The Darnall Country Club was bursting at the seams, as farmers from far and wide came to celebrate a dear friend’s retirement last weekend.
Seventy-year-old Rob Tayler has hung up his farming boots and together with his wife, Viv, will be moving across the N2 towards the sea at Zinkwazi.
“I am ready for retirement, it has been long enough. But I will still be involved to a certain extent,” said Tayler, who will stay in touch with the Darnall Farmers Association and the Mill Group.
Guest speaker and long term friend Rodger Stewart from Ballito fondly remembered the good old Darnall days with Rob.
“Tonight we celebrate a family commitment to our community that spans many years and generations,” said Stewart.
He explained that Rob’s parents – Len and Lilian Tayler – moved to Darnall and bought Humeloo after World War 2.
“I first became aware of the Tayler family as a young boy when Len built the Darnall Anglican Church.”
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Rob went to school at Kearsney and trained as a mechanic at Kempsters in preparation for a farming career. This is where they met.
“Throughout my 45 year farming career, Rob was a great neighbour always willing and able to fight any fire whether on his farm or not and at any time. Rob is a meticulous farmer with mechanical skills that make him independent of any outside mechanical input on his farm and an essential travel companion to remote places as he is a complete Mr Fix-it.”
Rob also played a big role in the Darnall Farmers Association and the Mill Group Boards of the day.
“These organizations flourished under Rob’s firm, fair and intelligent guidance. A virtue of Rob’s chairmanship is that he keeps meetings short, no doubt with an eye on the more social extension of the meeting in the pub.”
He also had a strong influence at the Darnall Club and together with Basil Hagemann and Graeme Shuker was very involved in the concept and construction of the golf course around the village using funds released from the sale of the Stanger Country Club.
Rob was the golf captain, chair of the golf committee, vice chair and vice president of the Club and has been made an honorary member too.
“Viv arrived on the Darnall scene as a novice teacher. She was one of many young lady teachers who fell for the charms of North Coast cane farmers, leading to their marriage in 1972.”
Rob and Viv have two children, Mark and David, and five grandchildren – Bryce, Rod, Livy, Max and Ben.
“Viv has made a significant impact on countless lives as a teacher for many years and a willing and capable leader of community events. We know her as a caring, concerned and cheerful helper whenever called on for her community.”
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