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“He is a compulsive extrovert, a compulsive
(and brilliant) talker, raconteur and broadcaster” (SABC Bulletin 1968), and
indeed, Paddy O’Byrne will be remembered as such. He was born the son of an Irish Supreme Court
Judge, and came to South Africa in 1961, where, after winning the Voice of South Africa competition, he
excelled in the broadcasting industry.
He will probably be best remembered as Mark Saxon of No Place to Hide, one of the longest
running serials on Springbok Radio. He
started with Sunday at Home, and will
also be remembered for Twenty One and
The Quiz Kids. He
also served Springbok Radio as Assistant Production Manager. Paddy had the wonderful ability to make
everything passing his vocal chords interesting. Someone remarked that he could easily read a
telephone directory in an exciting manner.
He could make the news interesting as was hear in Deadline Thursday Night, and loved interviewing people – testimony
has it that he had a wonderful talent for getting people to talk.
Springbok Radio Revisited wants to thank
Paddy for the wonderful Springbok Radio memories he helped create. He will be missed, but will live on in sound
at the SABC Radio Archives.
May his family and friends find peace in
knowing that he warmed many hearts.
Probably best known as Rosie in "From Crystal with Love", one of the longest running serials on Springbok Radio of old, Pat Rosevear-Lowe will live on in our memories also as one of the first female voiced on South African Radio. Pat's daughter, Tessa, remembers: "During her career, she
worked with names such as Bob Holness, Cedric Messina and Ray Johnson. Amongst other work, she featured regularly in the "Lux Radio Theatre"
and had her own spot called "Dulux Homeowners Club". She was also in
the long running serial "Big Sister", and played Rosie in "From
Chrystal, with Love".
Two other recordings
that I know she acted in are "Telltale Romance No. 2: Sorry I Sinned"
alongside 'Van Doren' and 'Joan Robinson', and "My Redeemer Liveth"
(19 April 1946) alongside Cedric Messina, Philip Burgess, Hugh Evans and Dewar McCormack."
The SABC Radio Archives preserves her memory in the form of a recording of an episode of "From Crystal with Love", as well as a recording of abovementioned "My Redeemer Liveth", and "Tales from the Bushveld", as well as her playing in an operetta named "Paganini", adapted by Stephen O'Reilly.
It is with sadness that we pay tribute to yet another great spirit of Springbok Radio, Peter Merrill, who passed away on 18 June 2013. Peter's was the voice that closed broadcast on the very first day of Springbok Radio on 1 May 1950. He was involved in numerous programmes, either as actor, director or presenter, and will be fondly remembered by many. Some of the programmes that carried the Peter Merrill stamp in one way or the other was Dance Time, the programme that closed the first day's broadcast on Springbok Radio, as presenter, the Sarie '74 awards which he presented with Elwyn Morris, Pick-A-Box as producer, and he also acted in the very first children's serial on Springbok Radio, namely Jungle Boy. Peter also joined Esmé Euvrard as presenter of the very popular Springbok Rendezvous, and co-presented The Castle Lager Sportz Quiz.
In 1952 Peter started the first production house, Herrick Merrill Production Studios, with Dean Herrick, and they were involved in the production of the first locally produced soap operas, dramas etc. The first women's serial Linda's First Love was produced by them from scripts received from Canada. From their studios the popular programme No Place to Hide also originated, a serial which, according to Peter in an interview with Bea Reed in 1985, "changed the entire supper habits of South Africa."
From the SABC he headed on to Namibia, heading the English Service of the SWABC.
Our condolences to Linda, Peter's wife, and his children, grandchildren, family and friends. My the memories he created bring you peace.
Bea Reed, fondly referred to as the
“Golden Girl of Springbok Radio” sadly passed away on 29 January 2013.
Bea, who started her broadcasting
career in 1955 for the then English Service, joined Springbok Radio in 1958,
when she took over the program “Cascade of Stars” in the absence of Valerie
Meyer. Her enthusiasm about jazz music
mirrored in her program “Bea with me”, which soon became a very popular
programme on Springbok Radio.
In July 1960 Bea became the first
woman to be appointed as a full time Springbok announcer. In the SABC Bulletin of 18 July 1960, Bea
recalled: “I was chatting to Steve de Villiers one day, when I casually – and
jokingly – said “Hoe lyk dit met ‘n vroumens op Springbok?” Steve laughed and said they’d never really
thought of it seriously, but considered it a good idea. That was that for the time being and I forgot
all about it. Not long after, he called
me to his office and asked me if I’d like to be the first ‘vroumens’ on
Springbok. I am absolutely delighted.”
Bea was a steel buyer before she
ventured into broadcasting, and her first broadcast was during the SA Cricket
team’s visit to the UK, when she made an announcement at the conclusion of an
over. Being more than a broadcaster, she
compéred events,
e.g. the “Tots and Teens” fashion parade in 1963, of which the proceeds went to
the Cripples’ Care Association. She was
also part of a panel of judges who chose the first “Printers’ Princess” during
the first ever “Printers’ Safety Week” in 1964, and she was a judge for
“Springbok Radio’s Toy for Joy” competition in 1967.
But above all Bea was very focussed
on her family. Swiss radio engineer,
Jean-Claude stole Bea’s heart, and they married in 1960. Her own parents lived in New Zealand, so
Peter Lamsley, Springbok Radio Production Manager gave her away. They had two sons, Phillipe and Jean
Pierre. An article in the SABC Bulletin
in 1964 depicted her as always putting her husband and children first in all
things, and that she arranged her life around them. From her own mouth in the same article, came
some wisdom which we can all remember:
“If you want to work and have a family, you have to be careful or else
you’ll end up neglecting one or the other.”
For this reason she resigned as full-time announcer before the birth
Jean Pierre. And other than radio and
family, Bea loved cooking and embroidery.
Besides her popular “Family
Favourites’, Bea was also involved in “Match the Colour with Rockgrip”, and “The
Phillips Key Game”, amongst others.
As Lynn stated in an SABC Bulletin
in 1970, “Bea (was) one of those divine people who really enthuses! Life, to her, (was) one big bowl of cherries
– and she manage(d) to infect everyone around her with that same feeling.”
From Springbok Radio Revisited’s
side, a standing ovation to Bea Reed, who will keep on shining in the memories
of all who loved her.
Dawid Kruiper
(jpg cut from cameramen Byron Taylor's video material - SABC Fokus 10 June 2012)
Dawid Kruiper passed away on 13 June 2012. He was a San elder and leader of the Khoisan community in the southern Kalahari Desert. He was also one of the main players in the land claim by the #Khomani San.
Moshe Maghundu, the librarian & archivist at SABC Platfontein, remembers the following about Dawid Kruiper, a well-known personality in their district:
"Oom Kruiper lived his whole life in the Kalahari, where he was involved with many of the issues regarding the #Khomani San.
Moshe Maghundu never had personal contact with him, but he had read and heard about him, especially when he was involved with the land claim and they got their land back.
Dawid Kruipere did a lot for the San people. They see him as a well-known man, especially in the Kalahari. Dawid Kruiper was involved with the leaders of Platfontein and used to organise many meeting with the San people. His work inspired the people.
Moshe plans to do some interviews in the Kalahari when the funds become available to record the full story behind the man Dawid Kruiper."
- (Translated from Afrikaans by Karen du Toit)
The following link by the SA San Institute gives a good insight in the life of Dawid Kruiper:
The following YouTube video is an interview by SABC Radio specialist correspondent Angie who speaks to eco-adventurer and ex-SABC Radio presenter, Patrcia Glyn, on the late #Khomani San leader Dawid Kruiper:
SABC 2 Fokus also did a programme on 10 June 2012 about the Khoi and San groups of South Africa and their search for recognition. Producer Karin D'Orville did an interview with Dawid Kruiper in this programme:
YouTube - Fokus 10 June 2012 (SABC Digital News)
See photo on top by kind permission of producer Karin D'Orville.
