Africa lures Robert Critten back to Standerton

Robert Critten returned to Standerton in a round-about way after settling in England for a number of years.

He was on tenterhooks a fortnight ago to be able to see his sister, Deirdre and two nieces, Phoebe and Izzy, who arrived from Oliver Tambo via Heathrow, for a visit to their family.

Bradley, his son, staying in Yorkshire, did not join them on this long-awaited reunion.

The pandemic played a crucial part in preventing the Crittens from a family get-together and flight cancellations had to be taken into account.

The family history has a definitive military bent to it with all the men sharing the name ‘Charles’.

“My grandson is yet to be determined,” Robert said.

He was born in Phalaborwa and the family moved to Standerton in 1990.

Standerton Primary School was responsible for his primary education, where he received a gold merit badge and did a fair amount of long distance running.

The Crittens left town in late 1991, beginning of 1992, for Nelspruit, before moving on to Vredenburg at a later stage.

“My father, a sergeant, was in civvie street in Nelspruit,” he also said.

The decision was made in 1997 to move to the UK and that did not sit well with Robert.

“I was in Standard 9 and on track to get a bursary,” Robert ruefully said.

That’s all water under the bridge since he completed an apprenticeship in electronic engineering and worked in Surrey, England for six years.

“I was ready to return to Africa at the end of 2004, but considerations about Bradley had to be juggled.

“I had to see him through school.

“I made a decision as well to not continue in that specific field.”

He worked in the winter months in England at all sorts of jobs from machine operating, construction, warehousing to removal.

“I took time off from my temporary, contractual obligations during the summer.”

A permanent position at a cell phone company, in the production side, was accepted thereafter.

“I enjoyed it at first, but towards the end of nine years, I was weary of sitting in front of television screens.”

Come 2018 and Robert was back in town where his mother lives.

His father passed away in August 2011.

“I love Africa and no matter the turmoil, it’s my home.”

Bradley has joined the air force in the meantime and Robert is currently working shifts at Meadow Feeds in town.

His profile of the ideal woman includes qualities such as being down-to-earth, with a sense of humour, no airs and graces, somewhat sporty, an intellectual capacity and most importantly, some belief in God.

Robert’s lack of patience stands in the way of learning to play the guitar properly.

“If I don’t get it the first time, I usually give up,” he admitted.

It’s on the motorbike, back in sunny South Africa, for the man who puts family first.