A different view on current affairs & history
Blogs on Port Elizabeth
Perhaps it was because the English speakers were strangers in a new land, that their entrepreneurial talents were unleased, but whatever it was, they displayed it in their many endeavours. One little known fact was the attempt to establish its own maritime defence. In this case , the explanation could plausibly have been the naval attack on the settlement in 1799 by the French which highlighted the colony’s vulnerability.
Main picture: Firefight involving the La Preneuse
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Better known as Darby, the Whaler, David Doit only appeared on the local whaling scene in the latter half of the 19th Century after having spent time in Grahamstown after his birth circa 1838. Doit obtained employment with the P.E. Boating Company as an oarsman and later promoted as a coxswain, a position that he held for nearly 30 years. It was during his extended stint as a crewmember of James Searle’s boat that his sailing skills were finely-honed.
Competition between rival firms was keen in those days and the crews used to spend hours on the Donkin watching for a whale to ‘blow’ in the Bay. As soon as one was spotted, there was a race to the beach in order to launch their boats and the first crew to harpoon a whale were handsomely paid by the owners.
Main picture: Painting by Thomas Baines of a surfboat being launched through the breakers
Continue readingThe Baldy Man was a TV comedy show in the late ‘90s featuring a balding, overweight buffoon who had a number of remarkable similarities to Trump and his presidency. Apart from the references to his weight, tonsorial insufficiency and his clownlike behaviour, there are other similarities such as:
They both sport ridiculous comb overs.
What they say is largely unintelligible.
The Baldy Man ran for two seasons with a gap of a few years between, similar to Trump’s terms.
They are both desperate about the image they project while routinely making fools of themselves.
They are bumbling figures who have strange facial expressions.
Like the Texan saying, all hat and no cattle, Trump is a poser projecting bigly success while actually failing in business. As such, the image that he projects verbally, as well as physically, is very important. So apart from the application of a fake tan, to give himself a healthy aura, and subtle blonde tinting, he sports an exuberant bouffant which he now swirls, whirls and teases into an extravagant confection as his hair has thinned and said adios amigo.
It’s game over for his comb over and he has had to resort to some exotic techniques only mastered by the few. His hairstyling now displays more complexity than his underlying brain (with the emphasis on lying). His latest offering caught on camera displays a 3-in-1 style featuring multiple partings and a comb over, a comb under and a comb around. The partings actually portray a heart shape. Who would have known he has a sensitive side unless it’s a love emoji to himself?
The buffoon and his bouffant.
Since Trump and his cabinet have struggled to settle on exactly why the USA has gone to war with Iran, perhaps the reason is mundane – simple jealousy. He’s jealous of Ayatollahs’ unlimited power and that they can conveniently hide their baldness under turbans. On second thoughts, perhaps the heart shape is actually his hopeful V for Victory sign.
Whatever the case, history has all but forgotten The Baldy Man and we are counting the days until we can say goodbye to Trump with his awfully scripted and ham-acted reality show featuring a coterie of clowns in the Oh Bother, House.
According to the book Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the End of 1945, the Union Boating Company was formed in February 1865. The chairman and directors were Joseph Simpson, J.H. Clark, G.C. Smith, C.T. Jones and F.S. Fairbridge and the Superintendent was James Searle. The company purchased the stock of E.B. Wheatland and leased the building used by him, and others adjoining and being built behind, between Commerce and North Union Streets.
Main picture: James Searle
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Like all immigrants internationally, their initial priority was to make a living. For most waves of immigration to South Africa this was the least of their concerns as they were part of an organised importation scheme; the Indians in Natal to the sugar cane fields, the Chinese to the underground gold mines on the Witwatersrand and the English Settlers to the Eastern Cape border regions. The Chinese in Port Elizabeth were an exception to that rule. Being overwhelmingly single and without a family they probably initially relied upon the settled Chinese to survive. In a strange land with little understanding of English, they resorted to the time honoured tradition in order to overcome communication barriers viz sign language
Main picture: Chinese general dealers store in Dassiekraal circa 1920
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Historically South Africa has always experienced segregation except that with the accession to power of the National Party in 1948 separation in all facets of one’s life was now governed by its own separate and restrictive legislation. Amongst the avalanche of legislation in the early years of Nationalist rule was one law that mandated the separation of beaches by the local councils.
This is the story of the ascendance of beach segregation and its ultimate demise.
Main picture: Map of segregated beaches along Port Elizabeth’s coast
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Available through:
Fogarty’s Books – Port Elizabeth
Alan Montgomery – PE Sales 084 981 8491
Dean McCleland – Non-PE Sales 083 801 5446
PE of Yore Volume 1 Defying the Odds – Limited stock
All societies consist of their fair share of ne’er-do-wells, addicts, cheats and liars. Others with no such character flaws become engulfed in such destructive behaviours due to not overcoming life’s challenges. The calamities that befall them comprise the kaleidoscope of events such as the loss of a child, serious injury or collapse of one’s business. In all probability the Chinese of Port Elizabeth were no more or less guilty of engaging in such destructive behaviours. For the most part, the bulk of the Chinese population was law abiding and industrious citizens to boot.
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Over my life of 72 years, I have witnessed this building slowly crumble and fade away. Now little more than a pile of bricks, my memory was pricked after 40 years after relocation to Joburg when a Mrs. Charlotte Brunette surprised me with a photo of an oil painting of this building. Now yet another piece of the giant PE puzzle has found its niche in the mosaic.
Main picture: Church on Kragga Kamma-AI Enhanced
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Originally published in the Illustrated London News dated 9th July 1881, this article contrasts the original buildings in Main Street with that of the Standard Bank which they use as the marker for the latest buildings. This a verbatim copy of that article.
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