I first started genealogical writing when I launched Generations — a South African genealogy newsletter in April 1997. The writing bug had bitten, but after producing 30 issues, postage costs and a too-busy life brought Generations to a halt. It was always my ambition to re-launch the newsletter, and finally this is now possible.
A new name, Bygones & Byways, was chosen to reflect the expanded fields of interest, not only South African genealogy, but also history and travel. Tourism is a major sector in South Africa. Combine that with our fascinating history and natural beauty, and you have a sector that can help build communities and bring history to life. There are many places across the country that have interesting histories, and often these are not known. I hope to cover some of these stories in future issues.
Readers who were used to Generations will see that the format has changed, and that some regular columns are missing. This is part of the new look, but columns that were popular in Generations will be appearing here in future. Your comments are welcomed, as are ideas for future articles.