Mexborough and Swinton Times, August 4, 1939

Back from South Africa

Mr. and Mrs John Tilbrook, of the Junction Inn, Wombwell, have just welcomed home their son, Mr. Ian F. Tilbrook who, for the past two and a half years, has held a position on the staff of a secondary school at Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr. Tilbrook is a native of Keighley, but was brought to Wombwell as a young boy. He attended council schools at Wombwell, and secured a County Minor Scholarship at King’s Road. After securing Higher School Certificate at Wath Grammar School, he proceeded to Sheffield University, where he obtained his M.A. decree in 1936. Later the same year, he left England to take the South African appointment as geography master. At Sheffield. he captained the University Rugby football team.

In conversation with a “Times” reporter, Mr. Tilbrook said that in South Africa there is a marked spirit of enterprise to be observed among all classes. This, combined with the infinitely wide scope for development, is what chiefly impresses the visitor.

Politically, South Africa is a bit complex. In the way of landscape beauty and natural resources, South Africa seems to have a bit of everything that bountiful nature can provide. Mr. Tilbrook has devoted most of his holidays in South Africa to travelling. He has visited the Victoria Falls, the grave of Cecil Rhodes in the Mafopas, Lake Nyasa in Nyasaland, Portuguese East Africa and the famous game reserve in Kruger National Park.

A.R.P. is unknown in Africa.