Dean Allen takes Garlands on a journey to the Eastern Cape

From the dusty Karoo roads to the quaint rural towns from a time long forgotten, author and historian Dr Dean Allen transported the members of the Garland Ladies Luncheon Club on a journey to discover the hidden gems of the Eastern Cape.

The author of Frontier Land: Exploring South Africa’s Eastern Cape volumes one and two, Allen shared some excerpts from his self-published books on October 27 at the Ebotse Country Club.

Born and raised in England, Allen pursued academics and tertiary education at the age of 27, making him the first in his family to attend university.

A fateful meeting with a young South African student prompted him to continue his studies in Stellenbosch, where he fell in love with the country’s rich history and tradition.

“It was the mid-90s and despite being from England, I felt most at home in SA,” he said.

“Following the completion of my studies, I was dazzled by money and titles which led to me continent-hopping for several years. Despite the paychecks and accolades, I was not happy. I missed home. I missed South Africa.”

Returning to the Western Cape, Allen as a historian started delving into the country’s history, uncovering colourful tales that painted the true South African tale.

“Our country has many problems and our leadership often seem misguided, but this is not a regional phenomenon. The grass it not always greener on the other side,” he said.

“What sets SA apart, is the soul and spirit of the country.”

Heading to the Eastern Cape with his young family, Dean became mesmerised by the region.

The long-forgotten towns captured his imagination and prompted him to write his two-part series highlighting the province’s rich history and the various communities’ resilience to live and thrive in an ever-changing world.

“The Eastern Cape has managed to hold on to its heritage and happily display its history on the walls of its establishments,” he said.

“This is a culture that is often lost as towns become commercialised.”

He cautions that this thread linking the past to these small towns’ present is slowly deteriorating as historical landmarks are not being preserved.

“We need to become tourists of our land. I invite everyone to embark on wanderlust travels instead of destination-focused holidays. Rediscover the spirit of South Africa to understand your role in this beautifully diverse country.”

The Garlands will meet for their Christmas luncheon on November 24.

For more information, bookings or membership email Charmaine Williams at charmainewilliams26@gmail.com.

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