Major, storyteller, civil defender, woodturner. Rod Douglas has shaped everything he’s touched. And here, at Woodside, he’s just getting started.
Rod Douglas A Life Well Turned
Rod, a born and bred Rondebosch resident, and Julia, also a lifelong Cape Town citizen, made the move to their charming Woodside cottage eighteen months ago. Rod recounts, with a wry smile, how they have adapted to this memorable life change, moving from a large Victorian home in Rosebank, where they had lived so happily for 45 years. Rod proceeded to explain to me some of the conscious adjustments he has made in his new life. “We all call this move downsizing, and that, certainly it was.”
It is very evident that Rod has always had a logical and creative approach to his world, and these traits have certainly served him well. He explains that in his ‘new life’ at Woodside there are four activities, among several others, that keep him busy, and he comments with a chuckle, that he finds that for him there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
He remarks that Woodside is a place for stories, a treasured time for reflection and inventiveness. “I came with a story, unbeknown to me at the time, right in my back pocket.” And lo and behold, he has almost completed the writing of this new book, his second one! This soon-to-be-published memoir describes many significant facets of his life.
Rod hails from a very well connected and highly decorated South African army family. His first book, titled In My Father’s Footsteps, details the account of his father’s very significant experiences in Italy during World War Two.
His dad, Lt. Col. William Sholto Douglas MC, commanded the Cape Town Highlanders, one of many Regiments that formed part of the Sixth South Africa Division Italian Campaign in Italy, from 1944 to 1945. This book is available in our Woodside Library, and Rod has recently generously donated another four books to all of our Auria communities – truly a captivating read.
Rod’s second memoir, mentioned above, narrates his own life’s journey, including that as a Major in the Cape Town Rifles (Dukes). Rod comments, with a broad smile, the fact that as a very happy co-incidence years ago, he met and then married Julia, the daughter of his Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Joe Bick JCD. The wedding in 1974 was celebrated by the media as a marriage of two of Cape Town’s oldest Regiments.
During a recent visit to their cottage, Rod and Julia showed me a beautiful photograph of the wedding, as they were honoured with a traditional Arch of Swords with the C.T.R. (Dukes) on the one side and the C.T.H. (Highlanders) in their kilts on the other side, piped out of the Chapel of St Cyprian’s School.
At Woodside, another adjustment Rod made was the carefully planned downscaling of a longstanding and very successful business: the making of wood crafted garden furniture. He commented that he has always loved working with his hands, and that sometime, early on, in his Knysna days, he had inherited a lathe from his uncle. This woodworking tool truly opened up a brand-new creative dimension for his work.
In his previous home, he had set up a comprehensive workshop, and remarked that the challenge was to transfer this large space to his new venue in his double garage. “The key is to bring your skills in your DNA and adapt them to your new environment.” Here, with his jet lathe, band saw and drill press he has begun to create a remarkable array of small, expertly turned wooden items, including pens, key rings, pill boxes and wine coasters. Furthermore, he has established a dedicated email address, too, aptly named rod@woodsideturning.co.za.
This is a man with a plan!
Yet another passion Rod noted is his lifelong interest in photography and birding. He recounts with enthusiasm memorable experiences he continues to enjoy as a longstanding member of the Disa Walking Group. Twice weekly he and fellow members explore priceless natural habitats that we as Cape Town residents so cherish. He comments that, recently, quite literally in their home, he and Julia came face to face with a remarkable bird, a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk. It had flown into their sun-splashed sun-room, along with a frightened dove in its talons, and Rod fortunately managed to usher both birds out safely, to the narrow greenbelt adjoining their cottage.
To add another interest to the mix, Rod is continuing to develop his rugmaking skills, having been carefully guided by Julia, who is known for her exquisite dressmaking and needlecraft talents. Never one to waste time, Rod explains that while watching TV, he is nowadays busy meticulously knotting woollen threads through a canvas frame. He is creating a large rug, representing the Douglas Tartan, and the colours, from pale blues to dark blues – and turquoise – and various shades of green, including sage and white are making a beautiful and traditional pattern. I am sure that this lovely piece, when completed, will be admired and enjoyed for many years, in their warm and welcoming Woodside home.
Rod, we eagerly await the arrival of your second book in our library in the near future, and look forward to reading about the incredibly diverse careers and life experiences you have had; from working as a young geological assistant for De Beers prospecting for diamonds in Namaqualand, to your decorated military career, and to your positions in the City of Cape Town.
In one of these posts, Rod was the first Civil Defence Officer for the City, tasked with developing plans and policies for managing man-made and natural disasters, including the expertise needed for disaster planning for the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant.
In one of his later appointments, he was Chief Officer of the Cape Town Ambulance Service. His highlight in this role, he remarked, was drawing up the Emergency Medical Plans for Nelson Mandela’s first Address to the Nation after his inauguration as First President of the New South Africa.
All those involved in the planning of this great event in Cape Town, particularly Security and Emergency, were stationed in a Joint Operational Centre, on the first floor of the City Hall, adjacent to the room and balcony where Mandela was to address the Nation. Mandela arrived via a side door, straight from Parliament, after his Inauguration in May 1994. Proceedings were delayed while white doves were released from the balcony and a sangoma performed a blessing.
Rod commented that “We all felt a bit nervous and over-awed in Mandela’s presence. We congratulated him, I shook his hand, and wished him well for the future.” Rod noted that it had been a great moment!
Rod, with your optimism and your enthusiasm you are an inspiration to all of us in the Village. We wish you much joy in all your current ventures, and in those new ones yet to come. May you and Julia spend many more happy and vibrant years at Woodside.
By Sheila Schuurmans, Woodside
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