The Wanderers Club

Although the past decade was a screwy one in many respects and brought to light many new trends and tendencies in the world of sport, here at the Wanderers it was also eventful and was marked by some significant developments.

Early in the decade, during the third week of February, we witnessed the third cricket test match in the four-test series between South Africa and the touring Australian team. There were 32 000 people at the stadium on Saturday February 21 to watch the South Africans, on top of the world, inflict another defeat on their redoubtable opponents. They were described as a remarkably orderly crowd, so different from the unruly mobs who were becoming a common feature at big cricket matches overseas. It was the last international cricket to be seen at the Wanderers.

A stadium crisis blew up shortly afterwards, when it became known that the Transvaal Cricket Union (now the Transvaal Cricket Council was considering moving its headquarters elsewhere. After many months of negotiation between the Wanderers, the TCU and the Johannesburg City Council, it was finally agreed that the cricket headquarters would remain at the Wanderers for another 20 years, with the council subsidizing the maintenance of the stadium.

Although deprived on its international cricket fare, the stadium continued as the venue for provincial cricket matches and several hockey internationals were staged there. But seldom, if ever, were its tall stands filled to capacity.

In 1979, the Transvaal Rugby Football Union was granted the temporary use of the stadium for two years during the winter as its headquarters pending the reconstruction of its premises at Ellis Park.

In the same year, the club introduced multi-racial sectional membership as a means of offering people of racial groups other than white opportunities to share in the renowned amenities of the Wanderers Club.

Author : Eric Brunette January 1980

2006 – On the occasion of the start of the Garfield League

With the Garfield league starting very soon, I have been asked by Dick and Colin to write a few words about Living with the Bowlers. (They stressed ‘A FEW WORDS’ so I shall try to keep it brief).

The last piece I wrote in 2003 covered the story of my birth near the old Wander Inn at the tennis courts, my ten happy years of living there with my mother, my decision to re-locate to the bowling greens, and my first three years of living with the bowlers. So perhaps this is an appropriate time to bring things up-to-date.

My first home at the bowling greens, as many of you will no doubt remember, was a kennel behind the summer house on the south side of A Green. It was a very secluded spot, which suited me, because I was still “sussing out” the situation there. I do want to say at the outset how very welcome I was made to feel and I never doubted that I had done the right think in moving.

Bowlers are, on the whole, a friendly bunch and I son got used to the “Hello Garfield”, “Hi there, Garfie”, and “Come here Garfield”, with which they greeted me as they arrived for their games. I also got used to the stroking and petting that I got from some of them and I knew that I was a very happy chappy living with the bowlers.

And then came the Night of the Fire – 29th September 2004. Which of us will ever forget the horror? The roar of the fire, the exploding windows, the crashing roof slates, the sirens – it was too awful. My kennel was bombarded with broken glass and slate, and I cowered in terror. When I could take it no longer I fled. Where to? Well, of course, back to the safety of the tennis area. I stayed there all day, crouching in the shrubbery, and then, to my astonishment in the mid-afternoon I heard Brenda calling my name. I crept out and when she saw me she scooped me up in her arms and held me tight. She told me that she had been at the Club since 5am searching for me. She had, during that day, got my kennel moved down to the summerhouse on B Green and we went there together. She stayed with me until I had eaten and had a drink, and then she settled me in my usual sleeping box, and I was alright. And so that became my home for the next couple of years.

I had gone in and out of the old Bowlers’ Lounge just as I wished prior to the fire, and it took some getting used to the marquee and then that awful little tent, but I had my friends around me and that was what mattered.

Then, when the Clubhouse was rebuilt, I was given a very smart wooden kennel on the verandah outside the Bowlers’ Lounge – you know the one I mean. But let’s be honest, I am at heart a feral cat, and I don’t like sleeping in a confined space, so it has taken me a very long time to pluck up the courage to sleep in there. But I’m pleased to say that I am now doing just that. The noise on a Saturday night is a bit of a nuisance, but I have learned to close my ears to it.

There have been ups and downs over the years – like the time that awful black cat from the Hotel bit me on the back of my leg and it went septic. That meant a couple of days in hospital, but fortunately it healed well. The welcome I got when I was taken back the Club was worth every moment of it. I nearly fell off the bank when one crusty old bowler actually leant over and kissed me on the top of my head.

I like to think that I am pretty well-behaved – I know that I am not allowed on the bowling greens, but that I am OK on the bank. Mind you, having said that I recall getting a blasting from Mary Wylie when I walked along the bank at a crucial moment in a competition. (I told her she should have had her eyes on the green and not on the bank!).

