Pinelands Town Hall One of the early successes of the Pinelands Civic Association was establishing the Pinelands Town Hall. In 1923, a deputation from the Association approached the Garden Cities Trustees who agreed to build a hall provided that the Association furnished the hall and provided a piano. The hall was inaugurated in 1924 by Richard Stuttaford, …
Two Pinelands Sailors Captain Richard Lawrence Vere Shannon OBE Richard Shannon saw active Service in both World Wars. He joined the Royal l Navy in 1915 and in 1919 he was promoted to Acting Lieutenant. After the war he left the Navy to become a farmer. By 1927 he was back at sea as master of the RRS …
Lt. Arthur William Penver DFC Arthur William Penver was studying in the UK when war broke out. He returned to South Africa and joined the South African Airforce. He received his commission on his birthday 1st August 1941 and was sent to North Africa in the same month. While flying his Hawker Hartbees aircraft with his gunner …
Major Stewart Finney DFC Bar Major Stewart “Bomb” Finney was a pilot in the South African Air Force (SAAF) during World War II, and he played a crucial role in the Allied efforts in the Western Desert campaign. He was one of 14 South African fighter pilots to be awarded DFC with Bar in World War …
The Wells and Eglin families played a major role in the life of Pinelands from the early years. Major Frank Wells moved into 12 Meadway in 1922. Frank’s brother-in-law, Carl Eglin and family moved in next door at 10 Meadway in 1923. The houses were named Wellesley and Caronel respectively. WELLS FAMILY Frank Wells, also known as Bolshie …
THE Brown & Annie Lawrence Home, for the aged, is the oldest retirement home in Pinelands. I was opened by HRH Princess Alice, the Countess of Athlone on 21st February 1930. Mr Brown Lawrence was a successful businessman having set up the company B Lawrence and Co in 1901 dealing in soap, candles and as …
In the early days of Pinelands there were two private school in Pinelands. The first school started in 1926 when Mrs Bush had opened her house in Central Avenue to 16 pupils. The principal was Sheila Ross the daughter of the Conservator of Forestsliving in the Uitvlugt Homestead. The number of pupils soon rose to …
Over the years a multitude of social clubs were formed in Pinelands. Among them were a Writers Circle, a Stamp Circle, Toastmasters, Caledonian Society, Study Group, the Mothercraft Circle, a Sequence Dance Club, Woodworkers Club, Choral Society and Cine 8 Club. However, the most important for many years was the Horticultural Society. A meeting held …
The first sports club in Pinelands was the Pinelands Lawn Tennis Club which met for the first time in the home of Mr Brooks in October 1923. The first two courts had already been built next to the Police Camp. The third and fourth courts followed in 1924 and 1925. The practice wall built in …
The Pinewood Theatre was built by Forest Drive Investments as part of a complex on Forest Drive that included flats. The auditorium was large enough to contain 1000 seats, but to provide ample leg room only 788 seats were installed. The seats were on a sloping floor in a staggered arrangement to ensure clear view …
