| Notes |
- INITIAL MEETING FOR ROY AND SHIRLEY
Apparently Roy and Shirley Beryl Tomlinson met at a small holiday retreat on the Natal Orange Free Sate border in the early 1950's.
The retreat was located at SWINBURNE . Swinburne is a tiny village in the Orange Free State just off the N3 highway. It is located between the towns of Van Reenen and Harrismith .
• The bridge over the Wilge River in the town is the second oldest bridge in the Free State. It was completed in 1884.
• Although Swinburne itself may not offer much in the way of facilities, the surrounding area is both beautiful and a great area for hiking and climbing.
Rensburgkop Mountain dominates the surrounding skyline and is popular with climbers and hikers.
- 'Orange' granny Gladys Tomlinson (due to the rouge she applied daily to her cheeks) shuttled between her two remaining daughters following the passing of her husband Percy. Gladys would spend the year divided between the Chapman household in Ferndale, Randburg, Transvaal, and the Watkins family in Bulawayo , Rhodesia
- EDUCATION
Shirley did not achieve her matric and finished school two years early
- HEALTH
Shirley developed TB (Tubercolosis) in her teens and was apparently housebound for a significant period (one year ?).
Shirley was a lifelong smoker.
In 1996 Shirley developed emphasema, apparently in part due her teen TB illness and lifelong smoking habit. In her late 60's Shirley needed oxygen to be able to breath adequately and was largely wheelbound, and requiring a personal helper.
In her mid-to-late 40's Sherly developed an anxiety disorder and for much of the rest of her life attended regukar sessions with a phsychiatric consultant.
- LIVING LOCATIONS
• Shirley spent her youth and into her mditwenties residing with her parents and sisters in ? Durban.
• Circa 1954 Shirley moved to and lived in Manchester for approx two years circa 1954/55 with her fiance/boyfriend Roy Roywhilst working for Metrolopolitan Vickers
• Upon Roy and Shirley's return to South Africa in late 1955, Roy joined ESKOM and Shirley and were relocated to Colenso, Natal for approximately two years.
• Roy and Shirley then rented a house for approx two years in Kensington, Johannesburg when Roy was relocated by ESKOM to Johannesburg.
• In 1959 Roy and Shirley moved to a newly constructed house on a one acre block located at 200 Surrey Avenue, Randburg.
• In 1982 the Surrey Ave property was subdivided into two approx equal blocks, and a new house was built on the subdivided block facing 35 Cross Street, Ferndale Randburg. The Chapman family relocated to the new 35 Cross St house, and the 200 Surrey ave facing house was rented/leased to tenants and subsequently sold.
• Shirley passed away ion May 1998, and roy remained residing at 35 Corss St.
- TRAVEL TO EUROPE
Circa 1954 Shirley travlled to the Manchester United Kingdom to join Roy , who was compelting an apprenticeship with Metropolitan Vickers in Manchester.
At one stage during this time Roy and Shirley travelled around much of Europe on a motorbike.
- CAREER
• Shirley trained and worked as a switchboard/operator/receptionist in Durban until she moved to Manchester (circa 1954) to join Roy Chapman.
• Shirley worked for Taylor Brothers & Co , a steel manufacturing company in Trafford Park, Manchester.
• Upon returning to South Africa with Roy, Shirley become a homecarer following the birth of her oldest son, Denholme in 1956. Shirley did not return to work until a number of years after the birth of her last son Curtis in 1962.
• Shirley then worked as a 'switchie' (switchboard operator) for Transcarbon in Booysens Johannesburg.
• Shirley also worked for ??? in Booysens until retirement.
• Following retirement Shirley joined Roy in operating four laundromats in Blairgowrie, Randpark, Linden and Parkhurst.
- THE FARM
1) 'The farm'
In 1972 the Chapman family purchased a smallholding farm at Moonooi; Marikana; Transvaal (now Gauteng),
Size was approx 20 hectares with one third leading up into the hills, and 2/3s being a narrow strip extending down to the stream which ran through the bottom of the property.
Funds for the purchase were obtained by means of Court approval for the sale of Natal south Coast property left to Denholme by his grandfather Bertie Frank Chapman.
The farm was managed by 'Koos', a coloured person who had lived on the farm previously. Koos and his family occupied (rent free) an adobe house erected slightly up the slope and away from the very old main house.
There was no electricity, although a diesel generator was on-site and could work from time to time ; toilet facilities were supported by a septic tank installed shortly after the farm was acquired (prior to this was the use of a bee-ridden 'long drop' located a couple oof meters from the house).
The Chapman family travelled to the farm very second weekend from 1972 to 1974 ; except for during the Rugby season (1st team games were played on Saturday afternoons)
- PETS
Pet animals were a big thing in the household of Roy and Shirley and their three sons.
Dogs
Dogs were a constant throughout the time of the boys growing up and beyond.
• Skippy (1950's)
• Poogy Too Tong (a stubby long shortlegged hairy fellow)
• Candy
• Peanuts
• Git (named after a dog in a movie), and the superstar animal of the family - a mixed breed part Rhodesian ridgeback, Git was around at the time that the farm was purchased and accompanied the family to the farm every weekend. Passed away quietly under a bush in the front garden at Surrey Ave in 1975, and was buried on the property.
• Chi chi (a pomeranaian)
• Pavlov ( huge mild mannered doberman pincher)
Cats
• Susie Wong adopted the family. A beautiful black and white cat.
• Tiger a ling haired burmese, who lived into her 20's.
Horse
• A massive grey/white horse who was acquired shortly after the farm was purchased and lived in the wild upper parts of the farm. As teh family only attended the farm every second weekend, Lady became quite challenging to attempt to ride. Lady gave birth to a short-lived daughter.
Pigs
Pigs were acquired for the farm and tended to become pets; also short-lived.
Calves
Three Calves were acquired for the farm and tended to become pets; also short-lived.
Chickens/Turkeys/Ducks
Multiple chickens were acquired for the farm was were ducks and turkeys giving rise to a unique 'turken' (a combination Chicken/Turkey)
Parakeets/budgies
These were all acquired for the farm at various stages and most were relatively short-lived. The Parakeets survived into the 19980s and were brought back to Surrey Ave after the famr was sold (in 1988)
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AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees
1928 - 1998 (69 years)
