|
Joan Irwin
a teacher in Ladysmith, Natal who returned to Ireland
a lot of the things are related to her time teaching at Keate Street School
I've put everything in chronological order
  
Joan's Hair
1950s
 
  
  
1
2
3
4
1) 3rd August 1952 Besoek o/? - Wishing you a Bon Voyage from Mr. & Mrs.
Grobbelaal? & Mercia, 51 Newcastle Road, Ladysmith
2) 8th July 1955 Miss V. J. Irwin from U.K. to Durban by the Edinburgh
Castle on 14th July 1955 to embark on ?0 June -
3) Union Castle Line, H. L. Kidman Esq., Solicitor, Sicily? Smith, Natal -
Dear her Kidman, An acquaintance of mine is going to Ladysmith to teach and
as she knows no-one in South Africa I was wondering if you could possibly
introduce her to a few of the local residents of Ladysmith. As it is a good
number of years since I was in ? I expect you have forgotten me. I was
assistant inspector in Durban? for the Collieries ? ? ? I .........? Should
I be fortunate enough to visit ? in the near future I would like to call on
you again and say Hello. Kind regards, Yours sincerely, ? ?
4) R.M.S. "Edinburgh Castle" Dinner Monday 25th July 1955 - Farewell Dinner
Wednesday 27th July 1955 - signed names: ones I can make out -
Salmon, Rouchetti, Leaz, Lord, Ciarain, Burke, Mr. Wolfe ?, Dola, Stokes,
Veronica Janga?, Burke, Freeman, Adamson, Shirley, Peterson, Bellamy,
Stephens, Stein, Abbott or Ibbott
  
 
1
2
3
4
5
1) The Victoria Falls Hotel Miss Itein Irwin Room 134
(13/5/54)
2) 5th January 1956 Postmark Thornhill Sta. to Miss Joan Irwin, c/o
Post Office, Stilbaal West, Cape, Grahamstown Post Restante -
14.1.56 c/o Savannah, Thornhill, P. Elizabeth, 4th Jan. Have you a letter to
Grahamstown. I hope to soon have a car. Please let me take you back to
Ladysmith. I would hate to do it alone! I would spend night in G. town & we
could leave early Weds. morning 18th. Please say yes. Love, Ruth, Reply
soon.
3) 27th June 1956 Postmark Ladysmith, Natal - UD Safaris - Irwin PO Box 397
LadysmithNatal - Only vacancies July 19th Special Eastern Rhodesia Tour
eleven days £49-10-0 which omits Victoria Falls or with another company
July, First Victoria Falls and Kurger Park Twelve Day Tour £55 Please reply
Tourizon = Horizon Safaris
4) 1st July 1956 Postmark Pmaritzburg? to Miss Irwin, c/o Mrs. Hattingh P.O.
Box 397, Ladysmith, Natal - c/o Mrs. Wilson, 337 Sanctuary Road, P.M.B. Many
many thanks for yr. letter. Am down here till the 9th, actually leave on the
10th. Could you possibly come down for a day or so, so I could see you
before you go? Have been down to the Show, do try to make it, but I'm sure
you are up to the eyes in seeing all you can & getting collected to leave.
All the worse for us. Shall write later. What fun your colour cameras
projector must be. Tons of love to Joan
5) 4th July 1956 Postmark Louistrichardt? to Mrs. V. V. Irwin, 36 Edgcumbe
Gardens, Strandtown, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Tues. 3rd July. Haven't
seen any of these yet, think there are none in the Park or Pack. Jackals,
hippo, warthog were added to our list this morning. Wish I could spend more
time here & go round slowly. Love Joan
 
