Dr Dean Allen Presents: ‘Empire, War and Cricket’ – The Amazing Story of Matjiesfontein

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Join author and historian Dr Dean Allen for this special fundraising event as he tells the incredible story behind his best-selling book ‘Empire, War and Cricket in South Africa’. The young Scotsman James Logan became known as the ‘Laird of Matjiesfontein’ after the Karoo town he had developed. This famous town is today a national heritage site and a popular tourist destination for South African and international visitors. Dr Dean Allen’s award-winning talk will explore how Matjiesfontein was created and how James Logan developed this little town in the Karoo into a renowned health resort attracting the rich and famous of the late nineteenth century. This fully illustrated talk will also explain how James Logan was instrumental in developing the game of cricket in South Africa and examine the controversial but little-known 1901 South African cricket tour to England – a venture funded by Logan himself in the midst of the Anglo-Boer War. Matjiesfontein’s pivotal role in the war is explored alongside James Logan’s incredible exploits during this time. It is a truly amazing story that has had many British and South African audiences enthralled.

This talk forms part of the fundraising efforts to support the community at Matjiesfontein at the time of the current Covid-19 pandemic.