Born in London, Sydney Skaife made his mark here in Cape Town. Skaife’s Barn stands as a testament to his varied life. Are you ready to discover his story?
Skaife’s Barn sits in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. It’s a building of significance here. But who was Sydney Skaife? And what does he have to do with this barn?
Sydney Harold Skaife was born in 1889. He became an eminent South African entomologist and naturalist. His interests spanned a wide field. In later years, he focused on social insects. These included the Hymenoptera and Isoptera groups. Skaife even wrote detective novels. He used the pseudonym Hendrik Brand for these works.
Skaife was also a school inspector. He was a prolific author of scientific books. He was a broadcaster too. He became a conservationist. His greatest achievement was likely his role in creating the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. He lived in Hout Bay for much of his life.
In 1913, Skaife came to Cape Town. He taught biology at Rondebosch Boys High School. When World War I began, he tried to enlist. He was turned down for medical reasons. His irregular heartbeat was later found to be harmless.
He then became an entomologist at the Rosebank Research Station. He studied insects that fed on stored grain. This was urgent because grain was stored at the Cape for the war effort.
Skaife married Elsie Mary Croft in 1917. After marrying, he moved to Cedara College of Agriculture in Natal. There, he studied bees. He also researched wattle bagworm infestation.
In 1920, he received an MSc at Natal University College. From 1921 to 1945, he inspected science for the Cape Department of Education. In 1922, he earned a PhD from the University of Cape Town. His research focused on bean weevils.
Skaife edited Nature Notes from 1924 to 1931. He was among the first to broadcast on South African radio. He spoke about scorpions.
In 1929, he founded the Wild Life Protection and Conservation Society. It is now called the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa or WESSA. As chairman, he helped create several reserves. These included the Outeniqua Mountain Zebra Reserve. They also included the Bontebok Park and the Addo Elephant Reserve.
From 1935 to 1945, he directed the School Broadcasting Service. In 1939, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve was established. This was largely through his efforts.
He became president of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa in 1940. He chaired the Fisheries Development Corporation from 1945 to 1951. During this time, he served on the Board of Governors of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
In 1950, he was elected president of the Royal Society of South Africa. From 1950 to 1957, he was vice-chairman of the South African Museum’s board. In 1951, he became chairman of the Fisheries Commission of Northern Rhodesia.
In 1952, he retired to Hout Bay. He researched the social behavior of ants, bees, and wasps. This led to several books. He published groundbreaking work on termite mounds. He also wrote a book on ants.
In 1952, he received the South African Medal and Grant for scientific research. In 1957, the University of Natal awarded him a D.Sc. He became president of the Zoological Society of South Africa in 1960, despite being retired.
Sydney Skaife died in Hout Bay in 1976. He left behind a legacy of scientific achievements. Skaife’s Barn stands as a reminder of his work. It is a tribute to his dedication to South African natural history. His contributions shaped our understanding. They continue to inspire researchers today. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy of Sydney Skaife. His spirit echoes in the very walls of this barn.