THE SYNOPSIS OF "ON WHICH THE SUN HAS SET" by Kate Fagalde The title of the book is drawn from the famous saying that the British Empire was one on which the sun never set. Read the book and decide whether it set on our bit! Jeffrey Harrington is a product of the English class system who, in the mid 1960’s has been sent out to Africa in order to run the local prison in the little town of Mohales Hoek in southern Lesotho. Here in the heart of Southern Africa, he feels the sands shifting under his feet as the last remnants of the British colonial system relinquishes its hold on the Protectorate and it is handed over to the Basotho who will attempt to rule themselves. Jeffrey’s wife Betty is a young housewife and mother who is expected to entertain, raise her children with the help of a succession of nursemaids, play a decent game of tennis and to generally keep up the standards expected of the British colonials. She is becoming bored with her marriage and finds that her life in Africa lacks the excitement that she expected, and she seeks for new experiences, constantly aware that the eyes of the town are forever watchful. Jeremiah is a Basotho prisoner in Harrington’s jail, sentenced for a crime of which he is largely innocent. He serves his sentence but he also knows that a time is coming when he will find his situation with Harrington reversed to some extent. He seeks to bring up his children in the traditional way but realises that his world is changing and he must give up many of his old beliefs to make way for the modern world. In the absence of her husband, Jeremiah’s wife Maletsatsi is forced to leave their mountain home, placing her children in the care of a stranger when she comes to Mohales Hoek to seek work. Maletsatsi finds a job as nursemaid to Betty Harrington’s children and begins to create a niche for herself in the family. Her children interact with those of Betty resulting in a surprising future for both groups. It is because of this association that Jeremiah finds himself with greater access to the Harrington household and Betty is disturbed by the presence of this powerfully built good looking Basotho who because of social constraints should be totally off limits to her. Should Jeremiah resist her advances thus placing the desperately needed job of his wife at risk, when he is determined to succeed in the dangerous world of politics? Jeffrey is restless and finds himself straying into the arms of another woman in town who is the wife of one of the permanent European residents. How will they cope in a community which of necessity has to interact on a daily basis? As the country undergoes many changes and works its way towards freedom from the colonial yoke, so there is a change in the outlook and expectations of the people who go to make up the small community of Mohales Hoek.

Not one of the better roads 

Results of Beery Golf! 

Photographs I would like to thank Di Jones of Malealea for giving permission for some of her wonderful photos to be used. If anyone wants to experience the "real Lesotho", may I suggest that you go to www.malealea.co.ls and see for yourself just why Lesotho is called "The Kingdom In The Sky".

Preparing for Beery Golf! 

The Author! 

Colonial house in The Hoek 

Cosmos at Malealea 

Minding the cattle 

Basotho Horsemen 

“ON WHICH THE SUN HAS SET” has taken me thirty five years to write. It’s not that I write very slowly, but I had to spend the first twenty five years actually living the book. However, in an effort to avoid any upset or confusion, all the characters in the book are purely fictional, and resemblance to any person either living or dead is purely coincidental.

Mohales Hoek really did exist (and still does) and when I lived there from 1969 to 1992, the European population never did make it much above thirty souls in all, while the Basotho population was measured in thousands. By that time, the British District Commissioners had departed and the number of permanent residents were boosted by a succession of volunteer organisations and projects including the United Nations, the American Peace Corp, Volunteer Service Overseas from UK, the Irish, the Canadians, the Brits, the French and a host of others.

The Club continued to thrive up until the mid 1990’s but by then the glory days were finally over and I understand that it has now been closed down and sold off.

We did put on the production of ‘Hay Fever’ that Reg and Susie discussed; we held the Beery Golf Tournament for several years until alcoholic poisoning threatened to win the day; our dogs were all entered into The Mohales Hoek Dog Races and we held an annual Pentathlon. The Annual Dance became The Reverse Draw Dance and we finally ended Men Only Friday Nights and turned it into Club Supper Night.

We danced all night and then played tennis in our evening clothes; we survived several political upheavals, one of which resulted in my wedding being held during a military curfew; we bickered and fought, loved and hated, but when the chips were down, we all supported each other to the best of our ability.

I have completed my autobiography entitled "Cannibals to Croissants" which will be uploaded shortly. This is an account of the 23 years that I spent living in Mohales Hoek. But for the meantime, here is a look behind the doors of the Mohales Hoek Social Club and a peep into the world of Jeffrey and Betty, Jeremiah and Maletsatsi and Reg and Susie. Just remember, you won’t find any of them in the photos. Enjoy.