As much had changed in the town and the exact location had faded from my mind , a helpful policeman directed me to the offices of attorney Neil Bowles , whose grandfather , Roy , was Mayor of the town around that time . It was an enlightening hour , as he told me that Newton ’ s stone had been at the Town Hall , but few knew what it was about , or who Newton was , so the local MOTH Shellhole arranged to move it to their memorial garden . Now safe and in good condition , the conversation then turned to Harding ’ s other great citizen , Bill Payne , and I was surprised to learn that he too has a commemorative stone .
Enquiries at the Town Hall to see it were met with blank faces , even though the stone is visible from
The baobab that Bill Payn helped plant at Durban High School the main street behind a fence . Neil had forgotten his mask , and I was barely treading water in negotiations to have access to the small courtyard where the stone is currently kept , when my new attorney-cum-tour guide announced the gate was broken and access was easy . The stone commemorates that Sergeant Bill Payn served in both World Wars , was awarded the Military Medal for bravery before being captured in North Africa and seeing out the last three years of World War Two in a POW camp . It would indeed be fitting if this unsung hero ’ s stone was to join Newton ’ s in the MOTH ’ s garden .
Back in Durban , a second reminder of Payn ’ s considerable contribution is the baobab tree that
Bill Payn the beloved teacher in later years
he and two other teachers , Vic Pellow and AA Bear , planted in the Durban High School grounds on the corner of Essenwood and St Thomas Roads . Today the tree is as big and strong as the beloved teacher and sportsman , and the legacy of these two characters from Harding continues to inspire the Comrades spirit and legacy as we enter the second century of the Ultimate Human Race .
About the Author
Norrie represented Scotland and Great Britain in numerous ultra-distance events , then represented South Africa in triathlon . He is a World Athleticsaccredited coach and course measurer , and travels all over the world to work on events , including the Olympics , where he has been part of four Olympic Marathon measurement teams . He has been appointed by World Athletics as Technical Delegate to a number of the world ’ s leading Label events in Africa , Asia and the Middle East . He has authored two books ( Everyman ’ s Guide to Distance Running and Every Beginner ’ s Guide to Walking & Running ), and counts 20 Comrades medals amongst his more than 150 ultra-marathon medals , as well as multiple wins at distances from 100km to 1000km . You can read more from him at www . coachnorrie . co . za .
That Infernal Run
– By Bill Payn
Thanks to a search on the Internet , we found this entertaining ‘ race report ’ written by Bill Payn himself . It was published as part of a detailed article on Payn , written by Peter Dickens for The Observation Post , a website focused on South African military history , and the full story of this larger-than-life character is well worth the read . Click here to go to the full article .
On a bleak May morning I toe ’ d the line at the start when some civic dignitary fired a pistol and then very sensibly buggared off back to his warm bed . When the shot rent the air , off we sped – like a crowd of Armenian refugees fleeing from the wrath of the Turkish army . Shall I ever forget that infernal run . It was not very long before I realised that I was prey to an all consuming thirst , so clamant indeed , that I could not refuse any man who offered me a drink . At Hillcrest my feet were giving me so much pain that I took off my rugby boots and found a mass of blisters had formed on the soles of both feet , some kind follower provided me with brilliantine with which I anointed my feet and then repaired to the hotel for a huge plate of bacon and eggs . This done and much refreshed I ran up Botha ’ s Hill where at the top I found a friend who was also taking part , but he was in a very bad state so we sat down next to the road and exchanged notes and took stock of ourselves and the situation we were in . I fear that we did not move with the freedom of young athletes but rather resembled two old ducks , suffering from some distressing gynaecological disorder .
Fortunately at that stage my friend ’ s supporter arrived on the scene with a wicker basket which contained a delicious curried chicken set on a huge bed of rice . This we shared equally and then set off together in happy companionship for Drummond , and here we bent our steps to a pleasant oasis – the pub – where I lined a dozen beers up on the counter determined not so much to celebrate a victory but rather to drown our sorrows . Whilst we were busy at this , one of the camp followers arrived on the scene and urged us both to continue as there were only five runners in front of us . My friend could not continue so I set off alone for Pietermaritzburg .
Somewhere along Harrison Flats I noticed a frail little woman with pink cheeks standing at the side of the road . She held up in one hand a bottle and in the other a glass . I stopped , and with old world courtesy bowed low saying `Madame your servant to command ’. `Tis peach brandy ’, she volunteered , `and I made it myself ’. I gulped down a full tumbler of this home-made brew and in a second realised that I had swallowed a near-lethal dose of the rawest liquid I had ever tasted . I am still convinced that to this charming little woman must go full credit for inventing the first liquid fuel for jet engines . Fortunately , I was facing Maritzburg and I was propelled along the way . I was too far gone in my cups even to ponder on whether this assistance did not breach the prescribed laws of amateur marathon running .
On the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg I was hailed by my wife ’ s family who were taking tea on the veranda . I went off the road and joined them in their tea and cakes . While we were thus happily engaged , two of my ‘ hated ’ rivals went past and so it was that I ended the course number eight .
In the changing rooms I discovered that the soles of my feet were now two huge pads of blood blisters . My brother-in-law then arrived and he had the uncanny insight to my most immediate needs , for he gave me a bottle of champagne , for which I was most grateful . Shortly thereafter a rugby friend arrived and chided me as to whether I had forgotten that I was due to play a first league rugby match the next day and that our team needed me . Cadging a lift on the back of his motorbike we went back down to Durban and on the following day I played full back in a pair of old `tackies ’.
This account by Bill Payn was vouched for in every detail by Arthur Newton , the friend who persuaded Bill to enter the race in the first place and who was himself destined to become a legend in the world of marathon running .
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