The picture shows Alan and Ricki's kids when they were young and sweet.
Now they are grown up, and maybe still sweet. Helga the youngest (and probably the naughtiest) is in the middle flanked by Paul and Christie (the eldest). A few details about their parents:-
In case you did not reach here via the Brothers page or have forgotten, here is Alan the father. In the left-hand pic he is officiating at a braaivleis (barbeque) and looking disreputable. The right-hand one shows him in soigné mode with the dreaded dog Cleo, some Cape mountains in the background. Mostly worked as estate agent or in building society. Also owned a Chinese takeaway, with a partner. Spent some time in Rhodesia (1971-1976) after marrying Ricky, mother of the children.
Almost all of what follows based on info supplied by Alan, sometimes verbatim. Pic on the left taken in earlier 1990s, the right around the millennium. A real bobby-dazzler, isn't she?
Born in SA in 1948, the fourth of five children of Tom and Kate Kuipers who came from the Netherlands before WW2. Christenned Maryke. Three elder brothers, Bart, Robert and Martin (Thys), and one younger sister Anneke. Roger spotted that no English-speaker could get their tongue round 'Maryke' and, being a bit of a reader suggested she be called after Kipling's famous mongoose, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. So she became known as Ricky.
The family lived just north of Johannesburg where father Tom had a poultry farm. Chickens, eggs, a cow; even a horse for Ricky. They also had lots of dogs. One of these, a great dane, unaccountably bit her when she was three, damaging her face. I've never noticed any harm to her appearance, but it must have been a nasty experience.
Sailed through school; top of the class at Rosebank Primary. Thence to Hyde Park High where she did equally well. (Shortly before she joined, Bro Paul taught there.) Though not sporty in the normal sense, Ricky captained the Under 15 B hockey team.
Though academically brilliant on leaving school she did a secretarial course like many bright young women of that time. She had dreams of a horsey future. Her dad was prepared to send her to some of the best horse-riding schools in Europe. Then disaster struck. She met the youngest of the three Bros, Alan as a blind date on a picnic at Hartebeespoort Dam, a resevoir near Jo'burg. This is not a romantic spot. It used to have a snake park (and maybe still does) the main attraction of which was the feeding of live baby chicks to venomous serpents. I don't know whether they saw this, but in Alan's words "the two [Alan & Ricky] were instantly drawn to each other".
Ignoring initial resistance and bribes, especially from Ricky's folks, who soon came round to supporting them, they were married in Feb 1968. From 1971 to 1976 they lived in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) until conditions became impossible and they moved to the Cape. Three Kids: Christie (1969), Paul (1971) and Helga (1976). In recent times has worked as secretary at a nearby school.
First child, born 1969 weighing in at 6lb 13oz. According to Alan did not give them too many grey hairs, apart from crashing two cars (not simultaneously). Did pretty well at school at both studies and sport and ended up at the University of Capetown from which she graduated with a B.A., majoring in English Literature. Quite a reader; and a bit of a writer. Had something published in the Readers Digest.
While at university worked in a bookshop and was later asked to become a rep for a big Cape-based publisher. After two years there she moved to the retail end of the trade and joined a small but growing chain in which she has set up and managed shops in various parts of Cape Town. A force to be reckoned with in the book business, in 2000 received the company award for best shop manager. More recently has been working as rep for Penquin Books. Enjoys her social life. In 2006 finally married long-time partner Marius - while on honeymoon in Thailand. Marius is insurance company investment advisor who moonlights as a disk-jockey. He can be seen with Christie in the accompanying pic. Seems he doesn't smoke in real life, only on the web - a virtual smoker.
Paul Anthony, born 1971 (8lbs 13 oz) in Harare (Salisbury), Zimbabwe. A heavyweight at birth. Bright lad. Went through school with minimum effort though without distinguishing himself scholastically.
Appears always to have had an athletic bent. Played rugby at school, but most liked surfing in the rough seas of the Western Cape. Also enjoyed diving for crayfish (a type of lobster) and perlemoen (abelone).
Paragliding and squash as well. Even had a go at golf while in the army. Told me that when he was posted to the Karoo (a semi-desert area) they used to play on a course devoid of grass. Under local rules players would carry around a small mat from which to strike the ball. This was known as a grassie.
A more recent passion has been Adventure Racing, in which teams race each other over cross-country routes sometimes as long as 100k. Over hill and dale, up and down mountains, across rivers they go, on foot, by mountain bike, canoe or swimming. His team is apparently well regarded in the AR fraternity.
In February 2005 reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in company with his two northern cousins and others. In December 2006, made an attempt on Mount Aconcagua in the Andes, summit 6,962m (22,840ft). Was among 4 out of an original 14 who made it to 6,100m before blizzard conditions (-20 degrees in the tent) forced them to turn back.
A 2008 event was the eight-day 966km Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race from Knysna to Lourensford (near Somerset West), much of the route over rough mountain tracks. Though far from the youngest in the field his team (Paul & partner) came in 280th out of 433 finishers (out of 600 starters), or 218th of 269 in the men's category.
On leaving school he entered the army for his compulsory 2 years military service. The country was then fighting against the Communist Menace (i.e. black people) in Namibia and elsewhere. Sensibly he applied for an officers' training course at the age of 17. Then itchy feet took him to England, Europe and Australia.
Back home worked for a bank for a year and then joined a carpet contracting company as a sales rep (not your domestic 
hearth-rug but whole buildings). Two years into this and the firm offered to set him up in a new branch and make him a partner there. Eighteen months later (Nov 1999) he bought the other partners out to become sole owner of his own business. Was recently said to be entering a business venture in Botswana.
Lives in the Western Cape. Married Juliette in November 2001. Juliette is a language teacher. Her mother is French and her father Irish. Said to be knowledgeable about computers which makes a change for our family. The couple can be seen in the picture. In February 2003 they became the proud parents of Lara, and in December 2004 of Amy.
The youngest, born 1976 (7lbs 3oz, a welter-weight) in Umtali (now Mutari, Zimbabwe). Left there in the Great Flight South with her parents at age 6 months.
Not a Zimbabwean citizen since she was born at the wrong time and is the wrong colour like her bro Paul).
I'm told she regarded school as more of a social arena than a place of learning. Good at sport and was awarded a Victrix Ludorum for swimming. Got a reasonable matriculation result.
When she finished school spent some time in Israel and then went on to become a barmaid back home. This is not unknown in the family and was the path followed in England by her cousin Sarah. After two years she took off to become a barmaid/waitress in Edinburgh, graduating to a better job at an insurance company. Travelled to Thailand before returning to S.A. In 2000 together with a friend opened a shop in a new shopping mall near Capetown, selling mats. Business appears to be flourishing.
It is said that she gets along with people really well and has a natural ability to entertain and amuse. Strong-willed but sensitive to the feelings and problems of others. Has a soft spot for animals and had two cats and a dog last I heard.
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