Meyer (Mike) Allen and his wife Minnie were partners in the International Hotel with the Brodovcky family. They both hailed form the Somerset West and were married in Cape Town in 1936. Meyer was born in Lithuania and Minnie in South Africa.

 

Minnie was the daughter of Samuel Perel and Jane Rachel Tolpas. The Perel family were from Plungyan and the Tolpas family from Telze. Jane Rachel was the third born of seven children born to Solomon and Esther Miriam Tolpas from Stellenbosch. Her sister Pauline married Isaac Perel. Samuel was the son of Elias and Minnie Perel. Less is known about the Allen family. It is possible that they are connected to the Allengensky family from Vilna which settled in Hermanus and changed their surname to Allen. 

 

The Allen family reached Vryburg in 1946 and left in 1964. Mike and Minnie has two children, Charles and Beverley. The family had a massive impact on the Vryburg Jewish community and the broader society. Mike was leader of the Jewish community (chairman for a decade) and President of the local Bowling Club. He was also a keen Free Mason and Rotarian. The Stellelander described Mike and Minnie Allen as follows: "In a small town like Vryburg the personalities of the people endear themselves to the community - such is the case of Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Mike we think of as a man with quiet and assuming personality, always kindly and friendly, a man who made outstanding success of his work as co-partner in the International Hotel who also had success with his farming interests and his interests at Tattersalls. Minnie, always so friendly and always willing to pull her weight in the Jewish affairs of the town, is one whose personality will long be remembered." After leaving Vryburg Mike and Minnie moved to the Strand where they are buried. Minnie passed away in 1971 and Mike in 1976.  

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