the barends (and camps Bay) factor
the barends (and camps Bay) factor
the barends (and camps Bay) factor
the barends (and camps Bay) factor
the barends (and camps Bay) factor
the barends (and camps Bay) factor
6. Additional Lateral Information
Cyril ran a service station in Ceres where he met and married Girlie who was a Teacher and hailed from Paarl. He was unfortunately on the receiving end of some trouble stemming from Arthur’s diamond interests. He then ran a fishing trawler called “The Ceres” out of Veldrift/Laaiplek but this lost him everything. He then worked in Tulbagh for many years in the fruit canning industry. They were unable to have children but adopted a son whom they named Leslie.
(Ed: In December 2003, returning from a cherry-picking trip to Ceres, we called at 17, Staff Street where we were fortunate to see Leslie and his wife. The service station is now a funeral parlour.)
Harold worked for many years at the Electricity Department in Strand Street. He served in WW2 and was widely known by the nickname “Major”. Harold’s son, Graham married Daphne and they had two sons: Andrew and Christopher.
Graham built on the empty plot at the rear of 29 Camps Bay Drive where his widow (second wife), Vrenela (nee Werdmuller) still lives today. Jill resided at “Floreal” having never married, until after Graham passed away when the property was sold and she moved into a flat in Newlands.
(Ed: Graham and Vren generously hosted a superb lunch in July 2003 for Maureen and I and Brian and Cynthia)
Edna and Alf never had children – seemingly with Alf being a Catholic they were regarded to be “living in sin”. Edna ran “Barends Hairdressing” next to the Arthur’s Seat Hotel in Sea Point for many years. They celebrated their silver wedding with family and friends at the Blue Peter Hotel in Blouberg.
Travelling behind the hearse on the way to Alf’s cremation, were Cecil, Mamie and Edna driven by Cecil’s driver. The weather was lousy and suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder and Edna shouted: “Good heavens, he’s started on them already!”.
Mamie and Cecil’s story is told in detail later. Mamie attended St Cyprian’s School and her first job was with the advertising arm of African Consolidated Theatres which she obtained through her Uncle Harry – her cartographic skills were translated to film advertisements. She outlived all her siblings, as did Cecil.
Leslie worked for many years in the Water Department after demobilization from the War where he had been injured in the North Africa desert campaigns – his right arm was badly shot up and he had lost half the fourth finger of his left hand. Les was a keen soccer player and fisherman. He and Beryl visited Rhodesia in the early 1970s after he had retired. He died prematurely also suffering from arthritis. They lived in a small wood and corrugated iron bungalow on Blinkwater Road, below the “Little Glen”. He was a great favourite of his nieces and nephews
Wally worked for various concerns including a spell in Worcester where he met Thelma. Thereafter he worked for the SA Turf Club for many years where he was “Keeper of the Scales” which was to check that jockeys weighed in at the same level they weighed out. He died very prematurely of a heart attack in 1973 - Mamie and Edna were on a visit to Rhodesia at the time. He served briefly in the navy during WW2. Thelma remarried, worked as a senior secretary at Mutual and Federal Insurance Company and then retired to The Strand.
(Ed: Upon moving to the Cape in 2003 I spent much time trying to contact Peter and Diane without success until February 2011 when, through a set of co-incidences, we were able get in touch. Thelma was still alive and living with Diane in Durbanville. Peter was in London [Further Ed: Sadly, Peter passed away on 14 May, 2021].)
All four of the Barends sons were in some way involved in the armed forces and served in WW2.
Whilst this account was not intended to extend beyond Arthur as regards Charles’ offspring, in the interests of recording the continuance of the family name, it is important to specifically mention Harry’s line: Brian and Cynthia’s daughter, Merilyn had two children: Ryan and Claudia, while their son Greg had two children: Ashley and Justin. Brian schooled at Bishops (Diocesan College) and was for many years MD of Readers Digest. Cynthia (b. 28 Mar 1930) went to St Cyprian’s School. They retired to Helderberg Village in Somerset West ±1994. Brian passed away on 27 June, 2019 at the incredible age of 92.
