Q&A with Raymond Heron, battlefields historian and director of Spion Kop Lodge

KZN battlefields historian and director of Spion Kop Lodge, Raymond Heron, answers questions about his role in developing tourism in the Drakensberg region.

Where were you born?

I was born in Germiston.

What were your favourite subjects at school?

History and maths.

How did you land up at Spion Kop?

On my retirement, my wife Lynette and I had the vision in 1998 to develop a tourist destination on Woodlands Farm, near Winterton in KZN, known in the History Books as “Spearman’s”. We wanted to take advantage of the importance of the South African / Anglo-Boer War of 1899 – 1902 and in particular the battles which occurred around Ladysmith and Spion Kop.

Spion Kop Lodge is located on the high-rise hill known as Mount Alice on which the Headquarters of the Commander-In-Chief of the British Forces – Sir Redvers Buller – were situated during the Anglo-Boer War.  

Winston Churchill, the 23-year-old war correspondent, was a frequent visitor to the homestead which we restored and transformed into a colonial-style lodge. 

Situated on a 700-hectare Karoo thorn veld cattle farm, Spion Kop Lodge has become the perfect base for exploring the many historical battlefields, the Drakensberg and bush of the area and the various activities offered.

Why should we learn about the past?

Through history, we can learn how past societies, systems, ideologies, governments, cultures were built, how they operated, and how they have changed and how we can improve on them. 

“History never repeats itself. Man always does.” The most important lessons from history are the takeaways that are so broad they can apply to other fields, other eras, and other people. That’s where lessons have leverage and are most likely to apply to your own life. 

Building knowledge and understanding of historical events and trends, especially over the past century, enables us to develop a much greater appreciation for current events today. (Although one sometimes wonders!)

Who visits the battlefields? 

Both local and international tourists, school groups, conference groups and the media.

Why are the battlefields so significant, even today?

Apart from what we learn whilst exploring the battlefields, the battlefields attract tourists both local and international.

Tourism, education and the development of establishments are interrelated there are numerous opportunities that exist. Exposing the neighbours to the eco-tourism and the beneficial effect this can have on the economic future of our area. 

As SA has dramatically changed over the last 28 years of democracy, the union of tourism and education will assist with the uplifting of rural education, benefiting the pupils of neighbours and staff and will provide job opportunities, improving education and enabling us to sustain any tourism initiative.

A lodge such as Spion Kop is a key mechanism in providing opportunities for tomorrow’s leaders and our neighbours. By investing in tourism and education for the future of our youth part of their goal was to employ the local, rural people in the project.

What is your favourite quote?

“I am a man of simple tastes easily satisfied with the best.” ― Winston S. Churchill