Rhodesians Worldwide magazine

ISSN 0816-6315 A contact magazine covering 6 continents

Vol. 24, No. 4 April - June, 2009

Keeping the Spirit Alive

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Historical Oshooha-anna and Omaato-a-beel Conflict

Christmas Pass Hotel Armed with a lifetime of hotel and catering experiences behind them and the philosophy ‘you’ve got to like people before they like you,” Dorine and Ronald CLIFFE stood outside what was to them the unfamiliar Christmas Pass Hotel and wondered how they would make out…

After five years at the Bulawayo Club they were back in the hotel business-in a strange area and hardly knowing a soul.

That was two years ago and in the 24 months that have elapsed since they took over the lease, their experience and philosophy have proved their point. Today the Cliffes are part and parcel of the Umtali scenery with a hotel that is going from strength to strength.

The hotel stands on eight acres, a picturesque site at the foot of Rhodesia’s biggest pass, and it has a history going back to before the turn of the century. Pioneers camped there on Christmas Day, 1890 thus inspiring the name given to the pass, and a hitching post erected in1891 still stands in the hotel ground a few feet from the busy car park.

A large main building housing the bars, dining room, kitchens and some rooms still incorporate some of the old hotel’s features. This block was built in 1952 when it was officially opened by Lord Malvern in commemoration of the pioneers who stopped there 62 years before.

Today, of course, the hotel is a familiar site to tourists driving to the sea or the Vumba resorts just past Umtali and, as the development plans the Cliffes are working on bear fruit, the gardens in front of the main building are becoming more and more attractively picturesque and inviting to the weary traveller.

The main building dominates the scene with ten cottages strewn around the wooded grounds.

Incorporated in the main building is a block of six double rooms, large and airy and with verandahs looking out on to an impressive view down towards Penhalonga.

Among the cottages are several built for families, each containing two double rooms and its own bathroom suite.

The Cliffes have put in tremendous efforts in the grounds, especially around the swimming pool. A tea room alongside the pool provides extra profit-making facilities over weekends when it is difficult to jam in another visitor. Gaily coloured umbrellas against a background of “Cliffe-Built” rockeries provide a genuine holiday resort atmosphere.

But Dorine and Ronald, or Clifffy as he is affectionately known have even more plans for this growing treasure of Rhodesia’s Eastern Highlands.

Dorine worked for her father as secretary at a club for three years.

She then took a job as trainee receptionist at the Devon luxury hotel, Manor House Motel at Mortonhampstead, for a year before moving to Pastoria Hotel in Leicester Square.

After their marriage, Cliffy moved to the George Hotel, Luton as banqueting manager for three years and then for a similar period to the Clock restaurant, Welwyn, as restaurant manager.

Then the Cliffes were offered the choice of jobs in either the Bahamas or Rhodesia and, with Dorine having a twin sister living in Rhodesia, the choice wasn’t hard to make.

After a spell at the Hotel Victoria, Bulawayo, they moved to a sudden vacancy that occurred at the Bulawayo Club and stayed there for five years before eventually taking over the Christmas Pass Hotel.

They have never regretted it, they say.

“We have enjoyed the challenge of building up our own kind of clientele in our own kind of, we hope, friendly atmosphere,” Cliffy said.

And, if the sound of the constantly ringing cash register is anything to go by, the Cliffes are succeeding.

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Our story begins in the distant past, at a time when new continents were being created, the skies were still dark, and mountains reared up spewing out rivers of fire. Where lighting and rain, destroyed large forests and gouged huge channels out of the earth. In the annals of this great continent there lies an epic tale of love, hate, duplicity and derring-do. This tale, handed down verbally through tribal elders, tells of the attempt to end a long lasting war.

These two great tribes, the Oshooha-anna and the Omaato-a-beel, straddled a large swathe of land on the continent of what is now called, Africa.

And though each tribe normally kept within its respective land area, there were times when encroachment would provoke serious discord, in turn, between them. Similarly, the rustling of cattle or the stealing of a woman would be sufficient cause to start a bloody war. However, in our tale, the bone of contention between the tribes was not of these, but was of the strange matter of obra-aifi-relite A long tiring war of attrition followed. Where, the Omaato-a-beel (roughly translated; great of spirit) tribe, then Oshooha-anna (great God) tribe appeared to be slowly gaining the upper hand. And so it went on, one repeat cycle following another, year after year, with neither side strong enough for outright victory.

