It is with a heavy heart that we note the passing of one the founders of SFFSA, Tex Cooper, on Saturday the 8th of June 2024.

We have noted in a number of places how Tex, and his wife Rita, carried on their love for Science Fiction and gathered together a number of fellow fans in 1969 and started our club. Tex was one of the very first editors of PROBE, and his enthusiasm for local writing encouraged many of us to try our hands and writing science fiction or fantasy. I remember attending a seminar he presented many years ago, and I still have his notes and the ones that I took, which were very useful and that I have looked back on from time to time.

I remember many visits to Tex and Rita's home in Pretoria, where we got to know many fellow enthusiasts. And held entertaining and educating meetings with them, at a time when SF was still slightly outre.

I remember particularly Tex at a meeting at Simon and Mary Scott's home saying that he needed someone to take over the editorship of PROBE. And I remember well how I only then realised what a brilliant job Tex had done and I later only really appreciated how much time and effort had gone into the editorship of PROBE. I feel it is a great pity he did not see the 200th issue published. I like to think he would have been proud to see the continuation of his legacy.

His wife Rita had the following to say about Tex:

I know the club held a special place in his heart especially the success of the short story writing competition.

May your short story competition continue to entertain readers and provide an outlet for all writers. Tex was always excited about the annual short story competition and was honoured to have his early writings included in the 50th anniversary edition book that was published.

We both had so many happy memories of starting the club and meeting new friends like you and Ian (even if I had a hard time with Ian's accent but Tex understood him perfectly!)

We formed many new and cherished friendships through the club. Sadly many have also passed away or are living overseas. I sometimes see familiar name in Probe from overseas that Tex enjoyed the exchange of their knowledge and repartee.

I always remember that Tex especially enjoyed the SF quiz sessions that were held as he had such a vast knowledge of authors, books and movies. I don't know if there are any records of those quiz nights. But I know one quiz session included guest expert Barry Ronge who was well known at that time. Tex was very chuffed that he got answers right! While Barry was incorrect!

Good wishes and blessings to all those who still faithfully carry the lamp and light of the club in the future.

Gail Jamieson and all members of SFFSA who knew him, or of him.

We had not seen Tex in the last few years, but his name often came up at one of our meetings.

We will miss him.

It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you of the passing of my dear husband Ian. Most of you will have seen this already and I truly appreciate the number of people who attended his Memorial on the 20th of July, mostly in person, but some by Zoom as well. He had been a member of SFFSA from the very early 1970's and served particularly as chairman for a long time. After Rita Cooper, he was the longest serving member of the club. He was a constant attendee at meetings, conventions and all of the many dinners and other outings we had with other members, over the past 50-odd years. Personally, he was the mainstay in my life and I shall miss him immeasurably. But, I know exactly what he would say to me: "You have a lot of life to live and plenty of reason to live it. Have fun!" So I shall go forward, knowing that in some way he is still there looking out for and taking care of me. Go well on your next steps in your journey in this wondrous Universe, my dearest Love.

I received many messages addressed to myself, his daughter Eileen, his son Andrew, and my children Erin and Kyle. I will print most of them, but without the salutations. It made me proud to see how many people will miss Ian.

• Gail Jamieson

I was greatly saddened to hear of Ian's demise. Ian was a very dynamic person with a strong personality who was very welcoming, sociable and kind. I thoroughly enjoyed my few visits to your society and, on those occasions, was greatly heartened by Ian's warm and generous comments and discussions. Please accept my deepest condolences. Ian will be greatly missed.

• Fabio Frescura

My heart goes out to you when I read this message. I'm so sad to hear about Ian. A life changing event for you and your family. My condolences to you all. It does not seem so long ago that I met Ian and you later through the club. But I know in reality it is a long time ago and so much time has passed. It really is an end of an era for so many. I will not be able to attend the Memorial. But will be with you all as you celebrate the life of Ian and share many memories together. Much love.

• Rita Cooper

I am deeply sorry to read this message. Words always seem shallow and empty during these times, but please accept my condolences. You know this, but Ian was always a gentleman. He was sincere and kind and it is a tremendous loss for his family, friends and the SF community. I hope that God grants you strength during this time.

• Sanjana Singh

It is with sadness that I note the passing of Ian. I have known him as a person of wit and eloquence in my association with SFFSA. I have always appreciated his telling reviews in 'PROBE' and will surely miss his future contributions. Gail, you have lost a loving husband and father to your children, and I wish you all the strength, both human and divine to see you through this time.