Then some little time back we were joined by the bowlers from Houghton. When I first heard that they were coming, I wondered how they would react to me. But I need never have worried. They have been so kind, and I have really just acquired a hundred more bowlers to fuss over me, and for me to enjoy.

I started by saying that I was told to keep it short, but I cannot write this without a mention of the greens staff. They are my friends. They keep an eye on me and I have on many occasions heard them telling Brenda where I am to be found – dozing under a shrub or whatever.

I almost forgot to tell you that when the Club re-opened the Sunday Times did a write-up about it, and guess what – there was a picture of me in the paper. The photographer gave Brenda a beautiful laminated copy and she told me that it is up on the ladies’ notice board. Brenda once told me that I have more friends in the bowling club than any member does. And I do have The Wanderers “colours” on my collar.

I am not a “pushy” sort of fellow but I have to say that I feel flattered and honoured by the fact that this League carries my name. I wish those organising it the very best of luck. I wish the bowlers “good bowling” (how often have I heard that said!!), and it is my sincere wish that it goes well and that we attract even more bowlers to this wonderful Club of ours – which is my home.

with love from Garfield


GARFIELD – BRINGING YOU UP-TO-DATE

2007 - 2011


The last time we chatted was in 2006, on the occasion of the Garfield League. I can’t believe that five years have passed since then. For me, they have been five wonderful years.

There have been two international events during this time. The first was a visit by the English Women’s Bowling Team in February 2009. They were a jolly bunch, and we all got along very well. Their manager was especially friendly and photographed me at every possible opportunity.

This was followed shortly after by the Atlantic Rim Tournament. Sixteen countries entered teams for this event, and it was really exciting. I was particularly impressed with the opening and closing ceremonies when the teams all marched onto A Green to the sound of their national anthems and the respective flags were raised and then, at the end of the competition, they were lowered. I hadn’t realised how many different languages there are in the world, and there were quite a few players who spoke to me, but I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. But, as always, their body language and the vibes were good, so we related well. The English Women’s Team were back for this event, and the manager brought Brenda a laminated copy of one of the photographs she had taken during their previous visit. She wanted it put on the front of my kennel, and this was duly done.

In August 2009 Kevin took over the responsibility for the greens. We just clicked from the word “go” and we are really very good friends. I am always so pleased that on the days when there are no bowlers at the Club, I know that Kevin is there. He calls Brenda “Mother Garfield” and she calls him “Uncle Kevin” (my uncle!).

Quite recently we had some of the Men’s Nationals played at the Club, and I just revelled in the company. I positioned myself on a chair at the entrance to the registrations area, so that I could see them all coming in, and I was amazed at how many greeted me by name. I’m not very modest, am I? This was followed a little later by the Black and White Tournament, again men only, and once again I ‘did my stuff’ in welcoming them at the door. My mother would be very proud of my good manners!

Yes, there have been events at the Club, big and small, and I have been so pleased to see the bowlers enjoying our wonderful facilities. I am always delighted when I hear compliments about the state of our greens, and the Club in general.

But what I really want to say is that the past five years have been very special to me. I am getting older and I am slowing down, by my contentment has never been at a higher level than it is now. I am accepted, and I think for anyone, let alone an old ginger cat, that is something very special. Thank you, one and all for this.

I love you, Garfield


Garfield passed away very peacefully on 24th June 2011

My fondest memory goes back to 1946; to a parade of servicemen returning from active service in World War II. The event was held at the old Wanderers stadium that was situated on the site of Johannesburg’s current Park Station.

For me it was special, since it was the first time I had ever seen my father.

John Spira

Looooooong Bar- 1988 Century Festivities- By Rod Pearson (Member since 1971)

1988 marked the centenary of The Wanderers Club.
Festivities were many but the interest of some of us centred round those in the Looooooong Bar -
In those days it had justifiably earned it’s name as a GENUINE long bar that seemed to stretch all the way back to the old Wanderers in town!
It reached to where the current patio is
The evening of Tuesday 4 October 1988 was billed as ‘Beer at 100 Year Ago Prices’!
We resolved to attend. Could we miss it!?
Entrance was barred by a doorman (as was customary in those days).
Only those able to show membership cards could enter. And gents had a collar & tie - & jacket!
The bar was packed. And noisy! And jolly!
With good reason. Beers were 5 cents each! You walked up to the bar with R1.
And came back with 20 – twenty – beers! In cans that were specially printed by S A Breweries - “100 – Wanderers Century – 1888-1988”.
SAB saw the marketing gap & donated the beers, I understand - & we were thankful!
And when you finished those, back you went for more! And more! It’s amazing how quickly one could drink them when they were so cheap!
Eventually the stagger back from the bar counter took a lot longer than the walk there!
An unheard of thing in those days was that ladies were allowed in the bar for the evening – a first. One lady asked the now overworked doorman
“When will this happen again?” “Not for another 100 years” he said.
How wrong he was! Ladies are now allowed in! Without ties!

