A Brief Early History of the Durban Society of Model Engineers (Originally by Brian Lester from notes prepared by the late Mr Theo Gooden) The Society was one of the first model engineering clubs outside the UK and had amongst its aims: the promotion and challenge of modelling; designing, making and or operating small versions of machine engines, tools, etc; to encourage accurate craftsmanship; to convene meetings and hold exhibitions of models for the promotion of these objects. Although some records give earlier dates, the publication “Model Engineer and Electrician" of 4 September 1913 confirms that it was established on 2 July 1913. To commemorate the inauguration of the Society, a club badge was struck. This was a 20 mm fired enamel Hallmarked Silver badge and depicting an overhead belt drive lathe and marked – Durban Society of Model Engineers 1913. One of the dedicated members who steered the Society from its inception, through the two world wars and severe depression was Harold V Kellaway. He was a man who had an interesting career in the field of engineering here in Durban. He was born in Stafford in the UK on the 20 December 1891 and trained as an engineer and a draftsman and came to Durban on 2 July 1910y. Mr Kellaway took over as the DSME secretary from Mr A C Davidson in September 1914 and held office as Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer and ultimately President up until 1960. When Kellaway Park was established it bore his name and when the move to Durban North came and we took over our present site, we again commemorated his name by naming the new building Kellaway Hall. Some premonition of the fate of Kellaway Park must have stirred in the mind of one person, who had laboured so long for its establishment, for Basil Palmer was transferred to Johannesburg. The Society was soon informed that the Kellaway Park track site was required by the City Council for the construction of the new Athlone Bridge. What a sad and tragic sight it was to see all the efforts over the years, bulldozed to the banks of the Umgeni River. So, after several years of some very enjoyable running on our first continuous track, we had to start the process all over again. The old clubhouse was however spared and this was handed over to the model yacht club for their sole use. This is a potted history of the DSME prior to the construction of Kellaway Hall. Used by kind permission of Theo Gooden and Brian Lester. Thank You. I arrived in Durban on transfer from Salisbury in January 1967, just in time to take part in developing the track site for DSME at Hinton Grove. The new clubhouse had been finished and handed over and other work completed by a contractor, including brick pillars and the tunnel. Elsewhere, the ground had to be levelled and growth removed. It is difficult now to recall just what a mess the area was and my thoughts on first sight of it were “how on earth can we ever build a track here?” Work on the track involved casting foundations to a pre-set level and this proceeded well. Due to the sandy nature of the ground, digging holes was not difficult. A pre-cast slab on top, completed the found and then the pillars could be set with slips of packing (courtesy of Theo Gooden) in between. Pre-cast beams were then laid. With the main work on the ground almost complete, attention was given to the BRIDGE. The area to be spanned was waterlogged in those days as Durban North did not have a water borne sewerage system so much water from soak pits seeped its way downhill to that low lying area as well of course as natural rainfall.
