THE BALLAD OF BEACH ROAD by Robin Ford (MCSCs Pulitzer Prize Winner) Hi Nick(y) In days of old (when nights were cold - and usherettes were bolder) –before Skype and the constant connection of smart-phones– those were times when we had to write and post letters to touch far-flung friends! The following is a compilation of extracts from those various old times – adapted and cobbled together for possible inclusion in your MCSC history crusade. MCSC ‘young guns’ remember : No 118 Beach Rd. The Gotsman-Girls’ House ELAT-1181 Picture1 : Left : Beach Road circa 1913 with Elat and the Gotsman house - and Right - in later years. Elat’s boarding house bustle dominated Beach Road – but it had spirited competition from the little house next door (No118) when the tenants took boisterous occupation for those long six weeks ”Summer Holidays” (as Cliff Richard was singing ) The Gotsman family (binnelanders - from Krugersdorp - nogal!) used that house as a holiday home. Their arrival was welcomed by us young MCSC surfers (always sitting on that low wall across the road) because we became beaming beneficiaries of that families generous hospitality (see later). Also, the Gotsman daughters (with their extended circle of girlfriends) were exotic attractions – though we must have also been exotic enough to them. ‘Hi blondie, kool skitools hay’ was an icebreaker that usually inspired the offer of a ‘surf’ lesson – resulting in much mutual fun – but mostly hysterical screaming and flailing of tanned limbs in that high tide maelstrom of white water waves. They wanted to ride the waves, but with more dignity and stability than our bucking boards could provide One crowded surf day they eagerly dragged us over to the toilet block beach to witness something new? It turned out to be just a ‘little itsy bitsy yellow dinghy’ – and not ‘bikini’ as we had misheard – coming in on the waves! YellowDinghy-c Picture2 : Itsy-bitsy yellow dinghy The ‘dinghy’-surfer was the Reverend Bernie Wrankmore - and his adept skill at ‘surfing’ in that little yellow dinghy held the beach spectators spellbound – they saw that here was a way to ride the waves – with dinghy dignity – no more water up the nose and sand down the bikini bottom! We surfers also begrudgingly admired and acknowledge Bernie’s skill in those waves – not knowing of his long history as a pioneer waterman on the cold Sea Point Shore line – but his exploits can form a story for a later issue. (Nick, run this by Beau – he may have pictures (and better – a story) of his late father surfing in that dinghy?) Although those summer holidays were generally balmy times , no tourist brochure will mention the wind! But it even impressed Kipling “White as the sands of Muysenberg - spun before the gale”. Many of us even blame that gale on Balmoral Corner for our sharp facial features – our ‘pointy’ noses, honed - like ice in a wind tunnel – by long exposure to facing that gale. But it was the gale that blew us into the Gotsman house. One windy afternoon, in the cold flickering twilight of those scudding mountain clouds, our little band of surfers sat so dejectedly huddled in the lee of the sea wall that we must have been depressing the Goodman’s’ already dismal bay-window view of that stormy seascape! So they invited us in from that load surf-roar - into the surprising quite of their cookie scented lounge - for tea – and there to comfortably listen to the family’s enviably extensive ‘very latest’ LP (long playing) record collection. And so began our pleasant association with the Gotsmans – that lasted many years. The drama at Doreena – but Elvis saves the day! Read More They were generous folk – quick to forget what they had given - but never forgetting a gift received. So at the end of one long season of their friendly hospitality I felt obligated to suggest a reciprocation tea for them – which I immediately regretted – (stupid-stupid) - as I was then nominated to host this event at my ‘flats’ - Doreena Mansions, because I was the envy of my peers for the wild ‘latch-key’ flat freedom that I was assumed to be enjoying and exploiting! Ha! Those days of dark deception? The (un-admitted) truth was that I was unfortunately the single violation of a ‘No pets No children!’ Doreena ‘policy’ - fiercely policed by a regime of aged tenants – zealous followers of W.C. Fields, who said ‘People who hate children and pets can’t be all bad” I therefore had to lead a furtive tip-toe home existence - my every movement met by their old cold glares. Glares which turned to ice on the day I carefully struggled up the stairs with my first surfboard! This confirmed their fears- that civilization as they knew it was kla! Doreena-Elvis Picture3 : ‘Doreena’ - with signs - and old Elvis Poster So it was into this hostile territory that I apprehensively shepherded my bathing suited band of co-eds, all eager for their carefree tea! My - how I imagined that those cold corridors must have reverberated to the ’skande’ and orgiastic imaginings of those old blue rinse biddies after they witnessed our clan of ‘half naked pagans’ entering Doreena’s pious portals – the biddies fingers flying furiously to the dials - lighting up the local telephone exchange with their calls to the pole-ice! Well, truth be told, while tracking enough sand into the place to make a small snowman, we tribe of potential pagans innocently made the tea and ate the biscuits -while the girls kindly complimented some of my poor sketches - and then we all coincidently made moves for departure – because of the noise coming from my only available in-house entertainment – Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii wailing distortedly through the perforated speaker of my step-father’s yesteryear valve radio gramophone! Our quick retreat back to the corner was accompanied by my relieved smile – as I imagined the scene back at Doreena – the vice squad screeching to a stop before a gaggle of breathless matrons screaming ‘They’ve gone! After them, they went that way – to the beach! Well, back at the beach our friendly relationship with the Gotsman girls continued and developed into exchanging ‘news from home’ letters and pictures (sample below) - through many winters thereafter. GGotsman-g-sb Picture4 : (adapted) Some girls on stoep of No 118 Beach Road Trevor Gotsman and the famous Tom Bulpin: Read more A younger brother, Trevor, later returned to Muizenberg to become a keen surfer and an even keener surfing photographer. Author of numerous books, Tom Bulpin, used many of Trevor’s surf shots in his publications. Trivia question : What have the Gotsmans & MCSC got to do with the book ‘Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa’? HGold-RD Picture5 of Howie Gold and cover of book Along with Trevor Gotsman’s pictures, my own photo of Howard Gold (cousin of the Gotsmans), featured in the surfing section of Tom’s book ‘Illustrated guide to Southern Africa’. The extended Gotsman family therefore dominated the surfing content of that book - and so helped introduce the concept of surfing to the wide readership of that very popular book on Southern Africa. Point and punchline? This ‘binneland’ family brought surfing to the attention of the greater ‘binneland’ population – with the help of the MCSC! “Not many people know that” – as he was wont to say in his broad cockney accent - Michael Caine - (attributed) PS ‘Laatlammetjie’ nominee for MCSC membership - Howard Gold. Read more. Nick, run this past Howie first –or omit. My photo of Howard Gold was taken during the WP trials at the Hoek - where months later the 1977 SA Champs were held - and where our WP team went on to win all division - and the team trophy. Howard Gold has gone on to spend a lifetime surfing ‘short- boards’ - spending many of those years in WP and Springbok teams as a competitor (in many divisions) and in various other capacities including ; judge, coach, manager, etc. As a competitor Howie won many of his age divisions through the years, but one Glen Beach Pro-am contest performance puts his raw wave riding ability into some perspective. Howie charged through that whole field of brilliant surf stars, and was only finally halted by the top gun of the time - the unstoppable David Stolk, who was then at the height of his amateur surf career (just before he turned professional). As Barry Lubinsky would say ‘Not too shabby a performance Howie - for part time surf star and full time city planner! The old MCSC ‘manne’ of the day might stroke their grey beards and slowly nod their heads in sage agreement saying. ‘Who would have thought in those long ago days that little ‘laat-lammetjie’ to the MCSC - Howie Gold - would outlast and outperform all the heroes of the day – and then some”! In terms of his old MCSC – for lifetime surfing commitment and achievement - ‘Howie’ is far and away in a class of his own. He might also subscribe to the philosophy of – ‘The gods do not deduct from one’s lifespan the time you spend surfing’ Now we understand the quest for immortality in that old bumper sticker ‘Works is for people who don’t know how to surf’ Poster Picture6 : old bumper sticker Next issue : How Bernie Wrankmore and his dinghy surfing and MCSC inspired a still possible tourist drawcard.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:55:22 +0000
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