MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The very moment you meet Griffiths March (73) you just know that he is extra special. Many know March as the soft-spoken priest of the Saint Philips' Anglican Church, but only a few still remember him as the friendly man who delivered the Advertiser more than 30 years ago on a Monday and Thursday.
For the interview and a photograph with his old Advertiser bicycle, I fetched March from his home in uMasizakhe, where he was helping with household chores - in the same house where he was born on 14 December 1950 and also raised his four children.
He finished school in the same neighbourhood at the then Bantu Secondary School, now Nqweba Secondary School. "We used to call it the 'Blikhuis', because it was made out of zinc. It was very hot in summer and freezing in winter, but we survived."
On the road
His first job was with Kimba Road Construction. "They were building the road between Port Alfred and East London." He started off as a site checker, but says it wasn't long before he was promoted to storekeeper. "The manager asked me what I would think if he asked me to be the construction store clerk, because the other clerk was drinking too much." March recalls that in just over a month, the manager was so impressed that he was also assigned to help at the wage office.
He worked for Kimba for almost ten years. "Unfortunately, the company was liquidated, and Clifford and Harris Road Construction took over." It was in this time that he decided to go back to Graaff-Reinet to be with his dad who was very ill.
Advertiser days
Within a week of arriving in Graaff-Reinet, the Advertiser approached March to deliver newspapers. The company saw great potential in him, and soon gave him two additional offices to run. "I was put in charge of Peter Hectors' office - he always wore a white hat and was in charge of the main stores. He passed away shortly after I arrived. I also had to run the office of AP Olifant when he got sick and was booked off.
Ronnie Knott-Craig, then owner of the Advertiser, gave me a lot of opportunities to grow. I was given the keys to those offices and was doing a good job for the Advertiser. Everyone wanted to make use of me. I still have a lot of stamina to work." March worked for the Advertiser for just over eight years until he was ordained by the Anglican Church to preach.
His calling
"On the Saturday I was ordained, the bishop said to me that he is going to take me to the parish in Mossel Bay as an assistant priest. After that I was asked to preach in Ladismith. I then went to Beaufort West and Bonnievale as rector," says March. In 2012, stationed in Bonnievale, doctors advised him to retire because of his health - March had had heart bypass surgery.
He came back to Graaff-Reinet, where he still worked as a retired priest for the church. "During Covid I buried a lot of people, it was hard. I also went to visit people at their homes and never got sick."
Earlier this year March said a final farewell to the ministry and now spends quality time with Martha, his wife of 45 years.
Rugby star
March is a keen rugby enthusiast and played for the Swallows team.
He says that only two of his former teammates are still alive - Mr Lewis and Fanie Wellman. He also played for Central Karoo's first team and received provincial colours. "We were playing hard rugby back then, that is where my knees picked up this problem and why I'm now walking with an aid. Back then we were playing against Kwaru in Gqeberha."
So long...
Asked about his fondest memory from his Advertiser days, he speaks about a lady named Miss Black.
"She helped everyone, and she always made sure that my childhood home was kept in good nick. I really miss her so much, till today."
After dropping March off at his house that was built by his grandfather, I knew I would be back. This man carries a treasure trove of history in his head that must be preserved.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
