Who can forget Dougie McDonald, with the penetrating loud voice, the square features and the sad whithered arm that was a misfortune of his birth? I knew Dougie for all of our time together at 11th Durban Air Scouts. In our teenage years we became good friends and dated two girls who were neighbours. He had a strange family life, living for long stretches in hotels on the Berea. His older brother went to the Congo to join the mercenaries and came back with deafness from an explosion, and I believe a piece of metal in his body. After school Dougie worked as an auctioneer at the market. Then I lost contact and was devastated to hear he had died so young.
Dougie had his handicaps but he had a heart of gold.
Cedric, I remember Colin Birbeck telling me Dougie had died of cancer of the throat, when he was relatively young (mid 30s?).
I didn't really know Doug well, but he attended Morningside School at the top of Tremation Drive and was very well thought of by all the teachers. The only reason I know this is because my late mother taught there in the '50s, 60's and 70's and she greatly admired his guts and determination despite his handicap.
I also rememebr Dougie from 11th Dbn Air Scots and School. He had a powerful punch which few saw. I also remember him cycling using only one hand except when he got tired (seldom) or was pulling up hill. Indigfatible and a good friend to those who knew him.
I met Doug in std3 at Morningside in 1959. I was a new boy, a Pommy from Kenya.He picked a fight with me, to settle the pecking order.I had never had a fight before, but I knew you didn't hit a cripple.I didn't have to decide very much. He gave me a few powerful whacks alongside the head with his flipper, a built-in baton & put me in a headlock.Game over, give up.
I became very good friends with Dougie in the Florida Road Air Scouts, where we were together for 7 years.
He never gave up. He had incredibly strong legs, & he shone in athletics & particularly in our 5-a-side soccer team.He was just by his presence a huge motivator & encourager. He fully embraced our ethos of 'it's for the good of the Troop', & never flagged in his enthusiasm.He attained his Springbok Scout Badge, & continued to serve the Troop by becoming an Assistant Scout Master.
He played a pretty good type of power snooker that suited him entirely.
.We remember Grilla with Love.
I've posted some Troop photos that include Dougie in my profile
the first time i met dougie was in mitchell park about 1954 or there abouts. my brother and a sister of mine were in the park. something happened and the next thing i knew there was this fellow with a withered right arm but a very strong left arm, having a dispute with my brother (who is older than me). then dougie said i will hammer you. to my brother, so my sister who was older than my brother asked dougie how he was going to do that because she cant see any hammer with him.. but he continued .. i will hammer you, so my sister lynette asked him where his hammer was a number of times. he eventually left. later we were to see each other many times through school, and we were in the same class in dhs where the guys would ask him to... bowl him out dougie.. to which he would agree. and dougie would bowl with his affected arm, to everyones amusement and his as well...he had a good sense of humour and could laugh at himself..
the last time i saw him he was working for pep stores in a factory of theres in mobeni i think it was.., i seem to recall it was a shoe factory . . we spent some time chatting then from there i never saw him again. now i cant remember if that was in the late sixties or early seventies. but he was a fun and good guy. i often wondered what had happened to him
Graham Bell (Class Of 1964)
Who can forget Dougie McDonald, with the penetrating loud voice, the square features and the sad whithered arm that was a misfortune of his birth? I knew Dougie for all of our time together at 11th Durban Air Scouts. In our teenage years we became good friends and dated two girls who were neighbours. He had a strange family life, living for long stretches in hotels on the Berea. His older brother went to the Congo to join the mercenaries and came back with deafness from an explosion, and I believe a piece of metal in his body. After school Dougie worked as an auctioneer at the market. Then I lost contact and was devastated to hear he had died so young.
Dougie had his handicaps but he had a heart of gold.
Cedric, I remember Colin Birbeck telling me Dougie had died of cancer of the throat, when he was relatively young (mid 30s?).
Cedric Parker
Do you know when and how he died Graham?
Stan Coffey
I didn't really know Doug well, but he attended Morningside School at the top of Tremation Drive and was very well thought of by all the teachers. The only reason I know this is because my late mother taught there in the '50s, 60's and 70's and she greatly admired his guts and determination despite his handicap.
Andrew Macgregor
I also rememebr Dougie from 11th Dbn Air Scots and School. He had a powerful punch which few saw. I also remember him cycling using only one hand except when he got tired (seldom) or was pulling up hill. Indigfatible and a good friend to those who knew him.
Cedric Parker
Thanks for that update Graham
Anthony Hay-Buchanan
Doug Macdonald. Grilla.
I met Doug in std3 at Morningside in 1959. I was a new boy, a Pommy from Kenya.He picked a fight with me, to settle the pecking order.I had never had a fight before, but I knew you didn't hit a cripple.I didn't have to decide very much. He gave me a few powerful whacks alongside the head with his flipper, a built-in baton & put me in a headlock.Game over, give up.
I became very good friends with Dougie in the Florida Road Air Scouts, where we were together for 7 years.
He never gave up. He had incredibly strong legs, & he shone in athletics & particularly in our 5-a-side soccer team.He was just by his presence a huge motivator & encourager. He fully embraced our ethos of 'it's for the good of the Troop', & never flagged in his enthusiasm.He attained his Springbok Scout Badge, & continued to serve the Troop by becoming an Assistant Scout Master.
He played a pretty good type of power snooker that suited him entirely.
.We remember Grilla with Love.
I've posted some Troop photos that include Dougie in my profile
Lou-Fran Duncan
the first time i met dougie was in mitchell park about 1954 or there abouts. my brother and a sister of mine were in the park. something happened and the next thing i knew there was this fellow with a withered right arm but a very strong left arm, having a dispute with my brother (who is older than me). then dougie said i will hammer you. to my brother, so my sister who was older than my brother asked dougie how he was going to do that because she cant see any hammer with him.. but he continued .. i will hammer you, so my sister lynette asked him where his hammer was a number of times. he eventually left. later we were to see each other many times through school, and we were in the same class in dhs where the guys would ask him to... bowl him out dougie.. to which he would agree. and dougie would bowl with his affected arm, to everyones amusement and his as well...he had a good sense of humour and could laugh at himself..
the last time i saw him he was working for pep stores in a factory of theres in mobeni i think it was.., i seem to recall it was a shoe factory . . we spent some time chatting then from there i never saw him again. now i cant remember if that was in the late sixties or early seventies. but he was a fun and good guy. i often wondered what had happened to him