The elders of both tribes realised that this war, was badly draining their respective resources. Something had to be done. And so it came about that the elders of the tribes held a great Indaba to try and talk their way into a peace treaty. Alas, it was not to be. Despite many days of parley, neither side would back down from their claim that it was they, and they alone, who were the best in Obra-aifi-relite. It was not until the passing of three long seasons that a compromise was eventually found and agreed upon. Each side would put forth a champion to be matched in an obra-aifi-relite competition. Brave warriors and deeds were needed by both sides in this dispute.

For God’s sakes; the pride of the tribe was at stake!

Much jubilation followed, for each tribe felt that they would easily win the competition. The youths of both tribes, under the guidance of the elders, went into training regimes. Only after the passing of one year, did the tribes feel they were ready to put forward their prize firebrand.

Finally the day approached, a great arena was cleared, oxen were slain in preparation of the winning feast, tribal members filled the arena, woman singing, children skipping about in excitement, the tribal warriors resplendent with spear and shield, stood proudly erect, silently giving their support.

The elders carried down a circular flat stone that had a deep depression in the centre, caused by years of grinding corn, and laid this on the ground. To a mighty applause the two contestants dressed only in loincloths, muscles rippling, bodies oiled and gleaming, in the peak of condition, carrying the tools required for the challenge, slowly walked to the stone.

Spears were thrown to decide which champion would start. The Oshoohaanna having won the toss, stepped up to the stone, laid a bed of dried grass in the depression, on top of this he then laid the dried wood, starting with twigs and ending up with logs the thickness of his leg. He then stepped back, walked around the stone and studied his work, satisfied he tossed a handful of dried grass into the air, to judge wind direction, finally turned to face his tribe, bowed to the chief, and raised one arm in a salute to the tribe.

There was silence. A dreamlike silence. Only the cry of a bird or a child broke the trance… He picked up his two flint stones, struck once, and stood back as flame took hold and rapidly built into a perfect fire. The Oshoohaanna (in modern language, Shona) roared its approval, while the Omaatoa-beel (in modern language, Matabele) champion looked on in disbelief.

He knew he could not light such a blaze, even with the inclusion of the oil soaked logs and a tar firestarter he planned to use, a practice to which the Oshooha-anna (Shona) showed utter disdain. With the realisation he had lost, the Omaato-a-beel (Matabele) disbelief turned to rage, which lent him super-strength, he snatched the stone on which the fire was burning, and threw it high to the very heavens, declaring at the same time that the Omaato-a-beel (Matabele) would not compete in this or any future competition.

To this day, the conflict still exists between these two tribes, but the Matabele is reminded on a daily basis of the prowess of the Shona in obra-aifirelite (in modern language, braai fire lighting), as each day when they look to the heavens, they can still see the magnificent fire that the Shona made so long ago, proving to the world, that the Shona are the top braai fire masters.

Look & Listen Welcome‌

Cover Picture: Inyangani Msasas in Zimbabwe by Mick HAWKES

Contents Christmas Pass Hotel Oshooha-anna/ Omaato-a-beel Look and Listen The RWAF 1000 Club Report Bush Telegraph Postal information on the Fiasco RW Expenses synopsis Book Review- Wild Honey Book Review - Dawn of Deliverance Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Trip Rhodesia to Zimbabwe 1980 Ode to Ian Smith Northern Rhodesia Report Children of the Veldt Zimbabwe Round Up Kariba The Rhodesia Herald Search for Puma Lost at Mapai Racing Reminisces Bulawayo Speedway A White African Reminisces A Celebration-Willie Myburgh Rhodesian Websites Association Roundup Obituaries Classifieds 12th Hatfield Scout Group Contact Cover Sheet Collage

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I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Ndini musuo; kana munhu achipinda napandiri, achaponeswa; agopinda nokubuda nokundowana mafuro. Mbava haina chainovinga, asi kuti ibe nokuurraya nokuparadza. Ini ndakuaya kuti ave noupenyu, uye ave nohwakawanda kwazvo.

