Charles Frank Robertson

A short description by his daughter Edna Clare Sparkman

On the 24th June, 1908 in Saint Barnabas Church, Middelburg, Cape, Edna Eveline Pfohl married Charles Frank Robertson (the eldest son of Charles Montagu White and Hester Aletta - Kannemeyer - Robertson), who was born on the 19th May, 1879 in Uitenhage. The witnesses were R. Pfohl and E.D. Patterson and the ceremony was conducted by the Reverend E J Batty.

At the time of the marriage Charles Frank Robertson was the Station Master at Kendrew, near Graaff Reinet, where they remained until March, 1909.

During her married life my mother resided at a number of places in South Africa, namely,

Aberdeen Road (April 1909 to November 1913),

George (November 1913 to May 1915),

Le Roux (May 1915 to September 1915),

Pretoria North (September 1915 to November 1915),

Barroe (November 1915 to January 1919),

Hanover Road (January 1919 to May 1920),

Dohne (May 1920 to October 1923),

Maclear (October 1923 to January 1930),

Pienaars River (January 1930 to March 1931),

Middelburg, Transvaal ( March 1931 to December 1933),

Ermelo (December 1933 to September 1935)

and Barberton (September 1935 to January 1939), when my father retired and they settled in East London at No. 70 Vincent Gardens.

My parents were great gardeners and always left the Station Master's house and grounds the better for their presence there. For instance, at Barroe my father had holes blasted out of the rocky Karroo ground to enable roses and fruit trees to be planted. He was greatly interested in all forma of sport and played golf and tennis until he retired. On two occasions he built tennis courts at our homes.

He had a fine tenor voice and sang in Church choirs. He also played the clarinet and the cornet and the piano to a lesser degree He was a Member of the Chamber of Commerce in Barberton.

During his younger days he was a member of the Town Guard of Graaff Reinet during the Anglo-Boer War and later received the Queen's Medal.

He also received medals for the Silver Jubilee of the 6th May 1937.