When Leicester Dicey wrote to Lynch Brothers, his employers, expressing interest in buying an oil field in Persia in the 1890's they replied: "Don't worry about oil. We want fruit." So on the 4th of October 1892 a partnership deal was signed and The Cape Orchard Company was started. With this Leicester Dicey set sail for Cape Town South Africa to start a fruit growing business.
Leicester and his cousin started from nothing and built up a large fruit growing and export company in a relatively short time. In order to do this they had to start companies to support their new venture. These included saw mills to manufacture the wooden boxes in which the fruit was exported, and wood wool to surround the fruit in the boxes to prevent bruising. Rail ways lines had to be built to transport the fruit to Cape Town Harbor. Tree Nursery's had to be started to grow good, strong trees and permission was given for money to be printed in order to have a means of currency.
The first homestead of the Dicey family was built in the Hex River Valley in 1854. Leicester and his wife Ethal had six sons. He bought a number of farms across the Western Cape one such farm was Platvlei in Wolseley. Which was later farmed by his son Christopher Dicey, who married Diana North-Lewis. They had four children namely David, Robin, Nigel and Julie. All four children remained true to their family roots and farmed in Wolseley. Although David has retired his sons Phillip and William are farming their family farm Strathbreede and Bucculand in Ceres. Although in New Zealand, Robin is still farming and now with his sons. Julie and her husband Anton have retired but their two sons, Guy and Andrew continue to farm the family farm - Platvlei. Nigel Dicey is the only son of Christopher Dicey who is still actively farming in Wolseley. And very successfully with his son Duncan. Together they have built up Rora Orchards to what it is today. And they have huge plans for it in the future!
So it is safe to say that The biggest concentration of Dicey's today can be found in Wolseley. With a total of 26 Dicey's at present in the valley it is safe to say that the family will continue to grow and that farming will remain in their blood for generations to come.
Leicester and his cousin started from nothing and built up a large fruit growing and export company in a relatively short time. In order to do this they had to start companies to support their new venture. These included saw mills to manufacture the wooden boxes in which the fruit was exported, and wood wool to surround the fruit in the boxes to prevent bruising. Rail ways lines had to be built to transport the fruit to Cape Town Harbor. Tree Nursery's had to be started to grow good, strong trees and permission was given for money to be printed in order to have a means of currency.
The first homestead of the Dicey family was built in the Hex River Valley in 1854. Leicester and his wife Ethal had six sons. He bought a number of farms across the Western Cape one such farm was Platvlei in Wolseley. Which was later farmed by his son Christopher Dicey, who married Diana North-Lewis. They had four children namely David, Robin, Nigel and Julie. All four children remained true to their family roots and farmed in Wolseley. Although David has retired his sons Phillip and William are farming their family farm Strathbreede and Bucculand in Ceres. Although in New Zealand, Robin is still farming and now with his sons. Julie and her husband Anton have retired but their two sons, Guy and Andrew continue to farm the family farm - Platvlei. Nigel Dicey is the only son of Christopher Dicey who is still actively farming in Wolseley. And very successfully with his son Duncan. Together they have built up Rora Orchards to what it is today. And they have huge plans for it in the future!
So it is safe to say that The biggest concentration of Dicey's today can be found in Wolseley. With a total of 26 Dicey's at present in the valley it is safe to say that the family will continue to grow and that farming will remain in their blood for generations to come.
