Many of Bulawayo's Baby Boomers will remember the legendary Borrow
Street Swimming Pool. It was indeed the focus of our young lives as
children in Bulawayo in the forties, fifties, sixties and seventies.
Remember that amazing tang of chlorine that pumped out of that
massive filtration system at the back of the pool grounds. Remember
the tall tall trees that housed those smelly herons who pooped on
your swimming towel ?
Remember those red, blue and yellow change room doors, row upon row
of them, all painted with brilliant gloss paint.
These were forbidden to us all until we reached sixteen I think it
was, maybe thirteen, and only then were you privileged to use them
Until then you had to contend with the communal change rooms at the
far end of the change room block.
Remember those eternally wet floors, always soaking as we raced in
and out with the zest of childhood to collect whatever we needed
from the cubicles.
They were tiny cubicles with but a hook on the back of the door and
a slatted bench the width of the cubicle.
At one time we were allowed keys to the cubicles but as sanctions
hit us and keys became costly, we had to search for the enormous
change room attendant, who would begrudgingly slop along and open
the door for us.
My own personal love affair with Borrow Street pool began when, as
Coghlan Infant School Children, we would line up in pairs in a long
plumbago blue crocodile, and walk the four blocks to the pool for
swimming lessons.....
And then as we became fully fledged swimmers, Mom would allow Gavin
and I to go to the pool ON OUR OWN !!
Hours, days, weeks, months were spent in teeth chattering bliss from
the very first day of September every year until the end of April.
The school holidays were sheer bliss, we would form a rowdy queue
outside those turnstiles, armed with the tickey to get in and one
and six for a coke and packet of crisps.
It was there that we fell in love with those pink marshmallow fish
and those yellow soft candy bananas. It was there that we used to
much on those long liquorice sticks or those liquorice rulers that
you could wrap around your finger and watch them go black..
After three hours of swimming until one's fingers went white and
wrinkly, we would flop down on those deliciously warm brown
sandstone blocks, cover ourselves entirely with our swimming towels,
and with teeth chattering furiously, would warm ourselves up with
anecdotes and sun, until it was time to go back in the pool again.
Marco Polo was a favourite game, diving off the one meter and three
met boards was just the most exciting thing you could ever do, and
there was always a senior at the bottom of the boards to ensure law
and order was maintained.
The kiosk was heaven, coke floats, ice cream, those little black
shiny balls that would last for at least an hour if you sucked on
them slowly, and those giant yellow balls that would not quite fit
in your mouth and were oh so chewable.
The baby Pool was quite a new addition and was reserved for the
under sixes. But when the superintendent was not looking you could
sometimes sneak in and belly crawl from one end to the other to get
warm.
The Superintendents name was Mr Meal and my memory served me right
his son Louis took over for a while.
Remember we used to get chased out though during the lunch hour so
the nice people could sun themselves in peace and quiet. Then we
could go back at about three when the sun was not so fierce.
Of course the piece de resistance was when they had "night swimming"
during the very hot season. That was absolute bliss, nothing will
ever feel as magic as those special balmy Rhodesian evenings ever
ever again.
I have posted some pictures on the website of the Borrow Street Pool.
Unfortunately the pool was being emptied for maintenance so I missed
that wonderfully exciting chlorine smell, but I will go back again
soon, take some more pics, and relive those ecstatically happy
childhood memories.
Giga Bhikoo Beloved husband of Neela, Brother of Inky, Kusum,
Sheila and Prafula, father of Nayanta, Sonita, Shohini, Dishal and
Meeshal and Grandfather of Abay. Passed away after a short
illness,
deeply mourned and missed.
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William Gillies
Dear Crispin, Flora, Georgina and Clive, We are so sorry to hear of
your
sad loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
With sympathy,
Matthew & Bridget Accorsi
United Kingdom
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Arthur Jardine
So sorry Mrs Jardine, Lyn and families. So sorry for you great
loss.
We send you our deepest sympathy. Thinking of you.
Lots of love
Richard and Deb, Esigodini
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McELROY, Brian - (Formerly of Triangle and Bulawayo)
Husband of Elaine, father of Pat, Mike, Daphne and Kevin,
Grandfather
of Michelle, Richard, Delia and Verity.
Passed away in Pinetown, South Africa on Sunday 15 October 2006.
Gone
to rest but not forgotten. He will be deeply missed.
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VAN DYK -- Sybrand Jacobus "Bruntjie"
Beloved husband of Tracy, and wonderful father of Carl and Dylan,
passed away on 18th October 2006, after a long painful 5 month
battle
against cancer. We will always cherish the wonderful years we had
together, and you will always be in our thoughts.
What is a dad ?
A Dad is a person who is loving and kind.
and often he knows what you have on your mind.
He's someone who listens, suggests and defends,
A Dad can be one of your very best friends.
Thank you Dad ... for listening and caring
for forgiving and sharing but especially for just being you.
Love you always - Carl and Dylan.
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WILLIE GILLIES
To you all, friends and family,
My heartfelt and sincere thanks to all of you who helped with the
solace of our sad bereavement of Dad/Willy.
Your kind words of encouragement and comfort , e mails, phone
calls,cards, and flowers go a long way in helping us cope in this
sad
time. We are overwhelmed with the contributions of eats that
appeared
at all times, before the service, during and after!
It is a very deep and warm feeling that we experience knowing what
wonderful friends and family we have, who have given us such
amazing
support.
Thank you for "being there" . And to those who couldn't make it in
body we knew you were here in spirit.
Our love to you all.
Flora, Crispin, Georgina and Clive.
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We are sad to hear the news that Ches passed away, Ches was a
awesome
man, he will always be remembered as a wonderful, kind and gently
man. We will miss you dearly, Deepest sympathies to Beryl, Anton,
Nana Walton, Gerhard, and families.
Love Sean, Wendy (Edwards) Markham and family, NZ
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CONDOLENCES:
CHES WALTON My deepest sympathy goes out to my special friends
Gerhard & Coralie, Skyler and Kiki as well to Beryl, Anton and
family on their
very sad loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Love Karen
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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McELROY, Brian
Grandpa, even though we didn't really get the chance to know you,
we
still feel your loss!! Our thoughts are with Gran and the rest of
the
family!
Michelle (Canada) and Richard
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WINSTON "BRIAN" WALTERS
Thought some people in Bulawayo would remember Winston Brian
Walters who worked most of his life on the railways and then in his
retirement he worked in various places. Brian passed away on Monday
October 16th in Scarborough England after struggling for years with
bad health. He leaves behind his wife Kathy, his son Gareth Walters
living in Texas USA, his step-daughter Sharon Steyn living in
Australia and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Brian
lived
a full and busy life and touched many lives with his kind heart.
Maggie Walters
Austin Texas
maggie@austin.rr.com
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Is it possible for you to put a funeral notice in the Morning
Mirror
for Tracy's husband, Bruntjie VanDyk.The funeral will be on
Wednesday
the 25th of October at 11.30 at the Baptist Church,George
Silundika ,
2nd Ave
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WE EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work
of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after
night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)
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If you want joy, give joy to others.
The easiest way to get what you want
Is to help others get what they want.
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THINGS TURN OUT THE BEST FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF HOW
THINGS TURN OUT .......
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"A simple way to take measure of a country
is to look at how many want in
... and how many want out." Tony Blair
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Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by
deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up
enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. --Samuel Ullman
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