Crockham Hill June 2025 Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 30
When Mr Mandela arrived, he was ushered by Douw down the two lines
of contestants, smiling and chatting like a monarch inspecting troops. And
pausing with a few, such as the particularly impressive 16-year-old, Miss
Russia.
We all toured the house and, later that evening, I found myself at a table
in a massive marquee, sitting between Miss Slovakia and Miss Slovenia. The
first four letters of their names were not the only things they had in
common. On the other hand, some things were very different. One was an
18-year-old who had not told her class-mates where she was going for the
week, and the other was quite a professional-looking 25-year-old.
Food was served, African music played, and many drinks drunk.
Emboldened by the drink, I managed to catch Mr Mandela between his
many, many dances and went over to his table to grab his hand. What a
feeling! A few words were spoken, his calmly while I, starstruck, just
blurted out;
