Page 102 - Bulletin 12 2008

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THE GOLDEN YEARS OF FISHING
A movie made in False Bay in the late 1930s – early 40s by Tromp van Diggelen

Maarten van Diggelen

Introduction

Tromp was a hyperactive person, jumping from this to that with great enthusiasm, and it
is therefore not really practical to follow his life in a simple straight line. So I am first

calling up the writings of a well-respected journalist and picking some of the highlights.

In December 1993 Greyvenstein writing in the Cape Times said:

“Tromp van Diggelen is high on my list of the most unforgettable characters I have
met in 45 years as a newspaperman. This remarkable man, who died in 1967,
crammed just about every known activity into his 81 years but it was as a physical
culturist and counsellor on health that he became one of the best-known South
Africans of his day. His advertisements always featuring a picture of himself either
showing his mighty muscles or posing with one of his successful pupils, appeared
regularly in virtually every publication in the country. Internationally-known sports’
stars of the ‘30s, like Dr Danie Craven, acknowledged Tromp’s role in developing
their physiques. Van Diggelen was uninhibited and a natural showman. It was a
familiar sight to see him driving through Town in his lovingly maintained silver
Jaguar SS100, cap at a jaunty angle, and often accompanied by his dog, which was
sometimes “dressed” in a polo necked jersey.” (See Fig. 4.1).

Another well respected journalist, Hannes Schoeman, who reported on weight lifting,

wrote a tribute to Milo Pillay and to Tromp:

“In 1938 Pillay represented South Africa at an international weightlifting
competition in Mocambique. He was rewarded with National colours becoming
South Africa’s first ever non-white Springbok! Pillay was a big admirer of Tromp,
the father of health & fitness, in South Africa and worshipped the ground he walked
on. They later became personal friends.”