John 10 v 9-10

It is hard to believe that this magazine is due to go to print shortly and that another school year is over for us. It has been a very difficult year and I apologise to you, our loyal readers for any ommissions or errors in the magazine. The economic crisis in the US has hit education below the belt after years of being asked to do more with less we have reached the breaking point. So that brings me to magazine issues that have also brought me to breaking point. I apologise for the small text in the ZPSF report, but theres is so much to tell.

My sincere apologies to our UK subscribers for the tardiness of the last edition. Despite my best efforts the La Poste mailing system has messed up and they did not process our magazines for over a month.

This system will no longer be used and this magazine should make it to you in a much shorter time. I have reprinted their excuse letter later in the magazine. Once the magazine leaves my hands I have little control over the system that mails it, but I am as frustrated as you are.

To this end I will not remove anyone in the UK from the subscriber list this mailing and we will mail a courtesy magazine out to those whose subs expired on 30/3/2009. This will give you an extra three months to send in your sub renewal.

Our short financial report is reprinted in the magazine this issue and while it looks good for us please bear in mind that the exchange rates have dropped masssively against the US$. I am also eternally grateful to the kind subscriber who has offset the new raise in postal rates by sending us a $1000 donation. This allows us to maintain the service that we have with no raise in rates for the next year. Please also remember that neither Annette, Katrina nor I receive any salary nor compensation from the magazine. Your subscriptions go towards the printing and mailing of the magazine, the maintainence of the website and to assorted office supplies such as the envelopes in which we mail the magazines and costs for telephone calls for the magazine.

We have almost come to the end of our Rhodesia Herald section as we are approaching the end of 1979 and have few articles and papers beyond November, 1979. We will continue this section for at least two more magazines. However your suggestions as to what should replace it would be greatly appreciated. We are also approaching the end of Gordon GARLAKE’s story and so we are again looking for stories to serialise. I hope you have enjoyed his and Gaenor TURNER’s stories and we hope that they will encourage some of you to put pen to paper. I did appeal for people to create Rhodesian crosswords and wordsearches that we could place in the magazine and to date I have had no takers-is there anyone out there that would like to take on this challenge?

Zimbabwe continues to bumble along and it seems that the more things change the more they stay the same. I have had numerous communications with private and public people in and out of Zimbabwe and they are all optomistic, but guarded at the same time. I can only hope for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe that the current nightmare will end soon. If you are wanting to help the pensioners I can highly recommend the ZPSF run by Hannes and Attie BOTHA. They have made a huge difference in the lives of the pensioners inside Zimbabwe and for all their administartive flaws they have put their money where their mouth is so to speak. Inside South Africa the Flame Lily Foundation and the Mdala Trust continue to do sterling work to help our pensioners in the RSA. It now also seems that the British Government is taking some notice and is trying in its usual limited way to assist some of the worst hit pensioners inside of Zimbabwe. Please continue to support the ZRWAF, the FLF and the ZPSF as well as your local Rhodesian related associations. It is only through your participation in these organisations that we can keep the flame lily burning and keep the spirit alive. As always continue to be cognisant of where your money goes to and how it is used.

Thank you to all of those subscribers who have sent us donations, stories and memorabilia. I will be working through those this summer to evaluate what we have that can be used for the magazine.

Sarai zvakanaka

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Chris and Annette Whitehead

prize money but also the Fund income. If you do not already subscribe to the 1000 Club Lottery please consider doing so. Details can be found in the adjoining report.

Arrangements for the 2009 Dinner Dance and Prize Draw are in hand Registered Charity No. 802274 and the mailshot will be done in June/July. The event will be held at The Report from the Chairman – STUART SAWYERS Bestwestern Calcot Hotel, 98 Bath Road, Reading on 14th November, Contact details – The Administrator, Vicki BOWKER, 2009. Costs are as follows: Dinner £27 per person P.O. Box 213 Lingfield RH7 6WW Double Room with Breakfast £55 E-mail: vickibowker@mazoe.fsnet.co.uk Single Room with Breakfast £41.

Finally, my thanks to all the Trustees and Vicki, our administrator Greetings to you all. In the UK Spring has arrived with it’s usual and to all those who so willingly give their time to help with the Charity changeable weather. Here in Wales we have had 20mm of rain over affairs. the past 2 days and it looks like there is more to come in the next few days.

There is good news for pensioners over 70 who are resident in Contact: Mrs Mary Sawyers, The Orchard, Penbidwal Zimbabwe and who hold British Passports. The UK Government is now Lane, Pandy, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8EA. offering assistance to those wishing to return to the UK providing they have been resident in Zimbabwe for more than 5 years. Once they reach UK. Tel: (01873) 890-744. the UK, they will be offered social housing, state benefits and support, e-mail: mary@sawyers4.fslife.co.uk subject to a means test. The scheme is already operating and some people have already been re-settled in the UK. Further information is WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT - THE LOTTERY IS A GREAT WAY TO available from the British Embassy in Harare on 00 263 (0)4 33 87 95 or HELP THE ASSISTANCE FUND. Half of the proceeds of the lottery go 00 263 (0)912 124 341 (Mon-Thurs 8.30am- 2.30pm) and on the Foreign towards helping those in need and the other half is paid out in prizes.

For just £12 a year you can make a difference to someone’s life and and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk.

I received a copy of the March RW Magazine yesterday and it had get a chance to win a prize at the same time. The lottery is drawn come via the Mail Returns Office in Slough. The magazines seem to monthly and the first prize currently stands at £101.40 have been lost in the mail system! Chris Whitehead has been chasing Congratulations to the following prize winners:March 2009 Draw. it up and has at last had results.

Caroline Witts Exeter £104.10 Following the change of the Charity’s name, the website address has First Claton on Sea £52.05 been changed to www.zrwaf.com. An application for assistance form can Second A.D. Kiddell Third C. Corry-Thomas Nottingham £17.35 be obtained on this site along with details of how to apply for help.

The old website has been closed down and anyone trying to access details of the Charity on www.rwaf.org will be automatically re-directed April 2009 Draw First Judy Strickland South Africa £103.50 to the new website.

Second J. Cook Baughurst £51.75 Since my last report, the Trustees have held two meetings – 22nd C.J. Quniton Oxfordshire £17.25 February and 9th May, to discuss the Charity’s affairs and applications Third for assistance. Over the past 3 months the Fund has paid out £11,600 in awards and has made deliveries of second hand furniture to some in May 2009 Draw.

Lin Venters Dorset £101.40 need. Awards have been made for the following reasons:- replacement First Doncaster £50.70 of unsafe kitchen equipment, basic furniture and kitchen equipment Second Matt Hudson Alan Dongworth Aberdeen £16.90 for unfurnished accommodation, first month’s rent and deposit for Third accommodation, funeral expenses, support for those providing Consolation Prizes accommodation for new arrivals, etc, etc.

South Moulton We continue to support the Zimbabwe Association drop in centre and M. Owen Alison Jones Australia Big Ian has been collecting and delivering clothing and furniture which Spain is stored in a ZRWAF lockup and then distributed as needed. Most goes R.M. Gilbert to help the Zimbabwe Association and I thank Ian for his hard work and dedication to ZRWAF. Our financial year ends on 30th April and it is time to get all the accounts together for our auditor’s scrutiny.

Over the past year the Fund has paid out £41000 in awards and so our reserves have been considerably depleted. It is apparent that without more income being generated, the current level of expenditure cannot be maintained into the future. There has been a response to my appeal for funds in the March magazine and I extend my sincere thanks July 24-26, 2009 to those who have been so generous. However, I make no apology for New Location: appealing again to your goodwill to help ZRWAF to continue serving our countrymen and women who are in need. Please consider making Beechwood Park in Derbyshire. a donation by Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer as the Fund can then Pioneer Club Website for booking forms and news is at claim 28p in the £ from the UK Government. http://RPCUK.synthasite.com/ Another source of income for the Fund is the 1000 Club Lottery.

