Amos Burnet lived in Nottingham England when in March 1902 he received the call to leave England and travel to South Africa to assume superintendence of Methodist Churches and take charge of the extensive interests and expansion of the Methodist Mission and Church. “The years between 1903 and 1904 were remarkable in the history of Methodism in the Transvaal for the marvellous activity and rapid extension”.
The exact date of when he arrived in South Africa could not be established, it might have been late 1902 or early 1903 as he writes that the war had ended.
Rev Amos Burnet was called upon to document the story of the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in the Transvaal and Swaziland. A booklet “A Mission to the Transvaal” by Rev Amos Burnet of over 120 pages was published recording the activities up to 1908.
He reports that the times were tough. Roads and railway lines did not adequately serve the outlying areas where his task was to establish new mission stations and churches. Not to speak of the postal and other communication methods of the time. The work was funded from the Methodist Church of England. Communication to and from overseas was dependent on shipping and of traveling many miles to far out reaches in the hot summer months, just to mention a few of the problems he and his team encountered.
The following figures show the growth from 1902 to 1908
During the active time he served as leader of the initiative to expand the footprint of the Church in the Transvaal, the Transvaal Synod showed substantial growth up to 1908 .Thereafter he served as the second Wesleyan Reverend in Pretoria and the Superintendent Minister of the Pretoria Circuit.
Through these positions Rev Amos Burnet became a prominent member of the social society in Pretoria and even further afield. He was known as “everybody’s grandfather” among the Methodist communities.
Two streets in Pretoria were named in his honour. Amos Street in Colbyn and Burnett Street in Hatfield. The “tt” in the street name is a spelling mistake that was never corrected.
Rev. Amos Burnet ,affectionally known as everybody’s Grandfather
Title Deeds show that:
Sept 1908: Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Pretoria of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society of the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference donated the property to Amos Burnet, Superintendent Minister of the Pretoria Circuit.
During October 1944: The property was sold by The Methodist Church of South Africa into private hands.
In 1912 the house was designed by architect Frank Gordon McIntosh for Rev Amos Burnet as a manse. He was a prominent architect and designed a number of important buildings throughout Transvaal and further afield.
The house, being 110 years old, is protected under the 60-year clause of the Heritage Act of 1999. The house is also regarded as architecturally and culturally significant in terms of the Arcadia and Methodist community.
The Manse Built for Rev Amos Burnet
For a house constructed in 1912, the house presents itself in a most basic and utilitarian manner and one would expect to see more decorative detailing on a house of this period. It is therefore important that the house’s architectural character be read and interpreted against that which would have been the typical styling of house design in Pretoria at the time. This very simplicity of style, a significant characteristic of the house, may account for the perception that the building appears to some, to be bland. The house is surprisingly modern for the time and it might easily be presumed by a person not informed of its construction in 1912, that the house might date from as late as the early 1930s. This speaks witness to a progressive architectural attitude from the office of the architect, FG McIntosh. The house massing, being asymmetrical, is Victorian, but without the expected decorative finishes that were typical of the time; rather a move toward modernism. (Extract from a Report by A De Villiers)
The present owner has applied for a demolition permit to the Provincial Heritage Resource Authority-Gauteng which ARRA has objected to. We are still awaiting the outcome of the objections lodged as well as subsequent appeal hearings.
(Info gathered from articles for submission for the ARRA Appeal against the demolition application.)
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1a Poorly repaired coping at amphitheatre
3b Damaged slasto
4b Sparse flower bed due to too much digging and hoeing
5b Light cables (lights not working)
4a Rose bed without any organics and large gaps
4c Sparse flower bed due to too much digging and hoeing
6a Missing fence panel (security breach)
8a Water leak at toilet
5a Stolen light fittings on bottom road
7a Litter left by vagrants
8b Water leak upper terrace
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1b Missing manhole in amphitheatre
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2a Collapsing retaining wall
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2b Collapsing retaining wall
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2c Collapsing retaining wall
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3a Damaged slasto
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4b
4c
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ARRA held a very successful Carnival in May. The weather was glorious and Arcadians turned out in their numbers, especially the young ones. Once again the Brass Band marched through the streets of Arcadia and entertained us afterwards at the Scout Hall with their wonderful repertoire.
The children were kept entertained with a number of activities. The new addition to the children’s programme was Arcadia’s Got Talent which proved that we certainly have a lots of talented children in our community.
