Hi, thanks for watching! Please hit "Subscribe" while you're here. And there are many more "Just Off the Highway" stories on my channel.

Growing up in South Africa in the 80s, I watched Jock of the Bushveld in my young, formative years. Watching the movie, reading the book, written for his children, is still such a massive part of my life. Despite the floods of tears, for many reasons in the story, it was my childhood, and led me to see history in a much different view. No memorial will ever be enough to both Jock, and Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. And too this day, when I bear Johhny Clegg, I het goosebumps RIP Jock, Perry and Johnny.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi Tracey, thanks for your lovely, thoughtful comment. I agree. If you haven't done so already, please take a look at Part 2 of my Jock story.

Jock will always have a place in our hearts

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Yes indeed. Well deserved.

Yes what a true story it brings tears to my eyes, been there seen the statue been to pilgrims rest all the way down to Barberton. The saddest thing is how people destroy the memory for greed and few people care about history.

@JustOfftheHighway

Ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. It makes my day to know that my episodes do actually touch people.

I fondly remember school holidays and weekends in the late 1960’s and through the ’70’s on the farm Amanzi, near Uitenhage, where Sir Percy is buried. My late grandpa’s first job was on Sir Percy’s, at-first, experimental citrus farm and in his latter decades gramps returned to rent a portion of Amanzi from Sir Percy’s daughter and her husband. As a reading kid I thoroughly enjoyed the visits to the manor house to see Jock artefacts and original illustrations for the book and the desk at which Sir Percy wrote after acquiring the farm in 1913.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Wow! What a privilege to get to experience that.

Wow Al, found it so sad that the memorial has been destroyed but I would still like to visit it as it is such a great story, thanks for sharing!

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, Ulandi! Many fascinating things to see in that area.

Some build and some destroy.

@KB-lj4vk

Жыл бұрын

Those who can't build, destroy.

Just sad... More than sad heartbreaking.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. That's why stories matter. They are more durable.

From South Africa. Grew up with Jock. Visited that very site back in the mid 70's --- sad 😥 An analogy of our country.... Everything of value reduced to scrap value....

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your memory. I understand the feeling. Hopefully Part 2 (next week) will put things in a more positive perspective.

@warrendejager203

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway HI Al, I've done a heck of a lot of traveling through this beautiful country of ours since mid 70's.. on bikes , bakkies, 4 4's and oddly enough courtesy of Maggie Malan during my army days.....

Percy Fitzpatrick road passes my house. My father in-law Pat O'Keeffe mined gold on the other side of the Treur River. He was born in 1891. Thanks for the video.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

The video is my pleasure. Thanks for your comment. I hope someone wrote down your father in law's tales of those fascinating, early days. Mbombela region?

Eks gebore in Sabie Pilgrim's rest hospitaal Onthou min van alles dankie vir die storie is n Awesome gewees

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Plesier! Dankie.

Awesome Al, it saddens to to know that this bit of history has been destroyed and forgotten. Safe travels to your next destination. I wish I could tag along, looks like such fun

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Beryl! The destination after Johannesburg was freezing cold, but the stories are worth it. Thanks for all your comments and support.

Thanks!

@JustOfftheHighway

10 ай бұрын

Hi Tony, thanks very much for your support! Your generosity really helps to keep this channel on the road.

That was beautiful

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ryan!

I read the book and saw the monument. Pilgrim's Rest is also run down. 🙏🕊🌹💞

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

I heard that it's not in good condition, so I didn't visit there. Time was too limited to take a look for myself..

Hi Al, To add to the Jock story. have a look at joburg zoo. That jock statue has a story that links to the zoo and to the hospital Regards, Paul

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Hi Paul, thanks for the additional info. I'll certainly find out more about the statue and look for the link. Intriguing! 🔎

@paulfisher1160

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Let me know if you want some help

In 1968 the very book was our english prescribe book. I had the privilege of meeting Sir Percy, the author. A small built person.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. What a special occasion to remember. I hope you managed to get his signature.

@faniecremer4899

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway Unfortunately in those days I never thought about that. Later in life I read about his involvement in the Anglo Boer war.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Yes, he was definitely flawed, especially his involvement in the Jameson raid. But, as I said in Part 2, the most noble character of all was Jock.

" A country which has no past, has no future " Winston Churchill...

@craigtitus7508

Жыл бұрын

Not much left of this country. Appreciate what he's doing, stories are tougher than stone.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@craigtitus7508 Thanks. I believe there's plenty for all if we see the value of what we have. And sometimes a story is where it begins.

How about the Clydesdale Coalbrook mine disaster in the Free state. Please.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Excellent suggestion. Thanks!

Just love your shows!!

@JustOfftheHighway

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Johan! I hope you'll keep watching and share with your friends to help us stay on the road.

Kindly also please showcase African Artifacts, that is whatever was not destroyed by Colonisation or colonisers. Till date, it is as if native South Africans did not develop monuments or artifacts of their own.

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment. If you browse Episodes such as #1, #14, #20, etc it'll be clearer that this is a haphazard, personal journey. I collect stories as a hobby and I'm open to all points of view. If you're referring specifically to destruction, I think you'll find that many many surviving, pre-colonial places of importance are sadly being neglected to this day. Perhaps we can agree that the neglect or destruction of any part of the South African story is a loss for everyone.

@mzwandilejanuary4222

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOfftheHighway perhaps I should've posed the question this way: In what way could you research African History with archeology and get us to fund? In essence I compliment your work and how you give life to history. I am also new to the channel

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

@@mzwandilejanuary4222 Thanks for your kind words. Welcome to the channel. Almost all my stories happen as a result of my travels as an entertainer and the interesting people I meet and talk with. People have the most fascinating stories that have somehow fallen through the cracks of "History". The best way to help me broaden the channel would be to connect me to people. If you're in the Johannesburg area, click below the video for my contact details and let's chat further.

Lett me know. Like to make a donasion towards joke the dog history. Make alive again. 😂

No offense, but your name sounded like " Old Codgers".

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

😁 None taken. I AM a bit of an old codger.

Anyone who came from the movie.

Very sad about the memorial, but a lovely story, nonetheless. However, factually incorrect, I'm afraid. Just Nuisance is more famous. Ask any great Dane owner, like me 😉

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Nice try.

@kaynine1834

Жыл бұрын

I am also a Great Dane parent, worked in a shop next to Just Nuisance memorial in Simon's Town, also met a few who personally met Nuisance. I think Jock was pup of the north and Nuisance the pup of the south😉

It's much to do with White Capital Monopolies...it is not in the in of the masses to preserve anything for posterity or value...pull out anything that stands still and shoot anything that moves..very sad indeed...just look at the conditions of Museums. But, as U've mentioned U cannot obliterate memories...we had this as a setwork at prep...it was read to us time and time again...hah...

@JustOfftheHighway

Жыл бұрын

Too many of our South African stories were not widely shared. One of the aims of my channel is to spark an interest in events and stories that may not be familiar to everyone. I believe that, if we can realise the value for us all, we will begin to conserve and protect. Thanks for your comment and I hope you'll browse some of the other episodes. BTW, check out the East London Museum, It's an absolute gem!