For more details contact Half of the proceeds are given out in the monthly prize draw and the Ian DIXON at email: ian@12buzz.com other half go to the Assistance Fund. Over the past few years several or call subscribers have ceased contributing and this has not only reduced the

The Z. R. W. A. F.

Z.R.W.A.F. 1000 Club Report

Pioneer 2009

Club Braai

Vicki BOWKER Phone UK 08703 708 704

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knitting patterns or recipes for making strawberry jam! My late wife, Paula, attended one of their shooting classes and one day standing too close to the lady on her left, whose ejected hot cartridge case, instead of falling to the ground it went down the front of Paula’s dress.

She dropped her gun and was hopping madly about trying to get it out!” Terry worked for the Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation and by night he was a Police Reservist guarding the RBC.

Bush Telegraph Glenn BAKER writes “Thanks for keeping the memories alive. Rhodesia wasn’t perfect, nor was there real justice for everyone. But it wasn’t as bad as Zimbabwe and it is too bad that all the good that was done was buried by the racial issue. It was a beautiful time for Central Africa during the Federation. I doubt that the standards set then will ever be reached again.”

Milton John Bishop MCGARRICK writes “I served with the Armoured Car Unit as 2 I/C to George ABRAHAMS. During the bush war I tried to join PATU, but my age was against me and I was not considered fit enough. I was Reserve Section Officer in Mabelreign and lectured on radio at Hard Square school. I lived in Waller Lane, Mt. Pleasant and was friendly with Trevor CHASE and his wife Ellen with whom I am still in contact. They now live in Australia. I am also in touch with Betty O’CONNER who was in the Social Service Dept and then retired to Ireland with her now deceased husband. She is happy and well. I recently heard from Audrey INGRAM who used to live in Sinoia. He was a farmer in the Sinoia area and now runs a gardening service in Port Elizabeth. I can supply addresses for the above if anyone wished to contact them. My wife Joan is with me and she was Joan TREDOUSC before we married. I retired from Municipal Services with the City Council of Salisbury as assistant Director of Social Services in 1979 and settled in the UK . I have just had a letter from the Local Authorities Pension Fund requesting a certificate to prove that I am still alive which I duly posted back to them. I am happy to see that Mr. MANDIZVIDZ is still CEO of the fund as I have met him several times in the past. (Milton will turn 95 on 6th June, 2009) Kay AINSLIE writes “I am now a grand old lady of 91. I went out to Rhodesia in 1964 having lost my husband to cancer. I married again in 1967 to a Doctor in the Rhodesian Army and we spent the bush war at Llewellyn Barracks in Mabelreign with the RAR. My stepson, then a Major, was killed in 1976 by terrorists. We returned to Salisbury in that year when my husband, Forbes, became D.M.S. for the army and airforce. We then had ten years of Mugabe, but managed to get out in 1990 when things started to get impossible and went to live in Howick, Natal. My husband died in 2003 and so I am now back in England near my son, Martin WATERMAN and grand and great grand children.

Thank you so much for the great job you do to keep the flag flying for us old Rhodies.”

Dave OWEN sent us this piece of interesting information: “I was recently looking through a back issue of the Royal Air Force yearbook, 2005. In it there is a story of the first of the “V” Bombers, the Valiant. This aircraft flew in the early 1950s. Reading through the history there is an interesting connection with Rhodesia and wondered if any ex-RRAF or RhAF members out there remember the Valiant’s visits to New Sarum? The Valiant first visited Rhodesia in April, 1959 when a Valiant flew non-stop from Britain to Salisbury in 10 hours and 12 minutes, then the longest non-stop jet flight undertaken by the RAF with the average speed of 522 mph. In July of that year a flight was undertaken to Cape Town which took 11 hours and 8 minutes, on both occasions the aircraft were in-flight refueled twice.

In July, 1964 however two Valiant bombers were “on detachment to Southern Rhodesia”. During this period and during a routine inspection, both Valiants were found to have serious fatigue cracks in the wing spars! Both aircraft were nursed home, presumably not at 500 mph. Back in Britain cracks were found in 7 out of 9 sister bombers at RAF Wyton. Later in 1964, of 61 Valiants inspected 60 were found to have fatigue cracks. By 1965 the Valiant fleet was dead, repair being deemed uneconomical. An ex-Air Force friend has wondered who actually found those cracks during the Valiant’s visit to Salisbury?

