At my request, Stan Mitchell has submitted the following obituary on Bryan:
In Memorium: Bryan Tuck (1945-2026)
Bryan lived a full and rewarding life. Although we know that every life must eventually come to an end, the passing of an old friend still brings a profound sense of sadness. Our thoughts are with Victoria and the family as they mourn the loss of a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.
I can only write about the Bryan whom I knew so well during our school years, as we gradually lost touch after leaving school.
Bryan and I first met at Park View Primary School (now Glenwood Preparatory School), where we were classmates from 1954 to 1957. We both played cricket and soccer for the school, although Bryan was one of the stars of the soccer team while I seemed to have a permanent place as twelfth man!
Together with Tony Redpath, we formed a close friendship. We spent countless afternoons at one another's homes, usually at Bryan's or mine, playing cricket or touch rugby with neighbourhood friends and Bryan's younger brothers, Philip and John. If we were especially lucky, Bryan's mother would let him make her delicious chocolate fudge for us—a treat that none of us ever forgot.
On the cricket field Bryan was a talented wrist-spin bowler, delighting in tempting batsmen out of their crease, while I waited eagerly behind the stumps for a chance to complete a stumping. He was also an exceptionally gifted soccer player and was invited to trial for the Durban City junior team. I remember his father rewarding him with a striking new pair of soccer boots with bright yellow laces—quite something in those days.
The three of us—Bryan, Tony and I—were the only boys from Park View to continue on to Durban High School. Bryan and I found ourselves in the same Science class and again played together, this time for the Under-14B cricket team. Looking back through old school records recently brought back many wonderful memories. Although we eventually found ourselves in different classes, we remained close friends during our early years at DHS.
We played cricket together for several seasons before Bryan's ability carried him ahead of me, eventually earning him a place in the Second XI. One memory still makes me smile. An uncle of mine owned a shoe shop with a polishing machine, and I persuaded him to polish one side of a relatively new Kookaburra practice ball to a brilliant shine. At cricket practice I handed it to Bryan and suggested he give it a try. After only a few deliveries he was swinging the ball by nearly a metre—although the wind may have helped! Terry Ryan also tried it and achieved much the same result.
During my final two years at school I switched to hockey and persuaded Bryan to come along to a practice session. True to form, he took to the game almost immediately and before long had earned a place in the First XI. Many years later I discovered he had gone on to represent Natal in one of their age-group teams.
Thinking back to that polished cricket ball, I have often wondered whether it marked a turning point in Bryan's cricket career. After leaving school he played for Zingari Cricket Club in Pietermaritzburg, and I regularly noticed his name in the newspaper scorecards after another fine bowling performance..
Bryan stayed on at school for an additional year and played rugby for the First XV. He was a remarkably gifted all-round sportsman, and the courageous little fly-half deservedly earned Full School Colours for his contribution to the team. By then I was completing my South African Army training, and our paths had begun to diverge. later learned that Bryan had settled in Pietermaritzburg, where he married Victoria. I was delighted to be invited to their wedding. Years later our paths crossed again when he was working for FG Knight in Durban North, where I believe he eventually became a partner. After his retirement he became an estate agent, and it seemed only natural to invite an old friend to sell our family home.
Bryan was one of those fortunate people who combined natural sporting ability with warmth, humility and genuine friendship. I feel privileged to have shared so many happy childhood memories with him.
I am sure that everyone who knew Bryan has their own treasured memories. These are mine, and I shall always remember him with affection and gratitude.
Stuart Clark
At my request, Stan Mitchell has submitted the following obituary on Bryan:
In Memorium: Bryan Tuck (1945-2026)
Bryan lived a full and rewarding life. Although we know that every life must eventually come to an end, the passing of an old friend still brings a profound sense of sadness. Our thoughts are with Victoria and the family as they mourn the loss of a much-loved husband, father and grandfather.
I can only write about the Bryan whom I knew so well during our school years, as we gradually lost touch after leaving school.
Bryan and I first met at Park View Primary School (now Glenwood Preparatory School), where we were classmates from 1954 to 1957. We both played cricket and soccer for the school, although Bryan was one of the stars of the soccer team while I seemed to have a permanent place as twelfth man!
Together with Tony Redpath, we formed a close friendship. We spent countless afternoons at one another's homes, usually at Bryan's or mine, playing cricket or touch rugby with neighbourhood friends and Bryan's younger brothers, Philip and John. If we were especially lucky, Bryan's mother would let him make her delicious chocolate fudge for us—a treat that none of us ever forgot.
On the cricket field Bryan was a talented wrist-spin bowler, delighting in tempting batsmen out of their crease, while I waited eagerly behind the stumps for a chance to complete a stumping. He was also an exceptionally gifted soccer player and was invited to trial for the Durban City junior team. I remember his father rewarding him with a striking new pair of soccer boots with bright yellow laces—quite something in those days.
The three of us—Bryan, Tony and I—were the only boys from Park View to continue on to Durban High School. Bryan and I found ourselves in the same Science class and again played together, this time for the Under-14B cricket team. Looking back through old school records recently brought back many wonderful memories. Although we eventually found ourselves in different classes, we remained close friends during our early years at DHS.
We played cricket together for several seasons before Bryan's ability carried him ahead of me, eventually earning him a place in the Second XI. One memory still makes me smile. An uncle of mine owned a shoe shop with a polishing machine, and I persuaded him to polish one side of a relatively new Kookaburra practice ball to a brilliant shine. At cricket practice I handed it to Bryan and suggested he give it a try. After only a few deliveries he was swinging the ball by nearly a metre—although the wind may have helped! Terry Ryan also tried it and achieved much the same result.
During my final two years at school I switched to hockey and persuaded Bryan to come along to a practice session. True to form, he took to the game almost immediately and before long had earned a place in the First XI. Many years later I discovered he had gone on to represent Natal in one of their age-group teams.
Thinking back to that polished cricket ball, I have often wondered whether it marked a turning point in Bryan's cricket career. After leaving school he played for Zingari Cricket Club in Pietermaritzburg, and I regularly noticed his name in the newspaper scorecards after another fine bowling performance..
Bryan stayed on at school for an additional year and played rugby for the First XV. He was a remarkably gifted all-round sportsman, and the courageous little fly-half deservedly earned Full School Colours for his contribution to the team. By then I was completing my South African Army training, and our paths had begun to diverge. later learned that Bryan had settled in Pietermaritzburg, where he married Victoria. I was delighted to be invited to their wedding. Years later our paths crossed again when he was working for FG Knight in Durban North, where I believe he eventually became a partner. After his retirement he became an estate agent, and it seemed only natural to invite an old friend to sell our family home.
Bryan was one of those fortunate people who combined natural sporting ability with warmth, humility and genuine friendship. I feel privileged to have shared so many happy childhood memories with him.
I am sure that everyone who knew Bryan has their own treasured memories. These are mine, and I shall always remember him with affection and gratitude.
Rest in peace, Bryan.