Well it is many months since the last OB Extracts – being distracted, coupled with a tad of idleness could be the reason. I could also say that I was waiting to see if the Sharks were going to make it through to the end … alas, they are again working hard at failure, if the last game was anything to go by!

Recently, I received messages asking about OB Extracts but it was a phone call that decided me to move my butt. I received a call from someone who sounded rather surprised to hear my voice. When asked why he was so surprised he retorted, “well we hadn’t had OB Extracts for so long we thought you were dead!” A backhanded compliment if ever…..

So pleased to hear rumours that the Zim lads are being paid pensions in US$ - can’t even hazard a guess what they must be receiving, I just wonder if it is enough to buy a loaf of bread. Lets keep being positive and look to the day our pensions are worth something again.

Hillcrest Station: Another very enjoyable 'bring 'n braai' was held at the Augusta Estate on Sunday 29 March 2009. Although (again) the function could have been better supported, the twenty six members and guests spent four hours enjoying the company of friends and ex-colleagues whilst consuming a few 'lemonades' (!). Surprise visitors from the Midlands Branch were Alan & Flik Bennett and John & Nancy Carroll whilst Rob & Shelagh Hamilton, from Ladybrand (in the Free State, for the ignorant) and Vic & Reena Sutherland from the Durban South Station graced us with their presence.

Those attending (in order of arrival) were : 7033 Derk Kerr, 5939 Vic & Reena Sutherland, 7229 Des & Trish Howse, 7026 Stretch Hughes, WPO/96 Val Oldham, 5087 Robin & Pat Johnson, 5082 Trevor Dutton, 7402 Rob & Shelagh Hamilton, 4947 Roy Welch, 5661 Trevor Wilson, 6717 Hugh & Jill Dixon, 8242 Alan & Flik Bennett, John & Nancy Carroll, 6283 Nobby Clark, 8086 Denis & Marian Wyatt, Guest Eric Evans (R.A.R.) and 5268 Malcolm ‘Mac’ Wiltshire. Apologies were received from 7543 Peter Gatland, 6872 David Lynn, 5934 Fred Mason and 4254 Smudge Smith.

Margate Station: Calling all BSAP Regular and Reserve members, including ex-Cadets! Margate Station is having another get together on SATURDAY 16 May 2009. Fall in will be at 11h00 and Stand Down at your own leisure. Bring your own meat, salad, bread roll etc and R10.00 per head. (The R10.00 covers the hire of the hall at the club, and charcoal.) Fires will be lit at midday.

Venue: Ramsgate Bowling Club – licensed bar at Club prices.

The date coincides with overseas visitors who want to attend and the Sharks vs Blue Bulls Super 14 match in Durban. The game only starts at 18h05 so there should be enough time for everyone to get back to Durban etc, or to get themselves in front of a TV set!

Please bring along any memorabilia no longer wanted – flags – shields etc., which will be auctioned to raise funds for the Natal Regimental Association.

Contact Dave Callow on (039) 312 0070, Barry Woan on (039) 312 2028 or 083 4430 533 or John Dolby on 039 317 3620 to RSVP.

Durban South Station: A Bring & Braai was held on Sunday 8 Feb 2009 at the MOTH Mills Bomb Shell Hole, Warner Beach. The Old Bill, Gerald Coleman, and his wife, Martha, organized the venue and Martha produced huge pots of sadza and gravy to the delight of those attending. This was the best-attended Durban South get- together yet with 49 attendees, being a mixture of former members regular & reserve, Rhodesian Army and guests.

Those attending, as per the visitors book were: 9998 Gerald & Martha Coleman; 16911 Errol & Hester Johnson; 5042 Peter Arnold; 5888 Neville & Elsa Cook 5825 Nigel Cuerden & Sheila Chadwick (widow of 4210 Brian Chadwick); Des & Dora Mellet (visitors); 5939 Vic & Reena Sutherland; Mike Joyce; 6088 Gerry & Mrs. Bowker; 12686 Charlie & Mrs. Adams; 4947 Roy Welch; 7639 Jock & Anne Knotze; The Rabie Family (5 visitors); Buck & Betty Jones (5RR): Dev & Lucy De Villiers (1RAR); 5156 Peter Gibson; PR G Hazlewood & Judy Steedman; 5794 Jac & Muriel Parker; PR 3335 Digger Flavell; WP96 Val Oldham; 6283 Nobby Clark; 8531 Kevin Woods; 8157 Dave Callow; 6468 Barry Woan; 5293 Trevor Dutton; 7706 Chris & El Driver & family (4); 8303 Rob Bristow; 5934 Fred & Lindsay Mason; 5268 Malcolm Wiltshire and 5760 Malcolm & Jean Torrance.

