ONWARD FROM BI –
1960 and following by Val Nowlan (nee Crawford)

For me my two years, 1958 and 1959, studying at BI were a huge experience. I was much of a loner from childhood, so the social experience of being among so many of my contemporises was refreshing and lovely. I enjoyed the physical experiences of gardening; walking on the beach or along the road to Fishhoek refreshing and invigorating, especially when the South Easter was blowing at its usual gale force strength. I specially enjoyed our escapades climbing the berg behind the college. The view across the bay to the distant mountains always thrilled me.
I found the studies stimulating and challenging and the spiritual truths that unfolded in the lecture room were an inspiration to me. Teaching the Sunday school at Westlake hospital was a delightful event, especially when Joan Duguid and I had to wear white coats that were miles too big for us. We had many a laugh about that.
By the end of my first year I had already connected with the six candidates who were planning to go into YWCA work. These were Etaine Coetzee, Jean Mitchell, Joan Duguid, Lorna Ueckermann, Marie Smith and Maureen Wade. I joined them and applied to work in the YW. For the work of the YW this was an historic event – having so many candidates going into the work at the same time, was a remarkable and landmark experience for this organisation.
I was allocated to the YW in Jeppe Street, Johannesburg where I worked for three and a half years. In 1963 the YW property was sold, to be later demolished to make way for a multi-story medical centre.
During my time working in the YW I became engaged to John Nowlan and we were married in July 1963. We left immediately thereafter for England where we stayed and worked for 17 months. We did lots of sight seeing, on foot, by car, train, bus and on bicycles. This was a truly wonderful experience.
On our return to South Africa we bought a house and settled in Edenvale where John taught at the local high school and we had our two children – Carol in 1965 and Christopher in 1967. Both children qualified as teachers – Christopher teaches at Weston Agricultural College in Mooi River. Nella, his wife runs a private school for pre-primary and primary age children. They have four children of their own plus a little adopted boy of six years.
Carol is married to Geoff Bailie and they have two children both in primary school. Geoff is the pastor at Manor Community church in Johannesburg north. In addition to being a pastor’s wife, Carol has been in teaching and now runs her own business in early childhood development giving lectures all round the country.
We moved to Pretoria in 1980 when John was appointed vice-rector of the Pretoria College of Education. When this college was closed down he was involved with long distance education under the auspices of the Johannesburg College of Education and the University of the Witwatersrand.
In the time since coming to live in Pretoria, and with the children both into their adult and married lives, I’ve spent a considerable amount of my time writing books. I have been able to author nine or ten books which have included the history of the YW, the revival in Genadendal, the Moravian mission near Caledon in the Cape and several biographical books giving details of the life and times of YW workers. In addition I’ve written books on the history of Glenhaven and Haven village which are retirement homes run by Central Baptist church here in Pretoria.
In between all this I have also sorted and established the archives of the Baptist Union here in South Africa. This latter project took six years for me to bring it to the point where existing material was catalogued and made available on line.
In a sense retirement is a misnomer in the life of a Christian. There always is something for the Lord’s children to do. This is what we are now experiencing and we thank the Lord for the privilege of being able to serve Him even in the small details of life.

Val Nowlan
18^th August 2016