Everyone enjoyed the delicious food on sale and generally relaxing with friends and neighbours in the sunshine.
All in all it was a lovely day and we are truly fortunate to live in such a wonderful suburb.
We have received the annual contributions from 6 of the families who come to play regularly.
Thank you very much for the contributions. We have bought new sand for the sandpit and will use the winter months to revamp the playground.
We welcome families to bring their children to play on our playground at the Arcadia Scout Hall, 185 Beckett Street on Thursdays from 15h00 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 9h30-11h30.
Much fun is had on those days and precious friendships are formed.
Contact Christel Andersen 082 3967806 | christel@souljourney.co.za
Mrs Pidsley was also very strict about how and where we park our cars (on our own property!). Pip was a sweet man who, amongst other things, helped my children with woodwork projects. He was well known for training pilots, also at Wonderboom.
We later became very close friends. But I am sad that I never at that time knew that Pip, a SA Airforce pilot, was a great hero of World War II and the Korean War. I would have loved to hear more from him about his experiences.
The WWII story I heard goes as follows:
On 26 October 1942 a mixed force of 22 aircraft took off on one of the important missions of World War II – to destroy a convoy that was of vital importance for the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK). The DAK needed fuel desperately - to move artillery from the south to the north of their front line and for the Lutwaffe to parry Montgomery's thrust at El Alamein. For this reason it was imperative for the Allied Forces that Axis shipping for Tobruk be stopped at all costs.
The Axis’ fuel-carrying convoy consisted of the Proserpina, a 4890 ton tanker carrying 4553 tons of fuel, Tergestes, a 5890 ton freighter carrying 1000 tons fuel and 1000 tons ammunition, and the cargo ship Dora. They were escorted by four Italian destroyer/torpedo boats.
The responsibility to stop this convoy, called “TT” (Taranto - Tobruk) was the lot of two flights of Bisleys of No 15 Squadron SAAF led by Maj ow. Douglas “Pip” Pidsley, and supported by eight torpedo-carrying Beauforts from No 39 and No 47 Squadrons RAF, and 9 RAF Beaufighters as fighter escort.
On the 26th October 1942 they attacked the Axis convoy despite a heavy barrage of accurate flack. The main target was the 2 700 ton tanker Prosperina.
The convoy was found and three Bisleys went in first, mistaking the Dora for the Proserpina. Pilot Officer Manning realised this and went west to look for the Proserpina. He was followed by another Beaufort flown by F/O Hearn-Phillips and the two Bisleys of Maj Pip Pidsley and Lt Dustow. The Proserpina had suffered an engine problem which had been repaired and was trailing the convoy with the destroyer Calatamfimi escorting her.
Two of No 15 Squadron's Bisleys were shot down in flames before Maj Pidsley screamed in over the tanker's stern at an altitude of 20 feet, scoring direct hits with three of his four 250 pound bombs and stopping the Prosperina in her tracks. This allowed an RAF Beaufort to administer the coup de grace.
Montgomery's campaign could have been dramatically changed had Axis convoys been able to supply their colleagues with the fuel and supplies they so desperately needed. Pidsley was awarded an immediate DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). His action ensured that the entire German armoured section was left with only enough fuel for a further three days.
REFERENCES
Sources:
Swifter than eagles – a brief history of the SA Airforce 1912 – 1982 by Lt E H Ward accessed on the Internet at scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/download/619/623
https://forums.ubi.com/archive/index.php/t-279502.html (where a much more detailed account by Beaufort-RAF of the operation can be found)
When we moved into our home as a newly-wed couple in 1979, we were quite in awe of our neighbours, the Pidsleys at 814 Government Avenue, who were older and seemed very sophisticated. Pip and Mildred each had a son from a previous marriage. They got married not long after WWII and moved to Pretoria. Their first home in the city was in Arcadia, in old stables that had been converted into flats, on the grounds of what is now The Falcons. They lived in Corbishley House with a few other young couples until they moved into their home at 814 Government Avenue.
Our organic vegetable and herb garden on the Scout Hall premises is thriving during the cold winter months. Pretoria does have an amazing climate!
We are also selling raw honey, sour dough bread and various dried herbs and spices.
Monthly orders with weekly delivery in the area are also possible.
