Page 36 - Cape-Camera-January-February-2021

January/February 2021 Cape Camera

A step back into CTPS history

When our President Richard Goldschmidt gave me this copy of
a CTPS newsletter that was handed out to members some 43
years ago, I was particularly fascinated reading about the many
activities that were packed into one single month, and also
about how many people were actively involved in the running
of the society.
Not knowing that much about our history, I asked Trudi du Toit
to let me have some details about those historical figures, since
she had compiled and published a book in 2015 about our re-
markable past, called “Celebrating 125 years of the Cape Town
Photographic Society” (of which a few copies are still available).
“This glimpse into the past takes us back to the Golden Era of
our society when some of the most memorable former mem-
bers were the driving force in the life of CTPS: Eric Vertue was
nine times elected as president and a member for more than 50
years. He wrote the 100 year history of the society and was also
the driving force behind the CTPS Survey Group, which photo-
graphed and documented old historical homesteads. Vera Ver-
tue, his wife, was honorary secretary for 25 years, and became an
Honorary Life Member in 1975.
“The honorary treasurer named in the newsletter, Bill Greener,
served twice as president and handled the finances of the so-
ciety for 43 years until his death in 2000. This included the pe-
riod when the ‘building fund’ secured and maintained the club
house in Jarvis Street, where meetings were held for many years.
“Two other famous members who were present and actively in-
volved at this particular meeting on 18th January 1978 are Ted
Dickinson, who was a member for 30 years, and awarded hon-
orary life membership in 1971, and also served as head of the
PSSA panel of Honours judges; and last but not least Roy Johan-
nesson - a giant amongst the CTPS legends, with his passion for Roy's 50-year membership, the society presented him with a
preserving documents and legacy items and for enthusiastically wooden spoon because he was always stirring” wrote Trudi du
sharing his knowledge with other photographers. To celebrate Toit. The Editor

35 Cape Town Photographic Society