About

Born on the 4th of January 1985 in Secunda, South Africa. We moved to Pietermaritzburg when I was 3 years old, of which I can’t really remember anything. We moved to Empangeni when I was 5. In Empangeni I attended Heuwelland Primary School 1992 – 1998. I attended Empangeni High School in 1999 and 2000. I moved to Landbou Hoërskool Vryheid in 2001, but returned to Empangeni High School in 2002 – 2003 finishing my Matric (grade 12) there.

In March 2004 I flew to England on a 2 year working holiday visa, where I lived in Lincolnshire for a short while, then moved to South West London, Hounslow. I worked various places and jobs, including Nandos, handyman jobs, The Bell Public House and London Heathrow Airport. In 2005 I moved back to South Africa, to work on our family farm in Kokstad for 6 months, and then moved back to England. In 2006 I extended my stay with another year as a student, studying Information Systems in Ealing, London.

In March 2007 I moved back to South Africa, when my student visa expired. I stayed in Pretoria for a while, and then studied Wildlife Conservation and Field Guiding in Warmbaths (Bella Bella). After completing my studies, I worked as a Field Guide at a Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape, called Kwantu. It is located between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. After working there for 6 months I moved back to Empangeni and applied for a position as Field Guide at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, which is 40 mins drive from Empangeni. I worked at Thula Thula from March 2008 to January 2009.

24th January 2009 I moved to Sunbury-on-Thames, England. I moved there to stay with my fiance. Flew back to South Africa 23rd of July 2009. I married the love of my life, Sapphira Jade Hannah Riley on the 5th of September 2009. I moved back to England on 23rd October 2009 to go settle with my wife in Sunbury-upon-Thames.

Since then we have moved to Ashford, Middlesex and now settled in Egham, Surrey.

Some of Louis’ poems have been published by the Poetry Institute of Africa. Both his English and Afrikaans poems were chosen, and have won prizes in their poetry contests.

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