Harry Crichton remembered

Condolences poured in for Harry, a man known by several local residents because of his business dealings and involvement in the community.

“We were sorry to hear of Harry’s passing. He was a true gentleman and a friend of Kensington. He was well liked, loved and respected by all Kensington residents who knew him and knew of him,” said Mr Lornette Joseph, chairperson of the I Love Kensington Association (Ilka).

Harry was born on May 29, 1920 in Brakpan. He was the second child of Willie and Kate Crichton.

Under Scottish tradition his elder brother was named Norman Turner after his mother’s father. When Harry was born his father asserted himself and named him Harry. He was named after his father’s younger brother who was killed by a cricket ball to the head when he was young.

In the late 1920s work was hard to find and the family moved to the Lakeview district of Bloemfontein on to a small holding. Here they raised chickens and bartered with neighbours for milk and meat.

The search was on for water and Harry and his brothers were kept busy sinking bores and digging wells, dynamiting where necessary.

In 1936 his father was offered work in Johannesburg and the family, except Harry, moved into a house in Kitchener Avenue, Kensington.

Harry stayed on with friends until year’s end and until he had completed his schooling at Brebner High School.

Harry worked briefly in Johannesburg before joining the army where he served from September 27, 1940 to November 16, 1945.

He served in Abyssinia and in an anti-aircraft battery in Egypt and Libya. In the retreat from Libya to El Alameine, Harry’s unit bypassed Tobruk. They avoided the Tobruk surrender and capture by Field Marshall Rommel’s troops.

Harry’s famous quote about this time in the army was when his friends said, “Not to worry unless the enemy’s bullet had the name Harry on it.”

Harry’s response was that he was afraid of the enemy’s bullet marked, “To whom it may concern.”

After a spell of leave in South Africa, Harry returned to the war and saw out the Italian campaign in the infantry.

Harry worked in the insurance industry, printed letterbox pamphlets and dance tickets and ran a Sunday night dance at the La Famia Club.

Harry settled down when he and wife, Nancy (May 4, 1920 to January, 19, 1993), took on a United Building Society franchise, later known as Absa Bank, and a real estate business called Kensington Property Sales (Pty) Ltd.

He purchased the business and ran it from December 1968 to March 2005 at which time the business was relocated to Bedfordview and renamed KPS Management Services (Pty) Ltd. The business continues today under the management of son, Bruce, who joined the company in August 1975.

Harry became patron of several sporting clubs, school committees, a MOTH and Free Mason, played outdoor bowls and was at one time the chief of the Eastern Caledonian Society. As chairman of the Kensington Rates Association for numerous years, he unofficially became known as the “Mayor of Kensington”.

Harry and Nancy travelled extensively through Europe and he had a peacetime visit to the North African war zone and a trip to Australia to share his 85th birthday celebrations with three of his siblings.

“Ilka thanks Harry for everything he did for Kensington and its residents. We are honoured that he played such a huge part in building this community. “I had the opportunity to speak to Harry a few times before his passing. He always spoke highly of Kensington and its residents. I am sure that everyone joins me in wishing his family peace and strength over this difficult time and know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Harry’s memorial was held last week in Kensington.