The Wanderers Club at Kruger’s Park is dead;
Long live the Wanderers Club at Kent Park!

(Article extracted from the "Wanderers Club Centenary Magazine September 1988")

It was one of the most significant days in the history of the Wanderers Club;
Sunday October 27 1946.

After a long and bitter legal struggle, the railway administration’s expropriation of the club’s city centre premises had become a hard fact and the Wanderers Club had to face up to the ineluctable prospect of moving its home to the sparse tract of undeveloped land it had acquired ten years before in the northern outskirts if Johannesburg.

A farewell was staged on the old ground. It took the form of a series of exhibitions and games in which many notable old-stagers participated, all of them reflecting the character and spirit of the old club.
The proceedings were hilarious in part, but through them all there was an unmistakable undertone of sadness.

And then at noon, while the pipers of the Transvaal Scottish band played a lament, Victor Kent, the chairman of the club, slowly lowered the tattered old Wanderers flag which was flying in the gentle breeze on the ground in front of the well-filled grandstand, calling out in a voice charged with emotion: "The Wanderers Club at Kruger’s Park is dead; long live the Wanderers Club at Kent Park!"
Except for city noises in the distance, not another sound could be heard in the ground as the plaintive, reedy notes of the pipes drifted across the concourse, where misty eyes told of the sadness everyone felt as the passing of an old friend. Then all joined in singing Auld Lang Syne with lumps in throats and melancholy fervour.

At the same moment a new flag in the club’s colours was raised at Kent Park, ten kilometres away, on what is now the No.1 Oval by Charlie Frank, a famous Wanderers cricketer of the ‘20s and a member of the parent committee, in the presence of a few members of the Wanderers and Jeppe Old Boys cricket teams, who were engaged in a league match.

The photographs below depict the poignant moments. Among those behind Victor Kent at the flag pole on the old ground are Sir Llewellyn Anderson, the first secretary of the club (1888- 1895) and members of the parent committee and staff.
In the Kent Park picture the four people nearest the flag pole are (from left) Alec Hastie, then the assistant groundsman, Duggie Meintjies, the assistant secretary, Charlie Frank and Felix Oliver, both members of the parent committee.








Venture into the Illovo wilderness
In the mid-‘30s the Wanderers Club committee, under the astute chairmanship of Victor Kent, made a momentous decision to acquire some 200 acres of land in the faraway suburb of Illovo on the northern outskirts of Johannesburg for the sum of £47 704.

The property was originally intended as an overflow for the congested grounds in the centre of the city and as a future home for the old club on the expiry of its lease in 1989. The railway expropriation in 1946 caused a big deviation in these notions of the club’s future.

This aerial photograph shows the empty tract of farmland which was to become the Wanderers Club’s only property a decade later.



Club Chairman from 1920-1952. The Illovo Club grounds are named after him





Member of the parent committee in the late ‘30s and was chiefly responsible for the layout of the clubs grounds and golf course.

The re-established home.
An aerial view of the Wanderers Club in the early ‘50s.



Gouging the Fairways.
Excavations on three fairways of the golf during 1955 marked the beginnings of the Wanderers stadium, now one of the most notable cricket venues in the world.

There is also an article courtesy of Jill Sinclair on Springbok rugby player Des Sinclair.



Desmond John Sinclair was born on 14 July 1927. In 1944 he matriculated at Jeppe Boys High, where he was an outstanding sportsman and achieved colours for athletics, rugby, diving and swimming. He represented Transvaal in diving and later became one of the Zoolake Fairies together with Denis Hellman. The Zoolake Fairies were a bunch of dare devil divers who performed stunts at big galas.

As a youngster he was part of a band and played the drums. He was a jazz fanatic all his life and played good jazz on the Hammond Organ. In his matric year he obtained his pilot’s licence and he played golf off a 2 handicap whilst at school.

