I first saw Chum at Graaff-Reinet Training College and afterwards playing for Eastern Province. Later he moved to the Western Province and there he really made his mark.

Chum was not selected to play against Scotland on the 1951/52 tour of the British Isles, when we ran up the record 44-0 score, and he felt badly about it. "Chum, if you were to cover more, tackle someone on the other side of the field, then you'd be in the picture more often", I counselled him. "You're going to have to do that if you want test recognition."

And, by gad, after that he covered and played back to his forwards. He was all over the field and how many tries didn't he save, not to mention how many he made.

What a pleasant man to have in the team - always quoting Shakespeare and the classic poets. He had a quote for any occasion. Playing golf he once drove off the tee somewhat erratically. "I hit the ball into the air - it came to earth - I know not where", he remarked drily, causing his fellow players to burst out laughing.

Chum had the strangest, most subdued little laugh. A quiet man with a quiet sense of humour, and absolutely peerless on the field.