The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Algoa Flying Club

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 22 May 2024 0 Comment

Algoa Flying Club, including Algoa Flight Training Division, finds its roots before the 2nd World war when the Port Elizabeth Aero Club was formed in 1929, training pilots on Tiger Moths. The club was reformed 26 November 1956 as the Algoa Flying Club, named after Algoa Bay on the coast of which the city is situated.

The first Wings Parade for 12 student pilots was held in November 1957. This makes the Algoa Flying Club one of the oldest and most established Flying Schools in South Africa.

A SMAC in the Face #71: What a Bunch of Puckers

By Blaine McCleland in Jokes 18 May 2024 0 Comment

Like a badly scripted scene from a low rent remake of the Godfather, all the consiglieri and foot soldiers of the Don’s grime family this week grovelled and debased themselves. They attended his hush money trial on Tuesday and Thursday to pay allegiance to him and to pucker up and kiss his ring … and not the ring on his finger either.

Main picture: The head of the Trumpolino grime family, the Don snr, giving his inverse raccoon glare before proceedings.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: James Edward Bruton-An early photographer

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 16 May 2024 0 Comment

Invented in 1816, the first device that we recognize as a camera, was created by Joseph Niépce. The camera swiftly attracted devotees and rapidly spread across the world. In the Cape Colony, James Bruton was amongst the first photographers practicing the art of photography in Port Elizabeth shortly after its introduction. William Ring might have been the first practitioner in the nascent field in Port Elizabeth, but James Bruton was more prolific.

This blog mainly covers James’s life but it does also provide several snippets on this family.

Main picture: Thomas and Charlotte Bruton, the parents of the photographer James Edward Bruton

A SMAC in the Face #70: Binary Logic – The Gender Agenda

By Blaine McCleland in Jokes 14 May 2024 0 Comment

I observed the recent Eurovision song contest with a passing interest much like one would when passing a traffic accident – mildly curious and glad not to be involved in any way. Like many modern music shows and videos, it seemed to be overly sexualised and ever since ABBA won with Waterloo in 1974 it joins a long line of immemorable Eurovisions. Another thing that stood out for me was that there seemed to be a disproportionate number of artists identifying as non-binary which led me to dig out a SMAC which I wrote in 2022 but never got around to drawing a picture for. In a spurt of laziness, I did however dig out an image from a MAD magazine of my boomer youth as a fig leaf for its nudity.

A MAD magazine take on Star Wars with Luke Skywalker walking into some galactic bar

Our Presidents: Past, Present and Possibly Future, Compared

By Blaine McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 9 May 2024 0 Comment

With election fever coursing through South Africa, there are many hack actors bedevilling the melodrama that constitutes SA politics. Overseeing this all is the spirit of Madiba who most still hold dear. Many try to bask in his reflected glory and humanity by claiming a bit for themselves. However, few are worthy.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Swimming at the Breakwater

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 May 2024 0 Comment

Cynics in the 1800s probably referred to Port Elizabeth as the Port without a Harbour as Algoa Bay was devoid of any artefact commonly used by or forming a part of a functioning harbour. But as export volumes rapidly ramped up, the demand for a harbour became crucial. As a bare minimum, a breakwater was essential so that ships could seek refuge inside the breakwater during inclement weather. Finally, a proposal in 1855 gained acceptance. With construction almost complete, at the beginning of 1866, the Harbour Board provided a swimming place for men beneath the shield.

Whereas the Harbour Board was of the belief that the provision of a safe swimming place would receive affirmation and acclamation instead it was the object of criticism. How did such a kind generous offer devolve into its antithesis?

Main picture: The newly constructed breakwater at the mouth of the Baakens River

Port Elizabeth of Yore: James Brister

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 1 May 2024 0 Comment

Unlike many Settlers to South Africa, upon arrival James Brister did a tour of inspection and was favourably impressed with the country to make it his home. As Port Elizabeth was likely to become a large commercial town, he commenced business there in a small way as an importer and manufacturer of furniture.

Today many pieces of antique furniture extant in Port Elizabeth bear the tag James Brister on them.

Main picture: James Brister

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Great expectations but uninviting facade

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 27 April 2024 0 Comment

Like many mariners, settlers and visitors before him, JM could not suppress his dismay when Port Elizabeth came into focus. Instead of the anticipated forest of trees and lush vegetation, all that JM could discern was a stony hill without greenery of any sort rising sharply from the shoreline. As he sat down to record his experiences that night, the word uninviting came to his mind.

On the morrow when he would explore the town, any misapprehensions about this town would be dispelled. Any and all misconceptions would also be cast aside.

This blog is a brief extract of JM’s journal who, for personal reasons, desired anonymity. Hence the use of the initials JM. The period covered was late 1881 up to March 188.

Main picture: Market Square in 1896

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Rivalries and Competing Visions

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 26 April 2024 0 Comment

Systems, towns, people and religions do not operate in a vacuum. Rivalries and competing visions form the cornerstone of civilisation, and so it was for the infant town of Port Elizabeth. Competing interests without the best interests of this struggling Bay at heart, sought to create an environment advantageous to themselves. One of these competing visions was the most suitable location of the proposed harbour on the Eastern Province coast.

This contestation, which forms the focus of this blog, could rather have been titled “The Tale of Two Harbours” but as I have already dealt extensively with development of PE’s harbour, the focus now will predominantly be on the Kowie Harbour..

Main picture: Kowie River with sailing boats of yore

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Poor White Problem – 1920 to 1960

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 19 April 2024 0 Comment

Port Elizabeth has experienced phenomenal population growth spurts on a two occasions: first the Afrikaner influx and relocation from the platteland and then there was the migration of the Blacks. The consequences of unbridled migration for both communities were catastrophic in terms of nutrition, accommodation and general living conditions. Being English speaking and white to boot, I was blissfully unaware of the devastation, havoc and suffering that this enormous influx created until much later in life.

In 1904, immediately after the Anglo Boer War, the Afrikaner was a scare commodity in Port Elizabeth. Representing roughly 3.9% of the white population, they were virtually a ghost community lacking Afrikaans schools and churches. By 1960, this situation had been reversed with the Afrikaans schools and churches – numbering 13 NG churches – being operational.

The focus of this blog is white poverty as a consequence of over-rapid population growth, lack of education and marginalisation.

Main picture: Demolishing slum dwelling in Korsten in 1903