Fidler in the Hood: The lifetime achievement award goes to …

GREETINGS, fellow citizens. Another day, another dollar. Being the Uvongo scribe really is a labour of love, but it’s the unpaid perks of the job that makes it a pleasurable side-line. Like meeting wonderful, interesting and kind people who make this a great place. Yes, local authorities are infuriating with their indifference to service delivery, but, what the heck, you only live once, so make the very best of it. On with the show.

ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: Your vote could tip the scales for Uvongo

Big John’s special

It was an honour and pleasure to share in the ‘big 70’ birthday celebrations of local hero Johnny Louch. The man has contributed so much to the well-being of others that he deserves high praise. Through the marvellous charity organisation ExPro, Johnny has raised money for many a deserving cause or for individuals who needed a helping hand in later life.

Some 80 invited guests and friends attended Johnny’s special occasion with a well-organised evening and dinner at the Margate Bowling Club last Saturday night. When he phoned, he thought it might be a problem for your scribe because it was the same night as the European Champions.

The response was something to the effect ‘Hold it there, John. It’s only Liverpool and Spurs, so there’s no question: we’ll be at the party. If it had been Manchester City playing, well, maybe that might have been a different matter.’ Honestly!

Blast from the past

It was a great evening. Upon arrival the CO and your scribe were informed that they would be sitting with Bobby Chalmers and Erroll Mann, two of South Africa’s finest footballers. The legendary Bobby  was certainly in fine form, talking football. What a delight, turning back the clock to the days of when South African football was in its heyday.

Names from the past came fast and furious: Roger Coetzee, Richard Allen, Freddie Kalk, Charlie Gough, Les Salton, to mention but a few. Any thoughts about the Scousers and Spurs were quickly kicked into touch, although the televised match was being televised in the adjacent bar.

Janet and John

But this was Johnny’s evening. Songs of praise; tributes and birthday messages from near and far were heaped on Johnny, much to Johnny’s self-effacing modesty.

A family man through and through, Johnny received ‘live’ messages from family in New Zealand, who couldn’t make the event. Life-long friends queued up to pay tribute to thei well-respected buddy.

In reply, Our Man in Margate thanked everyone for attending and paid a special tribute to the light of his life, his lovely wife Janet. It was a great evening: many thanks to the original Janet and John.

No anthems, please

The evening was made so much better as the European final between Spurs and Liverpool was a poor match, dire to watch. Justice … and the decision to attend Johnny’s shindig was justified. You must do it again, Johnny; say, maybe 10 years from now. But, please, no singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – it being the Liverpool national anthem. Great evening, great food, great company. It doesn’t get better than this.

Anti-social behaviour

You know, some people here are really ‘anti-social’: After a two-year hiatus, your scribe phoned Wally and Hazel Williams of Shelly Beach to invite them to a braai last Saturday night, starting at 9pm. Hazel hesitated. ‘Oh, Rob, I’m not sure we can make it. Wally be watching his beloved Liverpool in the final.’ Then she figured it out: it was a joke, of course. The call was to wish Wally good luck for the game, hoping his Liverpool would win (liar, liar, pants on fire!)

All’s well that ends well. Red-shirted Wally’s wishes came true. Honestly, these football fanatics: no sense of priorities. Congratulations should also be afforded to one David (You’ll Never Walk Alone) Rush from Oslo Beach, who seems to be afflicted with the same Scouse soccer disease.

ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: Life is beautiful

The Village People

At last Friday night’s monthly Ramsgate Lions quiz, our team lost again, coming joint second along with an all-fairer-sex team named The Villagers. No prizes for guessing from whence they came, but the names Aileen Ward, Gail Nunn, Jill Brent and Liz Curran should provide a clue. The winners were the B-Squares, a great combination who seem to win hands down all the time. However, they were gracious enough to hand their winners’ prize to The Villagers. A fine sporting gesture.

See you, Rob.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram