John Haycox sent us this, I found it interesting, and once again am extremely pleased that the old names of Oranjemund are resurfacing......
"Harry Haycox was the town's only radio technician for many years. He
maintained the wireless sets that the company handed out with the free
furniture. He was employed by CDM to fit the first radios into the DDD
vehicles and the outstations like Mittag; Ubvlei; Chamais; etc, some of
the sherman tanks that were used in the dessert were also fitted with
two way radios.
He was also an Amateur Radio Opperator (Radio Ham)
The picture is of Harry and Hennah at his radio equipment. The picture
was taken by one of our teachers Christo Gerike, also a radio ham.
Hennah looked after the swimming pool for many years after the first
supervisor retired. (I can't remember his name).
Veronica was born in Oranjemund in 1956 and passed away at the scene of
a horrific motor smash involving her car and a mini taxi near Potchefstroom."
Thats a memory for you. I remember the large antenna Mr Haycox had at his house and his radio days. In fact with the poor radio reception for commercial radio, his ham signal over-powered the signals and we all got to have (morse in those days as well as voice ) Mr Haycox instead of Springbok radio. It was an improvement no doubt. There was quite a radio ham following later on in town and another was the sparky Don Wilson ex #4 plant. I think Mr Haycox was probably the first.
Hello John,
Yes my dad was the first, and from his shack he got quite a few to take up the hobby.
Kosie Du Busson
Christo Gerike (one of our teachers)
McGreggor, I can't remember his first name it my have been Dave, but he was the postmaster. He died in a motor smash somewhere between the bridge and Port Nolloth.