After leaving school Des played rugby for Wits University and then went on to play for the Wanderers. During his rugby career at the Wanderers he played with the likes of ‘Chick’ Henderson, Mickey Gerber, Joe Kaminer, Ronnie Howell and Jackie Rahn. In 1950 he was selected to play for Transvaal and in 1951 achieved Springbok colours. In addition he played premier league hockey for Jeppe Quondom with the Rowan brothers amongst others.

In 1951/52 Des toured the United Kingdom and France in the Springbok side led by Basil Kenyon. In all he played 17 matches in a Springbok jersey including 4 tests against the 1955 British Lions. Had he not gone to America to study, he probably would have played in more test matches. After returning from America he played rugby again until the mid 60’s.

Des was a very successful chiropractor and treated many of South Africa’s top sportsmen. After he had retired from playing rugby he became very involved in training and coaching rugby players from the Wanderers as well as provincial players. For many years he travelled with the Transvaal team as their in-house chiropractor, a role he also performed for the Barbarians.

In 1989 Danie Craven had a book published on who he thought were “The Legends of Springbok Rugby 1889 – 1989”. Des was included in Danie’s line-up together with Syd Nomis and Ray Mordt and I am sure many more Wanderers Springbok’s.

Des was a fun loving personality and a devoted father who got up to all sorts of pranks, he was a great entertainer at a party. In his early years he slid down the banisters of the Wanderers club stark naked. He was highly intelligent, had a quick wit and a sharp sense of humour. He enjoyed dressing up and during the 1951/52 tour he and Dennis Fry dressed up as a bull and a bull-fighter when the Springboks were invited to a New Year’s Eve party with all the lords and ladies in attendance. How the people enjoyed their floor show says Danie Craven. In Danie’s book he writes “On the field of play, too, Des was adventurous and full of life. During the 1955 Lions tour we should have lost the series, but thanks to good tactics and players like Des Sinclair, we managed to share the series 2-2”.

He also became a rugby commentator with ‘Chick’ Henderson and Hugh Bladen for many years.

Des became the Chairman of the prestigious Johannesburg Sportsman’s Club making it into the hugely successful club that it is today and they continue having all their luncheons at The Wanderers Club.

In 1969 Des married Jill Abraham who through his hard training helped her become a Springbok hockey player. They had 2 children, a son Jaye who is now 40, Jaye became the MD a company owning 20 restaurants. He sold this company 3 years ago to a Dubai company and today remains the MD of the Dubai owned company, their daughter Jo-Dee 38 has both a B PhysEd and a B ScPhysiotherapy degree from Wits. Jo-Dee has her own very successful Physio practice. Both Jaye and Jo-Dee are married and Jo-Dee has 2 little boys aged 6 and 4. Jill remains a special member of The Wanderers Club and plays bowls at Bryanston Sports. Unfortunately Des did not witness his children’s success, he died in 1996, he would have been so proud of them - but he did, with great pride, witness the greatest World Cup ever in 1995.

I am pleased to share with everyone my fond memories of Wanderers:

My ex-husband and I played squash there for many years and my son played tennis. We frequented the wonderful Sunday lunches either on the balcony or in the Ball Room for the set menu. The food was out of this world and more particularly we booked a table for the entire family for Christmas lunch in the Ball Room every year until we moved to Malawi to live for a number of years.

The Christmas lunch was memorable, with each table being allocated 1 waiter per every 4 patrons. The lunch consisted of every possible traditional food from the nuts through to coffee, cheese and biscuits. All I can say is WOW! We even had the choice of fillet steak or other ala carte meals. The cost in those days, the Seventies, was in the region of R19.00 per head. What more can I say.

For the years I worked at the Argus Printing & Publishing Company (The Star) we had a number of our annual balls in the Ball Room. This also holds many fond memories. We dressed up to the nines for these occasions. Any of the function room for weddings or other special occasions called for an excuse to dress very glamorously.

We were also members of Kent Park Taverners and so attended many wonderful cricket matches, after which we strolled over to the Club for dinner in one of the best restaurants in Johannesburg on the upper floor. My boss at the Argus, would send me by chauffeur to watch the test cricket in the press box – yet another privilege.

The shock and horror of the burning down of the Club was immense and it is so rewarding to note how this famous, historical and beautiful building was rebuilt to its present state.

The atmosphere has not changed and I always, now a widow by my second husband, thoroughly enjoy this.

The club has served me a lot, especially on trips to Australia and UK.

Although I have yet to visit a second time , I say also Thank You Wanderers, and South Africa for your welcome to me .

(Member wishes to remain as anonymous)

Memories of the Old Wanderers – 75 years ago

Author : Stanley Smollan – elected as a member 19 July 1935

It is with great pleasure that I would like to relate some memories of the Old Club in the ‘30s.