  
1
2
3
4
1) July 8, 1956 Passenger Ticket Victoria Falls, Miss Irwin
2) 11th July 1956 Postmark Rhodesia to Mrs. V. V. Irwin, Whitecroft, 36
Edgcumbe Gardens, Strandtown, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Tues. 10th July.
Just leaving the Falls - they live up to their reputation! Hope my colour
slides come out as well as this. In haste. Joan
3) 21st July 1956 Postmark ? S.A. to Miss J. Irwin, P.O. Box 397, Ladysmith,
Natal - Dear Joan, I hope you didn't have too bad a train journey back and
that you had some sleep. We eventually got down to Dunbar on Sat after a bit
of car trouble, just after leaving Ladysmith the car stopped & we had to be
towed into Colen?? where we had a 4 hr wait while the car was fixed, so
needless to say it was dark by the time we go to Durban. We didn't manage to
see our friends in P.M. so will have to stop there on the way back so I'm
afraid we won't have time to stop in Ladysmith. I hope you have a good trip
back home, I hope to hear from you sometime, love Margaret
4) 7th August 1956 Miss V. J. Irwin Johannesburg, Belgian Air Lines
1
2
3
4
5
1) With greetings from Astrid Xmas 1956
2) 11th July 1957 to Miss J. Irwin, 36 Edgcumbe Gardens, Belfast < (scored
out and a new address written in red but its very smudged) - 6.7.57 on banks
of Zambezi 100 yds above Eastern cataract. Thanks for tip about buying
animals, here we are camping in Rest Camp 4 miles up river on S. side. They
are just too fantastic, wish I could see your slides again. Have you a nice
print of them? I'll write you a letter when I return ..... Love ...
3) 31st December 1957 Postmark Wallsend, Northumberland to Miss J. Irwin,
Whitecroft, Edgcumbe Gardens, Strandtown, Belfast, Northern Ireland -
30.12.57 Thank you very much for your letter & the calendar. I love hunting
scenes! Life once more a hectic rush - packing at last all done. Have really
loved this year here. Will post your book to the school address -
"Everyman's Guide" I shall pass on your messages to the staff. Sail on the
Winchester on 2nd Jan. Love Bobby
4) 15th July 1958 Postmark Table Mountain to Miss V. J. Irwin, Whitecroft,
36 Edgecombe Gardens, Strandtown, Belfast, N. Ireland -
5) 3rd October 1959 Diana Hattingh, Ladysmith ~ Paul de Beer, Adelaide are
getting married D.V. 3rd October 1959 in the D.R. Church, Ladysmith -
15-7-58 Hullo Joan, I'm on the summit, a glorious blue day & we're having a
wonderful time staying at the Overseas Club where you & I had coffee -
remember?! Out to Constantia this afternoon, & we had a grand trip down.
Hope you're well. Write soon, wish you were with us. Much Love Joan
1960s
            
Christmas Cards 1967
Astrid with love Xmas 1967 - Love from Ruth & Eric - Love Leonnie - This is
a fairly typical winter scene, though of course I am in Natal, not the Cape.
At present everything is much greener because some rain has come. The alms
are in reality a resplendent 12th of July orange. The other cactus you can
see is prickly pear. The fruits of this, if carefully peeled so as you don't
swallow the prickles, are said to make good eating. Still nothing to please
me in Ladysmith shops, will shop during hols, hope you don't mind delay, but
its all in a good cause. fondest love from Joan - Love from Di. Hoping we'll
have next Xmas together! - To dear Joan and lots of love from Hattinghs, 7
Keate Street, Di is sending you a wedding photo I am writing. Have much to
tell. Love Sue Hat??????? - Van ? baie baie liefde with much love
- from Sophia Wehmeyer - Best wishes from Yvonne - An early christmas card.
To Miss Irwin, Happy wishes for the future, lots of best wishes, Valda Loock
- With lots of love from Yvonne Nicholson P.S. Hope you like the enclosed
Zulu? ? - Joan, with heaps of love, in which everyone joins. Writing
1986/1990
 
