The Casual Observer

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Strand Street Mosque

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 15 April 2022 0 Comment

Amongst the earliest inhabitants of Port Elizabeth, was a group of Muslims foremost amongst whom was one, Fortuin Weys, of which the following has been written:

But the most famous entrepreneur was a Malay, Fortuin Weys, whose house was among the first to be built in Port Elizabeth, and who became one of the wealthiest residents of the town”.

The first mosque to be built in Port Elizabeth was the Grace Street Mosque to serve the growing Muslim community which previously had to travel to Uitenhage for Friday prayers. Hence it is the oldest mosque erected in Port Elizabeth. Another mosque, in close proximity to this one, would later be built viz the Strand Street Mosque

Main picture: The Strand Street Mosque. To imagine the scale of the building, imagine that a fully-grown man would only take half of the height of the front door.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Wicksteed – Engineer of the Van Stadens Water Scheme

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 13 April 2022 0 Comment

Port Elizabeth, like so many South African towns, suffered severe water shortages as it developed rapidly during the 19th century. Given the fact that the supply from the Frames Dam on the Shark River was inadequate, an additional dam had to be built post haste. Despite the urgency of the matter, it still took from took from the 28th June 1865 when the first petition was tabled in Parliament until 1877 id est 12 years later, before the Port Elizabeth Water Supply Act of 1877 was passed.

Given the fact that there was a paucity of suitable engineers in the Cape Colony, the first priority was to obtain one overseas.

This blogs covers the work and life of this respected but frail engineer.

Main picture: John Hamilton Wicksteed

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Forts at van Stadens during the Boer War

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 11 April 2022 3 Comments

The provision of water to Port Elizabeth from the Van Stadens River, 35 km west of the town, was first mooted in 1862. This was an ongoing process of development, the Upper Van Stadens Dam with its intake weir, filter beds and caretaker’s cottage being completed in 1893. Construction continued early in 1899 on the provision of a pump house, with engine and pumping weir, about 3 km downstream from the Upper Dam complex.

The Van Stadens Waterworks also played a significant role as Port Elizabeth’s main water supply during the Anglo Boer War (1899 – 1902). British reverses on both fronts during the ‘Black Week’ of 9 -15 December 1899 caused alarm and as a result, Port Elizabeth had decided to form a Town Guard in February 1900 to protect them.

Main picture: Fort at Van Stadens River

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Initial Impressions of Port Elizabeth on Arrival during the Early 1800s

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 10 April 2022 2 Comments

During the first 50 years of its existence, Port Elizabeth did not impress the new arrival. It was dusty and treeless with a barren and bleak hillside being rather uninviting and unwelcoming. Unfailingly these arrivees to Port Elizabeth would describe the town in rather negative insalubrious terms. It was only with the planting of trees on the Hill and St. George’s Park that the town discarded its inhospitable mien. Interestingly after finally leaving the town, they were extremely complimentary of the town and its people especially praising its enterprising zeal.

A number of such recollections have been gathered into this blog.

Main picture: The Landing Area

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Ructions with Uitenhage over Water

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 April 2022 0 Comment

By the 1860s the public’s demand for a reliable and adequate supply of water was vocal and persistent. In 1866 the Council mandated a Committee to investigate whether the flow rate from the van Stadens River would suffice for the town’s water need. In spite of clearing all the hurdles, the Council prevaricated. In 1874 it announced a new ploy: purloin Uitenhage’s supply. What’s not to like about that suggestion?

Main picture: Aerial photograph of the Nine Eyes of the Uitenhage Springs [Bob Binnell]

A SMAC in the Face #26: Putinocchio

By Blaine McCleland in Opinion Pieces 7 April 2022 1 Comment

Victory in war has many fathers but defeat is an orphan, is a truism of war. I wonder which of Putin’s Generals will see out the year, or Putin for that matter. Another truism is that the first casualty of war is the truth. That saying has been attributed to a variety of people ranging from Aeschylus around 550 BC – “God is not averse to deceit in a just cause” – through the more verbose Dr Samuel Johnson in 1758 – “Among the calamities of War may be justly numbered the diminution of the love of truth …” – to many others who got close to the modern cliché.

In the case of Russia’s attack on Ukraine the distortions of truth, the unashamed peddling of falsehoods and the ridiculous inversion of facts started long before the boundaries were actually crossed. In fact, they started before when Russia actively assisted Ukrainian separatists annex two regions in the east of Ukraine. Not all the whoppers in the cartoon are his, but, since he is the puppet master, they can all be attributed to him. It’s like classical paintings where experts find it difficult to distinguish between, say, a Rembrandt and one from the school of Rembrandt.

Whilst not the spittle-flecked rants of Hitler, anyone who has seen his rambling TV diatribes connecting dots from all over the place must wonder about his state of mind – no wonder Zuma and him are mates. Perhaps they are not cynically constructed lies but merely the product of years of KGB-trained delusions and old-school Soviet paranoia writ large.

The Putin created or orchestrated sea of lies seems to be largely successful within Russia with the population being force-fed this diet in the state-controlled media and regulated internet access. Behind the scenes, the sea of lies, which was part of the DNA of the old Soviet Union to ensure survival of the nomenklatura, created the delusion for Putin that the army could walk through Ukraine in days and wrap it up before the West got all precious about it. That didn’t work out so well and now the lies concern the extent of the military losses as the wily Ukranians have picked off Russia’s inept army – death by a thousand cuts. They are now desperately scrambling around to secure their few territorial gains and securing the odd cow shed before possibly claiming victory on the holiest of days, 9 May – the day Germany surrendered in WWII. Actually, they had surrendered to Eisenhower the day before but Russia did not recognise that so it had to be re-enacted.

