Page 49 - KBHA BULLETIN 4

46

Tromp and Herk first came to Kalk Bay in 1916. (Fig. 2.28.) They settled at Ocean View flats in

1923. In 1936 Tromp brought back from England a Jaguar SS 100, the first un-supercharged
normal car to do over 100 mph. He made this car well known around Cape Town and when his

and the car’s driving days were over he passed it onto his grandson Peter Flint. (Fig. 2.29.)

In 1948 there were both the Olympic Games and the Mr. Universe competition in London.
Tromp was invited to be a judge on the strength of having won the first modern ‘best physique,

Mr. Apollo’ competition, held in Dresden in 1907. Also judging was his inspiration, George

Hackenschmidt, the professional world heavy weight champion and probably the greatest
wrestler the world has known. (Fig. 2.30.)

All my talk about wrestling creates the wrong impression of Dad. I am sure he wrestled for two
reasons only: he was hyperactive, and he wanted recognition. He was not trying to hurt his

opponents. At school his main achievements were playing the cello in the orchestra and being a
maths scholar. He was the kindest, most loving man I have met, as I am sure all his family,

friends and pupils will agree. One of his favourite activities was playing chess. From the time I
was 7, to 12, he taught me and we had many, many thought-provoking games. Unfortunately, we

never rose above the beginner level. I remember two of his best friends being Harry Goldstone, a

professional photographer, and Piet Taljaard, the SA heavyweight weightlifting champion.

Tromp died in 1967 after a long period of being bed-ridden after major surgery. However, he
was lovingly and patiently cared for by his wife Edna. I can still clearly hear him calling in a

warm but very loud voice ‘E D N A’ when he wanted some particular attention.

Grantley Dick-Read, of natural childbirth fame, kindly wrote the foreword to Dad’s

autobiography ‘Worthwhile Journey’. Dick-Read studied at St. John’s, Cambridge and the
London Hospital. He emigrated to South Africa in 1948. This journey from De Wetsdorp to

recognition in South Africa, England, Germany and America for the health Tromp had brought
to over 100,000 people was indeed a Worthwhile Journey. Dick-Read paid tribute to him in the

words: “Few great men become famous, and even fewer famous men are great, but Tromp is

one.”

46