|
Robert Grant was a quiet but amiable schoolmate with a keen sense of humour.
Unfortunately we know almost nothing of Robert's life after he left school. We have learned that he was an engineer, and in the 1990s he was a director of Axis Bearing Distributors. We also know that he was living in the Durban suburb of Queensburgh in 2004. Property records show that he sold a pleasant and substantial house in that year. Beyond that, we can find no trace of Robert. He has been on our "missing" list since the class website was founded in 2010.
We recently checked our missing members against the South African death register and discovered that he died on 16 July, 2023. He was 79 years old. There is no information about survivors.
If you have any recollections or information about Robert, please use the "Post Comment" button below this notice. Note that you must be signed into the site to use this facility.
|
John Cosnett
In early 1964 while working in my third year as an apprentice fitter, I was surprised by the arrival of Rob on the work bench with me. Rob advised me he had been at Natal University for the past two years, but had now chosen to sign up for an Engineering Technician’s course with James Brown and Hamer.
At DHS Rob and I had been in the same geography class since fourth form through to sixth. He was a quiet unassuming class mate that, although I enjoyed his company in class, he kept to himself, and I did not get to know him well. One thing that I did come to realize was that Rob was more capable, or perhaps applied himself a little better, to the academic side of school than I. My reluctance to pursue engineering via University had some merit I think.
At the time of Rob’s appearance on the bench I was attending night classes at the Durban Technical College for my Advanced Technical Diploma. While we were working together and hearing of my night school struggles, Rob generously provided me with his varsity notes and advice on tackling the mathematics and in particular calculus. This help undoubtedly assisted with my getting through many exams.
As part of Rob’s technicians course, he was required, every six months to attend three month releases from the workshop routine to attend the Technical Collage full time. Further to this we both moved about through the firm in various disciplines, and consequently did not see much of each other over the next year or two.
Having departed James Brown to take up a sea going career, I later heard from ex colleagues that Rob had been appointed to my vacated job as a draughtsman in the Technical Drawing Office to which I had been appointed on completion of my apprenticeship. On visiting this office some years later I was told that Rob had left the firm to take up with Duro Products in which I believe he had invested, and I was never to meet up or hear of him again.
I find it very sad that such an easy going, likeable, and helpful chap as Rob Grant was, can slip past us almost unnoticed even if not forgotten. RIP Robert.
With many thanks to those working to trace our missing classmates.
Terence Dowdall
I remember Robert well in terms of the impression he made. He was quiet, unassuming, but also confident in himself, in an understated way. From time to time at school (I think he may even have been at Bellair Government (primary) School when I was there). I had conversations with him from time to time, at school or at the bus stop. He was kind of an introvert, always background, but nonetheless warm and amiable and engaged easily with you. I always thought he was one of the good guys in life. He had zero interest in dominating situations or status issues. l feel sorry I never saw him again.