Diary

A longstanding friend of mine, over 60 years now, knowing of my interest in Durban, has given me a very interesting book about Old Durban.   The book is called “Landmarks of Old Durban” and consists of a series of documentary programmes broadcast from the Durban Studios of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The book was compiled by H. Edmund Dawes who gathered the factual material and then wove the facts into scripts which were broadcast from the Durban Studios in Aliwal Street starting July 4th 1944. The foreword of the book written by Franklin Rooke, City Librarian, is dated October 1945 and the book was printed in 1948 by E. P. & Commercial Printing Company of Smith Street, Durban. Included in the book are some very interesting photos of Old Durban which Mr Dawes put together. I would assume the book is long out of print.

The scripts are not long and the various parts of the people named in the scripts were played by local Durbanites.   I do not recognise the names of these people but in addition to them, well known Durban personalities who could make comment on the subject were also involved.

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Hi There

I have recently received three delightful photos of an old Durban House Boat from Sue Wessels.

Sue answered a request from Derek Austin regarding his paternal grandmother’s family and in her note indicated she had a photo of the houseboat with Jim Meredith Miller standing nearby. Read More

Syd Oram asked for information on several Durban topics. In order to “thin the herd” as such I am going to put the Coronation Brick and Tile topic as a separate post as that company goes back many years in Durban’s history.  Read More