UNCLE NAPIER

I remember Uncle Napier, my father's younger brother, as a kind man, interested in me from my earliest days. Evidence of this was a chair and table of my own, which graced family photos from Mons Road. He made a set of blocks of all shapes, sizes and colours. In my imagination, they were transformed from castles to dolls' houses and travelled with me for many years, as did the table. One of our earliest holidays was spent travelling to the Cape in his Morris Minor.

He was called to the rescue when I nearly failed my mock history exam. The advice he gave me formed the basis of all study I did from that time and was a turning point in my academic career. He was a mastercraftsman and at his best mentoring others in the art of education. He believed education should have a face. While always passionate about medicine, I realise that teaching is in my bones and I am happiest passing on what I have learned. I gained much of this skill from him.

He suffered greatly in World War 2 but never showed the slightest self-pity and went on to reach one of the highest places in Education in SA. He gave South Africa the story of itself and his text books were central to history in schools in the Transvaal.

Both he and my father accomplished many things but these attainments were never trumpeted out as both had a gentle humility. In his retirement Uncle Napier was prodigeous in making clocks which found their way into the homes of family and friends.

His lively interest in life remained with him all his days and he unfailingly asked after Andrew