About Van Reenen - An historical look at the area, the tragic events it suffered and its pioneering families

                                                            Privately published, 2013, stiff card pictorial covers, illustrated, 100 pages, maps of the area, 16.7 cms x 23.7 cms, condition; as new.

The author, Gillis van Schalkwyk,  was fascinated by the history of the Little church but could find very little documented stories, so he decided to do his own research. This soon ran over to other sites,  Kidston Memorial, Moordkraai, Klipgat (Ingula), Nelsons Kop and others.

                                                 Gillis decided it was about time to write a book on Van Reenen.

 The book covers the origins of the Little Church, which exposes unknown facts about the eccentric retired Magistrate Maynard Mathew, and the tragic death of his son Llandaff in a mining accident. The book reveals the true story behind the Rachel de Beer saga, as well as the circumstances leading to the deaths of the Pretorius family at Moordkraai. Gillis also looks at the heartbreaking story of a father who had to shoot his own son to save him.

Three pioneering families of Van Reenen the Portsmouths, the Bloys and the Dillions , each with their own unique and fascinating history.  Also the Kidston car crash and the airplane that was involved in twelve fatal crashes around the world.