A former councillor and mayor of Bloemfontein, Colin Hickling (86), passed away on Sunday, 2 June after succumbing to cancer.
Hickling was a well known and active member of the community.
From 1973 to 1988 he was a member of the Bloemfontein City Council and served interests of the city with distinction. Such was his reputation for integrity and unselfish civic leadership that his political opponents broke with sectarianism by electing him as mayor in 1985. He filled this position until 1986.
A fellow Old Andrean Roger Crawford said in a testimonial, since Colin’s arrival in 1949 in the city he has made Bloemfontein his home, and over the past 75 years he became an acclaimed citizen and the godfather to his alma mater.
A short career in banking led him, in 1963, to the Bloemfontein Board of Executors and Trust Company where, in 1976, he became the managing director. His manager at the Bloem Board became his father-in-law when he married Gusta Henning who was the pivot of a happy family. He worked hard at raising the profile of the business and his network included membership of the Bloemfontein Club and the Round Table organization.
He served as chairman of the Bloemfontein Club, Round Table 25, and area chairman of the Free State Round Table.
“Colin’s natural warmth, spontaneous friendliness, gentle humour – often self-deprecating – and humility have been the foundation of his effectiveness as a business and civic leader,” Crawford said.
At the national level he was appointed to serve on the boards of the SABC and Sentech. In the Free State he was tasked with leading the Highland Development Corporation as well as serving on the council of the University of the Free State.
After Gusta died in 1980, Colin later married Barbara in 1997.
Following the acquisition of the Bloem Board by a national bank he and Barbara created their own financial services company and serve as directors of The Public Trustees and Trust Company. In celebration of his 56 years in the financial services and fiduciary industry he received the Chairman’s Award from the Fiduciary Institute of SA.
“Colin is an icon of the Family of St. Andrew’s School. In a period exceeding 50 years, he has nurtured, encouraged, and inspired countless people to improve and enhance the school. He was at the helm of the Old Andrean Association for decades during which time it became a vibrant organization connecting countless Old Boys to their alma mater. He derived great joy when his sons, Glenn, and Murray, completed their entire school careers at St. Andrew’s. In 1970 he was appointed to the board of governors, and in 1985 became the first lay chairman of the board. The school has benefitted from his wise counsel, meticulous administrative ability, and skilful husbanding of the school’s financial resources.”
In recent years Colin was burdened with ill-health. His right leg was amputated because of bone cancer in 2000, but he endured his sickness stoically. He embraced his friends, drew inspiration from their camaraderie, and encouragement.
Colin is survived by Barbara, and his two sons from his marriage to Gusta, Glenn, married to Surika, and their children Ewan and Cara and Murray, married to Jeanine and their daughter Isabella.
A Memorial Service will be held at St Andrew’s School Chapel on Thursday, 13 June. The time is yet to be announced.