• Graham Alston

I am most saddened by the news of Ian's passing. I have known Ian since 1975 when I first came to an SFSA convention at Wits. His warmth and generosity and his kindness will always stay with me. I pray for his soul and for you in this huge loss of an incredible human being. My thoughts and prayers are with you. My most sincere respect to you all.

• Ahmed A Wadee

Dear Ian,

I'm happy for you that you are at peace now and are no longer encumbered by a body that no longer serves you. I remember your wedding to Gail: how you glowed with pride and love, and how surprised and delighted I was to have been invited. You and Gail were made for each other and it was a blessing to see how you cherished and loved each other. I will always remember the phone calls from you, in which you invariably asked me to do something for the club. Naturally, I couldn't say no, especially when you asked in your beautiful Scottish accent - which you never lost - which I, as an Irishwoman, just loved to listen to. Ian, you wove your being into everything we do at SFFSA, to the point where it feels ridiculous to do anything with the club without you. I'll never forget you, dear friend.

• Deirdre Byrne

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Ian's passing. To me, you and your husband have always been the main driving force behind the club. This is certainly a dark period for SFFSA with our founding member, Tex Cooper, having only recently made his final bow (The club and its long term members are both certainly showing their age.) Tex may have dug the foundations, but it was you people that poured the cement, the glue, that has kept SFFSA together over the years. Of course, unlike me and the other members, Ian was to you far more than just a sf enthusiast - he was your loving life partner. Still, I would hope the fact that he was able to witness and experience the club's 50th anniversary, the publication of the B50 anthology, as well as Probe's iconic 200th issue, serves as some small measure of consolation for the pain you are experiencing. I may not have attended the monthly meetings as regularly as I could have (should have) when I was staying in Gauteng, but one thing that stuck with me was the smart way Ian would always lighten the mood by commencing the evening with a few clever remarks and witticisms that he had listed on a piece of paper (All told in his thick Scottish accent that somehow never managed to diminish over the many years of living in SA - A Scot who strongly supported SA sf - who woulda imagined?). I will not be able to attend the Memorial Celebration (Wake?) on the 20th but you can be assured that my thoughts and prayers will be with you all. I'll be sipping on some Famous Grouse (No association intended other than it being Scotland's finest export!) to celebrate the passing of a good, nay, great man - sorely missed and fondly remembered.

• Gary Kuyper

I was so sorry to hear about Ian's passing. My memories of Ian go back to when I first joined the SFFSA club so many years ago. I remember him always persuading, perhaps cajoling, people to sign up for raffles, come to annual dinners, and so on. He encouraged me to be involved in the club which is something I've always really enjoyed.

• Steve Levitt

I am so sorry at your loss, and Yanez and I extend our sincere condolences to you and your family. I remember when I moved up to Joburg and went to my first SFFSA meetings with Deirdre, it struck me how much you and Ian were an indivisible unit and very much the heart of the club. I was a bit intimidated when I first met Ian, but his gruff exterior hid such a sweet nature (and devilish sense of humour), once you got to know him.

• Gerhard Hope

I am so sorry to hear the news. My deepest condolences to you, as well as to your and Ian's families. He was such a fine, upstanding gentleman, and a quiet but firm force within our small community.

• Arthur Goldstuck

Gail - Elana and I are so saddened to learn of Ian's passing. My memories of Ian are all pleasant ones - his sense of humour and overall good nature. And the accent of course. As well, he greatly contributed towards making the SFSA meetings and social gettogethers all the more memorable. May you have strength at this time and reflect on the positives Ian brought you and your family over the years.

• Tony & Elana Davis

In Loving Memory of Ian Jamieson my second Dad. Ian, you have been such an integral part of my life for the last 30 years! You had a naughty side; with your Glasgow accent you would answer the phone when my school friends called: "Glasgow Fire Station, how can I help you?" My friends would think twice about calling me after that. You will leave a big hole in our lives but we are glad that you are no longer suffering and that you are now at peace with the Angels and with your beloved doggies. We also know that your spirit will always live on; through and around us. We love you Ian, may your soul rest in peace

• Erin Brunette

Our deepest condolences on the passing of Ian. A giant has fallen. May his memory be a blessing. There were also short messages with kind words from:

Derek Hohls, Brett Ward - Saudi Arabia, Antonio Ruffini, Wayne Stepanick in ZKN, Iain Sinclair, AL Du Pisani in the Cape, Andreas Lemmerer, Conrad Steenkamp, Ruan Botha, Anne-Marie - UAE, Grant Kruger USA, Lloyd and Yvonne Penney - Canada, Colin - France

