A Barman's Obituary!

[Michael Alexander]

I always like to read the Obituary section in the Sunday Times, there is usually space for one or two famous people, like an actor, politician or musician... the articles are accompanied by a photo of the deceased...... I was surprised to see an obituary for a simple person like a barman..... this barman must have known some well placed people....

[SandyB]

Heartless bunch  that hotel group  .. I  hope  they   get the wheel come around .. 

[Michael Alexander]

I somehow got the impression that this kinda barman would have fitted in perfectly with Oranjemund in the 70's....   

[SandyB]

Reminds me of  Witsand ,, My brother Peter  built his holiday /  retirement home there  at oystertbeds ,,,  he was initialy  taken with the place  when  doing a contract for Denel .. he stayed at the hotel it was  owned  by a couple .. run by them and their tribe of kids from both their previous marriages ..  The old Oysterbeds hotel .. local friendly .. fisherman friendly ..  slightly run down ,, but   a really good going concern ...  the old country hotel feeling  with  the dining room with staff that  had worked there for ever .. below the bar was another huge area with bar and  8 or so pooll tables . in the bar above  another pool table .. the youngsters from Heidelberg and all surrounding areas would flock there ..  even more so during the  holiday season .. the place  would pump .. it got a bit quieter in winter  but still was lively .. and yes  if  they  were a bit more astute  business wise  could have  really  kept it going  done  all the necessary  upgrades   slowly and  been a good inheritance for their tribe of kids  and their pension .. They were approached by the Relais group ..  the offer was  sell out .. retain  20 %  share .. the  grand plan was build   extra  chalets on the unused ground ... that cost the group would take.. good idea .. people coming there on holiday .. furthermore upgrade the hotel .. one  step was convert the  downstairs area  into holiday flatlets as well .. this menat that  there were no more pool tables .. .. the pool table upstairs had to go as well cos  the noise would disturb the  people staying there ..  huge amounts of money spent .. on upgrading the  hotel .. the dining room moved from the lounge area .. to a new building ( more cost ) what occured was a lack of flow dining room to the cosy lounge area .. the final result .. a too posh,  local unfriendy  venue .. the locals ( and  who apart from holiday makers kept  the tills ringing throughtout the year ?? )  shunned the " new " ... the holiday season  flood  was  cut by  a huge margin  ,, no more  huge  parties .. too posh ...  the  clever  folks from relais did not do their homework it seems ..  Drew and Barry now  had  20 %  share   of the losses ..  so many times I went back the hotel was like a graveyard .. sure they made money from sale  of chalets ,, but  thats where it stopped .. the steady income had dried up  cos the locals would not go there ..  I understand  they have  virually folded on this  venture .. Barry  died of a heart attack .. Drew  I do not know  what happened to her .. the tribe of kids scattered .. change is a good thing ,, it depends just how much change ... mess with a good  going formula too much  and yes personal tragedy is the result ... so yes  the barman  here  was not part of their "posh plan " .. hey  he could heave still been alive and  dispensing good cheer if the assholes did their homework ...

[Michael Alexander]

Thanks for that Sandy.... Never been to witsand before, had to find some pics after your posting, and found the following..... now I have to go to Witsand....

[SandyB]

Its indeed a beautiful place Mike .. just avoid the hotel ..