A letter from the matriach

Fred's father's family. 
Standing L to R: Theodore, Wilhelmina (Willie), Peter (Piet), Frits (Fred's father), Maria (Roet),  Mathuis (Thys), Henk, Adriana (Sjaan)
Sitting L to R: Antonia (Toni), Cornelius (Kees), Fred's Ouma (Wilhelmina, Fred's Oupa (Hendricus), Elizabeth (Lies), Johannes (Joop)

The Kersten family is Dutch, Fred's grandparents lived in Amsterdam and they were married in 1917.

The birth order of this huge family is; Lies, Piet, Henk, Joop, Thys, Frits, Roet, Willie, Kees, Sjaan, Theo and Toni. Frits is Fred's father.

40th Wedding Anniversary of Fred's Ouma and Oupa Kersten.
There are 43 family members in this photo taken in 1957.
Fred is centre right, with the crossed arms.
His folks are standing in the back row, position 3rd and 4th from the left.

Fred's family emigrated to Rhodesia on the 14 November 1957. Frits and Greet, his parents, had 5 children at this point.

I have found one letter written from Amsterdam on the 30 October 1964 from "Moeder", the Kersten matriarch to her son Frits in Bulawayo. It is difficult to read but she is thanking Frits and Greet for the birthday wishes, the lovely flowers she received and the card from the children, 'het een gesellig dag gehadt'.

The quite abrupt ending from Moeder.

Fred's family tree using the information I have to hand.