The Wanderers Club was established two years after gold was discovered and Johannesburg was founded. It was quite a large area bounded by Noord Street in the north, Wanderers Street in the east, Loveday Street in the west and Smit Street in the south. It had facilities as follows: A very beautiful Victorian clubhouse with a ballroom and a gymnasium, I seem to recall, a main cricket stadium which was brought to turf in 1935 because before that date they used to play cricket on matting. In fact, in test matches in that era, Buster Nupen was a Springbok Captain of the side playing at the Wanderers and did not play in test matches at other venues which were on grass. There were two other cricket areas on the west side, one of which was occupied by the Pirates Club and the other was used for minor provincial matches, etc. Soccer was also played on the grounds of the main stadium and they could accommodate fairly large crowds. I think round about that time they introduced greyhound racing and this entailed the erection of probably a 60ft high electric tote, the work of which today could have probably been done on a Blackberry.

My main thoughts about this great Club are that then, as it is now, it was essentially a sportsman’s club and has been carried on in the same tradition to this date. There were a great number of social events in the main ballroom including Saturday night dances. The event that remains mostly imprinted on my mind was the test match between Australia and South Africa in 1935 which occasion was marked by the opening of a magnificent double-decker grandstand.

I remember some of the names and possibly all the names could be obtained from the Cricket Union. Dudley Nourse captained the Springboks and Victor Richardson captained the Australians. Although the great Donald Bradman did not come out, he was still playing cricket and continued for quite a few years afterwards, so sadly we were denied that privilege. Dudley Nourse made a score of 231 not out in that test match. Stan McCabe replied with a double century, slightly less I seem to recall and I am trying to recall some of the other players. In the Australian side there was the legendary Clarrie Grimmett, a spin bowler of note and he really played havoc with some of our batsmen. Other players on the South African side were the late Dooley Briscoe whose name appears on the honours board, and Chud Langton. The other Australian after Clarrie Grimmett was a great fast bowler Bill O’Reilly and the opening batsmen were Fingleton and
Brown.

In those days the only means of communication for the cricket scores in Australia was the newspaper. The Rand Daily Mail used to publish a special issue and we used to go up by bicycle from our home in Saxonwold to get the day’s play and results. There was a café which sold the papers and was owned by the Lahana family who are related to our very noted bowler, Cyril Lahana.

In those days Oxford Road from Jellicoe Avenue to Corlett Drive was named Higham Road and going south from Jellicoe quite a big part of the road was an open donga come river.

When I watch cricket I remember the then secretary, Algernon (Algie) Frames. I met him at the time that I decided to join the Club in 1935 and it was rather a compulsory thing for me and my two late brothers and some cousins to join as junior members for the reason that we had a Springbok rugby player in the family who was Fred Smollan and these years were most enjoyable. Other junior members I remember were Paul Winslow and his brother.

Another facility was the bowling section which was housed alongside Smit Street and I believe they had four greens.

The Wanderers was an integral part of the City of Johannesburg and in fact on the southern end of the ground there was a railway station and the railway lines running from Krugersdorp to Springs were like a river running through the city, it was the great divide. At that time the government and the city started talking about and with the Wanderers Club about expropriation and this led eventually to the acquisition of Kent Park, the Golf Club and the Cricket Stadium which is now owned by the Council and the Golf Club by the members. This started taking place after the War. In fact, the stand on the south side when demolition started was re-erected at one of the cricket ovals in Kent Park.

Johannesburg itself was a growing city but the extent of it was nowhere near what exists in these times. There used to be a tram service going northwards to the Zoo Lake, another southwards to Newlands and Yeoville and Berea and Orange Grove were served by another line. It was a calm sedate city and a very good life was held by all.

So here we are entering the 21st century and the Wanderers is run by committee and committee members in the same way as it was envisioned in the early years of its establishment and it is in healthy and good hands which I heartily compliment. It is strange that in 1935 they thought of expropriating the Wanderers because we had a railway station, now we have two very near to us.

The Club today is still run with a high accent on its members’ sportsmen-like behaviour and it is a wonderful place.


Stanley Smollan – Honorary Member
December 2010

I joined Wanderers in about 1956/7. In those days the entrance fee was twenty-five pounds.

This was a large sum for any young man just out of college.

However Wanderers had a scheme for young people under the age of twenty-five years.

One could gain membership by paying five pounds per year for five years.

I will always be grateful to have gained membership in this way to our wonderful club.

Frank Richardson.