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MARY SIEDLE sied1082SAmaryBIOGbarbORIG02.doc		31 July 2010		ahs as received by AH-S from Barbara Siedle 25 July 2010

Amelia Mary Watson called Mary(1865 – 1944)  born in Port Natal Durban, South Africa) married Otto Siedle in 1887, bore five children and became a  Councillor and later Deputy Mayor of Durban. She rendered her term historic by the foundation of the Durban’s Childrens’ Hospital. Family background Mary’s grandparents were George William Duncan b1818 and Mary Ann Duncan b1819 . They arrived  in Durban from the England on board the Barge “John Bright” with their first four children aged 6 4 3 and 1 in 1851 Mary’s mother Amelia Mary Duncan b1845 was the eldest of those children and she married James Watson b1838  . Mary was also the eldest child and she was confusingly also called Amelia Mary Watson b1865. She had four sisters Lillie, Ethel, Ada and Edith and a brother called Duncan. They were all born in Durban. Home life Mary Siedle was “dux” at the  Convent School where she was educated. She was an accomplished horsewoman but not much interested in domestic science. Although Mary knew very little about cooking, to start her off  in her married life, she became a competent housekeeper of necessity. She ran successful household with the help of a whole family of servants, literally, which was the norm in those days. She married Otto Siedle, ,age 22, and they set up home in Essenwood Road. Later they moved to 15 Currie Road to a house owned by her father, moving to “Ludlow” 86 Vause Road when he died in 1902. When Mary’s mother died she inherited the house know as “Lynnville” 31 Currie Road so Otto and Mary moved there. Thomas Baines, the well known  early artist,  a cousin of Mary’s father, died in that house. Their last move was to Pine Holme, in South Ridge Road  in 1920 where they lived until their deaths. Otto and Mary celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1937 and Mary died  age 79. and Otto four years later. Children Mary and Otto Siedle had 5 children who all had interesting lives. The eldest daughter Perla trained as an opera singer and became known as Durban’s Lady in White during the war when she sang to the arriving and departing troops. Karl played rugby for Natal and died in the war. The Siedle clock at Kingsmead was erected in his honour. Basil played Rugby for Natal and entered the family shipping business. Edward went farming in Zululand and died of black water fever. . Jack was a Springbok cricket player and also worked at King and Sons the family business. The family were all very musical and sociable. After dinner entertainment normal consisted of musical evenings The Children’s Hospital, Durban This beautiful old hospital was erected at Addinton Beach, as a lasting memorial to the fallen in World War I.  Councillor Mary Siedle played a prominent role in the initiation of the scheme in 1923 to develop the children’s hospital and in the collection of funds, and with her unselfish efforts and enthusiasm brought the project to its successful conclusion in February 1931. . The Durban Corporation granted a site of 3.5 acres and the Natal Provincial Council undertook the administration

and maintenance of the hospital. Mary Siedle chaired the committee, which was set up to collect funds from the public. The Corporation and the Province each matched the funds collected from the public. The building was decorated with stained glass windows, relief sculptures, two Mary Stainbank fountains, ceramics by Miss Short and other architectural features It was generally recognized that the psychological effect of such surroundings plays an important part in hastening children’s recovery. ref. SA medical Journal Sept2006 Historical and Descriptive Brochure issued at Opening of Hospital in 1931 ….Siedle Saga by Otto Siedle

written by Barbara Siedle, Umgeni Heights, Durban, SA, 25 July 2010

sied1082SAmaryBIOGbarbORIG02.doc		31 July 2010		ahs