Was it the aircraft’s engineering officer who presumably was doing his checks all the time as were all other Valiant engineers back in Britain, or was it some interested engineer with the RRAF or maybe some lowly erk who took the opportunity to really have a good look at one of Britain’s finest? With UDI occurring within a few months I am sure the RAF would not have admitted they missed the cracks and that someone in far away rebel Rhodesia had discovered what all their engineering officers had missed. The Royal Air Force claims to have crack squadrons, or are they cracked squadrons?”

Geoff BALL writes “An excellent magazine, always enjoy reading it. It brings back many happy memories. I left Rhodesia in 1960 and have lived in New Zealand ever since.

Alan DONGWORTH writes “I was quite intrigued to discover, a chocolate being sold in Argentina called ‘Rhodesia’. Perhaps not the most political correct name of a product. On the wrapper it says ‘Industria Argentina’ meaning it’s made in Argentina. I tried to find some info and Googled this product but to no avail. Does anybody know the history of how the name came about? Perhaps a Rhodesian national Pam DUNCAN writes “Thank you so much for the magazine. It is all emmigrated to Argentina after Zimbabwe became independant and so sad and depressing to hear how the poor pensioners are having to established a sweets manufacturing company there? This is the recope. I still have two cousins and their families trying to live there. It sponse I got: by: EsterosdelIbera makes me realise how luck we were to have managed to get out.”

This biscuit was named after his inventor whose name was Edelmiro Carlos Rhodesia.”

Sheila GIBSON writes “I do love receiving your magazine as it keeps me up to date with news from Rhodesia. The news is so very sad and Clive MILES writes “I lived in Rhodesia from 1955 -1961 and finI wonder if there will be a change for the better. I have been in New ished school there at Prince Edward’s school. I am now retired in Zealand now for 49 years. I met and married a New Zealander in 1960 Brazil, married to a Brazilian and dedicate much of my time to writing and have had only one visit back to Rhodesia with my husband in 1998 and recording music in a studio I built at home. You can see some when we visited friends in Bulawayo.” of this in my web site www.clives.com.br. I am in contact with Barry Taylor in Australia who used to play drums for the Cyclones. I was Terry CHARLES sent us a number of photocopies of items of interthe singer.” est from Rhodesian days and a couple of his stories are recalled here along with the advertisement for one of the items. “The advertisement John GREENWAY writes about the picture below “This is a picture for the Kommando semiautomatic pistol caused me to smile at the in- of men in the BSAP and I do not know when it was taken but it was congruity of the phrase ‘ladies find it extremely easy to use’. Did you taken in Sinoia. My father, Ernest GREENWAY, is on the left in the know that the Woman’s Institute was running shooting classes for back row. He has no rank here but retired as an Inspector in 1946 their members? A trifle different from their usual meetings of swopping after 23 years service. I wonder if anybody can identify any of the

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other men in the picture? (Ed: John’s contact details are in the con- tributions in the UK cease at the end of the income tax year before that tact section of the magazine) in which your 60th birthday falls. You can apply to make voluntary contributions via your local Department of Work and Pensions, particularly where you have been made redundant and wish to keep them going as, of course, contributions affect the size of your pension. With effect from 6th April, 2009 the law has changed and for those of us who were abroad we can now apply to pay for missing NI contributions going back to the 1975/76 tax year. (this means I can make up 7 years’ contributions) To do this you need to ring 0845-604-2931 and a mechanical voice will take your details and arrange to send you a fact sheet (which will come with an application form) which takes about 10 days to be sent out.”

Ronni WAKEFIELD writes “thought you might be interested in the two photographs attached of my father’s uncle Augustus William BLACKBARNES (‘Gus’), born 1861 in England, died 1910 in Bulawayo. He was a trooper in the Salisbury Horse in the 1893 Matabele War with his brother Bertie. They fought in the battles of Shangani and Bembesi and were both awarded the BSA Company Matabeleland 1893 medal.

