Page 169 - KBHA BULLETIN 24

166

The Fourth Generation:

Edward Hare’s surviving sons William George (1883-1950) and Percy (1886-1946) took over
the brickfields at Mowbray from their father. (Figs. 4.15 – 4.18). Both, in turn, developed

strong business instincts. William George, known as Will G, married May Boalch, whose
father had been Mayor of Cape Town. Will G took his bride to China for their honeymoon and

their double-storied family home, Nanoya, built in Osborne Road, was named after an island

off the coast of China they had enjoyed visiting. (Fig.4.19). They had four sons, Neil (1907),
Desmond (1909), Vincent (1910) and Edward, known as Teddy (1918).

Will G’s brother Percy married Irene Falke and they had four daughters and two sons. Percy
and his family lived at Haredale, which had been converted into upstairs and downstairs

apartments, his sister Ethel Badenhorst and her family moved into the other apartment.

Haredale has survived and today forms part of UCT’s Department of Health, Occupational
Safety & Environment.

In 1920 Will G. and May bought their first property in Kalk Bay, the front garden of a cottage
on a smallholding in Coenrad Behr’s estate. Like Will G’s uncle, Behr had been a Mayor of

Woodstock and after his death his family had subdivided the property into plots accessed by
Behr Road. Will G built a home, initially a holiday house, named Mayville, on the corner of

Main and Behr Roads. (Figs. 4.20 & 4.21).

Will G and Percy were keen fishermen and owned a trek-boat which they launched from Kalk
Bay beach. The Main Breakwater of Kalk Bay harbour had been opened in 1918, but as the

North Mole was only completed some 20 years later, the harbour experienced considerable
range action during stormy periods. In 1923 the Hares salvaged a boat, Mavis, which had sunk

in the harbour. In 1926 Will G and Percy had a 30ft motorized yacht, Voyager, built in the
Cape Town docks by Louw & Halvorsen. She was the first motorized boat in KB harbour and

rescued many boats in trouble in False Bay. Voyager and Sir Abe Bailey’s fishing boat Clewer

salvaged a yacht in the harbour after a storm. (Figs. 22 – 27). This salvage experience was to
be put to good use some years later.

Will G and May Hare’s middle sons, Desmond and Vincent, were close together in age and
married within a month of each other. In September 1933 Vincent Hare married Eveleigh

Brooke and a month later Desmond Hare married Muriel Katz. (Figs. 4.28 & 4.29). Their close

relationship continued for the rest of their lives as they always worked and tackled projects
together. Will G and his sons bought the extensive property Toevlught in Quarry Road, Kalk