Phil Grinker 90th birthday presentation

1. An unauthorisedAn unauthorised
biographybiography
The life
and times
of
Philip
Grinker

2. The year he was born…
19171917

3. The First World
War was still on
The First World
War was still on

4. The Russian
Revolution
broke out
The Russian
Revolution
broke out

5. …and this is
what they got
around on

6. His family came from Libau
(Liepaja) in Latvia (he
thinks)
Photograph
of Libau at
the end of the
Second
World War

8. Skede Beach
near Libau
where on
December
15-17, 1941,
2731 Jews
were
murdered by
the Nazis
and
collaborators

9. Travelling via London to South Africa,
around the time of the First World War,
the Grinkers stayed in Navarino
Mansions, Hackney
“The key feature of this time
was social housing. At the
start of the period this was
provided by philanthropic
associations, such as the
Four Percent Industrial
Dwellings Company, set up
in 1885. One of their
buildings is Navarino
mansions built in 1903-4. It
was aimed particularly at
Jewish artisans.”

10. Any old iron
Any old iron,
Any old iron,
Any, any, any old iron.
You look neat, talk about a treat,
You look a dapper from your napper to your feet.
Dressed in style,
With a brand new tile,
And your father's old green tie on.
I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain,
Old iron!!
Old iron!!

11. It was at music
halls such as
this that Bobbe
Grinker is
reputed to
have learned
all the latest
popular songs
The Hackney Empire

12. Fleeing the usual combination of war, revolution
and pogroms, they eventually landed up in
South Africa and travelled to Johannesburg…

13. …where Philip was born in May ’17

14. Philip and siblings around 1919
Bernard
Philip
Pauline Leopold

15. But their hopes
of a quiet life
were short-
lived…
In 1922 when
Philip was 5,
the Rand
Revolt broke
out

16. Philip
remembers
seeing troops
marching
through
Johannesburg
at this time

17. LivingLiving
through thethrough the
greatgreat
depression,depression,
Young PhilipYoung Philip
had ahad a
relativelyrelatively
happyhappy
childhoodchildhood
and youth…and youth…

18. Swimming in the Vaal River
with his family…

19. Seeing the
sights in ’30s
Joburg

20. Training as an architect in his brother’s
practice, purchasing a suit and
occasionally having a bad hair day…

21. Meanwhile…back in the shtetl in
Lithuania…a young girl was preparing
for her own trip to Africa
Radviliskis, around 1925

22. The Katz family left
Radviliskis and
reached Johannesburg
in 1927
Nechama Katz on board ship en route to South Africa

23. The young Naomi aged 12
in 1932 in Johannesburg
And with her parents as a
young woman

24. At the Wits Rag in ’38 or
’39 and on the beach

25. Meanwhile…Meanwhile…
warwar
threatensthreatens

26. Young
Philip
cultivates a
suitably
military
moustache

27. And the
brothers
join up…
Bernard and Philip

28. Philip bids the
family farewell
Pauline, Philip and Ma Grinker
…and heads
north, pursued
by the style
police

29. Meanwhile in the Western Desert…he plots
Rommel’s downfall but never fires a shot in
anger

30. He learns to
ride a camel…
takes Rome by
storm…
And takes tea in
St Marks Sq,
Venice

31. The 50s:The 50s:
Domestic blissDomestic bliss
Winston
Ridge,
Joburg,
early
’50s

32. After the War Phil
returns to
architecture and
raising children in
suburbia
At the drawing board: Lewis &
Marks Building, Johannesburg
Doctors bury their
mistakes;
architects cover
them with creepers
Doctors bury their
mistakes;
architects cover
them with creepers

33. Russell, born
September 1951

34. Lindy, born
August
1953

35. Suburban SA
life:
Breakfast with
Rosie at
Desborough
Ave, Winston
Ridge, mid-
50s

36. Birthday
party
April
1955
Kelvin,
December
1951
L-R: Naomi; Pauline &
Heinz Kohn; Toni

37. Kalk Bay, 1961
Ken Hurwitz
at Winston
Ridge, mid-
50s

38. A rare
family
gathering,
Lyndhurst
1965
Back: Russell; Leo; Bernard; Hirsch
Middle: Roland; Tante Fanny; Anne;
Naomi; Toni
Front: Midge; Diana; Marion; Lindy;
Cherry; Larry; Yvonne; Joan; Tessa

39. A regular Sunday
afternoon at the
Hurwitzes, 1966
Issy & Rael Isacowitz; Louis & Ken Hurwitz

40. Russell at Houghton
School, early 60s
September
1966

41. Moving to Killarney, July 1970

42. And more scenes
from daily life…

43. TheThe
kidskids
leaveleave
home…home…

44. More bad hair
days…

45. ……The kidsThe kids
leave theleave the
countrycountry

46. Slumming it
in London,
70s & 80s

47. The family in the UK

48. The joy ofThe joy of
grandparent-hoodgrandparent-hood

49. London,
mid 90s
Lucy born
February
1996

51. ……and life goes onand life goes on

53. PhilipPhilip
has seen ahas seen a
lot in hislot in his
lifetime…lifetime…

54. The Russian
Revolution

55. The
Holocaust

56. Hiroshima

58. Mao rules
China

59. PenicillinPenicillin
inventedinvented

60. Mandela jailed

61. Man on
the Moon

62. Berlin Wall falls

63. Mandela
freed

64. …but at
the age
of 90 he
retains a
healthy
appetite

65. And a goodAnd a good
sense ofsense of
humour…humour…

66. So let’sSo let’s
celebrate!celebrate!