Page 105 - KBHA BULLETIN 5

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In March 1967, the S. A. Breweries sold the New Kings Hotel to the New Kings Hotel (Pty) Ltd.

(trading as Barbary Coast Hotels. Directors: Mrs. Irene Bassous and Mr. James Marrs). No
transfer of property took place to the New Kings Hotel (Pty) Ltd. until after Barbary Coast

Hotels went into liquidation in July 1970. At this time the hotel had a total of 35 rooms and a
municipal valuation of R163,690 (land R52,900; buildings R110,790). Transfer took place in

February 1971 to the company New Kings Hotel (Pty) Ltd., but only after the new owners had
made a scheme of arrangement i.e. compromise with the creditors.

Smith, Mitchell & Co.

After the Barbary Coast Hotels liquidation in July 1970, the new owners (Messrs. Smith,

Mitchell and Co.) converted the hotel into the New Kings Residential Complex, and ran it as an
old age home under a Department of Social Welfare sponsored scheme. As far back as 1965 the

government had proposed the refurbishing and altering of bankrupt and insolvent hotels into old
age homes. This was to be done under a subsidy allowance of x-rands each per inmate,

refundable to the owners of such old age homes. The New Kings Residentia was one of these
homes.

In March 1972 the New Kings had 76 inmates and the Sun Valley Branch of the Toc H began a
28 year association with the elderly and the handicapped. They offered their help and support

with regular visits to the New Kings. They read, chatted and wrote letters for the residents as
well as organising shopping and visits to Kirstenbosch and the beach. They opened a

hairdressing salon with management supporting them with shampoos, perm-lotions etc.

A local resident Beth Garvey started the first handicapped Rover Scout Crew in the Peninsula for

the residents in 1989. There were 30 members (men and women) and this successful group were
runners-up in many of the competitions in which they competed against able-bodied Rovers.

Twice a year the group held a dance for the other residents. They helped with street collections;

and various other projects for the disadvantaged in the area. The group was active from 1989-
1998; and there was great disappointment when the residents were moved elsewhere, and the

group disbanded.

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