Gallery Samples Stories of our Ancestors | Page 72

dangerous bacteria in the chocolate. The bacteria were not the only dangers that lurked but I
enjoyed a little pleasant danger in my life!
Shortly after I joined Nestle, Denis was sent to Switzerland and UK for a 6-month training
programme. On his return I was sent to the Johannesburg Head Office to learn more about
bacteriology. While there it had been arranged by Denis and his Mother and sister that I should
meet his family, even without his presence. I caught the train to Roodepoort and they were
duly there to meet me at the station. There was no mistaking them and they would have known
me as I was shaking with anxiety. Obviously I had been sent for familial, especially Mother’s,
approval although this was vehemently denied by him of course.
Denis, whom I hadn’t realised was a dreadful teaser, had told me that his Mother worked in a
Corset Factory and that the family was so excited and proud because she had just been
promoted to sewing eyes on the corsets: After years of sewing hooks on she had at last been
rewarded! I, being so gullible, believed him and told him how my aunt Ellen was a well-known
corsetier so we had something in common. Waving goodbye at the station he suddenly realised
that I still believed his Mother sewed hooks and eyes on corsets. He ran after the train pulling
out of Maritzburg station yelling “No! She’s not a corset-maker - she’s a TEACHER!” Just when I
was all prepared to discuss corseteering with her.
We had fun in those days even if it was at my expense sometimes! There were no real work
tensions and stresses, we were carefree and had no responsibilities and we could just be free to
be ourselves and be happy.
So much is lost, so much not told, so much never written down and now there is no one left to
ask. I will do what I can to not let the winds scatter the remaining information and memories so
that my children and grandchildren know a little of what kind of DNA they hold within them.
Whatever you do with the memories makes no difference; it’s only being put here on paper in
case someday you wonder.

D

CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND TO DENIS RITCHIE BROWNLEE

enis Ritchie Brownlee was born on 20th February 1938. His Mother was Jessie
Brownlee, born Stretch, aged 31 and his Father was John Ritchie Brownlee (another
Jock), aged 47. The address given on Denis’ Birth Certificate was 1031, Paarl Central,
Crown Mines, Johannesburg. There was an older sister Irma Edith born on 10th
February 1934. When Denis was born, four-year-old Irma, at last meeting her long-awaited
brother, declared in some horror that his hair was the colour of tomato sauce.
Denis and his tomato-sauce hair spent his childhood on the Durban Deep Mine where his
Father was a mine detective whose only mode of transport was an old black bicycle. All the
arrests were done by bike. No car chases needed on the mine compound. Denis’ free time after
school was spent with the other kids in the community, having great fun on the mine dunes,
and generally getting into trouble. His Mother Jessie was fiercely protective of him and tried
every trick and punishment to keep him out of danger.

72