Heidi Marais, Somerset West
Brian Hoy, my brother, was tragically killed in an army accident on the Northern border of Namibia, on August 20, 1988, at the age of 26.
He was an avid reader, including reading the Bible from cover to cover twice.
If he was not reading, Brian was running – he was a passionate marathon runner, and ran the Comrades Marathon twice.
And when Brian was not running, he was clearing the Lourens River of alien vegetation.
A few friends and family members gathered at a bench on the bank of the Lourens River to pay tribute to Brian on Tuesday March 22.
Stories were shared about Brian, some leading to tears of sadness and some to tears of laughter.
He was sorely missed, needless to say.
Helga Hoy, Neil Hoy and I would like to thank Leonie Avenant for orchestrating the new bench and plaque in memory of Brian, at Radloff Park.
Our thanks also goes to the Helderberg Harriers, for funding the bench.
The family would further like to thank Christopher Kirkman and Paul Andre Bouton from Friends of Radloff Park for the logistical planning, and Paul for attaching the plaque to the bench.
In 2010 Brian’s and my father passed away, and while I was clearing some of our father’s belongings, I found some of Brian’s scribbles and quotes written in a small notebook.
Two quotes from this notebook are attached to the bench in order for Brian’s inspiring nature and attitude to life, to live on.
A lesson I learnt from this experience is that I should express love and gratitude often.
To make a point of saying “I love you” to those people who matter, because one never knows when the special people in our lives will no longer be with us.
The family offers a heartfelt thank you to everyone who gathered, and completed the circle of Brian’s life.
