Portrait

David Cade, Writer & Actor

David Cade, at home in Radnorshire, summer 2022

Born in the extreme and dramatic "Scottish City of the South", Dunedin, New Zealand, of an English Protestant father and an Irish Catholic mother, David Cade took his first drama classes at the age of five in the town of Ngaruawahia - official home of New Zealand's Maori King. His formative years were spent in the tropics, on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

After studying philosophy, psychology, drama, and linguistics in England he taught for many years in schools and universities in the UK and the Middle East before focusing solely upon theatre and writing. After a number of years living in the dramatic splendour of the Dyfi Valley in "Wild West Wales", the Mardu Valley in the South Shropshire Hills, the beautiful and historic town of Shrewsbury, he and his husband now enjoy life in an ancient woodland in Radnorshire, Mid Wales.

Dunedin

Larnach Castle This grand house, built in the 1880s by William Larnach, of Scottish descent, looks out over Otago Harbour & is now a fine hotel.
The Municipal Chambers Scottish poet Robbie Burns stands in The Octagon, Dunedin's central green, guarded by both Town Hall and Anglican Cathedral.
The Railway Station Opened in 1906 this fine piece of 'Edwardian Baroque' boasts stained-glass windows, a Royal Doulton frieze, and a mosaic floor.
St. Paul's Cathedral Consecrated in 1919 and built largely of Oamaru stone, St. Paul's possesses the only stone vaulted ceiling in New Zealand.
St. Joseph's Cathedral Built in 'Gothic Revival' style and opened in 1886, St. Joseph's Cathedral contains some outstanding stone carving and detailing.

Otago University Clock TowerDunedin (from 'Dùn Èideann', Gaelic for Edinburgh) was endowed with structures meant to create the illusion of the medieval.

The First Church The First Church was built by those 'Free Church of Scotland' settlers of 1847 who were responsible for the creation of Dunedin.

The Botanic GardensDunedin's Botanic Gardens, lush and extensive, rise above a gurgling tributary of the Water of Leith to cover an entire hillside.

Ngāruawāhia

The Royal Regatta Ngāruawāhia, where the Waipa river joins the beautiful Waikato, is home to the Māori royal family and host to an annual regatta.

The Waikato River Around Ngāruawāhia the wide & luxuriant bush-clad banks of the Waikato & Waipa are home to Arum lilies and other exotic flowers.

A Waka with 'Warriors' At the annual Royal Regatta, teams of rowers in native dress compete in races featuring old wakas, or Māori war canoes.

The Tūrangawaewae MaraeThe traditional marae of the Māori royal family sits on the northern bank of the Waikato, just a short distance from the town centre.
The Tauihu The highly decorated prow-piece of a waka is called the tauihu and usually portrays some powerful figure from Māori mythology.

Dancing at the RegattaThe dancers’ shaking of the hands (the ‘wiri’) represents life trembling in their hearts. Their skirts, made of flax, are called ‘piu piu’.

The Kahu Huruhuru The finest Maori cloaks were made from the feathers of the rare albino kiwi, or the green and white kereru, NZ's native pigeon.

The TaurapaThe tall and highly-carved stern-piece, or taurapa, of a waka was often adorned by a trailing pennant woven from fibres of NZ flax.

Fiji

The Island of Viti Levu Fiji consists of 522 islets and 332 islands, the largest of which are Viti Levu & Vanua Levu. The capital, Suva, is located on Viti Levu.

Coconut Palms and Beaches The shores of Fijian islands are frequently fringed with coconut palms, while inland rainforests are rich with mahogany and vesi.

Coral Reefs & Tropical Fish Fiji has one of the most extensive coral reef systems in the world, some reefs being within swimming distance of the shore.
Hibiscus Hibiscus bushes flourish in Fiji, along with the frangipani, poinciana, bougainvillea, croton, allamanda, poinsettia, ixora, and canna.
Poinciana The colourful poinciana, or Flame Tree, thrives in Fiji's tropical climate, and bursts into 'flame' in the heat of summer.

Frangipani The simple flowers of the frangipani tree possess Planet Earth's most gorgeous floral perfume, and are much used by Fijians.

Lantana Both the leaves and entrancing flowers of the lantana bush give off a pungent citrus-like smell attracting many butterflies and birds.
Sunrise Owing to Fiji's tropical location, when the sky is clear then a sunrise or a sunset can be magnificent.

West Wales

The Dyfi Valley The Dyfi Valley (Dovey Valley) is one of Wales's most majestic river-valleys. Its narrow upper reaches are spectacular.

The House The house was originally a shepherd's cottage, estimated to have been built some time in the late 1600s or early 1700s.

The Garden The gardens were extensive & beautifully landscaped, with different coloured leaves & flowers appearing every month of the year.
The Pond Of the seven ponds this was the largest. In it lived eels, small fish, & frogs, & around its banks blossomed irises and water lilies.
The Forecourt Lupins, lilies, tulips, daffodils, saxafrages, hollyhocks, bluebells, rhododendrons, roses, and wistaria: the garden was a paradise.

The Stream At the height of summer the stream fell from pool to pool in a lazy dribble. In the deluges of winter it gurgled, & babbled, & often rushed.

The Living-Room Up until 30 years ago, this fireplace is where the food was cooked. Behind Lord Krishna lies a large stone bread oven.
The View Of all the many different birds that visited the two bird-feeders, the most vivid and colourful were the bright, egg-yolk, yellow-hammers.

The Welsh Marches

The Mardu Valley Mardu, a Welsh name, pronounced "MAR-dee", is a tiny hamlet halfway along the narrow and very beautiful Mardu Valley.
The Shropshire Way Public Footpaths abound in the Shropshire Hills, & here The Shropshire Way passes alongside the River Clun, not far from Mardu.
Stiperstones from Roundton From Roundton Hill, north of Mardu, there are fine views towards the Stiperstone Hills (in South Shropshire) and into Mid Wales.
The Upper Mardu Valley The upper section of the Mardu Valley narrows to a track, and then to a public footpath which passes through a long ravine.