CYRIL ROOKE PRANCE
1872 - 1955
Cyril Prance was
obviously a man of great character and spirit. To have spent
thirteen years as a settler toughing it out in the Veld of South Africa
must have required endurance and plenty of creative talent. From
reading his books I have the impression of someone who was a keen
observer of his fellow travellers and one who had the ability to
communicate in such an amusing way the foibles and eccentricities of
the company he kept. He was very well read himself, a keen
student of history, and his articles found their way into the Natal
Mercury, the Nonquai, The Sunday Tribune, the African Observer and
South African Opinion and no doubt elsewhere. There is a certain
repetition in the 'veldt' books but I thoroughly enjoy his concise
style of writing. The fact that he produced two books on the
great seamen of the sixteenth century and in particular the great
Admiral Sir John Hawkins could conceivably be due to the salt in the
blood of the Devon Prances! His 'Knights of the Sea' can be
obtained from most libraries, certainly from Exeter, and is a 'must'
for anyone interested in the extraordinary feats of seamanship and
bravery of those ships and their crews that fought against the Spanish
on the high seas and in the harbours.
I do wish that we had more information about
Cyril. Someone must have photographs and more detailed
information about his life so if you are reading this and can help to
fill out the portrait of this interesting and remarkable man please get
in touch.