Local pilot turns 90

Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The 1951 Union High head boy, Charles Maasdorp, turned 90 on 27 May. Family and friends, from as far afield as Australia, came to celebrate the day with this special man.

Maasdorp was born in 1933, in Lonely Mine north of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, where his father worked as a mine manager.

He grew up with two other siblings and in 1941 his parents moved to the farm Hopewell, Aberdeen.

He excelled in cricket and also played for the Karoo team. After matriculating, he went to Australia to do practical farming.

Maasdorp married Eira Hartzenberg in 1956 and has been married for 67 years. They have four children.

The couple are residents of Graaff-Reinet and still very much part of the community.

From a young age, Maasdorp wanted to be a pilot, but his father, a successful wool farmer in the Aberdeen district, didn't encourage him to pursue his dream.

However, Maasdorp never gave up and went to Beaufort West Flying Club where he qualified as a pilot.

Maasdorp was employed by the Murray family and flew them to Namibia and around the country for over 40 years, only retiring at the age of 86.

The Advertiser also wrote about Eira Maasdorp, on 12 May 2022, follow the link below to read the article After 53 years Eira still has a passion for antiques.

From left is Donald Maasdorp (son), Charles and Eira Maasdorp and their daughter in law Elizabeth Maasdorp.