Wilf Lowe; Tru-Life Studios
I was born in Durban, South Africa, on the 6th May 1960. My birth was quick and everyone reeled from the suddenness of it all. Sometime quite soon after that, I was dressed in a tiny full length, white, finely embroidered dress and bonnet and christened Linda Christy Lowe. I heard sometime later that my conception was as unplanned as my birth. It was hard for them to convince me that while I wasn’t planned, I was wanted. It took me a while to get that one. My siblings were Susan, David and Peter.
Linda means “charming” or in Latin America, “beautiful”. I haven’t always been charming or beautiful. “Christy” means Christ-like. I was named after the then famous jazz singer, June Christy. Neither of us were particularly Christ-like. Maybe my names have grown on me. As for “Lowe”, my father always reminded us “Low(e) by name but not by nature”. Mmmm, not so sure about that either. We got pretty low. We just covered it up really well.
Being a decent family in a lower-middle class neighbourhood, we tried our utmost to keep the good Lowe name in tact. Time would tell that even our utmost wasn’t enough. In the meantime, we were happy to be British/South Africans.
My father, Wilf, arrived in South Africa on a merchant navy ship in his early twenties. Among his few possessions were some of the first Jazz LPs ever pressed. His plan was to make his home in South Africa. Wilf’s youthful marriage to his jitterbug partner in Kent ended abruptly and sadly. He was moving on.
In the local newspaper he noticed that “The Cales” were looking for a boarder. He moved in and in no time at all he married their beautiful daughter who was an apprentice hairdresser. Her name was Valerie Elizabeth Cale. His love for Jazz took him to the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) to apply for a job in the world of broadcasting. His “Cor Blimey” limey accent was a put off and he was advised to go for elocution lessons. He found a willing teacher, David Horner, whose efforts paid off. Some time later his accent was approved and with his passionate knowledge of Jazz, he found himself employed part time by the SABC.
My dad always pursued his passions. None of them brought in an abundance of wealth, but we were well looked after and never went hungry.
Tru-Life Studio in West Street, above Colombo Coffee and opposite the flea infested ROXY movie house was his place of business for many years. It was there that the four of us learnt how to develop photos and a love for photography. I loved seeing the images forming on the photographic paper when they were pegged up to dry.
Weddings were my favourite. We learnt how to hold the flash and enjoyed seeing dad get the best angles from the bride and groom BUT, when it all came down to it, we were the prime models for dad. He entered us into every photo competition there was; Beautiful Baby, Funny Face, longest hair, cutest and anything else that was going. We did win a few and those photos were displayed in the studio window for all shoppers in West Street to see. The Lowe children also found their way into newspapers and were often seen on Saturdays at the Big Top talent shows on Addington Beach with Cyril Sugden. We sang and danced and won lots of prizes while the beachcombers ate their ice-creams, sun-bathed and watched the show.
On Saturday mornings in the studio, when there wasn’t a wedding and when we got too boisterous, we were taken across to the ROXY to watch double features for 5c. It was there that we all watched Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. It was all a horrible misunderstanding really. Mom swore blind it was a Disney movie. She realised her mistake when she picked us up, all sobbing and frightened of birds. I will never forget that movie. Life changing at 8 years of age.
The Long and Winding Road 
HI my friends. I have known some of you all my life. It’s amazing how we have found each other after all these years. As I share my life, you may find yourself in that season with me. eg. Some of us share incredible memories of Rolleston Place, The Bluff Drive-In,
Johannesburg, Mussoorie etc. . I would love to use your names but if you have a problem with that, please tell me. It will all be fun and just my observation. I would also LOVE it if you write your memories of that season in the comments area to add to the story. That way we can write this blog/book together.I would love this to be a kind of Wiki-blog where my friends can add to the story. Yes?
What a pleasant gift to wake up to on my birthday. I’ll read with keen interest, looking forward to hearing what “God hath wrought” in your life. Blessed to have been a tiny part of it. God bless, Lin. Give my best to Tony.
Thanks Mike. I hope I can keep it up 🙂
Ooh my word Linda. We went to the Roxy too as kids, I won a bursary at the Little Top and remember Cyril Sugden with great fondness as he set me on my acting career by encouraging me and recommending a great drama/elocution teacher. Wonder if we ever competed against each other way back then.
