Meet the Brothers

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Well there they are. Paul, David and Alan from left to right. What do you think? Besides having the same parents, they have other things in common. They were all born in Johannesburg, attended the same English-speaking school, knew many of the same people and had similar experiences. Click here for a map of the area. There's a four year age difference between each.

Here are thumbnail sketches of their lives to date written by Paul, and revised in the light of the others' comments. You can vary the order by clicking their pictures.

Hey, is that a misprint? What's a geek?
It's explained lower down the page.

Paul

Undoubtedly the best-looking of the three. Born 1938. From school worked in a goldmine for a year before going to University. Majored in English and Psychology. Brief (and miserable) spell as school teacher before departing for England for two years. Is still there.

Period as Civil Service psychologist in North of England and then Lecturer in Psychology. Higher degree by research while working. Main job from 1969 as researcher and lecturer in social science in Midland university. Mostly interesting, included work in India and Philippines. Finally got pissed off and retired early, 1988. Worked part-time. Still does a bit.

Met charming and delightful girl Liz from Yorkshire in Paris (really!). Married 1964. Three grown-up daughters; five grandchildren courtesy of daughters Lucy (3 kids) and Sarah (2). (Use the Liz link above.)

Enthusiasms have included photography, motorbikes (had a Triumph 750) and Greece. Moved to West Yorkshire 1995. Lives in Victorian terrace cottage. Has the third in a series of mongrel dogs. Click here to see them. After a lifetime of old bangers for cars including a rusting 1987 Lada, in 2003 bought a 2-year-old VW Polo. Bit of a piss-artist.

What's a piss-artist?
It's a polite term for an alcoholic.

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David

Probably the most successful of the three. Kind, reliable, sound. Born 1942. From school into building society and has remained in that field - apart from brief but well-paid foray into the strange world of candy bar manufacture and marketing.

What's strange about the candy bar trade?
Maybe David will explain later, but from what I gather, in 1960s South Africa business practices in the trade were sometimes a bit eccentric.

Back in the more orthodox world of building societies he rose steadily and prospered, becoming manager of increasingly important branches in different parts of the country. Acquired various banking diplomas part-time along the way. Later the building society turned into a bank. Now retired.

Married charming and delightful wife, Evelyn, 1973. Two sons, recently graduated. No known grandchildren.

A power in his community. Well-connected; member of various associations - for years chairman of local Lions club. Also a stalwart of local Alcoholics Anonymous; was treasurer at last count. Now sober for ten years, almost certainly a family record. For some, at certain periods, ten hours would be stretching it.

Lives in good suburban house with pool in Gauteng area. (Yes, I know you've never heard of it. Click for a map). Drives a Sierra with air conditioning. Fond of dogs and has several. Click here to see them. Dogs like him - famous in family for arriving home from infant school with assortment of dogs in tow. Also likes game reserves, cooking and gardening. (Grows various kinds of herbs - legal ones).

Hey, can we know the surname of this famous family? And I've got other questions...
Hay, straw, donkey's manure! Stop saying "Hey". I'll answer your questions after you've met Alan. And the family's not famous, yet.

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Alan

Possibly the most interesting and resourceful, with most varied career. Born 1946. Completed school and found his way into the estate agency business.

Married quite young. Charming and delightful wife, Ricky. Soon moved to Rhodesia, as was, where he did well until war closed in to a point where only sensible course was to get the hell out. In two small cars loaded with young family and what possessions could be salvaged they headed back to South Africa to start again.

Settled in Capetown. Job in building society for several years. Successful, though not a corporation man. Left to re-establish career as estate agent, putting autonomy before security.

Latterly largely free-lance financial advice operator retaining links with estate agency and building society worlds. Also proprietor, with partner, of first and only Chinese take-away joint (now sold) in small town in Western Cape (Click for a map) where they live (actual Chinese are in short supply).

Publishes with another partner an annually up-dated ready reckoner guide for estate agents that allows them to quote prices and costs without having to do arithmetic. Dabbles in property market. Good house in idyllic setting under mountains. Renovated the old servants' quarters as holiday flat to let. (Prices on request.)

Most recently has been involved in a community watch scheme to make up for inadequate police protection against rising crime in the area. A bit of a local hero when he chased and brought about the arrest of two malefactors, at some risk to himself. His brothers now mention him a lot in order to bask in his reflected glory.

Two daughters and one son, all grown up. Click here for details. Oldest daughter graduate and possible literary genius. One small pretty dog, one big ugly one. Click here to see them. Two cars at last count, pretty basic.

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