I am so sorry to hear that Howard Melville has passed on. Please tell us more about how when and where he died.
Howard was a keen member of the Scouts and he and I had an adventure in about 1963 when we both nearly ended up at the bottom of an Umgeni gorge with several large rocks on top of us. We were climbing out of the gorge, having tried to find a way down into it with the intention of following the valley back to Durban, when a scout up ahead of the line of about seven of us, dislodged a large rock (about 2ft cubic). I heared a shout "chips, rock!" and then became aware of Howard circling over my head closely followed by the rock, which bounced near my leg, very nearly pulverising it. Howard landed ahead of the slower moving monster, on a ledge about four meters below me. The rock again bounced, this time missing his head by inches Had it connected with his head he would have died instantly. It was closely followed by a sliver of the main projectile which was more accurate, unfortunately, striking him a glancing blow on the forehead, opening a nasty cut. Our scout leaders put what they had learned in first aid into action, attending to us both. My leg looked broken but clearly was not because I could limp back up to the top, with help. There we found the road and some sight see-ers who kindly drove us back to Durban and to our somewhat alarmed parents.
This incident has lived on strongly in my memory. I have often wondered what had become of Howard. I am sorry we have missed the opportunity to communicate through this great web-site.
Howard's father was a DHSOB from Langley's time and once told me he thought standards had gone downhill because there wasn't enough caning. I can only surmise that Howard and his younger siblings were either getting off lightly or weren't reporting to him the inevitable floggings we all received.
I remember the name Melville but don't have any information about his passing but just to comment on how the passage of time changes how we live and our culture-two things. I haven't heard the term"Chips" as a warning for many a decade-haha!! Also the remark about how DHS had gone downhill because there wasn't enough caning-Hillarious!! Our late friend Baden was once seen coming out of Empire Billiard Saloon in field street by one of his Fathers Masonic friends. he went up to Woody and said-"If I ever see you coming out of this place again i am going to tell your Father"!!!!
Graham Bell (Class Of 1964)
I am so sorry to hear that Howard Melville has passed on. Please tell us more about how when and where he died.
Howard was a keen member of the Scouts and he and I had an adventure in about 1963 when we both nearly ended up at the bottom of an Umgeni gorge with several large rocks on top of us. We were climbing out of the gorge, having tried to find a way down into it with the intention of following the valley back to Durban, when a scout up ahead of the line of about seven of us, dislodged a large rock (about 2ft cubic). I heared a shout "chips, rock!" and then became aware of Howard circling over my head closely followed by the rock, which bounced near my leg, very nearly pulverising it. Howard landed ahead of the slower moving monster, on a ledge about four meters below me. The rock again bounced, this time missing his head by inches Had it connected with his head he would have died instantly. It was closely followed by a sliver of the main projectile which was more accurate, unfortunately, striking him a glancing blow on the forehead, opening a nasty cut. Our scout leaders put what they had learned in first aid into action, attending to us both. My leg looked broken but clearly was not because I could limp back up to the top, with help. There we found the road and some sight see-ers who kindly drove us back to Durban and to our somewhat alarmed parents.
This incident has lived on strongly in my memory. I have often wondered what had become of Howard. I am sorry we have missed the opportunity to communicate through this great web-site.
Howard's father was a DHSOB from Langley's time and once told me he thought standards had gone downhill because there wasn't enough caning. I can only surmise that Howard and his younger siblings were either getting off lightly or weren't reporting to him the inevitable floggings we all received.
Geoff Caruth
Hi Graham
I remember the name Melville but don't have any information about his passing but just to comment on how the passage of time changes how we live and our culture-two things. I haven't heard the term"Chips" as a warning for many a decade-haha!! Also the remark about how DHS had gone downhill because there wasn't enough caning-Hillarious!! Our late friend Baden was once seen coming out of Empire Billiard Saloon in field street by one of his Fathers Masonic friends. he went up to Woody and said-"If I ever see you coming out of this place again i am going to tell your Father"!!!!
Cheers
Geoff