Bill Alcock's Grave and Cindy's vase!

[Michael Alexander]

Here we go....the vase was cracked due to a tree falling on the grave, but I se it's been cleaned.

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for this; it means a lot!

Regards

Cherry

[Bobcat]

Here we go....the vase was cracked due to a tree falling on the grave, but I se it's been cleaned.

What a magic bloke Bill was................. he was one of a few who went out of their way to make us contractors feel welcome in Oranjemund.

Thanks to Bill............. contractors could have a hit on the golf course.

We were up in Windhoek playing soccer when we heard the tragic news about Cindy ............... we actually won a trophy up there and had a rip-roaring time ............... but news about Cindy kinda took the gloss off all that. She was a rare gem indeed............ always had a beaming smile at Barclays I think it was where she worked?

[Cherry (Alcock)]

Hi John,

Thank you for those kind words about my dad - he was awesome and always felt that the contractors got a raw deal.  I remember when I started going out with a "dreaded contractor"; he was called into his boss' office and told it wasn't appropriate for his daughter/s to do so as contractors weren't regarded as suitable company for permanent emplyees!!  With my dad's Scots temper and moral beliefs, he told them where to get off!

Cindy did work in Barclays.

It is a bit of a sad time now as on 12/10 Cindy will have been gone for 32 years and my dad on 23/11 also 32 years.  They caught the guy who murdered her although with the SA amnesty he was out in just 2 years but he will get his in this life or the next.

On a happier note though; they were two very awesone people and we were blessed to have them as family!

Take care and

Cherry

[Bobcat]

Hi John,

Thank you for those kind words about my dad - he was awesome and always felt that the contractors got a raw deal.  I remember when I started going out with a "dreaded contractor"; he was called into his boss' office and told it wasn't appropriate for his daughter/s to do so as contractors weren't regarded as suitable company for permanent emplyees!!  With my dad's Scots temper and moral beliefs, he told them where to get off!

Cindy did work in Barclays.

It is a bit of a sad time now as on 12/10 Cindy will have been gone for 32 years and my dad on 23/11 also 32 years.  They caught the guy who murdered her although with the SA amnesty he was out in just 2 years but he will get his in this life or the next.

On a happier note though; they were two very awesone people and we were blessed to have them as family!

Take care and

Cherry

G'uday Cherry

Pleased to hear they got the bloke responsible for poor Cindy's demise .............. shocked ......... but not all that surprised he got off. Too many do-gooders down-under too........ who seemingly go in to bat for the bad guys ............. it's all wrong eh?

I would have liked to have spent just 5 minutes with him in a room on my own........... with no prying eyes!

I'll always be grateful for the way your mum and dad treated us............. and I'm very pleased to be able to say that Cindy not only served me in the bank........... she was my good friend too!

Mind you............ re your mum and dad.............. they were none too pleased when I had the altercation with a certain Mr Rowley.......... who allegedly walked into a door......... a revolving one perhaps?

I didn't feel good about doing what I did............ but it was warranted.......... there was provocation. I felt sorry for him when Neil Selby I think it was said 'Look what you've done to him"............. but there's two sides to every story? Don't know where Ian is now............... but I wish him all the best.

Another family who were very kind to the contractors ........... Jimmy Renfrew .............. we were always welcome round to their place for parties. Where is Jimmy these days? Where too is Billy Summers........is he still in Oranjemund?

I think I was a 'honoury' contractor.......... not quite so dreaded as the rest because I played soccer for Sports Utd;D

For whatever reason we certainly had a stigma attached to us as contractors? Funnily enough......... it's not just in Oranjemund.............. the same was applicable on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea ......... but the roles were reversed there as I worked for the mining company. Bearing in mind what we had to endure as contractors............ my wife and I always made contractors welcome at our place too.

Best regards.....take care


Johnno

[Nicky Hodge]

Hi John,

Welcome to memory lane.

Good to see that you're on board and already catching up and sharing some great memories. Funny you mentioned Jimmy Renfrew, as I new his daughter Alison and was only wondering about them on the weekend. I think Stephen Hucker ( Rip) had a thing for her at one stage.

Enjoy the site.
Regards,
Nick.

[Bobcat]

Hi John,

Welcome to memory lane.

Good to see that you're on board and already catching up and sharing some great memories. Funny you mentioned Jimmy Renfrew, as I new his daughter Alison and was only wondering about them on the weekend. I think Stephen Hucker ( Rip) had a thing for her at one stage.

Enjoy the site.
Regards,
Nick.

Thanks Nick

Appreciate your email the other day to guide me towards this site. I'll try locate the box full of photos I have from Oranjemund this weekend and will do some scanning.

Ssssshhhh........... keep it quiet; I think I'm the only contractor on here!!!!

BTW......... are you in Perth?


regards


Johnno

[Michael Alexander]

Hi John welcome back, it's been about two years since we last had a chat... I lost your email from the old site, thanks to Nicky we found you again and I am pretty sure you have plenty of memories to share...

The surname you were looking for was Rapley, that my dad told me, Billy Summers retired about 2 years back and lives down by Kommetjie (Fish hoek side). His daughter is on this forum, Vicki De JAger, and still lives in Omund. We see Billy and Dorothy in town every now and again.

For some reason in the 80's the contractors were always referred to as the "Dirty Contractors".... and you were always told not to go down to the Moth Camp...but there were a few good parties to be had down there in the parkhomes (if you can call them that!)

ANyhow good to have you back...

Mike
;)

[Bobcat]

Hi John welcome back, it's been about two years since we last had a chat... I lost your email from the old site, thanks to Nicky we found you again and I am pretty sure you have plenty of memories to share...

The surname you were looking for was Rapley, that my dad told me, Billy Summers retired about 2 years back and lives down by Kommetjie (Fish hoek side). His daughter is on this forum, Vicki De JAger, and still lives in Omund. We see Billy and Dorothy in town every now and again.

For some reason in the 80's the contractors were always referred to as the "Dirty Contractors".... and you the were always told not to go down to the Moth Camp...but there were a few good parties to be had down there in the parkhomes (if you can call them that!)

ANyhow good to have you back...


No worries mate............ pleased to be back in touch with you.

It wasn't much fun being a 'dreaded contractor' but.......... as with anything else..... it's what you make of it?

Thanks to magic people such as the Alcock family, the Renfrews, the Hodgsons, the Wilsons, the Brownlesses, Scouse & Pat Robinson, your mum and dad too, plus the Wallaces, and the Waddingtons ......... well combined they all helped to make the life of a dreaded contractor all that much easier.

Sorry if i missed anyone out.................. it was 30 years or so ago?

I've emailed you some photos................. not sure if they are the right format.....size etc?

As Cherry said earlier............... thanks for the photos. I know it's such a long, long time ago........ but I have often thought of Bill and Cindy throughout the years.


best regards



Johnno

[Bev Burchell]

Hi Cherry

Just thought I'd let you know that I put a flower on your dad's grave whenever I visit Bryony's grave which i try and do at least once a year.