Jane and Daryl Ilbury's special tribute to traffic legend JVB

Listen to the tribute, or read the details under the podcast. 

As a six-year-old, I used to listen to East Coast Radio on the way to school every morning and hear JVB and Daryl (former East Coast Breakfast host), and I can remember the seed of intention silently being sown.

I was so taken by the connection, imagination, and immediacy of radio - and loved hearing the joy and banter. 

When I got my foot in the door in 2004, you can imagine the surreal moment of meeting my creative gate keepers. 

I worked with JVB every morning for a year while hosting the weekday Breakfast Show and from the first day I met him, it was a laugh a minute. 

READ: Passing of KZN’s Number One traffic guy, JVB

He would arrive each and every morning fresh, chipper, armed with jokes, and a cappuccino. I also loved waiting to see what t-shirt he would rock up in at 5:30am. My best was a shirt he had of a cartoon dog painting a wall. I loved sitting and hearing him tell me story after story of his life, his insight, and, of course, how to keep safe on the road.

I smile fondly thinking of the times we used to do corporate team-building activities together, which would see us each arrive with a car full of hula hoops, orange road cones, and balls.

Our friendship from day one was one that regardless of time would always remain the same and I would grin when I got an SMS joke out of the blue. 

I will always remember the way his eyes smiled and crinkled in the corner, how he used to shake his wrist to move his gold bracelet when telling a story. 

Even seeing him last month in a fragile and unwell state, I sat on the floor next to his chair and his attitude was still there - upbeat, brave, and in survival mode. 

Thank you for the time, JVB.

Fly high, love always…

Janey x 

ALSO READ: #JVBTribute: KZN 'hoots' for a legend