By Penny Evans
The branch held their AGM on 19 February 2011. The new committee is as follows:
| Designation | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Lucas Rinken |
| Vice-Chairman | Bob Saunders |
| Recording Secretary | John Stephens |
| Membership Secretary | Gerard Marloth |
| Treasurer | Dennis Pretorius |
| Assistant Treasurer | Barbara Bouwer |
| Events Secretary | Margaret Humphries |
| Librarian | Graham Southey |
| Librarian Assistant | Louise Dick |
| Editor, Newsletter | Neels Coertse |
| Publicity and Blog Liaison | Penny Evans |
| Cemetery Recording | Giel Nel |
| Product Sales | Kriek Fourie |
Lucas Rinken thanked the committee for their hard work and commitment. He welcomed Bob Saunders and thanked him for being prepared to serve on the committee.
The colonists of the Cape stood together when they heard about this. Jack Holloway’s great grandfather, George Holloway signed the anti convict petition. In this petition they declared that they would have nothing to do with the government and would not sell produce to the ship, The Neptune, on which the convicts were held.
The ship lay at anchor for months and the convicts might have perished had it not been for a few who were loyal to the British government. One of them was Captain Robert Stanford. He owned a large farm, Kleine Rivers, and he was able to send produce to the convict ship.
His actions were regarded as treason by the colonists and he was ostracized.
Captain Stanford’s child became ill and died on the way to Cape Town. Stanford approached George Holloway, who owned the Coaching Inn in Kuilsrivier for a room where the child could be laid out. George Holloway agreed but knew that this would cause trouble if he assisted Stanford.
He was boycotted, became bankrupt and lost everything. In 1854 George Holloway sent a petition to the British government asking for compensation. This petition is now in Stanford House.
Edward Robert Stanford, a grandson of Captain Robert Stanford, married Daisy Wayland who was a distant relative of Graham Southey.
