In 2008 a group of the old crew from the 60s and 70s put their heads together and agreed to the formation of an old boys club. This in order to create a data base of old URSLSC members that had, over the years, moved to many countries overseas and to other centres in South Africa.

Further to this, it was agreed that Lionel Houseman and John Coyne  should be acknowledged for their 50 years of service to the club and .

This was not immediately possible as we had no contact details available, of all the members, available to us.

So I took up the reigns and with the very able assistance of Mike Freemantle( a member from the 60s) a list of member and their contact details was collated.

The process took us all of 2 years  and during this time Mike and I worked together to have URSLSC Old Boys/Girls club shirts and caps manufactured as well as increasing the interest in our project by establishing a club face book page and circulating many photos and club stories related by some of the members.

In 2011 the inaugural meeting, to officially announce the formation of the URSLSC – Old boys/Girls, was held at the lifesaving club.

Those present were:-

John Wrathmall, Mike Freemantle, John Coyne, John Houseman, Bruce Brockwell, Dave Smith, Errol (sand Shark) Sanders, Mike Cameron, Delisle Wear, Colin Young and Trevor Raw

At this meeting it was agreed that Mike Freemantle and myself would, with the assistance of the Elders of the club, would initiate the authoring of a book about the club history , drawing up of a constitution for our little club. It was agreed that all members, world wide would pay a small membership fee and that gatherings were to be held for fund raising purposes.

It was further agreed that the old boys/ girls Club be identified as separate from but intrinsically supportive of the active club and that should the old boys/girls club cease to function, for any reason, that it be wound up and all its finances transferred to the active club. This agreement is set in stone in the constitution that is now in place.

So in short the ideal of the old boys organization is to be independent of the club  but to fully support the club in all its activities whilst also acting as a font of wisdom, as and when required , by the active committee that governs the club at any time now and into the future.

It was further agreed that all effort be made to ensure that active club members , who retired from competition or administration, be routed to the old boys club in order to guaranteed continuity.

The position of the Old Boys /Girls club chairman is only available to members that have, at least, 30 years’ service  to the club and this will apply to any treasurer, that is appointed as well.

For too may years, good members have been lost to the club after their active or administrative careers came to an end. The Old boys/Girls offers those individuals an alternative which binds them to the club without them committing to duties which they no longer enjoy and secures their invaluable support and reference to things historical, going forward.

The essential project of having the club history reduced to writing, was finally accomplished in 2016 and 200 books were printed. This has proved to be a resounding success as copies of the books have been delivered to Australia, USA, England and other centres in South Africa.

“It captures the story of Umhlanga Rocks Surf lifesaving Club and should be seen as an attestation to the selfless commitment of all members, past and present’

The Story of the club is only half told if the Founding members from 1937 are not mentioned. We have, in the archives, pictorial history appertaining to that almost forgotten team of lifesavers that were resident in old Mt Edgecombe and Umhlanga Rocks. Core members were Quita Wiltshire, Bob Wiltshire, Two surgeon brothers, one of the Sargents and no doubt Jack Sykes, who is recorded as having had a box line in the beach in 1929.

The club 60^th anniversary was held at the old Country club in 2013 and was well attended by old members from all over the world. We were very privileged to have a number of the founder members from the 1954 team and have thankfully captured their story for posterity. A DVD is available to the active club for transfer to their archives and a copy will be handed over in the near future.

I hope that the foregoing is in accordance with your requirements and may I suggest that a club meeting be set up where we can introduce the old boys to the active club members and let them know that there is a home for them in the old boys/ girls fold, where they can reminisce about things past as they progress into the middle a twilight years.