Natal Branch Annual Dinner, well ANNUAL LUNCH. Yes, Annual Lunch!! Your Committee have been discussing for some time the merits and demerits of having an Annual Lunch in place of the Annual Dinner and, in a previous OB Extracts, members were invited to comment on whether this was a good idea or not. Sad to say (but not unexpectedly), not one response was received. A number of other Branches are now holdings Lunches instead of Dinners mainly because, with advancing years, many members are reluctant to travel at night. At our last Dinner, only 60 members and wives attended (apart from the Dog Section contingent) - we used to get 110-120 members in previous years! We are thus proposing to hold the lunch on Thursday 24 September at the Shamwari Club and will follow the same format we use at the Dinners, i.e. guest speaker, toasts, etc. Members who are strongly opposed to having a Lunch instead of a Dinner are invited to make their objections known to our Secretary, Des Howse (dlh@saol.com or 031-7642609/0834406740) or any Committee member. Comments from those members who are in favour of a lunch would also be welcomed.

The Committee. (Thurs 24 Sep is a public holiday Ed.).

Wanted: Hat Trilby, one for the use of: At Buddy’s ‘Memorial’ service’ I overheard Rob Bristow asking Bill Crabtree if he knew where he could obtain a trilby. Rob feels it is time that he attended the November 11 Memorial Service properly dressed as a CID/SB member, which would entail him wearing a dark suit and trilby. Bill offered to lend him one of his many hats but the general consensus was that Bill’s hats would be too small!! Is there any one out there who can help Rob? This should be interesting – two SB members, one in uniform and tuther in civvies….hmmm!! (Nobel Nudus you will be having company this year and hey, Des, you will not have to wear a hat!) (Ed. See OB Extracts Dec 2008 )

5363 Andy Northcott lost his home and all his property at Whittlesea in Victoria during the terrible bush fires that ravaged thousands of hectares of land, over 1000 homes were destroyed, 181 lives were lost and over 7000 people left homeless.

Andy and his wife are safe and staying with relatives in Melbourne. Andy’s spirits are high despite his loss. He and his wife fled by car from their home as they saw the next-door property being swept by fire; their neighbours sadly lost their lives in the blaze. Fortunately Andy had his home insured so in time he and his wife can decide what the future holds for them. They are receiving financial support from the Government for their immediate needs and the Australian Branch is looking to assist them further in this connection.

Embroided BSAP Shirts and Caps BSAP: golf shirts & caps are produced only on order and I need a minimum order of five shirts/caps for it to be worthwhile for my supplier. The current costs are Shirt: R95, Cap: R40. Please note … no orders without payment being received first – some folk have ordered shirts/caps and when it comes to payment they have changed their minds!! Sorry folk but that’s the way it is. Des Howse

Arrest: Malcolm Wiltshire reports that he had made contact with 5572 John MacCallum who lives in Sunninghill, Durban North.

On the Move: Trevor Hughes and his wife Cheryl have decided to become beach bums. They are taking up permanent residence in Mauritius and will be relocating there a little later in the year. All that sunshine, easygoing life style, lovely blue waters, now that has got to be a bummer!

Zimbabwean Humanitarian Aid – Feedback Marc Reed (e-mail address available on request) reports that in early December 2008, a call was made to all Telkom employees to assist in the devastating humanitarian disaster that was unfolding in Zimbabwe. Telkom employees demonstrated their ability to give with humility and grace; a staggering R44 000.00 and close to a ton of food and clothing were generously donated. The cash donations will be matched rand for rand by the Company raising the total to R88 000.00! The gifts will be handed over to the Gift of the Givers organisation for distribution to those who really are in need in Zimbabwe.

A big thank you goes to all of you who, despite your own financial constraints, saw it fit to share whatever little you have with those less fortunate.

Barry Woan has received his prosthesis and is making great progress – take it easy is not something ‘the Woan’ understands! As Barry said, whilst taking his first few steps since July 2008 “….one small step for mankind, one HUGE step for Big Barry.” Barry has been seen riding his motorcycle and his beach buggy round Margate. I have it on good authority he is looking to getting his series 2 landie (Golf Troop look-alike) up and going. We are watching very carefully and suspect we may have a ‘Blades Woan’ emerging!

John Dolby has had a bit of a rough time of late. He was admitted to Albert Lethuli Hospital for the long awaited by-pass. He underwent the by-pass, started to recover and then ended up in High Care as his ulcers started to bleed. After being released from hospital, he spent a weekend at home when he was rushed back to hospital. We are pleased to say that John is now back home in Margate and recovering slowly. Get well soon John.

Smudge and Shirley Smith have been through the wars. Shirley was admitted to hospital with a painful and very swollen foot, and needed to have a new vein implanted in to her leg, which was being starved of blood. Then Smudge had to have two melanomas removed from his shoulder. They are both full of beans and continue as if nothing happened!