1
3
1) Great Zimbabwe - from Hedingham? Harave, Zimbabwe - 1986 - .. advantage
of so I decided .. time to stop. I feel now I should have maybe stayed on
until I'd completed my 40 years but it's too late now so once I've had 4
months leave next year I must find a job or something to augment my pension.
I do hope this finds you well and that in the months ahead you will also
enjoy good health. Hope to hear soon. With love & every good wish from
Margaret
2) an Ulster Bank Connswater receipt (not included) but dated is 15/6/90
3) 15th September 19?? 13p stamp so recent to Miss Joan Irwin, 36 Edgcumbe
Gardens, Belfast
no dates
in an envelope addressed To Miss Irwin, c/o Keate Street School, Ladysmith,
Natal.
With Best Wishes from Janet, Catherine, Patricia, Marie and Hazel, Jean -
Best wishes and Happy Memories from the Headmaster and Staff at Keate Street
- Best Wishes Bon Lug-voyage Ruth - To Miss Irwin, whishing you a happy
journey love from Winnesome, Yvonne, Tina and Susan - To Dear Miss Irwin,
From Ian, Michael, Brian, Arthur, James, and Clive. We are giving you this
present because you are leaving us at Keate Street School. We hope you will
have a good time on the ship home. Farwell - Koeksisters (looks like a
recipe)
 
 
 
 
1
2
3
4
5
1) Passenger's Name Miss V. J. Irwin, Destination Belfast, N. Ireland Bight
Stop Trek Airways Johannesburg
2) Victoria Falls Airways (PVT) Ltd. There will be a Game Flight to-morrow
morning. You will be called at 5.30 a.m. and the transport will leave the
Hotel at 6.15 a.m. Good Night! Miss Irwin Room 134
3) Miss Irwin, Keate Street School, Ladysmith; The Gift Shop, ? Kitt's
Building, 2 Pendy's Lane, Ladysmith
4) The Victoria Galls Hotel, Victoria Falls, Southern Rhodesia. (looks like
a list of things to-do and also notes for a diary)
5) Vict. Falls Hotel Trolley Service
  
  
1
2
3
4
5
1) To Dear Miss Irwin, Keate Street School, Ladysmith
2) Strelitzia or (Crane Flower) My address is: Miss P. O'Neill, 381
Murchison Street, Ladysmith, Natal, S. Africa, Wishing you a very happy
birthday, a pleasant journey, and happy memories of South Africa. To Miss
Irwin, From your class pupil Patricia O'Neill
3) Birthday greetings to Miss Irwin with lots of love from Catherine, made
by C. Plater?
4) To Miss Irwin from Nola
5) Are you still alive? We are longing to hear from you. Do write. This
picture is very much like our Kernels? our Siamese cat, you'll adore him. Nu
du Pleris? is leaving to be head of Voortrakker? High in P.MBurg. 10 others
are leaving! They all asked to be transferred even ? my bus. Ruth leaving
for the South Coast. Mr. & Mrs. Hattingh & Diana, with lots of love, 7 Keate
Street, Ladysmith, Natal
 
  
Love from Ruth and Eric - Joan dear, How are you & what are you doing. Are
you married yet? Our Myrtle is to be married in April, to make her home in
Maritzburg. Elain has such a bonny little daughter 20 months. We are all
well, showers are falling at last after severe drought. Market prices for
farm produce slumping, so things are not too rosy, but we keep smiling &
often think of you. We have almost forgotten how to play canasta! No
imported cards this year! This one may bring you back to our sunshine. With
love, Ben & Eileen Porrill. - To Miss Erwin love from Yvonne, Winnsome,
Susan & Tina - Birthday Greetings, with lots of love, Janet. Made by J. Bain
- Hello Joan! Do write! Longing to hear from you. Diana's little girl is
just too beautiful, she's called Paula. Huge, deep blue eyes, like the
Irish. All our love. Jack & Sue Hattingh, 7 Keate Street, Ladysmith, Natal -
When are you working again. Only Piet is leaving for the Cape. We are
staying, Love Jack & Sue Hattingh
 
