KNYSNA NEWS - Many people are familiar with Rear Admiral Theo Honiball and know him as an avid naval man, a talented artist, a dedicated member of U3A (University of the Third Age), an entertaining raconteur and an asset to the community, but how many of us are aware of the darker side of Theo?
On Thursday, July 27 all will be revealed when the Knysna U3A general monthly meeting will also be a celebration as it is the branch birthday. The venue is the Dutch Reformed church hall in Sedgefield and the doors open at 09:00 when cupcakes, tea and coffee are served and the meeting starts at 10:00.
Born in Cape Town on Christmas day in 1939, little did Theo’s parents realise what a gift they had produced. No doubt it was the environment that led him to choose the sea as a career – and what a career that has been. Some of the highlights include the Argentinian Navy around-the-world training course and serving at sea on 19 different naval ships, and submarines of five navies during a 15-year period.
Theo was chosen to undergo submarine training at the Mediterranean Submarine Squadron and this entailed going to Paris to learn French as one of the conditions – it was the French Navy so all the training was in French.
He attended the French Naval War College in Paris for two years and was then selected as naval attaché in France for three years. He was submarine commander of two submarines for five years and the commanding officer of the SA submarine Flotilla.
Chosen as honorary aide de camp to the state president, he embarked on a new career by being seconded to the national intelligence service for three years. This experience is the one he will share with us and is also the basis of what he has done since he retired from the navy in 1992.
All are welcome to join us for this intriguing insight into the behind the scenes activities involved in the James Bond lifestyle.
For more information contact Judy Dixon 072 390 6667. Members pay R5 and non-members R10 towards the hire of the hall.
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