Arthur Webber (photo: Gold Circle)
We are sad to share the news that Arthur Douglas Webber, best known in racing circles as Marsh Shirtliff’s partner in the mighty Pocket Power, passed away in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, 28 February 2018.
Arthur and Rina, who were married for 53 years, met when Arthur was a bachelor. Rina’s family had a country hotel that he used to visit for meals, “and the rest is history,” she relates fondly. The couple had two sons, Alan and Basil (married to Wilma) and 5 grandchildren. Rina says Arthur absolutely adored his family, and they him.
Outside of racing, Arthur was best known for his involvement in the pig industry. He was a well respected breeder via his Longside Stud near Pretoria as well as the Chairman of the Pig Breeders’ Association for over 20 years.
After being career farmers, the Webbers moved to PE in 2006 and sold the farm a few years later, although Arthur kept firm ties with the pig breeding industry and continued to be called on for help and advice. “He was a master pig breeder – that was his actual forte,” explains Rina, “but his hobby was racehorses.”
Their first racehorse was a filly called Welcome Sight, bred by Gary Player, which they raced in PE with George Uren and there were one or two more and then came the mighty Pocket Power. “Arthur loved horses, loved racing and loved the thrill, but he dabbled really. We did have horses after Pocket Power, but once you’ve had a Pocket Power, that’s it, you can’t improve on perfection! Pocket Power was one of a kind and it really was a very exciting time for us. It was wonderful to have the opportunities and fun we had with Marsh and the stable.”
Pocket Power
Pocket Power (photo: Gold Circle)
The Webbers were good friends with Colesberg breeder, Terry Silcock and stopped over frequently en route to their holiday home in St Francis. “Terry and Arthur used to talk horses till the cows came home,” she remembers fondly. “It was the breeding side that Arthur liked so much and that’s how he spotted Pocket Power. He’d never seen the horse, but with his experience in genetics he thought this horse had the potential to do something. Terry Silcock actually bid on him for us, and it was through Terry that Arthur approached Marsh for the share.”
Shock
Despite being into his 80’s, Arthur had been in good health and a month ago was still fit enough to chase their donkeys down the drive after someone left the gate open. “Arthur loved his donkeys and they miss him terribly,” says Rina. “He was a real animal man and loved animals of all sorts. He was brought up in Botswana and the bush never left him.”
His passing came as a bit of a shock. “He was getting a little older and a little slower, but he was fine. A while ago Arthur complained of being dizzy, so I took him to the doctor. They did some tests and thought it might be a viral infection. They said we should come back the following week, but before the next appointment, Arthur weakened dramatically, so I took him to the Emergency Unit. He was admitted immediately and a few days later they diagnosed stage 4 B cell lymphoma. Just like that,” she says sadly. “They treated him as best they could, but he passed away on Wednesday, 28 February.”
Tributes
Pocket Power’s connections celebrate the 2008 J&B Met win (photo: Gold Circle)
Fairview Racecourse flew their flags at half mast on Friday, 2 March in Arthur’s memory and Rina says she has been astounded by how fondly Arthur has been remembered.
It comes as a shock to realise that Pocket Power’s first L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate win came in 2006 and that he retired from racing as far back as 2011, but the years inbetween were glorious indeed. Bernard Fayd’herbe, who was in the saddle for most of Pocket Power’s career, remembers Arthur as “such a gentleman and soft spoken man. When the pressure was on he would whisper to me, ‘Just go enjoy the ride’. RIP Arthur Webber. You will be missed.”
Mike Bass commented, “They were fantastic owners – both him and Rina. They always came to watch Pocket run and living in PE, that wasn’t always easy, but they flew down every time. He was just a lovely guy, very easy going and a lovely guy to train for. He loved Pocket – we all did. It was just a very special time for all of us.”
Marsh Shirtliff reflected on their time together. “It was quite something. We had a mutual friend called Terry Silcock who actually pointed Pocket Power out to me and said he’s a very nice horse. I think Terry told Arthur as well. I ran up against quite a lot of other bidders, but eventually got Pocket for R190k. Arthur wasn’t at the sale – he bid from home – and after I bought Pocket, he got hold of me and asked if he could have a share. He elected to take a third and that’s how it happened – we hadn’t even met. He was a wonderful partner and a good man and we had a lot of fun with Pocket. Arthur was a helluva nice guy. He will be well remembered and sorely missed.”
There will be a funeral service a Fig Tree Funeral Home in Port Elizabeth on Monday, 5 March 2018 at 10am.
