OLD GEORGIAN
UNION
Founded 1906
Dr Frank Spracklen
In February 1993, one of our most distinguished Old Georgians, Dr Frank Spracklen, was killed in a car accident near Leeu-Gamka.
Mr Cuckow was Headmaster when Frank first entered St. George's in the 1950s. Frank was a haemophiliac; the next Headmaster, Canon Peacock, recalls that no other school in the southern suburbs was willing to accept the responsibility of having Frank as a pupil, and at St. George's a Spracklen family servant was employed to carry Frank from class to class to ensure that he did not injure himself.
After matriculating, he studied at UCT, in America and in Great Britain. He became an expert in infectious diseases — in malaria in particular, and later in AIDS; indeed, at the time of his death, he was probably the foremost authority on AIDS in South Africa. For his work, he was honoured by the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians in London.
At Frank's memorial service in St. George's Cathedral on 17 February, Old Georgian Errol Haynes spoke about their schooldays together and their lifelong friendship: Errol said that although Frank's disability precluded him from playing games, he had a deep love for and knowledge of many sports. Although he had often been in great pain, his sense of humour was remarkable and his tremendous courage enabled him to achieve more than most men. One such achievement was the establishment of the well-known AIDS clinic at Somerset hospital in the face of real prejudice towards sufferers of that disease; the care, concern and love Frank showed for these people was extra-ordinary. As Dean Colin Jones said during the service: "Throughout his life, Frank's health was severely compromised; his dedication and commitment never faltered, however".
We offer our very sincere condolences to Frank's wife and to his two daughters and their families.
Mr Paul D Cannon (Headmaster 1984 - 1997)
The following article appeared in the Argus on 19 February
SPRACKLEN 'MODERN ST GEORGE WHO BATTLED AIDS DRAGON'
by Andrea Weiss
Health Reporter
DR Frank Spracklen, the Cape Town physician who dedicated his last years to helping people with HIV, was a "modern St George doing battle with the dragon of Aids".
This was said by the Very Reverend Colin Jones, dean of Cape Town, at the memorial service for Dr Spracklen yesterday.
Dr Spracklen, a haemophiliac, died in a car accident near Leeu Gamka in the Karoo last week. He was 59 years old.
He was one of the first doctors in South Africa to treat Aids patients and established the HIV/Aids clinic at Somerset Hospital in Green Point.
Among the many who gathered to pay their last respects were the mayor, Mr Frank van der Velde, and mayoress Mrs Trish van der Velde, colleagues from Somerset Hospital, Aids counsellors and patients.
Dean Jones said Dr Spracklen had been a champion of truth about Aids and had turned the tide of ignorance, fear and hatred.
As a haemophiliac, he had lived with the constant threat of death, which had made him all the more sensitive to the pain of others.
A friend, Mr Errol Heynes, described him as a man who "had a mission in life to serve his fellow human beings".
Although he had not been one for the limelight or accolades, he was highly respected by doctors and the community.
Professor Roy Keeton, head of medicine at Somerset Hospital, said Dr Spracklen had not only graduated from UCT with honours but had also been the top student in several disciplines. He had been recognised by the American Cardiac College, the American Physician's College and the Royal College of Physicians.
Dr Spracklen had shown great courage throughout his career by not allowing his disability to hold him back, in spite of the physical pain he frequently suffered.
His loss was a "tremendous void" which would be felt by many of the patients he had been treating at the time of his death.
"They will be wondering who is going to care for them in the future." Professor Keeton paid tribute to Dr Spracklents wife, Rikki, for the way in which she had helped him with his achievements.
