Founder of Namib Times dies

THE founder and former editor of Namibia’s second oldest newspaper, Paul Vincent, passed away at Walvis Bay last week at the age of 73.

Vincent had been ill for a long time. Vincent, who started the Namib Times in 1958 as a bi-weekly trilingual newspaper, sold the paper in 2002 when his health started deteriorating.Vincent was born in England, grew up in South Africa and later moved to Namibia where his father became a Bishop in 1953.When he started the Namib Times, he was warned that his new venture would only last six months.Almost 50 years later the Namib Times has become widely loved and supported in the coastal community.Many people refer to it as their Bible and would not miss a copy.The newspaper appears on Tuesdays and Fridays.Vincent’s wife of 30 years, Rosemary, told the Namib Times he was a hard and tenacious worker, and determined to do something with his life and make it last.He started the paper after a stint of five years at the now defunct Windhoek Advertiser.”He became eager to go on his own,” said Rosemary Vincent.He was reportedly always at work, day and night, seven days a week.Vincent was also a faithful Rotarian for 16 years and never missed a meeting.Apart from being a workaholic, he was a keen philatelist and had a passion for steam locomotives.”He took a holiday on the Blue Train every year,” his wife said.He leaves behind is wife, daughter Samantha and son John.A memorial service will be held tomorrow at 10h00 at Huis Palms, Walvis Bay.Vincent, who started the Namib Times in 1958 as a bi-weekly trilingual newspaper, sold the paper in 2002 when his health started deteriorating.Vincent was born in England, grew up in South Africa and later moved to Namibia where his father became a Bishop in 1953.When he started the Namib Times, he was warned that his new venture would only last six months.Almost 50 years later the Namib Times has become widely loved and supported in the coastal community.Many people refer to it as their Bible and would not miss a copy.The newspaper appears on Tuesdays and Fridays.Vincent’s wife of 30 years, Rosemary, told the Namib Times he was a hard and tenacious worker, and determined to do something with his life and make it last.He started the paper after a stint of five years at the now defunct Windhoek Advertiser.”He became eager to go on his own,” said Rosemary Vincent.He was reportedly always at work, day and night, seven days a week.Vincent was also a faithful Rotarian for 16 years and never missed a meeting.Apart from being a workaholic, he was a keen philatelist and had a passion for steam locomotives.”He took a holiday on the Blue Train every year,” his wife said.He leaves behind is wife, daughter Samantha and son John.A memorial service will be held tomorrow at 10h00 at Huis Palms, Walvis Bay.