In Memoriam
Richard van Romburgh (Rompies)
Obituary by Syd Goslin, Chairman WPBA
Richard Leon van Romburgh, “Rompies” to the shooting fraternity, passed away suddenly on 18th October 2009 at 2am. This came as a great shock to all who knew him, as he had been on the range the day before and had shot particularly well achieving a score of 100.6.
Rompies had a shooting career starting in about 1996 spanning a period of 14 years. He shot for the SA Police Bisley club until their demise in about 2001, whereupon he joined PRC, which he shot for until his passing away. Besides being a regular shooter in the Western Cape , he attended a number of SA Open championships where he shot for Western Province on a number of occasions and was awarded SA Honoris colours in 2004. He also went to Bisley in 2000 with the Cape of Good Hope touring party and took part in the Millenium meeting.
In his short shooting career Rompies served on the WP Committee representing SA Police and PRC at different times. He never shied away from assisting with the organising and running of shooting and could always be relied upon to do is bit. He was particularly good with newcomers and beginners whom he gave a lot of encouragement and assistance.
Rompies was a friendly warm hearted person, who was generous to a fault. He had a wonderful sense of humour, with a great repertoire of jokes which he could tell particularly well. Rompies enjoyed a party and could party with the best. Some one has said he could be naughty without being bad.
Rompies's passion was his family. His parents, cousins, uncles and aunts meant a great deal to him, but above all his wife and children were the most important things in his life.
In summary, Rompies was a good friend and good company. He was a rough diamond with no malice in him. The finest tribute I can think of are these words of a fellow shooter on learning of his passing “We will all be a bit richer for having known him.”
We are diminished and will miss him.
~oOo~
Schalk Young
Obituary by Syd Goslin, Chairman WPBA
Passed away on Sunday, 11 March 2007 .
Schalk Young had two passions in his life of which I am aware. One of these was Target Rifle shooting. If my memory serves me correctly he started shooting in the early 1980's while he was in the South African Navy. He shot for the SA Defence (WP) Shooting Club and joined Tygerberg after leaving the navy. When Tygerberg ceased to exist he became a founder member of Winelands Bisley Club, to whom he was fiercely loyal.
Schalk's shooting ability quickly became evident and by 1986 he was recognised as one of the foremost shots in South Africa . In that year he won both the Long Range and the Grand Aggregate at the SA Open Championship. He was also awarded his National Colours at the same time.
Besides shooting very successfully at club and provincial level over the years he was included in many teams at National level. The highest achievements would undoubtedly be his being in the 1995 SA PALMA Team to New Zealand and the 2003 SA PALMA Team to Bisley.
Schalk's untimely death is a huge blow to shooting both in the Western Province and South Africa .
Schalk's other passion was farming and he died on his farm doing something he loved dearly.
We extend our condolences to his children and all his loved ones.
Schalk we will miss you sorely.
Members of the WPBA
~oOo~
JJ le Roux (Oom Joppa)
Obituary by Syd Goslin, Chairman WPBA
Oom Joppa le Roux passed away on Sunday morning, 12 November 2006, after a dreadful illness.
Joppa le Roux started target shooting in the late 1970's when he joined Peninsula Rifle Club. Initially his shooting was limited to .22. He took part in both the long range and 50metre disciplines. He participated in 50metre very enthusiastically, attending the SA Smallbore Championships on a number of occasions.
He started shooting fullbore a number of years after commencing target shooting. In the later years of his fullbore career he attended the SA Open Championships on a number of occasions where he got WP colours in 2005. He loved target shooting and the highlight of his shooting career was most probably his visit to Bisley in 2005.
Joppa was an outstanding and effective administrator, serving on many committees. He was the Chairman of the Western Province Smallbore Rifle Association for many years, Secretary of Peninsula Rifle Club and a member of the Western Province Bisley Association, Durbanville Shooting Club and Western Cape Shooting Union Committees.
He was a generous, enthusiastic and positive person with a wonderfully dry sense of humour. He was calm, seldom if ever rattled, possessed great wisdom and offered sound advice.
Above all Joppa was good company, was loved and respected by everyone and a wonderful friend.
The World is a poorer place without him and he will be sorely missed.
~oOo~
George Bramley
Obituary by Syd Goslin, Chairman WPBA
Passed away on Monday, 27th March 2006.
He will be sadly missed by all at Peninsula Rifle Club where he was a member since the founding of the club 61 years ago. He achieved much, won the South African fullbore rifle StatePresident's Trophy, shot for and captained South Africa many times, was chairman of the SA National Rifle Association and President of the SA Bisley Union. He will be remembered as a gentleman; for his positive influence as a person who cared about people. As a person to whom his family was near and dear.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his son Andrew and daughter Lynne and all their families.
~oOo~
Bill Page
Obituary by Syd Goslin, Chairman WPBA
Bill Page passed away on 12 March 2006 after suffering a severe stroke.
Bill Page was a WP Stalwart for many years, he attained Springbok colours and shot for SA in England before sanctions. He was also Chairman of the WP Bisley Association during the mid 1980's. He never missed a South African Open Championship from after WWII until he could no longer shoot in the early 1990's. Our sincere condolences go to his son Ben, and family with whom he lived.
He will be fondly remembered for his sense of humour and leadership.
~oOo~
|
