Tyson Flies Away
Tyson, first winner of the Green & Blue Scholarship, returns to South Africa. By Kate
So farewell then, Tyson. You will be sorely missed in Lordship Lane
Tuesday this week saw Tom, Tyson and me braving thunder, lightening, torrential rain and even the odd splatter of hail on our way to Heathrow. After a year that has felt simultaneously like a decade and a few weeks, it was time to put our inaugural scholarship winner on a plane home. I warned him several weeks ago to look carefully at what he wanted to pack and if necessary, to ship some stuff back in advance.
He ignored this advice.
And so it came to pass that a suitcase that should have tipped the scales at no more than 20kg weighed 29, and his hand luggage a hefty 14 when it should have been no more than 8.
The check-in lady was made of solid stone. “You are very overweight Mr Meyi” she barked.
“Oh right” said Tyson. He tried his slow, shy smile which is very charming.
She was unmoved.
“Can anything at all be done?” I asked.
“You can pay £33 for every extra kilo” she answered, still without a flicker of human emotion.
We dragged his obese luggage over to one side and the Great Unpacking Process commenced. Ty didn’t really get it. He unloaded a few old t-shirts and despite our protestations, insisted on weighing his luggage again. He had shed about 500g.
We said goodbye quickly. I could easily have cried and Tyson looked like he might too, so staying true to my adopted homeland rather than succumbing to a rather more southerly display of emotion, we hugged very hard and tore ourselves away. I did have time to remind him that :-
- I was only a phone call away so when he felt down or needed any advice, he was to call me immediately.
- As magical as this experience inLondon
The true worth of this scholarship is only going to become apparent now. We know that Tyson has a very solid foundation to build on for a rewarding and interesting career in the South African wine industry but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily going to be easy. We will be keeping in close contact and will make careful notes of the particular obstacles he encounters, so that his experiences can be put to good use for those who come after him.
On that note, trying to sort out the visa of our next candidate has become a nightmare. The government has changed all the rules since last year and they’re really not terribly interested in schemes like ours, however worthy. I am gearing up for a fight! Fortunately I have some sense of what it will take since it wasn’t easy getting Tyson over here. Despite the daunting prospect of investing a lot more time and energy in our next candidate’s safe arrival, abandoning the scholarship is simply not an option. Watch this space.
- I was only a phone call away so when he felt down or needed any advice, he was to call me immediately.
- As magical as this experience in
