GALLERY: A visitor from yesteryear

JON Morrill, author of ‘Bless This House,’ which is the third edition in a brief history and recollections of Bishop’s House in Vryheid, now known as Bishop’s Guest House, recently visited Vryheid.

Mr Morrill, who was a student in the Matric Class of 1964 at Vryheid High School, spent some time at the Vryheid Tourism office with the always hospitable Alet Swanepoel, as well as Gustav Ruhrs and Elsie Moolman, recollecting memories and individuals from days gone by.

“In early 2000, former Children’s Home matron Fern Carlson gave me a few dozen photographs from her days in Africa. About nine years later I was given another set of photographs from Africa, this time by Magna Harstad (later Boyes) who also had served as matron. In the weeks following the 2010 funeral of Fern Carlson, her surviving family members graciously allowed me to have many additional photographs. All of those photographs, together with interest in the history of the TEAM Children’s Home displayed by John Carnegie, editor of the Vryheid Herald, got me interested in researching the history of the Children’s Home and the Bishop’s House in Vryheid where it was operated. Since then I have contacted literally scores of people on several continents to gather information and memories. I thank each one for helping me with this project,” states Jon in the acknowledgments of ‘Bless This House.’