I first met Keith at IBM in Johannesburg but really only knew him then as the man from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It was after he was transferred down to Cape Town that I got to know him well. He was the Salesman on the Sanlam account and I was the SE.
We spent many hours together traveling two or three time a week from IBM in Wale Street to the Sanlam offices in Bellville. Keith was the proud owner of a Triumph Spitfire (in British Racing Green, no less) and fancied himself as something of a rally driver so the trip was always exciting, if somewhat nerve-racking.
Parties at the Mattisons were memorable. They rented a cottage in an idyllic setting somewhere in the shadows of Devil’s Peak. Hard to imagine that he came from a strict Salvation Army background, as the Rum certainly flowed.
One of my most memorable Christmas Eves was at the Mattisons. Keith man-handled his piano into the garden of their cottage. There must have been a dozen or so families present with young children. Keith handed out roneoed copies of the words to all the well-known Christmas Carols and everyone joined in the singing.
We lost contact after I left IBM in the mid 70s and it was only in recent times – thanks to the greatly appreciated efforts of Mike Graham in organising the IBM Old Boys lunches - that we met up again. It is an interesting phenomenon that the friends one made at IBM are much like school friends: Even though decades might have passed, when you meet up again the years just melt way and it is like only yesterday that you last met, and so it was with Keith.
Best wishes to the Mattison family from Carol and Francois.
No comments:
Post a Comment