• Simone Puterman and Franz Tomasek

As our friend Gavin Kreuiter has said this has been an Annus Horribilis. Particularly for SFFSA but also for me. It is with a sense of loss that we have had to bid farewell to our good friend and SFFSA chairperson, Carla Martins. I shall always remember Carla as the effervescent but kind and caring person that I grew to know over many years. Who could forget the many bring-and-braais that we had with Carla's selfbraaiing meat. She would waltz up to the braai, leave her meat and lo and behold when she returned it would be done perfectly. I'll never forget a couple of hysterical games of SF Pictionary with Carla cheering on the 'artists'. She also brought with her an amazing knowledge of movies, both SF and other. She would always brighten up the room when she arrived and her caring presence will be sadly missed.

• Gail Jamieson

My first memory of Carla is from the first SFSA meeting I attended. Andrew, who was a work colleague, had discovered my interest in SF and suggested I attend a meeting. I walked into a room full of strangers, feeling rather nervous, uncertain and shy. This lively person bounced over and introduced herself as Carla, whose role on the committee was public relations. She was a bit disappointed that I was there because of a personal conversation, rather than through PR, but she certainly fulfilled her function of welcoming new members/visitors. I was made to feel so welcome that it is one of the main reasons why I am still a member. My last happy memory of Carla is at an SFFSA film outing. On her own, she had decided to organise movie meetings. They were very popular pre-epidemic, although they had dwindled down to sometimes just Carla, her mother Helena, and myself. And memories in between? Two things impressed me the most about Carla; her encyclopaedic knowledge of movie trivia, and her positivity. She was so full of life that it is difficult to accept that she has gone. She will be missed. RIP, my friend.

• Gavin Kreuiter

While Carla and I were both (separately) at Grant Charlton's 1998 ICON Comics & Games Convention in Edenvale, Joburg, I only just dethroned Carla as the youngest active SFSA member in 2022 (excluding Gail and Ian's kids). She was another, more exuberant, sister to me. She joined my family in the Drakensberg one December, and she was part of trips to Gaborone, Botswana, to visit our mutual friend Gwen Watkins, who started the (unofficial SFFSA) home movie evenings Carla loved (and which Franz and I took over until the pandemic started). We shared favourite SFF series: CJ Cherryh's Foreigner (which I gifted to her almost every year on her birthday, although I'd read the book first) and Kim Harrison's The Hollows. Carla was full of life and enthusiasm for everything, and always happy to drive far, including the SFFSA Soutpansberg trip. May her memory be a blessing

• Simone Puterman

My heartfelt condolences to Carla's family and friends. Knowing her was a delight and I always enjoyed hanging out with her. She will be missed.

• Grant Kruger

Carla always put passion into anything she did, whether it was editing PROBE, or haranguing us for articles, as chairman of the club or secretary, keeping meticulous notes to remind us to do what we had promised to do. She was always a welcome force in any social situation, happy, or sad, she could raise our spirits and light up the room. She will be deeply missed and will always be part of SFFSA (even though she hated trying to pronounce it). You will be sorely missed.

• Cedric Abrahams

Two things that immediately come to mind were Carla's generosity of spirit and encyclopaedic knowledge of movies. If you attended a club meeting you were guaranteed a heartfelt hug. Ditto for movie evenings or just a meal. If there was a club movie quiz, she and Norman had to be on different teams or the rest of us stood no chance. Just how broad a knowledge it was could be seen when she took on renowned movie critic, Barry Ronge before an early screen of Pan's Labyrinth. Carla will be missed immensely at the club and as a friend. Also, sincere condolences from the following people, many of whom joined us and her brother Joao to hold a wake for her last Saturday. All said how much she would be missed: Norman Pringle, Gerhard Hope, Dierdre Byrne, Erin Brunette, Franz Tomasek, Simone Putterman, Sally Leibowitz, Gwen Watkins Nick Heyns, Digby Ricci, Jan Benvie, Nial Mollison, Adele Meyer, Cedric Abramowitz, Trevor Derry, Kyle Brunette, Steve and Alyssa Levitt, Ron Cowley, Ilse von Willich, Grant Charlton, Colin from France, Tony Davis from Canada, and Anne-Marie who came all the way from Saudi Arabia to be with Carla's mom and brother.

• Franz Tomasek