From Benoni to… Oswestry

Katherine Groves misses many things about South Africa, biltong being one of them.

June 16, 2017

Benoni City Times 1 minute read

The 38-year-old made contact with the City Times to share her story in the From Benoni to… weekly feature.

BCT: Tell us about your time in Benoni.

KG: I called Benoni home from birth until the age of 22.

I first lived in Daffodil Avenue and then moved to a house at the bottom of Kei Road.

My childhood consisted of riding bikes, endless days at Homestead Dam and attending Tom Newby and Benoni High schools.

BCT: How did you end up in the United Kingdom (UK)?

KG: I studied a BCom sports science (Hons) at RAU (now the University of Johannesburg).

After I graduated I got a job at a school in Scotland for a year, where I coached hockey and worked in a boarding school as a sports assistant.

I was offered a full-time teaching job as head of department so felt it was too good an opportunity not to take.

It has been about 16 years since and I am still in the UK.

I have since completed an MSC at Loughborough University, in the UK.

I am a director of sport as well as a boarding school house mistress.

I live in a small market town called Oswestry, and work at a school called Moreton Hall.

BCT: What do you miss about South Africa and Benoni?

KG: I miss the weather, the lifestyle and the diversity of life in the country, as well as its natural beauty.

The sunrises and sunsets never leave you.

I also miss biltong – a lot!

Of Benoni, I miss the friendliness of the town’s people.

I loved where I grew up and will always miss the sunset over Homestead Dam.

However, I enjoy my job and not having to worry as much about crime.

Do you know a former Benonian now living overseas?

If so, we’d like to interview them.