GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The sudden death of Claud Arnott (78) on 22 June will leave a void in the Graaff–Reinet community.
Claud passed away in hospital in Port Elizabeth, after suffering a heart attack the previous day.
Claud grew up in Bothaville in the Free State. He owned a business in Johannesburg for 30 years, which specialised in extraction and ventilation to deal with air pollution.
Claud and his wife Marge moved to Graaff–Reinet in 2007.
He was passionate about the town and its people and worked in many areas for the betterment of the community. In 2013, together with Guy van Zyl, Claud founded the Graaff-Reinet Residents' and Ratepayers' Association.
Claud's particular concern was water pollution from sewage spills into the Sundays River. He was also involved as a consultant in the planning of the Waste Transfer Station. He worked tirelessly communicating with authorities, including the Green Scorpions, about what was happening in these areas. He was in his second term as a ward committee member in Ward 2 and served on the local Roads Committee.
Claud was also very involved with Probus, a lunch club for retired professionals. He helped to revitalise the organisation and served as Chairman for four years.
About three years ago, Claud experienced some heart problems, and his health never fully recovered, although this did not stop his commitment to the town.
After moving to the Brenda Horwitz Retirement Village two years ago, it was not long before he became actively involved there, serving as Chairman of the Residents' Committee.
Claud leaves his wife Marge, to whom he had been married for 24 years, the second marriage for both. He had two children from his first marriage and three stepchildren, nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter of eight months.
He was a loving husband and caring father, who had a wonderful ability to get on with people.
Marge remembers fondly how, unlike most men, he loved to go shopping. He also loved his home and spent some of the happiest years of his life in Graaff–Reinet.
Friends and family came from far and wide to celebrate his life at a memorial service at St James Church last Saturday.
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