Later both brothers prospected for gold in Southern Rhodesia, and the photos are of Gus and his wagon, the sides of which drop down to form a tent. He pegged ten claims at Mazoe (1891) and two sets of 10 claims each in Bulawayo area (1894), but ended his life by shootDon BEATON writes “Have recently received latest issue of Rho- ing himself in Tattersalls Hotel, Bulawayo. (Bertie was killed in a mine desians Worldwide (Vol 24 No 3) and have come across a remark- explosion in Johannesburg.)” able coincidence. On page 29, among the deceased column I see a person called Craig Alexander Robert Beaton MACRAE, recently passed away in Harare. The coincidence I mentioned is that my father was named Robert Alexander BEATON, and I’m wondering if Craig was related to the Beatons in any way? My Grandfather, Donald BEATON, came out from Scotland with the pioneers, stayed initially in Bulawayo,before moving to the ‘Old Drift’ on the Zambesi, to help build the Falls bridge. I understand that he was one of two persons to decide on the present site of Livingstone following on an epidemic of Blackwater fever that decimated the old drift village. Prior to farming on a farm ‘Sinde’ outside Livingstone he built many of Livingstone’s Gov’t buildings, including the old hospital. He had four children, James J., (known in the family as ‘Hame’), my Dad Robert, (generally known as Bob), Joyce, and finally David. Hame and David moved to Salisbury, married but only had daughters. Hame’s girls were called June, Maureen and Susan/Suzanne. Dave’s daughter Shirley lives in Durban and I am in contact with her. However except for a brief contact years ago with Suzanne, I’ve lost contact with the girls. I’m wondering if Craig could be one of their sons?” Don’s contact details are in the Contact section of the magazine.

Right Rev. Robert MERCER CR writes “Occupation Day: Thanks to Joy Brink for righting my wrong. It was my fate not to get the date straight.”

Radiance and Ted POTGIETER write “I really enjoy the stories told by our fellow Rhodesians. We were absolutely thrilled to have our 50th greetings published in the magazine last year! Wow-we have now been blessed with yet another anniversary.” (Ed: Congratulations from Rhodesians Worldwide.)

Colin MILLAR writes “I began my Rhodesian education at Hartman House and St. George’s College from 1966-68 completing it at Hamilton High School/Bulawayo in 1973. I have been an entrepreneur in the USA since 1983 and then accepted a call from the Lord to leave the business world and serve in our city of Houston as an EntrePRAYneur (Prayer Pastor) after I was ordained in 2006 at Crossroads Baptist Church. Due to the total collapse of our home country over the past 18 months a number of us have partnered together to facilitate prayer summits uniting leadership in worship and prayer through which God is igniting strategic partnerships of restorative action for Zimbabwe. We held the first Bulawayo “Prayer Summit” in February where 400 PasCaroline WITTS reports “I have discovered the hard way that NI contors and intercessors from 51 churches united for 2 days graciously Graham REOCH reports that his parents, David and Olive REOCH, recently left Chegutu (Hartley), Zimbabwe where they were part of the farming community for many years. They have moved to New Zealand in order to be near their younger daughter, Lynette, and her family in Havelock North on the North Island. Lynette is married to Ken BREEN and they have two sons, Tim and Andrew. Represented through three generations the REOCH family was in Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe for almost 100 years, but now, sadly, is no longer present there.

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hosted by Bulawayo Baptist Church and Pastor Raymond MOTSI. Pastor Lovejoy TIRIVEPI and his wife Charity (daughter to Bishop Able Muzorewa) are partnering with us in organizing this first national “Seed Sowers Prayer Summit” to be held this July 17th and 18th in Victoria Falls.

PURPOSE: To identify and invite leaders of influence in and outside of Zimbabwe who God has called to sow seeds of passionate, united prayer and worship that will bring: 1. God’s presence and His restorative power to the nation of Zimbabwe 2.The strategic steps and long term plan of reformation through multiple local to global partnerships.

This will include: 1. Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Farmers, Business leaders from all segments of the economy, Medical/Health and Education Sectors We are bringing a team of 12 Prayer Missionaries from the USA and I personally extend an invitation to you to join us in 1 or all 3 of these ways in support of this united call to the heart of God to heal our land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14) 1. Please visit our website, watch the call to prayer action from Lovejoy and myself, then, if the Lord leads PLEASE register to pray for our home country.

