In Memory
Pat Taylor
Denzil Andrews:
Pat played first team rugby with us and was a firey red head. Phil is spot on with his info - Phil was he not shot down over Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in a commercial airline by the terrs?
He had a brother John(?) who was older than Pat - I well remember John returning on an army pass to find Pat had sold his casual gear to provide him with smokes. Pat was a lovable lad, sorely missed.
Cedric Parker
Comment from Phil Harvey:
As far as I know Pat was a journalist with the Sunday Times when he died in his late 20’s.
If you remember Pat had red hair and was a 1st team lock.
Cedric Parker
Comment from Ann Peacock (Pat's sister):
He was my brother. I saw the erroneous info on the post. I'd like to correct it. He was a journalist in Johannesburg and was killed in a car accident in 1988. It was an awful tragedy as he had a young family of five children. My older brother John Taylor who also went to DHS, is a GP in Addo.
Lionel Cason (Class Of 1967)
I remember Pat Taylor , Basil Palmer , Des De Swart in January all on a train off to the Air Force Gymnasium.That was in 1968.
He was a natural entreprenuer, as he and Basil Palmer would waite at the fence for the new intakes that had AWOL'd , and catch them as they climbed over, and impersonating a officer would sollicit admission of guilt fines , or face 6 months in DB or a hanging whatever was their fancy on the night.
Then we got posted and I never saw him again
Ann Taylor (Peacock (Sister Of Pat Taylor))
That sounds about typical of Patrick. He had a great sense of humour and this incident you describe would have been a huge joke. Do you know what happened to Bas Palmer because I remember he was a good friend of Patrick's.
Lionel Cason (Class Of 1967)
Basil is in Johannesburg and worked in Finance/Nedbank I think, also Insurance .I have seen him at reunions etc and can get his details should you want them.
Basil and I went from class 1 to Matric together , but havent seen him in about 5 years .
Murray Clark
I also remember Pat well and sad he moved on so early.
I see Basil Palmer from time to time, he is also a member at Country Club Johannesburg. I have his mobile number if anyone would like it. I must talk to him about getting onto this site. I also bump into Hilton Davidson from time to time but I think he was a year later.
Denzil Andrews
Hi Lionel, MurrayThanks for your updates - I can just imagine Pat pulling the piss out of the new rookies!!
Murray I would appreciate Basil's updated details and anyone else you might bump into - had him as palmerb@sha.co.za Yep Hilton or more commonly know as "Nod" was a year behind and I believe is now an SA Airways pilot
Festive season greetings to all
Lionel Cason (Class Of 1967)
A certain master who will remain anonymous as he later became the Head , used to refer to the Band as the Hitler Youth!!!
Murray Clark
Denzil, good to hear from you and Happy New Year to you. I only have Basil's mobile number which is 083 326 7880. I think he has retired as he sems to play golf most Tuesday mornings!!
Hilton Davidson has just retired from SAA. Interestingly, about two years ago I boarded a flight in New York and while I was fiddling around getting myself settled I heard this booming voice saying "I will not have hooligans on my Plane, get off!!!!" It was Hilton, who then burst into a big grin and warmly shook my hand. Needless to say there was a huge sigh of relief from the whole Business Class cabin when they realised there was not going to be an "incident!"
His mobile number is 082 555 7721
Lionel Cason (Class Of 1967)
Murray , same thing happened to Boots Coutts in SAAF. Helicopter came to pick them up and Hilton was the pilot!!
Bootsie jokingly refused to get into the chopper with : "that "' pilot!!