That is so funny Lyn. Maybe we competed for the shortest 8 year old. I wonder who won? 🙂
Loving this Linda and looking forward to your journey xx
I remember Cyril Sugden. One day I remember being on the beach and hearing Cliff Richard’s “Bachelor Boy.” The singer sounded familiar.. It was my little sister who,at that time was about seven. I was so proud of her !!!!
Wilf Lowe your Dad. Loved his programme !!!!
The Birds! What bad luck. I still remember a horror movie from childhood that made me frightened of clowns and bathroom drains for a while- It was called “It.” I think. Loving the blog. Would have been a best seller in paper I’m sure. Happy its online and free for everyone everywhere and for a time to come.
Thanks Tara. Why don’t you write your story? Now that will be a good one 🙂
Susan, you probably don’t remember me – it’s so long ago…I have many happy memories of Wilf. The first time I met him was when, as a lightie during the 1950s, I went to the Rondijoy Round Up at the Durban City Hall where Wilf was the compere. He didn’t catch my name correctly: “Melna Runsky?” he said. I corrected him. I hadn’t discovered jazz yet and we didn’t become friends until considerably later.
In 1957 we jazz lovers were blessed and enthralled by the visit of the late, ebullient clarinetist from the USA, Tony Scott, who did a broadcast as part of Wilf’s SABC jazz radio series, Artistry In Rhythm. The mother of one of my school friends happened to work at the SABC and managed to wangle some tickets to the recording, during which Wilf was the announcer. The experience was one of the most exciting moments of my musical life and has remained so ever since.
The community of jazz lovers in Durban was small but enthusiastic and we all got to know each other well. Every Friday and Saturday evening we gathered together at Des Wilson’s Blue Note jazz club where we had discussions, listened to records and heard local jazz musicians enjoying a blow.
A trumpeter, Reg Ison, organized a little traditional jazz group, New Orleans style, in which Wilf played clarinet, Wally Cale played drums and yours truly played the washboard. The other members played bass and piano. Strictly amateurs, we got together once a week to rehearse and though we improved as time went on we never attained professional status…
Well I remember our visits to Wilf and Val’s place at 28 Rolleston Place. Wilf had a jazz LP collection second to none – well, it was the biggest one that I’ve ever seen.
Wilf had a photographic studio (he was an outstanding photographer) upstairs in the Colombo Tea And Coffee House. When my wife and I got married in 1966, he was our official photographer. Yes, I turned 80 early this year.
A few years later, we had just celebrated the festival of Passover. Wilf was most interested in this and asked a lot of questions which we were able to answer him. He tentatively asked if he could bring some of his church group members along so that they could also benefit from this, and June suggested that they all come along and we would have a full “mock” Seder (the traditional Passover meal) so that they could experience it for themselves. It was a great success. I don’t remember, Susan, but you, David and Peter may have been there.
Warm regards from Israel,
Mel Narunsky
Dear Mel,
This is Linda here.. Wilf and Val’s daughter. Wow, you have an amazing memory! I was wondering who was reading my blog in Israel 🙂 I will forward this to my siblings, Susan, David and Peter. They will be thrilled to hear from you. I’m sure you are aware that Wilf passed away. He was such a healthy man, but had a heart attack in 1995 and didn’t make it. His record collection was given to the Natal University Music Department for a very low price. We visited it a few years ago. I couldn’t hold back the tears when I put on the headphones and listened to Louis. It’s so good to be in touch with you Mel. I still have a photo of you playing in the band with Wilf. With love from Nagaland, India.
Hello, Linda, Firstly, thank you for your message and picture which June passed across to me. I apologise for addressing you as Susan – I blame it on those senile moments…
We left South Africa in 1986 and, yes, I heard about Wilf’s passing some years ago and was very sad to hear about it. He was a wonderful friend – generous, knowledgeable and what we call in Yiddish, a “mensch” (true gentleman).
The Natal University was a two-time winner – the deals that they made with the family of Malcolm Hunter from Maritzburg and with yours ensured that they have possibly one of the largest collections of recorded jazz from the beginning of jazz history anywhere outside the USA.
I have the picture of Reg Ison’s group in rehearsal at the Blue Note club; I forgot to mention that my very god friend Theo Olivier was playing rhythm guitar. The only name that I don’t remember was that of the bass player; Tommy something, perhaps?
It really is good to be in touch with you again. My very best to you and all your siblings and families.