Sportsman leaves Kby
May 07 2008 03:49:01:877PM  - (SA)  
Henry Hopley

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He is at present one of the longest serving members of the association and the De Beers Badminton Club – having served the sport for 37 years. He has been one of its most loyal servants.

This Kimberley-born sportsman has represented the game in various capacities. He was chairman of the Griqualand West (Northern Cape) Badminton Association for ten years and served the De Beers Badminton Club in this capacity also for about ten years. Van der Nest was one of the founding members of the badminton section at the Country Club in 1971. Amongst others who started badminton at the club were Stan Scott, Norl Heale and Ivor Craigen.

Younger players such as the former South African champion Lina Fourie and her sister Elsa Bekker learned the game at the club.

He also played at provincial level and moved into the veteran ranks in 1983. In July he will be playing in his second Golden Eagles tournament.

“I don’t know how much longer I will be playing at this level,” said Van der Nest.

He hopes to join a club in KwaZulu-Natal, but is also considering playing active bowls. He started the game playing at social level at the Kew Club.

Educated at Kimberley Boys’ High, he played wing for the now defunct De Beers Rugby Club for many years with former Griqua stalwarts Tos Smith, Peet Smith and Koos Waldeck.

He retired from De Beers in 2002, and he and his wife recently decided to move to Kwazulu-Natal to be closer to their two sons, their daughter in Johannesburg and most importantly the grandchildren.

They will be staying approximately 150 km from the one son and the other is about 80 km away. It will be easier for their daughter and her family to visit more regularly.

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