Surfing community, friends mourn body surfer legend

The death of popular Port Alfred body surfer Graeme ‘Sunny’ Hill has left a huge void in the lives of his family, surfing community, friends and colleagues.

Fifty-year-old Hill passed away at home on Sunday night October 22 after a long illness.

Sunny, who was a member of the Kowie Boardriders Club, was born in Johannesburg “but spent a good few holidays in Durban as a youngster where he got used to the surfing scene,” says his surfer colleague and RE/MAX Kowie broker-owner, Warwick Heny. He described Sunny as a fun-loving and positive individual who was a good relationship-builder.

Heny said he invited Sunny to try property sales with his agency in 2017 after meeting him surfing. “After getting to know him I thought he had the makings of a successful property agent.”

He said his inkling was correct as Sunny went on to excel an agent.

“Sunny’s gift was that he was that he was very good at building relationships and he had a close connection with all his clients who became his friends. He would often go out for a beer or lunch with them.”

Heny said Sunny loved the ocean and he was passionate about promoting the body surfing discipline to young surfers.

“Most guys were either traditional surfers but everywhere he went he promoted body surfing and knee boarding. Sunny had great upper-body strength which allowed him to excel in his sport.

“Sunny had such a closeness to the ocean that he would venture far out to sea with his board, while most of us would be surfing the waves closer in.  His signature equipment was a ‘handgun’, a small paddle- like item that wrapped around his hand that helped propel him forward.”

Heny said that it was difficult to put into words the void Sunny had left in the office environment.

“It was great to have him around as he was free-spirited … and we could talk about and go surfing. He was a positive person and pretty cool around the office … he never said a harsh word about anyone. All he wanted was peace around him.”

Heny said Sunny had done various jobs around the world.

“He once ran a nightclub in Florida in the US, but was forced to return to SA because it is believed he had run into problems with a business partner,” said Heny.

Heny said Sunny had worked as pro golf caddie touring the world with top women’s pro golfer Ashleigh Simon (now Ashleigh Ann Buhai).

“He was a pro caddie for her and travelled the globe with her and he was able to use this knowledge to train local caddies at workshops at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club in Port Alfred.”

Sunny leaves behind his partner Charli Middleditch.

Talk of the Town extends its heartfelt condolences to Charli, the surfing community, work colleagues and friends on the passing of Sunny.

  • On Thursday October 26, a memorial service will be held for Sunny Hill starting at 1pm at the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club.

Friends, acquaintances and the broader surfing community can join a Kowie Board Rider’s Memorial Paddle-Out to honour Sunny on Friday October 27 at Kelly’s Beach starting at 3.30pm for the paddle out at 4pm. Attendees are asked to bring along with them a red hibiscus, his favourite flower, or any red flower.