Allen Smith celebrates his milestone 90th birthday at the Old Apostolic Church, Steenberg. Photographer: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
Cape Town - Once featured in his favourite newspaper and recognised as one of its long-standing readers, Allen Smith celebrated a milestone 90th birthday. He shared what a joyful surprise it was seeing the Cape Argus photographer present to document the tremendous occasion spent with family and friends.
Ardent Cape Argus supporter and subscriber, Smith featured in the newspaper on July 18, 2022, recognised as one of its long-standing readers following a special event held at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town.
To this day, he remains a dedicated daily reader of the Cape Argus, his “favourite publication” according to his granddaughter, Chloe Smith.
She added that her grandfather has been a subscriber for about 20 years and has his daily paper delivered to his door.
On December 1 Smith celebrated his 90th birthday at the Old Apostolic Church, in Steenberg. Smith, originally from Claremont, was forcibly displaced and moved to Steenberg due to the Apartheid Group Areas Act.
“My family, I have a wonderful family, and the main thing in my life is, as I grew up in a Christian family, I was all my years involved in Church activities.
“And my wife (Rosaline Smith), I lost her three years ago.
“It was very difficult, I took it very hard.
“I’m not really over it yet, I’m still struggling because I miss her a lot and during the year now, another tragedy happened in our family.
“I lost my baby son. And that also affected me very much and his family.”
Smith’s 52-year-old son Ian Smith, passed away in March.
He said since the 1960s, he’s been fond of reading.
“When the Argus was still new, it had a comic. As a young boy, we had to queue to get the Argus and that’s how, since I was young, I grew up reading the Argus.
“That’s why I’m well-informed of current affairs, which I really like, and what’s happening around the world. I’m well-informed of all the wars and what’s happening around the world.”
Smith said he reads the paper from back to front, starting at the Sports section he makes his way through current affairs and ends at local news.
“It was wonderful, it was such a great occasion. And as we were celebrating and bands were playing, to my surprise a photographer arrived. And that’s what made me very happy to see that the Argus did respond to me… It is very much appreciated and thank you.”
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
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