Brick Bryson has, for a short period, been moved to a retirement home on a farm near Balito. Brick would be happy to stay there as long and Jenny were to join him. He appears to be doing okay and was delighted to have been visited by Woan and co.

Snipits from Natal Midlands:

WPO 367 Wendy Addison (neè Jarvis), now living in Australia, visited her parents Brian and Barbara Jarvis at Amberglen over the Christmas period, and 4394 Dave Martin from Beatrice was down visiting relatives in the Midlands and visited our Chairman Steve Stevens, also at Amberglen.

Alan and Flik Bennett darted over to the other side of the world to visit their daughter Shirley and her family, who have settled at One Tree Point near Whangerei on the North Island of New Zealand. Alan made contact via email with 7023 Mike Moss who lives in Hamilton and who sends his regards to all. Mike served on the Natal Branch committee for many years.

It is with regret and great sadness that I announce the passing of the following members:

8253 Martin Roger KAY passed away in Johannesburg on Saturday 24 January 2009 from Leukaemia. Martin had journeyed from Harare to Johannesburg for medical attention. He joined the Force on 15 April 1969 and retired as a D/Chief Inspector on 1 August 1983. He was the Secretary of the Mashonaland Branch of the Regimental Association

John Wilkins died in Johannesburg on the 12 January whilst visiting his family. John had been a staunch member of the Transvaal branch for a number of years and looked upon his service in the BSAP Reserve with pride.

4921 Derek John Moore died at Somerset West on the 15th December 2008 after a long illness; he fell into a comma a few days earlier and did not regain consciousness. John served from 5 May 1952 and retired as a Chief Inspector on 7 May 1972.

3411 Cecil Mendham Ludlow (Bunty) at the age of 93 on Thursday the 13 November 2008 in Perth Australia. Bunty served in the Force from the 15 August 1934 (I understand that he was one of the first cadets in the BSAP) till 31 August 1958 attaining the rank of Chief Inspector as Member in Charge Marandellas.

3960 Jack Raymond Hammond on 30 March 2009 at Harare - no further details available. Jack served in the force from 26 April 1946 to 30 November 1969 retiring as a Chief Inspector.
5470 Duane 'Buddy' Deetlefs who passed away in Pietermaritzburg on Friday 6 March 2009 after a long illness suffering from heart problems. He joined the Force on the 13 April 1956 and retired on 'Gratuity' on the 31July 1968. Buddy was a founder member of the Natal Midlands Branch of the Regimental Association.

Memorial to the BSAP The UK Branch is proposing to erect a memorial to the Force at the National Memorial Arboretum (www.thenam.org.uk), located in the heart of the United Kingdom, the National Memorial Arboretum comprises 150 acres of trees and memorials devoted to the concept of Remembrance. Set within the National Forest of Staffordshire, near Lichfield, it was established in 1997, on former gravel and sand pits gifted from Lafarge Aggregates. It already contains 150 memorials of national significance, including the Royal Malaysian Police, Kenya Police, Police Memorial Garden, RAF Police Association, Royal Military Police and would seem to be a most appropriate place for the B.S.A.Police Memorial. The current proposal is to erect a smaller replica of the Blatherwick Memorial in Morris Depot and it is intended there will be a bronze plaque on each side. When the final designs of the plaques have been agreed Winston Hart will sculpt them. (Winston was commissioned by the SA Government to work on the SA Forces WW1 Memorial at Delville Wood) The proposed memorial is a memorial to the Force as a whole and all who served; as such UK Branch is inviting comments and suggestions on the design from all ex-members. The current proposed designs are on display. It is intended to have an unveiling ceremony on 1st August 2010, the 30th anniversary of the last time the BSAP flag was lowered at PGHQ, and it is hoped members from all branches will be able to attend. The ceremony will be combined with the UK Branch Annual Braai at Rutland Water. The cost is estimated to be in the region of £8000. A Memorial Fund has been opened by the UK Branch and contributions to date total almost £3000. An appeal for donations is being made. UK sterling cheques can be made out to 'BSAP Association Memorial Fund' and sent to UK Branch Treasurer: Dan Hughes, 9 Luxford Road, Tollwood Park, Crowborough, E Sussex. TN6 2XQ. United Kingdom. Should you have any comments or suggestions please forward them to UK Branch Secretary at bsapuk@aol.com or contact your local Branch secretary.

A Point to Ponder

Given the financial turmoil in the world today, here is a point to ponder:

“Owners of capital will stimulate the working class to buy more and more expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until debt becomes unbearable. The unpaid debt will lead to the bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalised, and the State will have to take the road which will eventually lead to Communism.” Karl Marx, Das Kapital in 1867