Meet the Johnson family of four, Tim, Louisa and their two sons, Todd (13 years old) and Angus (10 years old), who live in Gowrie Village in Nottingham Road. The Midlands has always been a popular destination for families to lay down their roots, which was exactly what they did nearly four years ago when they moved from the North Coast to the countryside.
In 2020, the family spent the lockdown period with Louisa’s parents, outside Nottingham Road. Soon afterward, they decided to make a change and give their children a similar experience to the one they enjoyed in their childhood – growing up in the small, tight-knit communities of Ballito and Hillcrest. “The lifestyle and spending more quality time together was the biggest drawcard,” shares Tim about their Midlands move.
Tim owns Local Real Estate, which has branches on the North Coast and in the Eastern Cape and Midlands area. Louisa is a high school teacher who has taught in the UK and New Zealand and at schools in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Although it was never their intention to become involved in the local education sector, the couple, along with a few close family members, saw an opportunity and need for a new, innovative school. They made the bold move to conceptualise and open Carlyle College, a pre-primary, preparatory and high school in Nottingham Road, in January 2023. Their goal was to provide high-quality yet more affordable independent education. They also felt compelled to raise their kids with the skills, characteristics and values to succeed in an uncertain and all too fast-paced world. What better way than to start their own school?
“Opening Carlyle has filled us with a renewed sense of purpose and pride. We have embraced a new role to service and add value to the community, deliver an amazing educational experience, and give our boys and other students the best possible foundation to be happy, curious and prepared for the real world,” says Tim and Louisa.
When the Johnsons are left to their own devices, they enjoy spending time outdoors. Tim loves playing golf at Gowrie Golf Club or doing some trail running. Louisa is a keen gardener and cultivates her flower beds and vegetable garden at home and around the Carlyle campus, where she also oversees the academic administration. Their two boys enjoy playing with their dogs, Biscuit and Molly, and love swimming, mountain biking, golf and reading.
We asked the Johnson family what advice they have for other families who are thinking of moving to the Midlands. For them, the decision to move relies on several factors, namely determining what your priorities are in terms of healthcare, education, convenience, proximity to shopping centres and even your family networks and friends. “Spend some time in the area before making a decision, ask lots of questions, travel the various roads and routes, and keep an open mind. When you make the move, get involved in the community. Give back. Embrace the country life and new opportunities to grow. Be a tourist in your hometown,” Tim suggests.
The Johnsons are driven by two core values: community and family. They believe this is what makes the Midlands so special. It’s a place where their boys can just be boys and play and explore to their heart’s content, where others share similar priorities and seek a balanced lifestyle, where people genuinely help one another, and where a buzzing entrepreneurial spirit keeps the heart of the community beating, even if it may not seem so for those who don’t live here.
We are delighted the Johnson family has made the Midlands their home and embrace the values that keep our countryside community passionate and caring for one another. In the end, it is the people who make the place.
Words by: Alicia du Plessis