EDNA EVELINE ROBERTSON nee Pfohl 1886 - 1974

by Clare Sparkman, her daughter,

10th September, 1983

Edna Eveline Pfohl who was born at "Twist Kraal", Middelburg, Cape District on the 9th November, 1886 and was baptised in Saint Barnabas Church, Middelburg, Cape by the Reverend E.J. Batty on the 10th February, 1887.

She completed her education at the Convent in Graaff Reinet, where she qualified as a Teacher, gaining Certificates dated the 20th February, 1900 and the 25th January, 1901 for Drawing and the Pupil Teachers Certificates dated the 1st February, 1902 and the 23rd January, 1903 for Drawing, Music and Needle- work - 1st Class.

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 Robertson - nee Kannemeyer), 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.

My mother had been a teacher before her marriage and, despite having to live in many isolated places, she kept abreast of current trends and developments. She was most interested in books on Biography, Geography, History, Travel and other high class reading matter that was obtained regularly from Libraries in the larger towns. The "Illustrated London News" from 1914 onwards kept my parents in touch with the events taking place in the world beyond the shores of South Africa.

She involved herself in succouring the less fortunate during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918/1919 and even in those far off days was conscious of the fact that good health depended on a balanced diet. In this respect she was far in advance of the trends of those days before much attention was given to health and nutrition. Consequently, she became a first class performer in the culinary sphere and, not infrequently, judged and demonstrated at the Agricultural Shows-that were held in Maclear during her sojourn in that town.

She was an artist and an accomplished needlewoman, specialising in Hedebo and Hardanger embroidery.

She was a devout member of the Anglican Church and her beliefs were deep but private and personal. This enabled her to proffer good advice when approached. She never forced her ideas on any one but guided the advice seeker with her .thoughts, leaving the ultimate decision to the enquirer.

About two years after my father's death she moved to Lancaster House, Vincent, East London, where she remained for many years until she had the misfortune to slip whilst returning to her room and fractured her femur. After she was discharged from hospital she lived for a time in our home.- When the Red Cross Society opened its establishment in Beacon Bay in July of 1974 she moved there.

She would have been eighty-eight years of age on the 9th November, 1974 but she died on the 4th November, 1974. She was cremated after a service in Saint Alban's Church, Vincent and her ashes were interred in my father's grave.

ISSUE OF CHARLES FRANK AND EDNA EVELINE ROBERTSON:

Edna Clare Sparkman - nee Robertson who was born on the 26th July, 1911 at "Daylesford", Thebus, near Steynsburg - the home of her aunt, Hilda Louisa Stewart, nee Ffohl, and was baptised by the Reverend R. Thornley Jones at Aberdeen Road on the 12th September 1911.

Donald Bruce Robertson who was born on the 2nd May, 1924 at George.

Victor Nevil “Tim” Robertson who was born at Middelburg, Transvaal on the 14th November, 1932.