More worrying is that parttime stage-extras like South Africa are genuflecting to Russia by ignoring the facts and perpetuating the deceptions. Even more worrying is that the dictatorial China, the world’s dominant country in a decade or so, is just one small step short of actively siding with Putin and is parroting the notion that America caused it all. According to the hoary old communist playbook, it’s all about America trying to establish hegemony over the world. In the years of the Cold War, it was by means of the arms race, star wars and propping up tinpot dictatorships. Today, it’s Apple, Twitter, KUWTK and McDonalds (they have a lot to answer for).

Maybe the answer is simpler – he needs the big whoppers to make up for his small size.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Mystery House at the S-Bend

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 7 April 2022 3 Comments

The large dwelling at the S-Bend on the road to Humewood was erected in 1894/5 for the Harbour Manager, RH Hammersley-Heenen, resident engineer and general manager of the South African Railways. When first built, the house had a beautiful position next to rocks and sand and close to the sea. It was only with the construction of the breakwater in the 1920s, that the beach expanded as sand accumulated against the obstacle.

Main picture: House given the Welsh name Lanherne

A SMAC in the Face #25: The End of Genesis

By Blaine McCleland in Jokes 4 April 2022 0 Comment

We have become inured to the sight of decrepit Pontiffs being trundled out onto the Vatican balcony probably held up by a steel brace on wheels hidden by their baroque robes. It was hard to tell if they were sentient or dead. Such a sight confronted rock fans – some as young as 50 – for the sell-out final concert of Genesis on the 26^th of March. With a combined age of 214, the O2 Arena in London was appropriate as it looked like Phil Collins needed O₂. Thank god all the musical instruments are wireless these days so we wouldn’t have the embarrassing sight of Collins with his walking stick tripping over a cable and doing his hip in on his way to his chair on stage. One could palpably sense the tension in the audience – will he make it. He was like Capt Tom Moore who got the world to follow him during lockdown as he zimmered framed his way across his garden 100 times. To the audience’s relief, Phil made it to his chair. Many rockers of old used the microphone and its stand as a supporting act. Who can forget Freddie Mercury imperiously colonising the stage with his phallic half mic stand. Phil Collins also used his mic stand as a supporting act but more in the walking stick sense.

Whilst not the greatest fan of Genesis and Phil Collins, it is difficult for me to gainsay his influence. He is one of only three musicians who have sold more than 100 million albums. The others are Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. There are many others in the Rock and Role of Geriatric Honour Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.

At 78 we have the spritely Rodger Daltrey Who still sings My Generation. I’m not sure if it’s the Beat Generation anymore or rather the retirement home and false-teeth-glue generation. I think it’s time for This Song is Over. Also at 78 we have Jagger whose sensuous child-bearing lips will soon become drooling lips. What about the sylphlike Debbie Harry and her bewitching lips? She is now 76 and while her lips can still do a stage act all on their own, she is not quite so sylphlike and performs as Platinum Blondie. Robert Plant is 73 and it is a competition between the Stairway to Heaven and the #MeToo movement catching up with him and sending him to prison for sex with underage groupies, a perfectly natural Rock and Roll phenomenon of the time along with loads of drugs and eccentric behaviour. Then again what has changed.

Among the real oldies, we have Cliff (over the hill) Richards, the Peter Pan of Rock. Unfortunately, he is a wrinkled Shadow of his former self. Joining him on 81 is Tom Jones who used to wear pants so tight that you could see if he was circumcised. Now It’s Not Unusual that he has to wear a strap on, sort of like a bodybuilder’s or a ballet dancer’s posing pouch. We also have a relative youngster in Paul McCartney at 80. He is now Sir Paul or perhaps Sore Paul, what with his cranky hips, but still manages to headline at Glastonbury.

What have we got to look forward to? What about a snappy Goodbye to U2 at O2 – Bono is a pensioner at 61 after all. Or maybe Cher (75 going on 42) appearing in her gilded Botoxed plastic sarcophagus at Las Vegas. By the way, when will Boy George drop the boy bit – he is 60 you know.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Lovemore’s Residence at Bushy Park

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 3 April 2022 0 Comment

This farmhouse must be one of the oldest houses in the Port Elizabeth area being constructed shortly after the arrival of the 1820 Settlers. Moreover, it is still in use by descendants of Henry Lovemore after 200 years, thus garnering the record of the longest occupation by the same family. That said, the original house with a thatch roof was burnt down in May 1822 possibly taking its replacement – the current house – out of contention as the oldest house.

The bulk of this blog on this house is a verbatim extract from a lengthy article entitled Memoirs by Jessie Allen nee Lovemore who was raised in this house during the 1860s. This is indicated by the use of italicised text to indicate that it is derived from this article.

Main picture: Painting of the Bushy Park Residence in 1884 by Hannah Margaret Dicks

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Memoirs of Jessie Allen (Nee Lovemore)

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 2 April 2022 0 Comment

Jessie Lovemore was born and raised on the Lovemore’s Farm at Bushy Park. Her father, Charles Lovemore, was the son of Henry Lovemore, the original Lovemore owner of this farm. In writing her memoires, Jessie has left an invaluable depiction of life of one of the prominent families in the nascent Port Elizabeth. Most of her reminiscences cover her life in Port Elizabeth which she was forced to leave when her husband took up sheep farming in the Middleburg district.

Main picture: Children of Charles & Margery Lovemore circa 1879, L-R Back: Charles, Walter, Alfred & Harry, L-R Middle Hector, Florine, Jessie, Mary & William L-R Front Ian & Sinclair