A Tribute to Anthony Walsh (Gillingham, 1959)

Anthony attended Kearsney Collage from 1955 to 1959. He played first team rugby in 1958 and 1959. I believe on the wing, as he assured me he was pretty quick in his day.  Anthony also gained his marksman’s badge for small bore rifle shooting, while at Kearsney, along with a couple academic awards in his early years at Kearsney.

After leaving Kearsney, Anthony did his national service in the South African army, as part of an artillery unit. Using the old 25 pounders cannons left over from WW2. Anthony went on to attend Natal University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. He was gifted with numbers and had a very strong mathematical brain. Anthony had the ability to speed read and could just devour books at a rapid rate, this was case in point when he visited me for a 3 month holiday in 2014, and promptly read almost my entire library of books in that time.

Anthony married Ingrid in the mid 60’s and had one son, Steven. Anthony lived and worked in Durban for most of his life and spent a few years living in the UK. Ingrid, sadly, passed away in 2014, and this was a blow to Anthony due to the sudden and unexpected nature of her passing.

Anthony loved his deep sea fishing and spent many a day fishing off the Umkomaas area of the south coast, with his good friend Clive Holmes. Anthony also spent time with Russell Dyer, from time to time, as they were good mates from school days.

During Anthony’s visit to Australia in 2014, we got to spend some quality time together, we did a bit of fishing and had a few braai’s and a couple of beers. We also managed a camping trip, which he really enjoyed. I remember him talking about his passion for motorcycles in his youth and riding his 650cc AJS down Field’s Hill, at 100mph. So, appropriately, I travelled some of the old roads of his youth with his ashes and one last trip down Field’s Hill, before making my way to Umhloti, where his ashes were laid to rest in the ocean. So if you read this and find yourself at Umhloti, spare a thought for Tony as his chapter closes.

I am glad to have had the opportunity to write this tribute for my Dad….rest easy and I do remember the good times, Steven Walsh.