Pictured: Axl Forder (MC), "Black Knights" Bayanda Mthembu and Njabulo Mabaso (winners) and show producer, Pauline Cronjé.

 

News supplied by Grace College.

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

 

The Queen's Cup Competition on Saturday was won by John Arnott, Taffy O'Neil-Williams and Angus Snowden. Runners-up were Jean Pluke, Richard Lister and Peter Wilson. Winners of the Losers were Chris Purchase, Olga Hutt and Pamela Morrish. Apart from the trophy for first place all the victors won vouchers and wine donated by Quarry Spar who also provided a lovely lunch for more than 40 members. We are deeply indebted to the owners, management and staff of the Hilton Quarry Spar for their on-going generosity.

 

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

 

Pictured: Airen de la Mare

 

News supplied by Laddworth Primary School.

It brings together a wonderful concoction of some of the country's top writers. But this year we're planning to stretch the geographical boundaries of the festival to include a grand opening night at Ike's Bookshop in Durban before switching to the primary and traditional Midlands venue at Howick for the rest of the weekend.

Durban does not really have a literary festival – with the emphasis on "festival" – that captures the imagination, which is why we're hosting an evening at probably the greatest bookshop in all of South Africa: Ike's in trendy Florida Road.

The theme for the evening is "Alice in Wonderland". Bibliophiles are encouraged to come dressed as the Mad Hatter or one of the characters from this perennial classic, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

One of the most colourful characters on the literary scene, Ashwin Desai, should bring the house down with a talk entitled "Alice in Nkandlaland".

Other speakers for the night are Carol Campbell, with Esther's House, her follow-up novel to My children have faces (originally published in Afrikaans as Karretjiemense). Carol scored a major coup this year with the filming rights to both her books being bought.

Acclaimed Indian photographer Ranjith Kally will talk on his recent photographic book with a most beautiful title, Memory Against Forgetting.

And I just could not resist inviting Priya Dala to talk about her debut novel, What about Meera?, much of which was penned on the balcony of Ike's Bookshop.

Rounding off what should be a thoroughly enjoyable evening is a book you must read before you die: Vernon Head's The Search for the Rarest Bird in the World.

The next morning writers and festivalgoers should wake up with a somewhat heavy head for the opening day at Yellowwood Café just outside Howick. (An aside: If you arrive early, be sure to visit the Karkloof Farmers Market just up the road from Yellowwood.)

There will be a tinge of sadness to this year's event: it will be the first festival in its six-year existence at which Ian Player will not be present. People who know me know I seldom invite the same speakers every year, but in Dr Player's case, I sensed his greatness and his diminishing years.

Thus, to celebrate the life of this great man, Roger de la Harpe will present what will be the inaugural Ian Player Memorial Lecture at the festival as he speaks about his magnificent new book, African Icons.

Among other highlights will be Chris Nicholson and Mike Hickson on their book about the first multiracial cricket club in South Africa, the Aurora Cricket Club in Pietermaritzburg; Mary Kleinenberg on her book about the Black Sash of KZN, which has just shot on to the bestseller list; and Zuleikha Mayat, the lady behind that classic, Indian Delights, who will talk on her lyrical letter correspondence with Ahmed Kathrada as well as her latest travel memoir.

And then there's Vernon Head with his masterpiece on birds; Robert "Doc" Caldwell and Tod Collins's fascinating talks and Ashwin Desai about Gandhi. (His book might just win the 2016 Alan Paton Prize, and maybe we can then persuade those folk from that Sunday paper to get their geography right and award the Paton Prize in Paton country next year!)

Not discounting very young up-and-coming writers the programme also includes Emily Burger, a Pietermaritzburg schoolgirl, whose debut novel, Thieves of Greatness, has just appeared.

And there will be light music to add to the festive Midlands atmosphere, mainly in the form of in-between piano sprinklings.

The full programme:
SATURDAY 22 AUGUST
9.00–10.00 MARY KLEINENBERG: Standing on
Street Corners – KZN Black Sash
10.00–10.30 TOD COLLINS: Shackleton's
Forgotten Men
10.30–11.00 TEA
11.00–11.30 RANJIT KALLY: Memory against
Forgetting
11.30–12.00 EMILY BURGER: Thieves of
Greatness
12.00–12.30 ROBERT ("DOC") CALDWELL: The
Bright Lady of DNA
12.30–13.00 IAN TENNENT: Zululand Snow
1.00–2.30 LUNCH
2.30–3.00 CAROL CAMPBELL: Esther's House
3.00–3.30 CECILE LEVIN: A Piece of Cake
3.30–4.00 JACKIE KALLEY: Utterly Otterly – A
Local Publishing House
4.00–4.30 ASHWIN DESAI: Gandhi

