Voices Of The Past

Before South Africans had television, they relied on live radio broadcasts of important sporting events. Graham Jooste recalls the two greatest sports commentators of their era: Charles Fortune and Gerhard Viviers.

- Graham Jooste

In years past, international cricket and rugby tours were awaited particularly keenly by fans in the host country, and South Africa was no exception. One reason for this is that these events tended to last for many months, with the visiting team travelling around the country playing against provincial sides. There were after-match dinners and dances and many visits to places of interest. It was a well-known fact that overseas players loved touring South Africa.

In those days, of course, there was no television coverage. If you couldn’t make it to the match, you had to listen to it on the radio. And many commentators became much-loved celebrities in their own right. Two of the greatest in South Africa were Charles Fortune and Gerhard Viviers. Fortune was born in Wiltshire in 1906 and gained a BSc at the University of London. Emigrating to South Africa in 1935, he taught English and science at St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown.

Cricket was hugely popular in this region. The Pineapple Week was a highlight for cricket sides and many upcountry teams toured the area in the summer. Local farmers would down tools and play cricket against the visitors. Because of his eloquence, Fortune was asked to send in reports of important cricket matches to the SABC. His natural ability soon saw him switching to cricket commentary full-time.

Today’s commentators have a slew of statistics available at the tap of a keyboard; Fortune had nothing but his prodigious memory, and regularly astonished listeners with his knowledge of cricket statistics.

VIVID DESCRIPTIONS

He also became famous for his descriptive powers in setting the scene at the Test ground. Listeners felt as if they were there as he painted word pictures of the sky, clouds, trees and birds.