Hannes

Johannes Philibert Morkel Faure, 1917–1995

Hannes Faure grew up among the vineyards of the family farms at Faure, working the wine grapes at Kahlenberg with his brother Hennie.

He was not, however, destined for an entirely quiet farming life.

A brief spell at Stellenbosch University later became one of his favourite jokes: he claimed to have graduated with a “BSc in Snooker”. Then came the Second World War.

Hannes became a Spitfire pilot and served across North Africa, Malta, Sicily and Italy. He went on to command squadrons and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross with a bar for his service.

War never seems to have completely suppressed his sense of humour. After being shot down and surviving, Hannes eventually returned to his unit — only to discover that his friends, assuming the worst, had already divided his clothes amongst themselves. He promptly reclaimed them.

In 1942 he married Marguerita Mary Klerck — Liefie — and together they raised six children.

After leaving the Air Force in 1950, Hannes returned to Kahlenberg and to farming. The extraordinary chapter of fighter aircraft and war gave way again to vines, family and life around a large table.

That contrast says something about him: a decorated pilot who came home to farm, laugh, drink wine with friends and raise a family.

For later generations of the Faures, Hannes became part of the bridge between the vineyards of the past and the family culture we still recognise today — generosity, humour, resilience and a table around which there was always room for one more.