The Adventures of Rategan by Robin Benger. The relentless drive to inquire
Read the excerpts:
- "RATEGAN DOES MOZAMBIQUE" THE FIRST ARREST
- "RATEGAN DOES SALVADOR" HALF-MOON KILLING
- "RATEGAN DOES GRENADA" DOMINICA DROWNING
- "RATEGAN DOES PERU" PITCHING SENDERO
- "RATEGAN DOES DUNDAS AND SHERBOURNE" CRACKDEAD IZZY
- "RATEGAN DOES DUNDAS AND SHERBOURNE" PLUMP COMANECI
- "RATEGAN DOES MANDELA" LIFE ON THE EDGE
How to order:
View it on Amazon (Canada) View it on Amazon (USA) View it on Goodreads.com Find it at the Toronto Public Library Visit Robin Benger's Blog Email Robin Here
Interview of Robin Benger
by James Cullingham of Trent Radio:
Interview with Robin Benger:
Audio Excerpt 1, Rategan does El Salvador:
Audio Excerpt 2, Rategan does Mozambique:
About Robin Benger.
Born: Bucks, UK April 15 1951 (72 years old)
Father: R.H.B.Benger MBE. Royal Engineer.
Mother: Jane
Sister: Ann Thomas.
1951-today. Beaconsfield,UK, Singapore, Rhodesia, South Africa, Canada. • 1965-1969 Head boy of most prestigious private school in South Africa, Michaelhouse. Captain of everything. • 1969-1972 Wits and Rhodes Univ (BA law/politics.) • March 1969 FIRST ARREST attending religious service on “Bantu” land without permission, Turfloop University. • August 1969 leads Premier League cricket batting averages. 205.72 • May 1970 arrested attending illegal political gathering. • 1971 Chairman, Aquarius, cultural wing of National Union of South African Students. • August 1971 Co-produces first ever performance of Athol Fugard’s “Sizwe Bansi is Dead” • December 1971 loses virginity. • February 1972 possession of dagga. • March 1972. left pinky fingernail bitten off, Rugby vs University of Port Elizabeth. • June 1972 acquitted at drug trial. • 13 October 1972 expelled from South Africa. • 26th October 1972 Sails with four others 47-foot schooner from Cape Town to Caribbean. 60 days. • 1973 Three months as ordinary seaman and first mate trading schooners Eastern Caribbean. Shot at for first time in Dominica. Missed. • Held up at knifepoint in Barbados. 2” scar right wrist. • Sails Golden Eagle 86-footer from St Thomas VI to New York. • Jumps ship Brooklyn. Heads north. • 1974-current Toronto Canada. • 1974 Worked as door to door salesman, beer truck delivery man, Nickel smelter worker (Sudbury), messenger financial district. • 1975 • Hitch hikes from Toronto-Vancouver-Tijuana-Costa Rica. • Shark fisherman in Puerto Escondido Oaxaca, Mexico, and back. • 1975-6 • Editor/reporter • Georgian Bay Beacon MacTier Ont. • 1976-1996 CBC • CBC Radio/TV • 1976 Copy Clerk, National Radio News. • 1978-9 Editor/Reporter CBC local news, Toronto. • 1979-84 Documentary Producer, CBC Radio “Sunday Morning” • 1984 First significant award, a Gabriel for “Juluka” • 1984-1992 CBC TV Journal. Best TV Show in Canadian history. • 1992- Journal killed by Mulroneyites. • 1992 Investigative producer Prime Time News. • 1994-1996 Producer : the fifth estate. • 1997 President and founder( with Christopher Sumpton) Cogent/Benger. • In twenty years, 26 documentaries. • Total 100 documentaries 72 countries in 35 years. • Multiple Awards. • 2016 closed down C/B. • Books, so far: • 2017 “A Canadian in God’s Country” • 2023 “ The Adventures of Rategan Vol One.” • Articles: • “On Cricket” Brick magazine May 2013. National Magazine Award nomination. • Married to actor/writer/coach Nicky Guadagni. • Three children Griffin, Tess and Charlie.