English Boys in Ghana in the 1970s

 

Keeping three boys entertained in Kumasi, Ghana, proved to be much easier than anticipated, largely because they found plenty to do for themselves. On arrival in Kumasi in February 1971, three sons ranged in age from nine years to three months. One by one they returned to England to boarding school and came back to Kumasi for the three vacations at Christmas, Easter and the long summer break. These were times before computers and computer games and there was no television or even telephone in the house on the university campus, yet the boys recall these days as being full of interesting activity.
One of the crowning glories of the University of Science and Technology in the 1970s was its 50 metre outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool, complete with diving facilities up to 10 metres. Needless to say, the expatriate children on the campus made daily use of this recreation and were joined by their parents in the late afternoon after classes. One by one the boys progressed up the diving stages until the top was reached. The pool remained in use for several years but fell into decay in the 1980s as the number of expatriate academic staff dwindled to single digits.
The second major attraction was horse riding. The university horse society was another facility maintained for a few years by expatriate staff, although at least one Ghanaian lecturer owned a horse. There were only two family horses for three boys and two parents, but other horses could be borrowed so that everyone could get a ride in the evenings and at weekends. The university campus covered seven square miles with extensive plantations of oil palm, cocoa and coffee, and these provided good riding territory and some splendid gallops. For longer rides at the weekends the forest was within easy reach with hidden hamlets that could only be reached on foot or on horseback.
There was relatively little traffic on the campus roads and many lecturers used small motorcycles or mopeds to travel around between the widely separated academic buildings, shops and residential areas. One by one the boys took riding lessons with dad on the back seat ready to take over in an emergency. They soon went solo, and motorcycling around the campus was added to the regular recreational activities.
One of the few sporting facilities on the campus was a Badminton court. This was revived by some expatriates and became popular with a number of families. Later, a second court was established in the garden, providing the opportunity to play at any time. Pets were a frequent diversion, with one family caring for a tiny monkey with a broken leg that raced around the room clonking its plaster cast on perch after perch. Dogs and cats were much in evidence and one boy took special interest in dog training with excellent results. In weather that was always warm and usually sunny, English boys in Ghana in the 1970s had plenty to keep them amused.

Saint George, Rusty Knight, and Monster Tamer is a series of nine self-contained historical short stories which introduces George, a hapless knight who has an unusual skill for monster taming, and which, with wit and delightful aplomb takes the young reader on an adventurous journey though some significant moments in history.
Historical Novel Society, February 2016
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