Lionel was born in Mt.Fletcher 11/12/23. DOD 10/03/2020He joined the army in 1942 and saw service in Egypt and Italy with technical service corps. In September 1945 Lionel became a Moth at Fray-Bent-Us while he had a trading station in Mt.Fletcher.

On moving to Matatiele Lionel found Fray-Bent-Us without a permanent home. From 1976 Lionel & two fellow Moths held their monthly meetings at the Imperial Hotel. Lionel had a house at his factory in town & made a room available as a
shellhole in 1978. He obtained permission from the municipality to build a shellhole under the Town Hall stage.When the municipality requested the shellhole to move from there Lionel
set about having a new shellhole built on our Moth cottages property. Lionel also had 3 new cottages built next to the original main Moth cottage in 1982. Lionel & the Moths began a project in 1957 to raise funds to build a swimming pool for the town which was eventually built in the mid 1960’s

Every year Lionel personally went around town raising funds for the annual Moth darts tournament fund raiser the proceeds being donated then to Flame Lily Park.
In 1981 he was elected East Griqualand District Old Bill, a post he held with distinction until 1995. In 1992 he was awarded the Milford Floating Trophy as District Old Bill who had done the most for the order in Natal.

In 1996 he was awarded the Certificate of Comradeship.

He was instrumental in having the Cenotaph moved to the town hall gardens. Lionel had also been a town councillor for 14 years and Mayor for 2 years. He also served on the committee of the care of the aged.

This giant of a Moth, was responsible for Fray-Bent-Us’s
survival during the lean as well as the fat years.

We Will Remember Him.

YUTH
Bev Mannheim
Old Bill
Fray-Bent-Us Shellhole