Do You remember Ralph?

In her book ‘Frankie & Stankie’ Barbara Trapido mentions ‘Ralph’.....‘who was at Daffy School’ and also in the local Berea Scouts as a cub. In fact he was much older than the rest of his pack and stood head and shoulders above them.

Ms Trapido’s book describes ‘growing-up’ on the Berea in Durban in the immediate post-war years and her experiences and mine intersect. I too remember Ralph but find his being described as ‘daffy’ somewhat insensitive. It’s also ironic because she leaves not doubt as to her opposition to the injustices and abuses of human rights in South Africa at the time but sees no harm in being dismissive about an unfortunate person such as Ralph…..but enough of that.

I first became aware of Ralph when I ran the Junior Cross-Country race at Glenwood High School in 1956. In those days it was a short road race using a route up McDonald Road, Princess Alice Avenue, Lamont Road and back down to the School via Manning Road. We were urged on by a man clad in brown shorts, long socks and wearing a sports jacket keeping pace with us on a bicycle. He was then (I think) in his forties and I soon learnt that Ralph’s mental development had been arrested by either injury or something like encephalitis. The poor chap had a ten year old brain in an adult and aging body.

Ralph had been part of the Berea Park mob and thus was a supporter of Durban High School (DHS) but if they had no sports fixture on or were not playing against Glenwood then he would be our man on the touch-line.

As mentioned earlier Ralph was a keen member of the Cubs. He was very proud of this but even more so when he eventually passed all his tests and became a Scout. He arrived at a match at Glenwood decked out in his full uniform very proudly wearing all his badges to show his enhanced status.

Poor dear harmless Ralph! You are a part of the collective memory of hundreds of DHS and Glenwood boys who remember you with fondness. Oh how your parents must have worried and suffered anguish over you.

Ralph was eventually knocked off his bicycle by a motor car in Essenwood Road and killed. He was lucky, in some way, never to leave the carefree days of childhood.