PvR, Trevor Bottomley and the Early Daysa

Standard Bank at that time was, like Barclays, a very modest affair being limited to a pre-fab building near the railway station where the two sat side by side. Luisa (Travaglini), however, who sent me this photo provided the background to it implicitly explaining that those who picked up contracts to help build the new capital did not live in the sort of luxury that is today enjoyed by their counterparts.

‘The Costain’s Camp had 18 rondavels where the subcontractors slept and a house made of 400 blocks (not cemented together) where Alberto and Alvaro slept. The roof was of corrugated iron held down by more bricks.’