SUNDAY 23 AUGUST
9.00–9.30 NICKY GRIESHABER: Write Thinking –
or: How to Keep Your Editor's Therapist Bills
Down
9.30–10.00 HANS SCHRÖDER: My Dear, We'll
Make a Plan
10.00–10.30 PRIYA DALA: What about Meera?
10.30–11.00 TEA
11.00–11.30 TOD COLLINS: The Great Himalayas
11.30–12.00 DI THOMPSON: Eric Rowan: The
Toughest and Naughtiest Springbok
12.00–12.30 ZULEIKHA MAYAT: Journeys of Binte
Batuti
12.30–13.00 JANET KOHLER: Perfect Party
13.00–2.30 LUNCH
2.30–3.00 CHRIS NICHOLSON and MIKE HICKSON :
How Aurora Cricket Club Stumped Apartheid
3.00–3.30 VERNON HEAD: In Search of the Rarest
Bird in the World
3.30–4.00 ROGER DE LA HARPE: African Icons – A
Year's Travels to Africa's Iconic Places

News supplied.

 

There will be no 2-4-2 event next month due to the closure of the green.

 

On Saturday we competed for chickens which were won by Chris Purchase and Ingrid Oellermann. Thank you to the Quarry Spar for the prizes.

 

The green will be closed for about three weeks following the Queen's Cup to be played for this Saturday. While the club is closed we will be holding a Bridge Drive on Friday 11th September. Contact Rina Tainton on 033 239 5739 for details.

 

The duty roster is suspended for the duration of the closure.

 

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

Pupils enjoyed hearing from special guest speaker, former Laddsworth pupil, David Hyslop who won a Gold Certificate from the School of Engineering for his exhibit in the Category: Construction, Design and Technology at the FFS Expo for Young Scientists 2015. He designed a Water Diversion System which makes grey water available for plant irrigation. David is currently in Grade 9 at Howick High School and will go to Johannesburg for the next round of this expo.

Pictured back L-R: Jordyn Wood, Annabel Unwin, Aaron Munro and Michael Finch.
In front L-R: David Hyslop, Gavin Lambooy (Headmaster at Laddsworth Primary School), Jacob Claassens, Stephen Lock, Jenny Raubenheimer and Di Smythe.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

News supplied by Hilton Pre-Primary School.

 

Pictured at the back L-R: Mike Birkett and Bev Shuttleworth.
In front L-R: Grade Three twins, Ella and Reilly Shuttleworth.

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

 

News supplied by Hilton Pre-Primary School.

 

Dental care is very important in maintaining your pet's overall health as bacteria resident in the plaque can progress from gum infections to heart and other infections amongst other complications. This happens in both dogs and cats. Tooth roots become exposed with dental infections and the gums become inflamed. This condition is extremely painful and even though you may not notice obvious signs of pain, we have amazing reports from owners who have had their pet's teeth attended to and how much happier they are after dentistry - even those pets who have had teeth removed.

 

Tartar on the teeth is very hard and does not come off easily, therefore specialised dental scalers are required to remove this tartar. Polishing of the teeth afterwards is vitally important in order to create a smooth enamel surface which prevents further build-up of tartar. You will receive additional information from our nurses following your pet's dental check up on how to keep your pet's mouth as healthy as possible.

 

Extracted from Umgeni Veterinary Clinic's newletter.

 

Pictured L-R: Brady Bullock, Stuart Temple and Kyle Bullock

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

News supplied by Capulum College.

Dereck's advice was, "Don't take over your kid's problems, empower them to deal with their problems."
These well-supported evenings are organised by Laddsworth's Remedial Teacher, Janet Anderson.

Pictured L-R: Janet Anderson and Dereck Jackson.

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

 

On Friday morning we played the IF sponsored trips competition. Winners of the first prize were Horse Beeching,

 

Margie Höll and Jo Boonzaier. In second place were Derick Hull, John Aubrey and Rob Tosen. Both of these teams won generous meat packs. Thanks to the gentlemen at IF for their support for our club.

 

Jean Pluke came close to winning her first round match in the Champion of Champions on Saturday, going down 19 – 21 after 28 ends. Andy Hitchcock lost his match.

 

The Mixed pairs competition ended last week with Chris Lake and Jill Bannatyne beating Mike and Nina Guest in the final. Well done to the victors.

 

We closed off the very busy week with some good fun bowls at the club on Saturday afternoon when 22 stalwarts competed for grapefruit. Chris Purchase and team took home the spoils.

 

Members are reminded of the Quarry Spar Queen's Cup Trophy to be played for on Saturday 22 August. Be sure to get your name on the list. The Club will be closed from 23rd August for the annual renovation. Rina Tainton is busy organising a bridge drive to be held on Friday 11th September. Please contact her if you wish to book a place or if you can help to source prizes.

 

Duties: 16 – 22 Aug: OOD: Rob Tosen. Tabs: John Arnott & John Aubrey. Lock-up team: Rob Tosen. Club House: 20th Aug: Joan Byrom. Teas on 22nd N/A: Spar Lunch. Biscuits 18 & 20 Aug: Doug & Gill Robertson.

 

News supplied by Hilton Bowling Club.

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.