We mentioned recently that Hilton Falke had passed away, but didn’t immediately have the details at hand. We have since learned that he died on the East Rand in October and his Memorial Service was held in Boksburg shortly after.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.
Hilton’s son flew from Australia to visit him shortly before his death, and with his (Hilton’s) wish and apparently against medical advice, the Falke family spent a few days in the Kruger Park. This was greatly savoured by Hilton.
He was considered an enthusiastic family man, he went to great lengths to hold his family together, and was extremely distraught with the tragic death of his one son and daughter-in-law several years ago.
Hilton was born in Vereeniging in 1923, initially schooled there, and then enrolled at PBHS where he matriculated in 1940 with among others George Nisbet and Brian Newby. All products of School House (George was Head Boy of the House), they remained close friends for more than 70 years. All were present at the School House centenary in 2014 and were regular attenders of the Thunder Gun Lunches in Randburg.
Gerry Rose-Innes (School House, Matric 1944) wrote eloquently of the Thunder Gun institution in the most recent PBHSOB Association Newsletter.
Though clearly bright, Hilton generally undersold himself. He often remarked to his friends that, “I was generally useless at doing anything, so settled for medicine”. He graduated at Wits University, became a fine doctor, and spent his career serving the East Rand mining community.
During World War 11, along with many of his generation, he enrolled as a trainee pilot with the SAAF. However, he withdrew from the programme after crashing his plane on two occasions, and continued with his medical studies.
Hilton was also reputed to be a top golfer on the East Rand.
Said Brian Newby’s wife, Joan: “Hilton was one of the most caring people you could wish to meet. He was a very upright character, extremely loyal to his friends (frequently phoned to ask, ‘How are you?’), and held the School in great stead. It was important in his conversation, he always took a keen interest, and attended every event that he could. We certainly miss him”.
- Leon Kok