Yet another couple from afar retires to Warmbad Renaissance

After investigating many retirement options from Cape Town to Nelspruit, Vossie and Des Vos decided on Warmbad Renaissance as their retirement village of choice. Reasons for their decision include affordability, well-kept grounds (despite the current searing drought), a magnificent Bushveld setting, proximity to Pretoria and O R Tambo International Airport, a roomy unit, friendly residents, to name but a few.

Des en Vossie Vos

Without further ado, they asked a property consultant to market their property in Vaal Marina in order to move into U111.

Des was born in Springs 67 years ago. However, her family soon moved to the former Transkei where she grew up. After matriculating at King Edward High School in Matatiele, she was employed as a telephonist by the GPO before joining Premier Milling. Here she advanced through the ranks, eventually becoming a stalwart in the accounting department.

Des's alma mater

Vossie (65) was born in Maclear in East Griqualand, and grew up on a farm in the Ugie district. He attended Ugie High School where he matriculated. After a spell with the GPO, he also joined Premier Milling and rose to the position of area sales manager, first in Butterworth and later in East London.

Vossie's heimat

This charming couple are keen caravanners who have spent many happy holidays in the Bushveld.

Vossie and Des were married in King Williams Town 41 years ago. They have 4 children and four grandchildren.

Jan van Blerk is 'n skilder van formaat

"Spaar water. Stof af" was die opskrif van hierdie spotprent wat op 24 Mei 1983 in Die Vaderland verskyn het.

Spotprent van rdl. Max Neppe

Dié skets is een van vele wat ons eie Jan van Blerk (E106) tydens sy termyn as ‘n lid van die Johannesburgse stadsraad van mede-raadslede verewig het. Die spotprent beeld rdl. Max Neppe uit gedurende die nypende watertekort wat in die tagtigerjare landwyd geheers het.

Jan is ‘n skilder van formaat. In die Van Blerks se wooneenheid pryk talle skilderye wat hy oor die jare heen geskilder het

Jean en Jan van Blerk by sommige van Jan se skilderye

In dieselfde uitgawe van Die Vaderland, berig Mariska Spoormaker dat ses voormalige bugemeesters van Johannesburg spog met portretstudies wat Jan van hulle tydens hulle ampsjare geskilder het.

In 1975 het hy een van sy skilderye aan ‘n voormalige Springbok-rugbykaptein, dr. Dawie de Villiers, geskenk. Dr. De Villiers was toentertyd Suid-Afrika se ambassadeur in Londen. Hy skryf aan Jan: "Die kwaggas en die rustigheid van die veld laat ‘n mens se hart met ‘n punt trek."

Selfportret (1982)

Jan sê hy was van kindsbeen af lief vir kuns. As plaaskind het hy op leiklippe geskets en kleiosse gemaak. Dit was so gewild dat hy dit later op bestelling vir maatjies gemaak het.

Later het hy ‘n handelskunstenaar geword nadat hy ‘n driejaarkursus in kuns aan die Kaapse Kunskollege voltooi het.

Yet another (former) teacher makes our village her home

Sue Spark

Bubbly Sue Spark (59) recently took up residence in U51. Her neighbours have already made contact with her, almost certainly in response to her cheerful, positive nature.

“Warmbad Renaissance already feels like home,” she says.

Sue was born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, but soon moved to Port Elizabeth where she spent the next forty years of her life. Here she matriculated at Theodor Herzl High School before enrolling at the Port Elizabeth College of Education, where she obtained an education diploma in higher primary education, specialising in physical education.

After qualifying as a teacher, she taught at her old school for eight years.

Sue resigned from her teaching job to join Kentucky Fried Chicken, becoming their training manager. After working in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, she moved to Bela-Bela.

Her husband, Maurice, passed away four years ago. She has a son, Alan who lives in Port Elizabeth with her daughter-in-law, Candice. Her daughter, Melanie, lives in Cape Town. To top it all, she is the doting grandmother of Leah.