Page 31 - Bulletin 18 2014
P. 31
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Muizenberg Pavilion with ‘Milk free from preservatives and unadulterated, to be delivered
not less than twice daily between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. – 1s 0d per gallon’.
His dairy herd grazed on a piece of rented land near False Bay station, near today’s Masque
Theatre. Dr. Mike Shapiro remembered it from the early days of rugby practice:
“When they could practice our team used Delbridge’s field next to False Bay
Railway Station. The field had to be cleared of cow manure before the game could
start.”
Willie remained in the dairy business into the 1930s when he had a shop – Delbridge’s Dairy
in York Road. Willie and the Delbridge stables at Muizenberg are remembered to this day –
and there are still people who can remember riding out along the beach with one or other of
the Delbridge boys. The Greek Royal family, refugees at St. James, also rode with the
Delbridges.
Willie and his wife Adeline lived at 8 Main Road with their seven children until his death in
1940.
There was another well - known family connected to the Delbridges. George Henry Swingler
was William Delbridge’s son in law, having married Elizabeth Jane Delbridge. (Fig. 1.27.)
He is important because he was involved in the Delbridge sphere of influence of this area.
Like them, he was a self-made man who arrived at the Cape with nothing much more than
determination and a box of tools. Having been employed in the construction of the Kalk Bay
– Muizenberg power station he became the power station foreman. He educated himself as an
electrical engineer and over a period of years became the Chief Electrical Engineer of Cape
Town. He was a far-sighted, modern manager who was chiefly responsible for the integration
and modernisation of the City’s electricity supply.
There is much physical evidence of the Delbridges in the Kalk Bay – Muizenberg area. 71
buildings have been traced in which they had a hand either as owners, architect or builders.
At various times they also had substantial property and business interests.
