History

Shortly before the 2006 whale season, I walked into Photo Holler and talked to Ingo Schirmer about various Hermanus matters, among them the dangerous coastline on the “Champagne Mile” where three drownings have taken place over the last three years resulting in the death of four people. We were both concerned that the powers that be had done nothing to warn residents and tourists using the cliff path for whale watching, of the dangers of that treacherous stretch of water. But, said Ingo, he heard that the ladies of The Sharklady were doing something about it.

My father was ‘Skipper’ Hen van Dyk. There were three other Van Dyk fishermen. Hankie van Dyk lived in Hermanus, while Coen and Lodewyk van Dyk both lived in Poole’s Bay. My name is Philip Reginald but I was called Klein (little) Skipper. I was born in 1919 in a Main Road cottage that stood on the premises which is now a parking area between Cuckoo Tree and Rossi’s restaurants. I was the youngest of six children. Father was skipper of old harbour boats. One was Spes Bona (Good Hope). I have never skippered a boat, yet to this day everybody calls me “Skipper”.  I went fishing with the boats only a few times. My trade was really hairdressing. I started work in Hermanus and moved to Worcester where I worked for 27 years before retiring and returning home.

It must take a divine miracle, when a rehabilitated alcoholic has the fortitude and resolution to enter the wine industry and make an enormous success. Paul Du Toit of Wine Village told me his riveting story for the book of Hermanus Stories III. His strong Christian faith shines through his whole witness and tells of the reason for the achievement of a business like Wine Village in a most competitive industry taking a leading role in South African wine circles and among overseas wine specialists.

“The 'Father' of Hermanus”—an appropriate title given to John Luyt by the media reporting on his death in January 1940. He did indeed contribute enormously to the early development of the village. When John Luyt arrived in 1903, Hermanus was a small, primitive fishing hamlet. When the village took leave of him, in 1940, it had grown into a prosperous and well-known seaside resort, with better working opportunities for all. This was largely due to his influence and hard work. He never stopped publicising Hermanus and improving his hotels.