A Rough Diamond In South Africa (Emigration, Apartheid, Gold And Diamond Mining, Anglo American Corp, De Beers)
Review of A Rough Diamond in South Africa by Graham Bannister of Bannister Publications, Saltergate, Chesterfield.
The Chesterfield area, approaching half a century ago, was an altogether different place - reflecting a culture largely borne of heavy industry. With its position at, perhaps, the centre of the industrial revolution, it was naturally associated with the dirt and poverty that went hand-in-glove with the coal and iron industries which provided employment for the bulk of the local workforce.
There was little social or economic migration and most working-class folk followed their parent's occupation as they had done so in an earlier generation. A son followed his father down the pit, or into the local iron and steel manufacturing works which was almost part of an extended family.
There were, however, ways in which to escape - and local author Len Thompson, both as a youngster and later as an adult, did just that. The first route was through education, via a local grammar school, and the second was through emigration - in his case to South Africa.
Len Thompson has already published Life Down t'Lane, Memories of Tapton House School and A History of Tapton House paying homage to his working-class roots and later education. In his latest book, A Rough Diamond in South Africa, he chronicles his emigration to the land where he worked in gold and diamond mining for the industrial giants, Anglo American Corporation and De Beers.
In today's modern world, such a hybrid of good education and venturesome spirit would not, per se, be the stuff of which books are made. In context, however, the South Africa of half-a-century ago was akin to the dark side of the moon, compared with a Chesterfield which was relatively poor, often grim, and lacking in opportunity.
Len Thompson has managed to skilfully blend the autobiographical side of a life of relatively plenty in a comparatively privileged world, with insights into the world of gold and diamond mining that, to a local reader and those who were directly involved in the mining industry, will certainly prove novel and interesting. He does this without undue sentimentality and without venturing into becoming overly technical at the expense of the thrust of a story of De Beers and its interests in South Africa. Other contributors are his wife Iris, children Leon, Andrew and Julia plus a host of friends that they made during their stay. He also touches on the effect of apartheid on the uninitiated like him and his family.
During his career with De Beers Len became expert in computers and developed approaches to mining aimed at calculating the profit-and-loss involved in the excavation of huge holes in the ground in pursuit of diamonds. As well as documenting, in pictures, his personal life, there are also a number of colour plates illustrating the diamond mining process, the huge diamonds occasionally unearthed, and the leading figures in an industry that was to become legendary, including Cecil Rhodes, who, through his Rhodes' Scholarships, gave Bill Clinton the chance to become President.
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
emigration
,south africa
,gold
,diamond
,mines
,mining
,chesterfield
,welkom
,anglo american corporation
,de beers
,kimberley
,autobiography
,apartheid
,pictures
,colour plates
,huge diamonds
,cecil rhodes
,holidays
A term paper can be defined a piece of writing that reflects information drawn from different information sources on a specific topic or subject.
If you are one of those females who really like to study connection guides during your lunchtime time, at the seaside, or while holding out in traffic or a film line, then you may be probably a connection junky.
It is incumbent on all Americans now as we wind down into the election cycle to stand up for ideals, to improve the lot of others, and to strike out against injustice to send forth ripples of hope to sweep down the mighty walls that resist and oppress us. Peaceful Protests is a book that delivers hope to Americans and all of the world to help them sweep away injustice peacefully. Download your copy today at the iTunes store.
Pineapple Sam has left the laid back days of surf and sand in Hawaii for the war riddled jungle of South Vietnam. His days now consist of sitting in a muddy, humid foxhole waiting for the enemy to launch out from behind the trees or squatting in a ditch waiting to ambush the Viet Cong. Only daydreams of life and love on the beach are able to offer comfort among the blood and destruction of war. Delve into this nightmare from a first-hand account.
Petrotex Global HSE Solution takes an active role in managing the whole HSE aspect of a project.Our successful training programs provide businesses with a wide range of consultancy services.safety management in construction,construction companies in india,project management companies in india,safety courses in india
To all Sports Competition Secretaries We now provide a competition/tournament draw service to over 200 sports clubs/associations, including badminton, bar billiards, basketball, billiards, bowls, boxing, chess, cricket, curling, darts, dominoes, eight ball, football, golf, hockey, karate, netball, pool, rugby, snooker, soccer, softball, squash, table-tennis, tennis, touch rugby and volleyball as well as touch football.
This book explores the history of Tapton House and its residents from 1794 to the year 2000. The residents included Isaac Wilkinson, a wealthy banker, who built the house; George Yeldham Ricketts, who managed to get rid of a fortune wine, women and gambling; George Stephenson the railway engineer, Clay Cross industrialist, horticulturalist and friend of Joseph Paxton of Chatsworth House and the Markham family, industrialists and civic leaders Charles, Rosa, Charles Paxton, Arthur and Violet.
The book is a compilation of memories of Tapton House School, from 1931, when it opened as a school, to 1991, when it closed. It contains a brief history of Tapton House in an article covering Tapton's past during the period from the Romans to this century. The body of the book is made up of memories of Tapton House as a school, written by ex-staff and pupils, and demonstrates the love for the school of all associated with it. Foreword by Deborah the Duchess of Devonshire.
It is the story of a young boy being brought up in a small community in Chesterfield during and after the Second World War. It covers the struggle that took place in the days of rationing and relative poverty in an area bounded by three bridges and containing 72 houses, three shops and a pub. He was a descendent of large families; his Mam was one of 23 and his Dad one of eight children. He records events that occurred inside the close knit community, the colourful characters within it.
Discuss this Article
