The Casual Observer

Debunking Graham Hancock’s Claims

By Dean McCleland in Other Miscellaneous Topics 6 June 2020 1 Comment

Graham Hancock is a British writer and journalist. He is known for his pseudoscientific theories involving ancient civilisations, Earth changes, stone monuments or megaliths, altered states of consciousness, ancient myths, and astronomical or astrological data from the past.

Normally when I watch a master magician or mentalist weaving their spell over the audience, my mind is sharply focused not on the outcome of the act but rather the manner in which the performer is duping the audience. For me, Graham Hancock is no exception.

Main picture: Graham Hancock

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Thunderbolt Reef claims another Victim

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 4 June 2020 0 Comment

One would have thought that the denouement of the age of sail would have brought the menace of the Thunderbolt Reef to a close. Instead, it was not to be. Perhaps as a belated swansong, on a calm winter’s afternoon on Monday 29^th July 1985, yet another vessel would attempt to traverse the treacherous inner route between the rocky shore at Cape Recife and Thunderbolt Roof. With few exceptions, they would learn a sobering lesson about its dangers. In the case of the Kapodistrias, a Greek bulk carrier of 29,185 tons, it would not be an exception.

How was it possible that a modern vessel equipped with all the latest navigation equipment, could run aground on a calm morning?

Main picture: This was the last photo taken of the Kapodistrias wreck at Cape Recife. The next morning she was gone.

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Little-Known Obelisk in Walmer

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 1 June 2020 3 Comments

Most residents of Port Elizabeth are oblivious of the rich and varied history of this 200-year old town. It would be fair to say that they would be ignorant of many of its artefacts as well. Being unaware of this memorial would not be an exception except that in this case they could claim to possess a valid excuse: its location.

The description of this memorial is taken from Tong Longworth’s book simply entitled Walmer.

Main picture: Obelisk at the Walmer Golf Club

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Building Blocks of the First Harbour

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 31 May 2020 0 Comment

For numerous reasons, Port Elizabeth was last in the queue to receive a harbour. From the early clamouring in the 1830s, it would be another century before the first harbour was commissioned.

As the Harbour Supplement to the Eastern Province Herald dated 28^th October 1933 stated, “
“Building a harbour without concrete blocks would be like making bricks without straw. So, the blockyard is the foundation, as it were, of the work.”

Main picture: The Titan crane laying a block on the breakwater

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Recollections of the Walmer Train

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 30 May 2020 0 Comment

The Walmer Branch Line, as it was known, would only operate from December 1906 to 26^th November 1928. During those 22 years, this narrow gauge train would wend its way through to Walmer from Station Road, parallel to Strand Street, in Port Elizabeth to 14^th Avenue in Walmer via Humewood.

In this blog, Anthony Longworth provides his recollections of this iconic railway, how it operated and what route it took. For a detailed technical blog, go to ‘http://thecasualobserver.co.za/port-elizabeth-yore-narrow-gauge-walmer-branch-line/

Main picture: The terminus of the Walmer Branch Line

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The 1908 Flood per the EP Herald

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 24 May 2020 0 Comment

The Eastern Province Herald of Friday 21st November 1908 carried a report on the Great Flood of the 16^th November 1908.

Following a cloudburst in the Hunters Retreat area, the Baakens River came down in Flood, causing tremendous damage in the valley and around the mouth and then subsiding again very quickly. Previous river floods had caused little damage because there were then no buildings on the flood plain, but after the lagoon was filled in the reclaimed land had been built upon. Some of those affected by flood damage brought an action against the Council and the Commissioner of Public Works in September 1909. Some of the downpour flowed down the other side of the watershed, and the Cradock Place area also suffered.

Main picture: The Great Flood of 1908 – Inside the Harbour Board Yard

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Pollok Beach

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 22 May 2020 0 Comment

The word Pollok has created confusion in two ways; its spelling and whether it bore any link to the famous Port Elizabeth cricketers. One can swiftly discard any connection to the cricketing family as the beach was named Pollok decades before the cricketing pair rose to prominence.

If that is so, how did the name of this well-known beach in Summerstrand arise?

Main picture: Pollok Beach

Port Elizabeth of Yore: The Era of the Bandstand

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 May 2020 0 Comment

A century ago was the era of the bandstand which epitomised for me the music of the brass band. Bandstands were simply a covered outdoor platform on which a band could play. No elaborate protection from inclement weather was required as this was an era prior to the use of electrical musical instruments.

Port Elizabeth followed the world-wide trend and built two during the first decade of the 20^th century. Thirty years later they were gone.

Main picture: Bandstand in Trinder Square

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Hanover House in Bird Street

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 20 May 2020 0 Comment

Lots 13 & 14, 34 Bird Street, originally formed part of the Hospital Lands. In 1880, this house was constructed for George Wedekind and soon afterwards in 1883, he sold it to H.W. Dalldorf, who named it “Hanover House”. In 1948, the M.O.T.H purchased the building and only sold it circa 2005 to old Mutual which uses it as offices.

Main picture: Hanover House in Bird Street

Port Elizabeth of Yore: Where would pilots from 42 Air School Celebrate?

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 14 May 2020 3 Comments

During WW2, South Africa was requested to train Allied aircrew in the Union. In terms of the JATS – the Joint Air Training Scheme – South Africa would train 33,347 aircrew which included 12,221 SAAF personnel. Amongst the 37 South African based air schools, No. 42 was based in Port Elizabeth, south of the main civilian airport.

Included amongst the 21,126 foreigners who were trained in South Africa over the 5 years of WW2, was one who came from Tasmania in Australia, Pierce Joseph Keating.

Main picture: Sergeant PJ Keating