About The Author

Born in Salisbury, Rhodesia, Ian Raynor was first introduced to Glenview Farm, about 17 miles northeast of Gatooma, a little before his fourth birthday in 1948. His father, Don – following retirement from the British South Africa Police – settled with his young family on the undeveloped piece of land under the land settlement program set up for returning servicemen after WWII ended.

While it was a new and exciting experience for a young child, there were times when Ian and his sister, Fern, had to find creative ways to ease the boredom farm life presented. On the other hand, with little knowledge of anything agricultural, their parents must have found it particularly daunting. Educated at the high schools of Jameson (Gatooma) and Chaplin (Gwelo), Ian intended to study geology, but instead graduated from Gwebi College of Agriculture in 1966. After his mandatory nine-month stint of national military training, he joined his parents to manage the farm operation in 1968.

Glenview Farm was situated in the Mashonaland West area, but its rainfall pattern was prone to droughts. In its initial stages, the farm’s profitability was held afloat by a fresh vegetable business spearheaded by Ian’s entrepreneurial mother, Ruth. His father – an innovator through necessity – decided to adopt a pioneering position during the rebirth of Rhodesia’s cotton industry in the 1960s. Being more drought resistant, the crop – dubbed “White Gold” – became Glenview’s salvation. Ian was able to assist the family to accelerate the farm’s progress toward steady financial success by growing large acreages of the crop, as well as add an irrigation component through the formation of a borehole drilling business. Eventually, using a revised business model, he transformed the farm into a less labour intensive and more efficient seed growing enterprise.

As Glenview developed, so international politics interfered with the country’s progress. Despite the fact that Rhodesia had been self-governed since 1923, Britain denied granting the country its independence. Rhodesia responded by declaring UDI in November, 1965. Through the UN, Britain convinced most of the world to place sanctions against Rhodesia. Emboldened by this move – and encouraged by Britain and the communist bloc – ZAPU and ZANU were formed, who adopted a vile terror campaign against the country’s civilian population. This led to the regular call-up of able-bodied adult males of all races, who willingly fought the communist terrorists. The brunt of this terrorist onslaught was borne by the farming community.

As a civilian, one had to balance one’s life between providing for one’s family, and fulfilling the obligation to fight off terror as a member of the territorial armed forces. After a bloody 15-year conflict, the situation was resolved when the Rhodesian government and its population conceded to the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement. Not prepared to live under a one-party communist regime, it was then that Ian and his pregnant wife, Heather, decided to leave Rhodesia with their young son, Bradley. They left for Canada in November, 1980.

Canada has been very good to the Raynor family, where Ian and Heather are thankful to be living in a democratic and libertarian free enterprise system. Their choice was influenced by the hope that these values will not be eroded by members of the many diasporas who have shown the propensity to take advantage of western democracies by altering the laws of their adopted country to suit their personal wishes. After almost 25 years working in the agricultural, pharmaceutical and reverse distribution sectors, Ian spent 10 years in property management. Heather, meanwhile, served over 20 years with IBM. Well satisfied in their accomplishments, they currently enjoy their retirement in a farming community outside London, Ontario.