Book of special memories

When I was about 12-years-old I was given an autograph album for my birthday which was a bit of a disappointment because I was expecting one of those really big Meccano sets from which one could build a mobile heavy-lift crane capable of lifting a younger brother at least five metres into the air and then dropping him into a compost pit.

My somewhat pathetic pre-pubescent mind completely missed the point of autograph albums and instead of collecting signatures of famous sportsmen to whom I had access, such as Ken Funston, Eddie Barlow and Tiger Lance, I stupidly circulated the album among my standard five classmates.

Which means that today, it is worth nothing but excruciating embarrassment.

Entries ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous.

“Wherever you are wherever you be, always let air and water be free, “wrote one lavatorial youngster while another who had clearly been the only fellow in the class to be paying attention during English Literature classes, wrote; “When oft upon my couch I lie, in vacant or in pensive mood…”

Which continues to flummox me, because he was the most unlikely bloke to ever be caught quoting the romantic poets and the only pensive thought he could possibly have had, given his record of classroom misdemeanours, would be too ghastly to contemplate.

But, someone who clearly knows what to do with an autograph album is one of my fellow parishioners, Betty Miles, who spent decades collecting the signatures of some of the most famous of South Africa’s Catholic clerics.

On the very first page is the distinctive signature of Cardinal Owen McCann.

And, on Ascension Day in 1979 Betty attended a mass in Simon’s Town for local Catholics and sailors, celebrated by Fr Raymond Bonnello, the French Navy Chaplain.

On Christmas Day in 1985, Betty got the autograph of yet another navy chaplain, this time Fr Vincent Docherty RN, who was aboard HMS Raleigh which was on a visit to Simon’s Town from its home port in Cornwall.

Reginald Cawcutt’s signature was penned in August 1973, followed on the next page by Fr Mike Brennan of the Salesian Institute.

In November 1964 the now retired archbishop of Cape Town, Laurence Henry wrote: “Charm is deceptive and beauty fades, but the woman who fears the Lord will have lasting praise.”

Also in 1964, Fr J Kelly SDB wrote; “I’m happy to be the first Salesian via the Falkland Islands and the Island of St Helena to hand to you the Blessing of the Merciful Lord from St John Bosco.”

And so, page after page, are names of many illustrious pastors with archbishops and bishops from as far afield as Keimoes to what was Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and Basutoland (Lesotho)

Of course, Betty would not have been at all satisfied with her collection of autographs without that of Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban, which now has pride of place in her album.

A friend of my family, Archbishop George Daniel of Pretoria, along with Msgr Jock Baird of St James Parish who has now retired and living in Betty’s Simon’s Town parish of Ss Simon and Jude are recent additions to her autograph album with Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town one of the most recent signatures, dated April 14, 2010, when he visited Simon’s Town parish soon after his induction.

However, one of the most poignant entries in Betty’s album penned in 1998, but which is of great relevance right now is a message from the current parish priest of Simon’s Town, Fr Bram Martijn.

He wrote; “Dear Betty, I thank you so much for all you are doing for my parish and for me. I will never forget you!”

A few weeks ago, after many years in Simon’s Town, Betty left to live with her son in Johannesburg. She was clearly sad to leave but excited about being with her Johannesburg family. She told Fr Martijn that the things she would miss most about Simon’s Town were her parish and her friends.

However, she promised to come back and visit all of those who will miss her and as insurance that she sticks to her promise, I will be keeping her precious autograph album in my safe at home until she personally comes down to fetch it.

Betty’s album is not only a collection of signatures but an inspirational prayer book with so many wonderful inscriptions.

Inscriptions that lift the soul rather than my silly autograph book that is painfully puerile, and its only saving grace being a wonderful quote from Wordsworth in spite of the three blatant spelling mistakes.