Pioneer Spirit

About the Book

Some members of the Barber and Bowker families, rooted in England for centuries, emigrated to the Cape of Good Hope during the nineteenth century. A few moved on to British East Africa early in the twentieth century and later returned to the land of their forefathers. This account tells of their fortunes during the heyday and then the decline of the British Empire in Africa.

The two families became united by marriage and maintained contact with friends and relations "back home" by letter. Many of these survive to this day.

In addition to this source are diaries, newspaper cuttings and three books written by Ivan Barberton and his brother Raymond. The name Barber was changed in 1917 to Barberton to mark the discovery of gold by the Barber brothers at what became known as Barber's camp in South Africa, which was later named Barberton when it was designated a township.

About the Author

Born in Kenya, educated at Stamford School Lincolnshire, St. Edmund Hall Oxford, and St. Mary's Hospital London, he worked as a doctor in Uganda, returning to England in 1962 to become an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the NHS. After retiring, he spent five years collating the family letters and writings and assembling them into no less than forty volumes.