Hilton is a Midlands town on the up and up, but people are the heart of the place. Here are a few portraits.
Story: Greg Arde | Pictures: supplied
1. Ian Macfarlane
Ian Macfarlane and his partner Bertus Swanepoel run Top Class Hilton bookshop and Razzmatazz curio shop at The Quarry shopping centre.
The couple moved to Hilton two years ago from Durban just before they adopted their son Tristian Hilton Macfarlane. His fathers gave the cute little chap his middle name because they were in Hilton on the day they got the news they were about to become adoptive parents. Locals swoon over Tristian, described as the unofficial mayor of Hilton.
The family feel completely at home in Hilton. “We have absolutely no regrets about moving up here,” says Ian. “The community is incredible. They take pride in the place. The village vibe is fantastic. This is a community where honesty and trust are cherished. Initially, some people were wary of a gay couple with a black baby, but we have been completely accepted. Everybody is upbeat about Hilton. It is a wonderful place. When we aren’t working we’re either socialising with friends at home or we got to Crossways, which is a great restaurant.”
2. Celo Mbanjwa
Celo Mbanjwa is the soccer direct of Hilton College and the assistant technical director for youth at AmaZulu Football Club.
“This is my fifth year in Hilton. I come from Pietermaritzburg. The long story short is that I refereed a soccer match at Hilton and fast forward I got a contract to coach the under 14 team, then academic and sports internships. Now I am the Director of Soccer at Hilton College and we have 22 soccer teams. When I was getting the soccer programme going I met Mr Sandile Zungu – a high-profile businessman and Hilton old boy. We started chatting and he told me he would buy a professional team one day. Then he called me one day to say he just bought AmaZulu, and later he appointed me as assistant director for youth,” says Celo. “I love Hilton. It’s an amazing, family-oriented community that I feel part of. It is top tier here. The community and the schools are great. It is friendly and safe. It’s a breath of fresh air to outsiders. My advice to people who don’t know Hilton is to visit soon.”
3. Desiree Hickenbothom
Desiree Hickenbothom started www.hiltonvillage.co.za, a community website, in 2010. She has seen Hilton grow exponentially in that time.
“There’s a huge amount of opportunity here and excitement around developments. We could do with improvements to the power supply, but it is a great place to live. The schools are fantastic and there are a growing number of schools,” she says. “There has been a lovely influx of people from Johannesburg, with the husbands settling their families here and commuting to Gauteng for work. Education has been a big driver of growth. Hilton has retained a lot of old-world charm. It is reflected in the attitudes and values of the people. It is inclusive, not clicky. It is a wonderful place to raise a family. The air quality is fantastic and it is a haven for gardeners.”