185 Beckett street
Opening times: Thursdays 15h00 – 17h00, Saturdays 9h30-11h30
https://web.facebook.com/arcadiacommunitygarden/
Contact details: Christel Andersen 082 3967806 | christel@souljourney.co.za
Sadly we have to bid farewell to Kon, Laura, Milo and Kai Von Vieregge who have lived in Thomas Avenue for 6 years. They are relocating to Atlanta, USA in July.
Both Kon and Laura have been very involved members of the community. They have supported all the social and fundraising events with great enthusiasm and generosity. Laura has served on the Social and Fundraising committee for a number of years and her contribution has been invaluable. She was instrumental in organising the children’s activities at the annual ARRA Carnival and also the very successful Halloween Trick or Treat.
Laura was also very involved in the Moms and Tots Group at the Scout Hall. Both her children have spent many happy hours playing with the other little Arcadians at the Scout Hall playground on Thursday afternoons.
We will certainly miss this special family and on behalf of all Arcadians, we wish you well as you start this new chapter of your lives.
The swimming Albertyn family of Arcadia did outstandingly well at the 2019 Aquelle Midmar Mile held at Midmar Dam in Howick , KZN.
Firstly, Dad Gary and 16 year old daughter Kaitlyn swam 16 miles for their charity DUCT, the Duzi and Umngeni Conservation Trust which was established by local paddlers in 2006 to champion the environmental health of the uMsunduzi and uMngeni Rivers. As there are only 8 mile races over the two days of the event, that meant they needed to swim across the dam for each race then back again to start the next race. Kaitlyn was the youngest competitor to achieve this. Meanwhile Mom Megan and 14 year old Connor swam 8 miles for their charity Pink Drive, which does amazing work in the prevention of breast and cervical cancer through early screening and education programmes.
The family came top of the family relay event winning overall in grand style. Young Connor stormed in first in the family in 20.13, Kaitlyn followed in 21.06, Dad Gary was close behind in 21.23 and Mom Megan did 23.32.
Megan also won the ladies 41-50 age group race, Gary came second in the men’s 41-50 age group race and Kaitlyn achieved a great placing in the top 10 of the elite ladies 14-30 age group which included the overseas stars who come to swim at Midmar.
Well done Albertyns!
Obakeng comes to collect the recycling at 11h00 on Saturday mornings. The gate of the Scout Hall is unlocked at 9h30.
Please do not leave your bags outside against the fence as this encourages informal recyclers to scratch in the bags and take what they want. On Saturdays when there are lots of cars parked, leave the recycling under the tree close to the entrance otherwise take it to the parking area towards the back.
You may also bring recycling on Thursdays between 15h00 and 17h00.Please put your contribution in the yellow bin in the parking area so that it does not get wet when it rains.
We can immediately do something about the mounting plastic monster that is threating the environment. Although the ideal solution is to stop using non-recyclable plastic, we are still being sold items packed in this material. We can all make EcoBricks that can be used as building material. It is surmised that PET (polyethylene terephthalate ) bottles will last for 300 to 500 years if they are kept from sunlight. It takes about 6,200 EcoBricks to build a two-room classroom.
For more information watch the Introduction video of the ECOBRICK exchange at www.ecobrickexchange.org
It is imperative that only trash that is dry and free of food is used to prevent mould and bacteria from forming.
As a guide, a 500ml bottle should weigh around 175g when fully packed, and a larger 1.5l bottle will weigh around 500g. When you really can't squeeze any more in, your EcoBrick should be ready.
Watch this space for where Arcadians are going to take EcoBricks.
A home built with EcoBricks
A home built with EcoBricks
Planning & Zoning:
Heritage:
Environment & Recycling:
Crime & Security:
Service Delivery:
Ward & Electoral:
Membership & Fundraising:
Ms Ina Roos
Mr Claus Schutte
Dr Rita Burger
Mr Flor Healy
Mr Peter Blersch
Mr Francois Burger
Ms Penny Blersch
All these members will serve on the Management Committee.
2035
ECOBRICKS
Rest In Piece
By 2015 we aim for EcoBricks to become extinct by encouraging the phasing out single-usage plastics.
In the meantime we encourage people to stuff all their plastic into their EcoBricks and to use them to build structures of value.
This may sound odd, but it is hoped that by the year 2035 the humble EcoBrick will become extinct as the material needed to produce them will be unavailable.
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