About

My favourite teacher at high school was Miss Baker. She taught us history and I loved how she was firm by fair. She introduced me to essay writing – my first experience of content creation. Later when I became a teacher, I found myself teaching like Miss Baker. I even sat on the desk at the front of the classroom, just like Miss Baker used to do. The combination of Miss Baker and my mother’s love of history made me a lover of story.

Teacher Training

And yet, when I trained as a Physical Education teacher, I did not choose history as an academic major. There was only one reason that I chose Geography. Both History and Geography had a double lecture on a Friday afternoon, and I just couldn’t face a double theory history lecture when my friend were all at the pub. Geography was much more practical and so much better for a Friday afternoon!

London Life

In January 1995 I packed a backpack and left Johannesburg, South Africa, for my big OE (Overseas Experience). I worked in pubs (The Ship in Mortlake, SW London), I sold eggs and potatoes door-to-door for Abel and Cole, and I cleaned houses in posh areas of London for cash-in-hand jobs.

Supply Teaching in London

There are few things I hated more than supply teaching in London. I was hit over the head with a cricket bat, locked in a cupboard, and yelled at and spat at. I was ignored and taunted. The money was great at the time, but it was just not worth it. So, I headed across to Europe to find some bar work over the winter months. But my South African passport was not really a gift, and so I returned to London penniless and despondent.

Using Stories in Tourism

In 1996 I saw an advert: ‘Do you like to travel?’. I had not travelled much and thought I probably would like it if I travelled. So, I applied for a job at Contiki Holidays. For ten seasons I led tours around Europe before managing the customer service centre in London. I needed to keep myself involved with guiding and so I trained as a London City guide and led walking tours in the Square Mile.

Return to the Classroom

I taught in SE London at St Luke’s Sixth Form College and then Esher College in SW London. I loved being in the classroom and taught Travel and Tourism, Leisure Studies, Customer Service, History, Geography, event planning, and World Development at A-Level. One of my highlights was taking my students to South Africa to teach sports in the Soweto township in South Africa.

My Story Becomes My Content

In 2012 I had the greatest of pleasures working with the South African Olympic team at the London Games. It was the most amazing experience of my life!

I returned to ‘the road’ as a tour director in the UK, Ireland, Russia, and the Balkans.

I moved to Frome in Somerset in 2012, completed my correspondence degree in International Relations and Diplomacy through the University of South Africa, and now run my own brands and projects:

• Celebrate Southern Africa: an annual market in the UK, a blog, networking, membership, training support, and podcast). 
• Ukuphuma Books: I write and publish my own books and promote other writers
• Destination Dawn Podcast – the audio of my Walking Tour Guiding book.

I was proud to be the winner of the ‘South African Abroad Micro Business Award 2018’ from the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

TEDxFrome

I am proud to be the licence holder for TEDxFrome. The theme for our first in-person event post-pandemic (2022) was ‘Ubuntu – I am because we are’. It was a wonderful experience for me to give our 10 speakers an opportunity to share their ‘ideas worth spreading’.

Content Creation for a Living

Today I deliver talks, training, and workshops to accompany all my books. I love blogging and writing, especially non-fiction, and I find great joy in teaching others to do the same.

Talks

If you have known me for a long time, you will know I love a good chat. I have found a deep interest in the British 1820 Settlers to South Africa, and I deliver this talk for history groups and organisations, and at the Women’s Institute across Somerset & Wiltshire – online or in person. MORE INFO

Please contact me for workshops, coaching, or more information on dawn@dawnadenton.com

If you would like to guest blog or you would like me to guest blog on your site, please do get in touch