Niel Hasland, Gene Bennet, Leon Cilliers, Pepe Freemantle, Berty Van Jaarsveld

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

@ Pepe

Dont know where you were at that time

Bill Fry took that Pic, it was in the newsletter in the same month

Geen Bennett had left already for USA

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

I know now Georg, I was in the army for 3 months call up at that time.

[Carl Zeelie]

Hi George,
Perhaps you will remeber me as part of the metallurgical start up crew? I think your Mech counterpart was Jerry Hauser? Last time I saw Jon Smith was in his own electrical shop in Mosselbay....but that was yonks ago!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks Carl for the info, i honestly dont remember your name , i am sorry, but we must have been together in that start up time. Exciting experience.

Yes Jerry Housen was there too

If you should find out about the guys i am looking for. let us know.

Pepe is searching too

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

Hi Georg, I am in  contact with Jerry Howsen's daughter Kathleen. Jerry lives in Wolsley and is doing well. Our family and the Howsens were great friends that time. But to find Leon, John and Neil is a mission. They seem to have left planet earth LOL. Take care and regards.

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

@ Pepe. give my refards to Jerry.

Pity those other guys have left the planet

But the more often we raise that topic, the bigger the chance somone will know

Good luck in searching or must i come down and look for them ??? LOL

Georg

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I'm just thinking to myself I am.....was Gene Bennet's wifes name Magarate? They lived at E11/11 and were the American family of Enna Bennet. If so I heard from Magarate March 2007 when my dad passed away. They are well and living in the States somewhere.

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

@ Diana
Thanks. Yes you are right, they live in the US, i had personal contact with Gene, he also send me a picture. They are well and have a lovely family.

Pity we have not found the other chaps, would be nice to hear from them.

Neil Hasland was once supposed to contact me on the net, it never happened.

Niel´s son was a Pal of my son Marcel.

O-munders one big family that we often think of.

Georg jun was pal of the van Gruenen Sons, the sad story, we all know. Iggy died also while in O-mund on Pancreatis cancer. All to young to go.....

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

@ Georg,

Thanks I will pass your regards to Jerry through Kathleen. Keep well my firend:)

[Denise Smith]

Hi Just come across this post, Leon Cilliers is my uncle.  He lives in Randfontein on a smallholding and was well the last time my father Chum Pretorius spoke to him aprox. 2 weeks ago.

Email gppretorius@polka.co.za and I will let you have his contact details

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks Denise for that info
Georg

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

Hi Georg and Denise, many thanks for the info Denise and have just sent a mail to the mailing address you posted. I am hoping we shall make contact with Leon soon. Will keep you all posted. Regards, Pepe

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks Pepe
May be you can get him to come here..... 

[Paul (Pepe) Freemantle]

You welcome georg, I will get him to join us on the board. could be very interesting to hear what all he has to say 

[Michael Alexander]

It's always awesome when old friends reconnect on the site....Great News!