Page 60 - KBHA BULLETIN 4

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The Summer Season: A Pharmacist’s View

Marais Carse

Introduction

My talk will focus on anecdotes and perceptions of my time in Kalk Bay as a schoolboy in the

1940s and 50s, and a pharmacy student in the late 1950s and early 60s.

Signs of summer

There were always wonderful signs of summer: the south-easters would replace the north-west

and southerly gales of winter; the warmer weather and the bad sea for diving – too much wind
and no visibility; the pressure of the end of the year exams and the influx of up-country visitors

commencing with the start of the summer holidays; surfing mornings and afternoons and lots of
pickled fish made with the plentiful yellowtail; all the shop-owners washed the pavements in

front of their shops daily. Kalk Bay always had that sparkling look all summer. Kalk Bay was a

preferential shopping area because of their lower bank charges than in Fish Hoek.

The beach

The beach was the meeting place during the holidays. In all the years growing up and living in
Kalk Bay no one was drowned in spite of surfing in wild seas around the pool. I believe this was

due to a system of ‘apprenticeship – surfing.’ You had to swim in the safe waters between Kalk

Bay and Dalebrook pools and when the older boys decided you were good enough you could
come and surf with them. If you were caught surfing where you were considered not good

enough, a couple of brutal words and slaps sent you on your way – if you complained to your
mother, further punishment could follow. The result was that we all complied and no drownings

took place.

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