Dad

I cannot tell you how many tears I`ve cried since the day you left us, my heart is broken. You were the best dad I could ever have asked for.

I will miss our chats especially your rugby and boxing stories no matter how many times you told them. My beautiful memories of you will live on with me forever, giving me the courage to carry on just as you would have liked.

Dad I will love and miss you dearly forever. Until we meet again rest peacefully with Butchie

Lots of love

Hellie

Tommy Drummond was a boxer of note and a great rugby player who represented Southern Rhodesia.

My heart goes out to Joy and Family at the sad loss of Tommy.

An old saying goes about Tommy and his employment at Shabani Mine was “If I died and came back to life, I would like to come back as an electrician called Tommy Drummond employed by Shabani Mine. The bosses never knew where Tommy would be either on the job or looking after his cattle, which had free grazing on the large mine property.

Talking about the beginning of Tommy’s involvement with cattle was that he attended a cattle sale at Chibi Reserve, and bought two head of cattle. Everyone commiserated with Tommy when he lost half his herd. One of his cattle disappeared and most probably returned to Chibi, never to be seen again. And Tommy was left with half his herd.

Go well old friend, to a place where we will again. The list grows longer and longer.

From Gordon Mc Kenzie

Good byes are not forever

Good bye are not the end, they simply mean we will miss you until we see you again

Love you Grandpa

Hattingh Grandkids

To go back to when Lynne Déwes first knew Tommy would take us back to 1952 ……to go back to when John Déwes first knew Tommy would take us back to 1964……..so a lifetime of memories of a wonderful friendship with Tommy and enough to write a best seller ……  But only enough time for just a few stories today.

Tommy Drummond and John Déwes were invited by   que que sports club to go on a rugby tour in 1968 to Paarl, Ceres, Worcester and on their free day the team went up table mountain where besides enjoying the view they also enjoyed lunch…Tommy ordered periwinkles and to streamline things John said to the waiter “make that 2””.  The waiter eventually came back and put the plate of periwinkles in front of Tommy….without missing a beat Tommy said (but in not so polite language)  so what  ….is this?   And the waiter said ‘’the periwinkles you ordered”” Tommy was in shock and said “’ I can’t eat that    ….  So please take them away and bring me steak, egg & chips’’. !!!!!!!!!

Tommy and John were again invited to tour with que que sports club on a rugby trip to Malawi in 1971. Looking back at the pen pictures of the loose forwards Paul naish wrote  ….Tommy Drummond…Shabani and ex midlands player who was the general amongst the forwards and whose uncanny anticipation lead to many a try.

Another rugby story and this time it took place in the car park at the Shabanie mine club. Shabani first team rugby players were meeting there to arrange transport in cars for an away game.  Brian Whewell had got into the same car as Tommy and right across the car park Brian’s wife jo shouted  ‘’get out of that car at once Brian….Tommy Drummond is in there””    ….yes…..you got it…..the car Tommy was in was always the last car to get back home to Shabani……..what a reputation Tommy had whether it was in a car or in the bus he always instructed the driver to stop at every watering hole on the way back home which was usually well after midnight !!!!

Tommy happened to be in the same car as Lynne on a baseball and softball away game…. That car strangely also was the last car to get back home which was well after midnight. It was John this time waiting with the rolling pin to open the door and he asked such a silly question …. ‘Where have you been”” ….to which Lynne casually replied “” i just happened to be in the same car that Tommy Drummond was in “!!!!!!!!

The wonderful memories will be cherished Tommy …. you were a Shabani legend.

Hamba gaghle    …….until we meet again.

Lynne and John Déwes

Bulawayo.  Zimbabwe.

Dear Joy, Helen, Evadne, Dougie, Angie, Grandchildren and great grandchildren. My deepest sympathy on the passing of a loved, husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Writing this eulogy Tommy is one of the hardest things I have had to do. Putting on a piece of paper what is in my heart is the last thing I can do for a brother I loved very much.

I was the only girl in the family with 5 brothers. When I was born the boys were not happy about a girl in the Drummond family. They wanted another brother. Tommy being the oldest and ring leader decided to do something about it, so they packed a suitcase and made for the hills with his siblings in tow, but a rainstorm  dampened their escape and they return home.

