 060-881-1791.

Every first Tuesday of the month. The Lower Albany Woodworkers Guild meets at various venues at 5:30 for 6pm. All visitors and those interested in woodworking are welcome to attend. For further information contact the Chairman at 082-771-0009 or the Secretary at 066-037-7985

Third Sunday of every month SA Legion hosts a lunch at Port Alfred Country Club, 12 noon for 12.30pm. R30 per person. All welcome.

1820’s Golf every Monday and Thursday at 8:30 sharp. 1820’s Golf at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club. A 13 hole round of social and friendly golf played off the blue tees. No bookings required.

Every Monday at 9.30am and every Wednesday at 10am Healing Horses Therapeutic Centre 15km on the R72 just after Riet River. Visitors and prospective volunteers welcome. For further information and/or directions call 078-346-5412.

Every Monday at 5.15pm Club Netball – Mixed teams at the PAHS netball courts. Everyone is welcome to play. Call Johaliza on 083-306-9882 for more info.

Tuesday to Saturday Kowie Museum open, 9.30am to 12.30pm, old station building next to police station. “The Historic Hub of Port Alfred ” . R20 adults, R10 children.

Every Wednesday from 2pm to 8pm Port Alfred Tennis Club. Everyone is welcome for social tennis and fellowship. A bring and braai after with cash bar available. Contact 082-329-3399 for more info.

Saturday May 7 Port-Pate-Piano-Poetry-Paintings-Pirouette-Petals at Royal St Andrews Hotel, 6.30pm for 7pm. Enjoy port in the courtyard surrounded by gorgeous sculptures, followed by a scrumptious 3-course meal and thrilling entertainment. Entry is R265 per person. Tickets available at KNA. For more info, call 046624-2036

Sunday 8 May A thanksgiving service to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Bathurst @ 11:00.

Sunday May 8 Shaw Park Country Club Family Fun Day. Cycle race 20km/40km, 12km trail run, 5km family run. Food and drinks, round robin tennis, pineapple toss, jumping castles, face painting. Fundraiser for Shaw Park Country Club and Shaw Park School.

Tuesday 10 May Probus Club of the Kowie meeting 9.30 for 10am at Venue R72 Saloon. Speaker: Brendan O’Sullivan. Title: Turning a Tragedy into Triumph. An amazing story from a man who has lived a full life.

Thursday May 12 University of the 3rd Age (U3A) meeting at Don Powis Hall, Settlers Park. Starts at 4pm for 4.30pm. Heather Howard will present “Nostalgia Unplugged: 60 Years in the Kowie”. All welcome. Meeting Fee: R5 for members and R10 for visitors. Contact Gwynn 083-6785050

GOOD TIMES IN THE GARDENS

Weather-wise it was a lovely morning in the Makana botanical gardens last Saturday, and 59 runners, joggers and walkers took to the winding and undulating pathways for their weekly dose of parkrun.

First four finishers in the men’s division were Micky Oscar (1st), Jonathan Gouws (2nd), N’lamwai Chithambo (3rd) and Tonderai Musarurwa (4th).

In the ladies’ division the first four were Daniella McLean (1st), Carol Jones (2nd), Christen Puffett (3rd) and Catherine Deiner (4th).

Personal best times (PBs) were achieved by Micky Oscar, Jonathan Gouws, Christen Puffett, Nelson Odei-Addo, Siposetu Krutani, Lungiswa Vithi, Vivian Muponda and Keagan Berriman. Meanwhile, Martina de Lange has one parkrun to go to her 50th. Parkruns are held at 8am each Saturday from the entrance to the botanical gardens in Lucas Avenue.

PREPARING FOR EXPO

With the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists (Makhanda Region) planned for August this year, organisers held a workshop in the Monument last week, attended by 115 pupils from 18 schools in and around Makhanda. An Eskom Expo spokesperson said: “It’s promising to be a good year as we return to a physical regional expo in August.”

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

Despite several attempts to rectify the situation at the really bad potholed intersection of Market and George Streets, it is back to square one, it seems. There are potholes big and small all over the place once again, plus crumbling tar, making for a really awful ride.

PAIRS WIN TITLES

Makhanda bowlers emerged victorious in both divisions when the Eastern Areas men’s and ladies’ bowls pairs finals were contested at Grahamstown Bowling Club last week.

Rina Goosen and Louise Vincent of the host club won the Eastern Areas ladies’ pairs title when they beat Judy Alexander and Helise Hattingh of the Kowie club in the final.

It was an all Albany Bowling Club affair in the men’s pairs final, and in the end it was the pairing of Clive Bartlett and Billy Krige who defeated Peter Heynes and Denville ‘TJ’ McLean.

USED VEHICLES

If you’re looking for Settler City Motors’ used vehicle division, you’ll find it at the corner of Beaufort Street and Bartholomew Street, across the road from the Shell fuel station. The used vehicle showroom is all glassed-in and is a smart addition to what can be termed “Makhanda’s Motortown”.

NOT TO BE CONFUSED

Visitors to the city often enquire of locals, “How did The Cock House accommodation establishment get its name?”

According to the coffee-table book “Grahamstown Reflected”, authored by Emily O’Meara, it was named after its third owner, 1820 Settler William Cock, developer of the harbour at Port Alfred. A more recent owner, distinguished author Andre Brink, restored the building in the 1970s.

DATED GABLE

Here’s wondering how many local residents have noticed, or taken notice of, the dates appearing on several of Makhanda’s CBD buildings.

For instance, on the northern side of Church Square is what was once known as the Mutual Building at 65-71 High Street, across the lane from Makana Tourism’s offices. Appearing on its gable is the date “1901”. Back in the 1960s the building was occupied by SA Mutual Life Assurance Society, Perseverance Building Society, AR Whiteley & Co Chartered Accountants, Miss Ruby Price

(chiropodist) and Eric Turpin (Grahamstown correspondent for the EP Herald).

These days the tenant is Legal Aid South Africa, and its address is Legal Aid House on Church Square.

LONG TIME AT THE KEYS

In “Grahamstown Reflected”, published in 1995, Emily O’Meara devotes a chapter to local churches. In the section dealing with Christ Church in Speke Street in the “garden suburb” of Oatlands, O’Meara writes that the church’s organ “has a particularly sweet tone and bears a wooden plaque commemorating Beryl Mackay who served faithfully as organist for 50 years from 1915 to 1965”.