Chippie Solomon … Jou Lekker Ding …

Chippie Solomon was bid farewell in Kuils River today and one could hear the angels joyously chanting ‘Chippie … Jou Lekker Ding’.

Solomon was a giant of the community and Western Province and Stormers rugby.

Chippie Solomon

He was the Stormers manager for the past 22 years, which spanned over 350 Stormers matches, 100s of players and seveal coaches, among them Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and current head coach and Director of Rugby John Dobson, both who were in attendance.

Global and local tributes have flooded social media since his passing a week ago at the age of 64, but on Tuesday morning his Stormers player family, led by Hanyani Shimange and Deon Fourie, and his family said their farewells.

WATCH: CHIPPIE SOLOMON CHURCH SERVICE

Chippie would have lent back in that chair of his and beamed. It was an occasion that spoke to everything he used to speak about when referencing an occasion.

It was grand, given President Cyril Ramaphosa had granted Chippie the highest provincial honour of a provincial funeral. It was understated in that it was bereft of fiction or construction. His players tributes were powerful in their simplicity of what made their relationship with their life coach so special.

It was authentic. It carried gravitas and it was to the point. Just as Chippie would have scripted it.

Shimange, a former WP, Stormers and Springboks hooker and celebrated rugby analyst spoke on behalf of ex-players and he read many a tribute from these players.

Fourie, whose Stormers journey is as long as that of Solomon spoke passionately, emotionally and beautifully of the bond between the two but significantly of the bond between Solomon and the players and coaches within Western Province and the Stormers.

Dobbo had spoken on Sunday at a memorial service at the Kuils River Rugby Football Club, where Chippie was Honoury Life President.

The sun broke through on arrival for the public viewing, but rain fell in celebration and remembrance of Chippie’s life as the family of Pallbearers led the coffin through a Stormers guard of honour.

Dobson, along with the Stormers coaching staff and management, were the Pallbearers to the Altar. A select group of family and friends were the Pallbearers into the foyer.

Alistair Izobell, taught by Chippie in High School, paid his tribute on behalf of the family and the world through song, and daughter Nina Solomon thanked the world for their messages of support, sympathy and empathy in the Expression of Gratitude.

In between Minster Ricardo Mackenzie of the Premier’s Office spoke of Chippie’s contribution to society and his unconditional devotion to education and improving the lives of so many, through education and rugby, in the province.

The Rev Dean Appels presided over the ceremony, held at the AFM Gen-to-Gen Church in Rouxville, Kuils River.

Chippie, christened Christopher, was born in Newlands and raised in Bontheuwel. He was a teacher, coach and headmaster at Westridge High School in Mitchell’s Plain before his move to rugby administration. The great man is survived by his wife Pearl, and children Nina and Chad.

*This is for those international readers, who are not familiar with the headline association and introduction to my farewell to Chippie.

“WP Jou Lekker Ding” is a chant deeply rooted in Western Province rugby culture in South Africa.

What it means

• “WP” refers to Western Province Rugby
• “Jou lekker ding” is Afrikaans slang, loosely meaning “you beauty,” “you great thing,” or “you awesome lot.”

So the phrase is essentially a celebration:
“Western Province, you beauty!”

The chant grew organically from the terraces at Newlands Rugby Stadium in Cape Town.

• It reflects Cape Town supporter culture: expressive, slightly cheeky, and proudly Afrikaans-English mixed.

“WP Jou Lekker Ding” is a badge of identity for WP and Stormers supporters

Rest well Chippie … Jou Lekker Ding