George is the Youngest of his Generation, There was Lorraine , Lionel (My Dad) Eric and then George. My Grandparents stayed on the Edge of District 6 , a very rough area of Cape Town. My Grand Father , was ,I gather , quite well known to some of these Gangsters.
The 3 Boys went out to play one day , with instructions from my Grandmother to look after George, they see the “Red Hand Gang “ approaching and decide to clear off. Eric and My Dad look back and realise George is not with them but still sitting on the wall where they had been, and the Gang has just reached him!
They see the Leader slap George in the face,
he goes backwards off the wall and comes back with a brick in his hand and hits the Guy in the face with it , down he goes , and evidently George asked if anyone else would like to slap him? The unanimous decision was that their valuable time could more profitably be spent elsewhere, so off they go, half carrying their previously ,fearless leader! Word spread and
My Dad and his Brother’s were not considered prime targets for aggression.
It is impossible to embarrass George, I recall at My Brother David’s Eldest Daughter, Samantha’s Wedding , George walks into the reception, sits down and say’s “ Where is Melanie’s fat sister?” (Melanie is My Brothers wife)Small voice behind him “Hello George” from Kathy, “ Oh, there you are “ and starts chatting with her. Another Occasion, I had hired his flat in Ramsgate for Chris and Myself to go on a brief holiday, says pay me when you get back. I call him when we are back , go collect him with a car, and off to an ATM in a local shopping Mall. In front of us are 2 ladies ,as they get to the front of the line , the one’s cell phone rings, she starts chatting . Stentorian voice next to me “ Don’t you hate these bitches who talk on their cells at the ATM?”
I could have sunk into the ground! George not bothered at all!
When I was a youngster my folks moved to Pretoria and George came to stay with us, I had a homework book that my parents were supposed to sign, ( I don’t think they ever saw it) I found a rubber stamp with George’s Signature on it in a draw and that was my key to the homework book , but of course the Homework itself was always “ Left at Home”!
I got into a fight at School, George hears about it ( Those Days Dustbins were made of Galvanised Iron)
Advice from my Uncle:- “Never hit a Guy with your fist , don’t you know there are lots of little easy to break bones in your hand?,
what do you think steel dirt bin lids and bricks were designed for? “
Strangely enough I have a lump on the Back of my Hand and My Son Wayne in an almost Identical place on the back of his hand as a result of breaking a small bone in the hand “ ( So George definitely knew something)
George was also pretty interested in Car’s and Bike’s ( who isn’t?) and was often a Marshal at the Old Grand Central Race Track in Half way House, and sometimes raced his 1954 Beetle around there.
When I was about 12 or 13 staying in Florida, George offered to take David and I to the new Kyalami Track . We were very excited about this . George , with a friend ,came to collect us in a Volvo ( I think a 544s ) Just before Kyalami George tells us to get in the Boot and keep quiet. I do not realise why at the time, I hear a muffled voice asking “ Could you open the Boot ,please Sir”.I hear “ Are you accusing me of being a crook, You B... B... B... !” Answer “ No Sir Go In”
George has always been a Great Uncle to have , and a lot of fun, he is not a big man but has never backed down from any one . Him and Sheelagh had 5 Kids , and I never saw anyone more devoted to his wife than George, when she departed this world, he was inconsolable, and he has never been the same.
My Grandfather died of a Broken Heart 3 months after My Grandmother passed
and at My Aunt’s Funeral , I spoke with his Daughters to keep him Busy , which they have, his 2 Sons both stay overseas , so they have kept him occupied visiting Grandchildren .
There are some really interesting Characters in My Family ( Not The End)
Oh dear uncle George :):)