Walter Uncles arrived in the Lowveld as a young bachelor in 1927. Appointed by the union department of agriculture, his job was to break land and start with experimental planting at the site set aside for a future farm. This would later become the Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops of the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa.
Shortly after his arrival he earned the nickname “Oompies Uncles” thanks to the Afrikaans translation of his surname. He had it until the day he died.
Forty years after his arrival, in 1976 Uncles wrote a regular column, Oompies Remembers, in what was then The Lowvelder.
In the edition of May 28 that year he reminisced about the life and entertainment of the young and old in Nelspruit. It paints a vivid picture of early town life.
“Apart from the occasional dance in the farmers’ hall and the weekly cinema show at the same venue, there was very little entertainment available to the youth, the few that were there.
“Nevertheless they made their own fun by hiring a lorry, each person contributing one shilling. They would set off periodically on a surprise visit. With their musical instruments, to use if necessary, either to John Joubert’s farm at Granite Hill or to Paul Bester’s farm at Woodhouse. (These farms were across the Kaapsehoop Road from each other, with Granite Hill below the present Stonehenge and Woodhouse where the Nelspruit Airfield was later built).
“These venues fortunately boasted pianos and it was always possible to include a pianist who would obligingly and very willingly furnish the necessary to everybody’s satisfaction.
“The hospitality displayed by these elderly hosts and hostesses towards these uninvited revellers was truly remarkable. Until late they would be up and about to attend to these guests.
“On occasions similar outings were organised to the farm, Cromdale, of George Wilhelm and to Attie Bester whose homestead stood just above where the hospital stands today and to the Strydoms on the northern outskirts of White River including the Phyles’ farm at Karino.
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“A popular picnic spot was just below the road bridge at the Nels River where lovely pools were well patronised irrespective of the bilharzia hazard.
“The site now occupied by Old Mutual and Rob’s Motors used to boast a large hall fitted with a stage, dressing rooms as well as a cinema projector and was owned by the Lowveld Farmers Association where this organisation held its meetings.
“Very successful and jolly dances were held here, as well as political meetings and church services, since there was no church building available then.
“An Anglican minister used to periodically come down by train to cater for our spiritual needs, and proceed the next day for the same purpose to centres down the line.
“Although there were two medical practitioners residing here, who lived in the building where the Moreson Boarding House is today, namely Dr Hunter and his wife,
Dr Janet. A railway doctor used to travel up and down the valley between Waterval Boven and Komatipoort to care principally for the needs of the railway personnel.
“As far as dental services were concerned there was a resident dentist who had his consulting rooms in a backyard in First Street. Subsequently Dr Flippie Coetzee set up a practice here as well.”
We wonder if older readers could remind us where the exact stand was where the old Lowveld Farmers Association hall used to be, later occupied by Old Mutual and Rob’s Motors. Also where the Moreson Boarding House used to be.
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