 
 
love from Ruth & Eric - Dear Miss Irwin, I must thank you very much indeed
for the stamps which you sent me. It was nice to hear from you. We have now
finished our exames and are looking forward to the holidays. I'm sure you do
not like teaching only girls without a few boys too!! from Michael Elworthy
- To Miss Irwin, wishing you a merry xmas a happy new year, with fondest
love from Yvonne Duppton. Please could you get me a pen friend. Please read
letter on other side of page. Dear Miss Irwin, Miss Franz showed us the
photo and she said she would try and get the projector from Mrs. Malon. I
wish we had a wintry xmas with snow and so on, we have a new class I
teacher, she is Welsh. On Friday we break up for six weeks. With love and
good wishes Yvonne. Myra came 1st, I came 17th out of 29. - A. Dewar, H. J.
?ander, N. O'Neill, E. B. Hall, G. M. ?, M. Ledingham? - To Miss Irwin from
Muriel - From Christina Potgieter too Mrs. Even - Merry Christmas Dear Irish
Joan, to Irish Joan with lots of love & best wishes for a happy Christmas
from Mrs. Blore
Photos
1
2
3
1) Piet, Annelise & Sukkie, who lived in the house where I slept at first.
2) Piet's cousin Hattie (? Potat) who lent me the room in his house.
3) Karl Johanson, 80 Adderley Street, Cape Town 26-6-1953
1
2
3
1) Joan Blore in the garden of Foleshill?
2) Piet & Mr, Mrs. & Gerda? Rode, the school inspector 6' 4" of whom I
wrote.
3) Wishing you a very happy Christmas with much love from Ruth & Eric 15th
August 1959
1
2
3
4
1) Gerda - taken "unbeknownst" looking very solemn.
2) The car being loaded for departure from Stilbaan? Piet's father, the
coloured servant & a bit of Piet & bungalow.
3) Johann & Cora Van der Merwe?
4) Johann & Cora
1
2
3
1) Ruth Transkei Unkomas Pass
2) Miss Elsie (left) & Harriet Stoops at back verandah of bungalow. Very few
houses have slate roofs here - little slate in country. All tin.
3) Anne Hughes
1
2
3
1) Two bathing beauties Cá le Chinee - Ruth & I, E. London
2) Three Xosa girls photographed outside Untala? in the Tranokei?
3) Ruth, with little bare toes!
1
2
3
1) Joyce's People - mother, sister Heather, adopted sister Sheila, brother
David & Joyce
2) Mrs. Parill, self, Elaine (engaged to boy at ?) & Joyce
3) My cabin companion, Joan Blore (dark) & Mollie Adams, with whom we were
friendly. This is the girl who also travelling alone, accepted the
invitation of a gentleman at her table to escort her round P. Elizabeth.
When they walking happily down the quay he felt a tap on his shoulder &
there stood his wife. I came down from Durban specially to meet you she
said. Steve
1
2
3
4
1) Ruth & Jean
2) Think of this next time you use a feather duster! The look of contempt on
the poor creatures face! One way of overcoming petrol problems! Audishoorn
1956 Love Ruth
3) Pam & Bob on day they got engaged. No. 7 Keate Street
4) Penguins at Port Elizabeth
1
2
3
1) Piet & I. or J.?
2) The typically Dutch colonial front of the Voortrekken? museum Meritzburg?
(see our old letter) which we visited during the hols. A pity they were
replastering the walls. The red roof & whitewash look most attractive.
3) 7 Keate Street, Ladysmith. The bungalow, front view (and Chips!)
1
2
3
1) Mrs. H. gave me these views of her home town in the Cape
2) Mrs. Hattingh's bungalow from the back
3) another view of the Riversdale house
1
2
3
1) another part of University
2) Rhodes University College, Grahamstown
3) St. Theresas Mission Basutoland
1
2
1) My Tribesmen - Ruth
2) Shark landed - but a very little one
Stead's Studio, 234 Murchson Street, Ladysmith, Natal
no info
no info
the end
|
