NORDEN’S AND THE COCK HOUSE CLOSE RUNNING AND JUMPING

After trading for 31 years as an accommodation establishment and restaurant, The Cock House and Norden’s Restaurant at the corner of George and Market Streets in Sunnyside closed their doors for business yesterday. Twelve staff members were retrenched in the process.

The businesses were originally owned and run by Peter and Belinda Tudge, before Peter Tudge died in 2003.

CENTENARY FACELIFT

Sole Memorial Methodist Church, across High Street from the former Grand Hotel and across Campbell Street from the former Dick’s Bakery, is currently undergoing renovations and repainting ahead of its centenary celebrations. Also on the receiving end of a facelift is the historic Shaw Hall next door.

DAM REPAIRS DELAYED

Makana Municipality’s plumbing unit was due to commence repairs at Howiesonspoort dam at the weekend, according to a statement released on Sunday. The work could not start earlier due to excessive pressure on the pipeline. The municipality also stated that night water restrictions still apply between 8pm and 4am “in order to ensure equitable supply on a daily basis”.

While the high-level and low-level reservoirs are currently standing at 100%, Botha’s Hill 2 reservoir is 90% and the Intermediate Reservoir 2 is at 80%. The other reservoirs are “not in a healthy state”, according to the municipal statement.

NEW CENTRE TAKING SHAPE

Graeme College is hopeful that the new R5,5-million indoor centre presently under construction on its campus will be operational in November this year, and that the official opening will be held over Founders’ Weekend on March 3 and 4 in 2023.

The building, situated at the northern end of Somerset field, comprises a multipurpose sports area, gym area, two team rooms, change rooms/showers and an area for physical education.

A Graeme spokesperson said: “It is such a great addition to the campus as we celebrate our 150th year. It is also a statement of where we are as a school with regards to starting the next 150 years.”

The starter’s pistol signalled the beginning of Graeme College’s annual athletics day on Somerset field shortly before 8am today, and the sprinting, jumping and throwing continues until lunchtime. The 2021 event saw Hutton winning the interhouse competition with 707 points, followed by Wiles (674), Vernal (585) and Neilson (533).