Old Veseyan Association Chairman Paul Wallis recently received an email from OVA Member BERNIE ROWLEDGE in which Bernie told this wonderful story  of how he found a long lost friend in South Africa.

Bernie had cause recently to visit Stellenbosch, presumably for the wine if nothing else! Whilst in the vicinity he decided to drive up to Darling which was the last known domicile of one Gavin Weston, Old Veseyan and former outstanding wicket keeper and cricketer. Bernie and the Association had lost contact with Gavin several years ago.

Bernie went to Gavin’s old address but found the house had been converted to three apartments and no Gavin. Not to be daunted, Bernie asked around and it transpired that Gavin is well known in the area and he was able to track him down at his new workshop.

Gavin makes leather goods and lives at a nearby farm “with a cat and a thousand sheep”!

Gavin says he has no regrets moving to South Africa in 1990 and enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing, high standard of living, still playing a good standard of cricket until he reached sixty five.

It transpires that life for Gavin has had its ups and downs with divorce, a triple bypass and a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The offer of an experimental treatment for the latter has extended his well being for two years but is a financial strain that requires him to continue his leather goods business.

We now have the contact details for Gavin and have included him in the membership database. If any of his old friends wish to contact him please get in touch with me for his details.

I have exchanged emails with Gavin and sent him the attached photograph of the 1960 BVGS 1st XI and we will keep in touch. Gavin is third from the right in the back row between Bob Harpur and Richard Williams.