Ballito local shares history a blog at a time

Recounting his adventures around the southern tip of Africa, Ballito local Warren Loader will be sharing how he has trampled through the country on fact-finding missions with a focus on North Coast history at The Waterberry on March 7.

“An afternoon forest tea” is being held to raise money for The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund.

Warren, a former boy scout, soldier and dairy farmer now turned part-time blogger slash adventurer will share his tales on rediscovering local history.

He says most of the stories he tells have been all but forgotten but he is zealous about preserving them for future generations.

His main focus is the history of the Dolphin Coast but being interested in the Boer and Zulu war his fact finding missions take him across the province.

Warren said his love of history dates back to a primary school historical tour of Spionkop: “Ever since then, local history has been my hobby,” said Warren.

“I was fortunate enough to spend five years at Weston Agricultural College as their farm manager. Working at such a historical place gave me the opportunity to meet like-minded people and the rest is what they call history”.

His most recent exploratory trip took him to Willow Grange in the Berg

“I went to get a feel of the place and visit a few graves of soldiers I have stories for,” said Warren, who is investigating the untimely death of a local guide who had led the British up a hill at Willow Grange for his blog.

“Researching his story, things do not add up and make for a possible juicy twist,” he said.

Jokingly, Warren whose blog is named ‘Thoughts of a Middle Aged Man‘ shares that although his grey hairs are starting to show, the first few stories on his blog were personal stories with historical facts entwined.

“Things have changed over time, but I honestly would not know how to change the name now.”

Warren said the talk at The Waterberry will center around a few historical stories on Ballito.

“The more people know these stories, the longer they will be remembered.”

Writing blogs mostly late at night he still keeps his day job as a landscaper in Ballito and does his best to find a balance between his family, blogging and work.

“Fortunately, I have a very understanding wife, Amy and two little boys who also love nature and adventure.”

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