Thad

This is a blog entry I still can’t believe I have to write but sadly I have to pay tribute to a friend who is no longer with us. Thad Owens who was one of the students that came to CCF from the University of Florida died whilst swimming in the Kunene river in northern Namibia last week. This news has come as a big shock to all of us here at CCF and our thoughts are with his family and friends who must be going through an incredibly difficult time. I hope they can take comfort in the fact that Thad was one of a kind who made a huge impression on all of those he met, including me.

I remember meeting the Florida group for the first time at a cheetah run and I was a little bit nervous about talking about cheetahs in front of a big group of cocky young Americans but the first person I spoke to was Thad, a distinctive looking guy who was tall with red hair and a big beard. He introduced himself with a big smile and told me how excited he was to be in Namibia and he put me instantly at ease for the rest of the run. The students then came to Laura’s leaving party and we soon learnt that Thad was a larger than life character and a guy who definitely enjoyed a good party and the occasional drink or two!


When the students came in to CCF to help us out I was always glad to have the chance to hang out with Thad, his personality was infectious and your mood was guarantied to improve in his company. I will always remember being awoken from my sleep after another Boskop party by a rather merry Thad looming over me in the darkness as he just had to say goodnight to me before he left! As a testament to how much I liked him I wasn’t annoyed at all and just laughed :)

Although I didn’t know him for long I am very grateful we met, I have many fond memories and will always smile and laugh when I think of him.