Welcome to 'The duPs' - The website of Paul and Margaret du Plessis - Margaret a former Medical Social Worker, Paul a physician.

They served with The Salvation Army in Zambia, the United Kingdom, India, and their homeland of South Africa. They retired to live in Bromley, in southeast London. Margaret passed away in 2019.
Their children, Catherine and Andre, and the wider family have always meant a lot to them. Placing Paul’s poems and other information on a website has been a family request for some years. Grandson, David, took on the project and became the website architect.
Please enjoy reading Paul's poems which reflect something of their life experiences.
Margaret has researched the life of Louisa Mary Tucker, the first wife of pioneer Indian missionary, Frederick Tucker.
Please use the menu on the left and the search function in the top right to navigate through the site.
Here is Paul's most recent poem:
Vita
- Details
- Written May 2025
But her poetry brings her to life
As we listen, intent of finding her
In the lines read from the folder,
And we hear what she saw as the seasons pass,
The mind creating our own picture of what is seen,
While she gazes down satisfied,
Brought to life in the big room
Of her beloved library,
Surrounded by volumes of her creations,
Smiling and pleased that her final line ends
Not buried in time
But with another smile
Returned with understanding.
Sissinghurst,
May 2025
On listening to National Trust volunteer, Sue Lowen. reading some of Vita Sackvile-West’s poetry