The Idler, Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Cup with two lids

MENTION of the York and Lancaster rugby cup, played for by clubs in Maritzburg and the Midlands, 

brings response from readers.

Bernard Ravnii, who is involved with varsity rugby, says that at the turn of the 19th

(which meant boys, masters and old boys) and the British regiments garrisoned there played for a 

floating trophy.

The York and Lancaster regiment won it three years running, which meant they were allowed to 

keep it. But before they departed for India, they presented the current York and Lancaster Cup as a 

replacement. 

The floating trophy they had won in Maritzburg unfortunately went to the bottom of the ocean when the 

ship carrying it sank off Reunion.

All this came to light when the Maritzburg sub--union lost the lid to the York and Lancaster Cup and 

contacted the regimental historian in Britain, who sent photographs of the cup and was fascinated to 

learn that it was still being played for.

From the photographs a new lid was made – and then the original turned up. So the York and Lancaster 

Cup has two lids. (Maybe they should give the spare to the runners-up).

Meanwhile, for Dave Nicholls, of Durban North, mention of then York and Lancasters stirs memories 

of a beloved great-uncle, Douglas Gifford, who served with the regiment. He made his own way from 

Rhodesia to London and ended up with the regiment, winning the Military Cross and Bar.

"He was a character old Uncle Douglas and we kids always treated him with deep respect."

Black Horse (again)

MENTION of the York and Lancasters also brought to mind the Black Horse, where they used to hoist a 

pint or two. Reader Doug McGarr send a snippet from a history of Maritzburg.

"At the other end of the social scale the garrison greatly stimulated the liquor trade and the world's 

reputedly oldest profession, prostitution. Drinking and womanising were the two most sought-after forms 

of relaxation for the British soldier.

"In 1884 the Waterloo Bar in Church Street was a favourite haunt of the garrison and was the scene of 

numerous brawls and a few deaths. A veteran of the 82nd Regiment, John Mockler, who settled in the 

city, concluded that the Tommies kept Pietermaritzburg 'alive'; and in 1938 an elderly city innkeeper, Mr 

Sammy Froomberg, recalled that when cavalrymen visited the Black Horse Bar, they would ride into the 

bar, down their drinks while still mounted and ride out again."

Sammy Froomberg? That must have been old Barney Froomberg's dad.

Iron birds

ACADEMIC and writer Ashwin Desai recently wrote a piece for us in which he mentioned King Shaka's 

prediction (early in the 19th

in a poem written by Thomas Gray in 1737.

"The time shall come when thou shalt lift

Thine eyes the long drawn battle in the skies to search

While aged peasants too amazed for words

Stare at the flying fleets of wondrous birds.

England, so long the mistress of the sea,

 century) of "great iron birds". Peter Relleen, of Hayfields, Maritzburg, sends 

Where winds and waves confess her sovereignty,

Her ancient triumphs yet on high shall bear

And reign the sovereign of the conquered air."

What could this be but the Battle of Britain?

"He foretold the epic aerial battle over England during the 1939-1945 world war with astounding acuity 

from so far back in time. This gives credence to King Shaka's own vision, I would say," says Peter.

Gray wrote his poem 166 years before the Wright brothers. Does it also give you goosebumps?

Tailpiece

THIS couple are woken by a pounding at the front door at 3am The man gets up to investigate. A drunk 

is standing there, swaying in the pouring rain.

"Give ush a push," he says.

"Not a chance!" The husband slams the door on him.

The wife: What was it?"

"A drunk wanting a push. I told him to get lost."

"You've got a short memory. Remember that time we broke down in the rain and those youngsters gave 

us a push-start. God also loves drunks, you know."

He sighs and gets up. He opens the front door. It's pitch dark and pelting down.

He calls: "You still there?"

"Yesh."

"D'you still need a push?"

"Yesh."

"Where are you?"

"Over here on the shwing."

Last word

Love is an exploding cigar we willingly smoke. 

Lynda Barry