The 2014 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival ended on a high note with a wonderful concert by the renowned SA Navy Band at the Knysna Quays. Spurred on by a generous donation from Sheldon Meese of the Knysna Quays management, they presented a varied and exciting programme of music that delighted the crowd that had gathered to hear their magic.
The concert followed a well-attended Sea Sunday Church Service at St George's Church where Rear Admiral Hanno Teuteberg, deputy of the South African Navy, read a lesson from the Bible.
Later on Sunday, SAS Umhloti, a river class minehunter of the Mine Countermeasures Squadron, slipped her moorings at 16:00 and exited the Knysna Heads at 16:40 on her way back to Simon's Town. During her visit, her crew worked at the crèche in Judah Square, Khayalethu, painting the recently installed ceiling and erecting a platform for a rainwater storage tank. The materials for this task were donated by Mike Williams of Pennypinchers, a constant supporter of these drives.
The crew of the ship also formed one of three divisions in the Saturday parade in Main Road with the SA Navy Band. The other two divisions were made up of 24 recent recruits from Naval Base Simon's Town and the Knysna Sea Cadets. While in Knysna the ship's captain enjoyed complementary accommodation at the Knysna Quays Protea Hotel and a loan car from Kempston Motors.
The Admiral's Oyster Ball, held at the Knysna Yacht Club on Saturday night, July 12, was a great success. Although only 47 participated, they had great fun, an excellent meal and wine. Rear Admiral Teuteberg spoke of his enjoyment of the visit and said that he believed that the Navy would continue to support the festival by making annual visits.
He further said that the Navy intended to introduce new coastal patrol vessels small enough to enter Knysna. He also believed that the three aging Minehunters would be totally overhauled and refurbished to allow them to carry out a further 30 years of service.
The Navy Dance Band approached Lt Commander Steve Eriksen (SCC) saying that they were greatly disappointed that they had not played for the ball last year or this year, and were very keen to participate next year.
A feature of the annual Naval visit is the enormous support from the local community. The town loves the Navy, and the Navy loves the town. Upon arrival through the Heads on Wednesday, July 9 after a high speed dash from Simon's Town, the crew members of SAS Umhloti were invited to a welcoming braai at the Knysna Yacht Club, where they were entertained by the club members with crewmen from NSRI, who acted as pilots for the entry. The ship invited Knysna's mayor, Georlene Wolmarans and other individuals who had facilitated their visit to cocktails on board the ship on Friday evening, July 11 to thank them for the warm welcome they had received.
Crew members of the SAS Umhloti worked at the crèche in Judah Square, Khayalethu, during their visit to Knysna, following the tradition of choosing one community project to assist each year.
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