HEADS UP
Talks happen on the third Tuesday of a month, at the Athenaeum in Newlands. All are welcome, free of charge
Outings happen on the last Saturday of a month (usually). Members only
CURRENT TALK
DATE: 21 NOVEMBER 2023
TIME: 8pm
PLACE: The Athenaeum, Boundary Terraces, Mariendahl Lane, off Campground Rd, Newlands
TALK: TD Ravenscroft, photographer: ‘Now and Then’ Lakeside to Simon’s Town
SPEAKER: Barrie Gasson
Thomas Daniel Ravenscroft (1851 – 1948) was born in Swellendam and started his photographic career at the age of 17 in Cape Town where he absorbed the arts and techniques of the time and developed his own particular talents.
He photographed widely in southern Africa and the Cape, moved into monochrome and colour postcards from which he derived a considerable income, and specialized in portraits.
He was a master of the art of infinity focus. He was practising until shortly before his death and was at that time “the world’s oldest practising professional photographer.”
He donated his collection of nearly 2000 glass negatives to the WC Archives.
Barrie Gasson is a retired senior lecturer in the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics at UCT. His particular field of expertise was the teaching of natural systems and their integration and effect on the urban environment. This course was offered to master’s students studying for the master’s courses in City Planning and Urban Design set up under the direction of Roelof Uytenbogaardt.
Barrie is a lifelong resident of St James and has over the years developed, and encouraged in others, an interest in the area. He was a co-founder of the Kalk Bay Historical Association in 1995, which has untaken to present talks and visits to various points of local interest and has edited the Association’s 22 Bulletins which can be read on-line at their website.
CURRENT OUTING – LEN RAYMOND’S HOUSE IN PAARL
DATE: 2cnd DECEMBER 2023
TIME: 10.30
MEET: In parking lot of Old Mill Theatre, Mill Street, Paarl
BRING: Picnic lunch
Numbers limited to 25 – book your place : studio@iafrica.com
Our final outing of the year will be hosted by Len Raymond.
He will meet us at the Old Mill Theatre and we will walk a little way along Mill Street to look at some of the buildings in this very historic street which has been in use for 320 years.
Mill Street became the main thoroughfare through a section of Paarl after the Dutch Reformed Church refused to allow the “main” road to cross church land and the “main” road had to veer left until it passed church grounds, at which point in could descent and rejoin the local main road again.
The main focus of the outing is a visit to Len’s own house at number 94.
Here Len will explain his restoration of the house and talk about the origins of many of his historic pieces of furniture and objects.
Afterwards, we will have our picnic lunch on Len’s large stoep or under his gazebo.
This outing was originally going to be limited to 20 people, but Len reckons he can seat 25, so that is what we will go with.
With this in mind, when Len is talking about a piece of furniture or object in his house, please be flexible and move to the back of the group when you have seen enough so that others can get a view. Also stick with Len and do not wander off on your own!
HOW TO GET THERE
Enter Paarl from the N1 highway – be careful not to take the road to the Huguenot Tunnel.
Take exit 55 Paarl Main Road. Drive for about 5 kms down the main road until you reach robots and the road splits – take the left hand split. This is Mill Street. The traffic light will indicate a green arrow.
__________________________________________________
READ THE LATEST NEWSLETTER November-December2023 or access them all in Publications
_____________________________________________
NOTICE OF OUR BIG BOOK SALE VIA INTERNET
An assortment of books have come into VASSA’s possession over the years. The books are reasonably priced. First come, first served. Money raised will be used to finance VASSA research projects or publications.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK LIST
How to buy
Make payment into VASSA account with your name and the word BOOKS as reference.
Please let Pat Kramer know if you wish to buy one (or more) of the books at studio@iafrica.com.
Pay only when your purchase has been confirmed.
REMEMBER TO ADD YOUR NAME AND THE WORD ’BOOKS’ AS YOUR REFERENCE.
Bank details for the Vernacular Architecture Society (VASSA):
Bank: Standard Bank / Branch code: 025009 / Account Name: VASSA / Account Number: 075624257
Books can be collected at the VASSA meeting at the Athenaeum in Newlands, (third Tuesday of every month) or from Pat Kramer in the Gardens.
Books can also be posted via PAXI, the Pep courier service: check payment details on the internet and add to your payment.
Thanks to Jackie Kallaway who catalogued the books and Joy Woodward and Avis Fisher who organised and typed up the list.
Pat Kramer converted the prices into rands and Nigel Amschwand and Anton Roux advised on prices.
_____________________________________________
NOTICE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, AVIS FISHER
Remember that for a very small sum of money you get … ten lectures, ten outings – including an ‘away weekend’
PLUS… monthly newsletters, informative publications / reports / journals, & special perks. To say nothing of CPD points if you are a professional!
Lost badges can be replaced for R40, which is what we pay for the badge.
2023 SUBSCRIPTION FEES / Rates are being held at previous years’ fees.
Single member R250
Family membership R400
SACAP accreditation R500
Click here for HOW TO JOIN / PAY
Please send proof of payment to: avisfisher47@gmail.com
____________________________________________
A GENTLE REMINDER … VASSA’S RULES!
VASSA outings usually take us onto private properties, and into private homes.
This is a special privilege which must be respected. Hence this list of rules.
GENERAL
Only paid up members may attend outings. (Visitors pay the annual price of membership to attend the outing.)
Strictly no children and no pets. Always wear your Vassa name badge.
ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Make sure to sign the register.
On arrival stay close to the leader so that the host can be introduced. Do not wander off before the introduction.
On departure, gather around the leader to thank the host. Do not leave before this.
If you have to leave before the end of the outing, inform the outing leader so that they do not wait or look for you.
ON THE PROPERTY
Switch off cell phones or put them on ‘silent’.
Do not engage the host in private conversations and recollections while everyone else is milling around.
Before taking interior photographs, check with the outing leader that this is okay.
Do not post photographs of the interior on Facebook – this is deemed a security risk.
Do not touch anything – do not pick up porcelain to check maker’s mark, do not take books out of bookcases, etc.
Do not open closed doors.
Do not sit on the furniture.
Do not use the toilet without asking the host’s permission.
Do not take plant slips from the garden.
Do not use the privilege of an outing to organise private business arrangements or return visits with the host.
Do not voice negative – or personal – comments while on site.
LIMITING NUMBERS
Vassa outings are usually open for all members to attend. However, certain outings may not be able to accommodate a large group of people, in which case numbers are limited to a first come first served basis, and a contact email address is always provided to secure your spot.
If you cannot attend, let the organiser know so that someone else on the waiting list can.