Fortunately for me I was accepted into the Drummond Clan after being tested. I was pushed down the hill in a soap box derby car that the boys made. The wheels of the cart were probably taken off my pram.

Tommy was an excellent sportsman, excelling in rugby, boxing and swimming. He played rugby well into his 40’s. Tommy and Ali used to spar with our mom until Ali accidentally gave her a black eye. That ended our moms sparing days.

Tom, I shall miss our Saturday phone calls. He would never let me hang up until all my prepaid money on the cell phone was used up. I will remember that laugh you would let out fondly.

You were well known for getting into trouble with the wives of your friends, who always blamed you for keeping them out late. You would strongly deny this and always said you were innocent but also happy to take the blame. I bet there are smile on some of the faces of any Shabanites in the congregation who remember those days.

I know all your Rhodesian and South African friends consider you a LEGEND and they are right. You are a legend and well respected by all who knew you. Your knowledge about rugby and boxing is well known and you could talk about it for hours.

These are just a few of the things about Tom. If we had to mention all of them it would turn into a book.  There were so many fond memories in his 88 years.

I know Mom, Dad, your brothers and Butch will be waiting and cheering for you as you cross the try line and score a try in a life well lived. As the Drummond motto says “Gang Warily” Tommy.

Love Alison

Rest in Peace.

I first met Tommy in 1967 when I started work at Shabanie Asbestos Mine in the Midlands province Of Rhodesia. The first question he asked me was do you play rugby? I answered affirmative and from that day a lifelong friendship began. Tommy was well known in Rhodesia rugby and boxing circles. He represented Midlands province at rugby on many occasions and was selected to play for Southern Rhodesia against Northern Rhodesia before it became Zambia. He was also selected to box for Southern Rhodesia. Following my first rugby practice at Shabanie, Tommy said that they were going to have a drink at the mine club and would I like to join them. After we had a couple of beers, my wife Wendy arrived to collect me. Tommy asked if I wanted to stay a bit longer. He then went out to the car park to talk to Wendy. When he came back to the bar, I asked what he had said to her. He had told her that I had been nominated to the selection committee and we were busy selecting the team for the game that weekend. (A little white lie). Wendy thanked him and went home. Tommy and I often travelled together to rugby games. One occasion we were to travel to Que-Que with Brian Whewell, his wife Jo and two daughters. When the girls saw, that Tommy was going to travel with them they cried “Yay, now that uncle Tommy is coming with us we will be coming home late’. While he was working on Shabanie Mine, Tommy bought a farm between Shabanie and Selukwe. He bought his first two head of cattle at an auction and when the cattle were being herded to the farm, one of them escaped and ran away. For some time after this the joke went around town that Tommy had lost half his herd, He attended many more cattle sales and built up a fine herd which he was extremely proud of.

J.F Kennedy

I first met Tommy in 1967 when I started work at Shabanie Asbestos Mine in the Midlands province Of Rhodesia. The first question he asked me was do you play rugby? I answered affirmative and from that day a lifelong friendship began. Tommy was well known in Rhodesia rugby and boxing circles. He represented
Midlands province at rugby on many occasions and was selected to play for Southern Rhodesia against Northern Rhodesia before it became Zambia. He was
also selected to box for Southern Rhodesia. Following my first rugby practice at Shabanie, Tommy said that they were going to have a drink at the mine club and would I like to join them. After we had a couple of beers, my wife Wendy arrived to collect me. Tommy asked if I wanted to stay a bit longer. He then went out to the car park to talk to Wendy. When he came back to the bar I asked what he had said to her. He had told her that I had been nominated to the selection committee and we were busy selecting the team for the game that weekend. (A little white lie). Wendy thanked him and went home. Tommy and I often travelled together to rugby games. One occasion we were to travel to Que Que with Brian Whewell, his wife Jo and two daughters. When the girls saw that Tommy was going to travel with them they cried “Yay, now that uncle Tommy is coming with us we will be coming home late’. While he was working on Shabanie Mine, Tommy bought a farm between Shabanie and Selukwe. He bought his first two head of cattle at an auction and when the cattle were being herded to the farm, one of them escaped and ran away. For some time after this the joke went around town that Tommy had lost half his herd, He attended many more cattle sales and built up a fine herd which he was extremely proud of.