The story of a remarkable man

At 94, Brian Stone is our second oldest resident. Notwithstanding his age, this delightful man is physically strong and has an astonishing memory for names, places and events.

Brian was born in Johannesburg on 1 April 1920, and grew up on the farm Hanover, near Settlers. His father bought the farm in 1918 after he sold the Agnes goldmine, which he owned in the Barberton area.

Brian's mother and father on their way to Warmbaths in their Model T Ford

When he reached school going age in 1926(?), his parents sent him to Mrs. Duffy's private school where he and three other children received tuition in English, the only English medium education available in the area. He clearly remembers being taken to school on horseback by a farm labourer called Dafoe. After a few years Mrs. Duffy left and he was sent to Lleweni School, an English medium private school in Naboomspruit.

Brian at 14

Brian left school after he passed Standard Six. He desperately wanted to farm but his mother insisted that he should learn a trade. He reluctantly joined the Witwatersrand Gold Mine, hoping to become an apprentice electrician. Here he struck up a working relationship with a miner called Hastings Banda, who later became the President of Malawi. After a year he returned to Warmbaths and briefly became an apprentice blacksmith at Warmbaths Blacksmith and Engineering, owned by Mr. Johan Eekhout. 

"To my delight," Brian says wryly, " I twisted my knee in a cricket match and the doctor pronounced me unfit to become a blacksmith."

He returned to Hanover, where he farmed successfully for 70 years.

Brian is a public spirited man. As Chairman of the Lord Milner School Committee, he was the driving force behind efforts to establish the Settlers Agricultural High School.

"The area was badly in need of an agricultural high school," Brian says. "I was so persistent that the Transvaal Education Department eventually relented. In 1969 the finishing touches were put to the school." 

The School Committee offered to name the school after him, but he declined. Later, however, one of the boarding establishments was named after him.

The Brian Stone Hostel at Settlers Agricultural High School

Brian is proud of his membership of the Automobile Association, which he joined in 1937, and Barclays Bank (now First National Bank, which he joined 75 years ago. He was also awarded Northern Transvaal colours in bowls.

Hazel, Brian's first wife, passed away in 1991. Their marriage was blessed with 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He and his charming present wife, Wendy, were married in 1996. Their romance blossomed while playing bowls. She had assumed a position in the accounts section of Settlers Agricultural High School after moving to South Africa from Zambia. Wendy had 4 sons and 6 grandchildren.

Brian and Wendy Stone