Another oak has fallen . . .
Peggy van Druten has passed away at the ripe old age of 95 years, three months shy of her 96th birthday. She and late husband Bill moved to Hermanus 30 years ago from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.
Peggy was a businesswoman in her own right. She owned hairdressing salons in Bethlehem and Ladysmith. Her eldest, Desiree, and son-in-law, Danie van Niekerk, acquired community newspapers in the Overberg, and Peggy and Bill decided to retire to Hermanus. She had other ties with Hermanus, as her mother Gertrude Swanepoel, née Patterson, was born here.
Peggy soon became a stalwart and popular person in the community. Her elegance, style and loving personality contributed to her popularity among her friends.
At her death she was the oldest member of the Hermanus Vroue-Landbouvereniging (VLV) and was granted the honour of planting a tree in the grounds of the Hermanus Dutch Reformed Church. She is fondly remembered by many members because of her prowess in creating award winning flower arrangements and baking prize- winning scones and pavlovas. The latter caused her to be invited by several VLV members to demonstrate a “pavlova teaching session” in her own kitchen.
This stylish, compassionate and loving person has managed to touch many lives. As a prize winning member of the VLV and devoted member of the Anglican church she boasted loyal friends in the Afrikaans and English communities. There is not a family member that will not very fondly remember Granny Pegs. She will be missed by all.