2.

Come home for the Prayer Summit! Registration is $250 which includes 3 nights b/b at Elephant Hills (Residents & non-residents) and bus trip for Zimbabweans 3. Sponsor a delegate and support your delegate in prayer as per our plan on line at www.praynowzimbabwe.org I would love to answer any questions that you may have as we stand by faith on God’s Word in Psalm 133 which says that God will command His blessing and eternal life when His people dwell together in unity.

Contact: Pastor Colin C. Millar colin@praynowzimbabwe.org cell (832) 515-7022 John REDFERN sent us this wonderful newspaper clipping and said “I came across the attached clipping today, which I had in a scrap book from 1957-58”. The clipping is of Hector LOVEMORE playing Petruchio and Colin FLOWERDEW playing Kate in Taming of the Shrew at Churchill Boys High School.

Umtali High Centenary Celebration Reunions. Anyone with an affiliation with Umtali/Mutare is invited to attend the Centenary Reunion events to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Umtali High School. Although the first school opened in Old Umtali in 1895 with 12 students, 1909 is recognised as the start of Umtali High. It was this year that the

two church run high schools amalgamated to form the Umtali High School as a government institution. The planned Umtali High Centenary Celebration Reunions are as follows: Brisbane, Australia Saturday 12 September 2009 contact Ray THORNE mr.cheese@bigpond.com Pretoria, South Africa Saturday 10 October 2009 contact George and Vanessa GALANAKIS vanessa@galaway.co.za Auckland New Zealand Date to be announced Contact Malcolm and Alice DAVIDSON jasdrama@xtra.co.nz North America Venue and date to be announced Contact Will FLESHMAN wfleshman@cfl.rr.com UK and Europe Any volunteers to help organise this event?

This invitation is to anyone who may be interested. The Celebration Reunions are not limited to UBHS and UGHS ex-pupils but open to anyone who has a connection with Umtali/Murtare. If you wish to organise a Reunion in your neck of the woods please contact Ray THORNE at mr.cheese@bigpond.com so the event details can be publicised via the Old Borderer website and Umtali Face Book Groups.

Southern African Top Guns, Thursday 16th July – Midland Air Museum – Coventry – 18.00-21.30hrs Meet: Brigadier-General Dick Lord SAAF (Rtd), Group Captain Peter Petter-Bowyer RhAF (Rtd) Hear: Combat experiences first hand – Rhodesia – Angola – Namibia – MIG21’s Buy SIGNED COPIES: ‘From Fledgling to Eagle’ ++ ‘Vlamgat’ ++ ‘Winds of Destruction’ Newly commissioned RhAF Alouette & SAAF Mirage Squadron Prints Tour and sit in aircraft cockpits: Canberra, Hunter, Buccaneer and More........

Bar, Refreshments and Raffle—support Help for Heroes Entry by ticket only Numbers Limited Send name & details: steve@30degreessouth.co.uk Visit: www.30degreessouth.co.uk

Postal Information on the Fiasco La Poste Office of Exchange 700 Carpenters Crossing Suite 35 Folcroft, PA 19032 May 6, 2009 RE: Processing confirmation mailing 11067 Dear Mrs. McCarthy, As agreed, I have prepared the following information as a summary of our communications specific to the UK part of your mailing referenced 1167.

RECEIVED X 04/08/2009 PROCESSED X 04/09/2009 FLIGHT TO FRANCE X 04/10/2009 RECEIVED AT LA POSTE ECO IMPORT HUB X 04/14/2009 Note: transit times from PHL to CDG was 3 business days. These are regular transit times for Economy mail.

TRUCKED TO DSA PROVIDER X 04/15/2009 RECEIVED AT DSA PROVIDER IN THE UK X 04/16/2009 DROPPED IN ROYAL MAIL NETWORK X 04/17/2009

to04/20/2009 depending on the point of entry If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me immediately.

Sincerely, Sarah Bonnaud President

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Meals (four times a year when we stuff and seal): $205.00 Bank charges: $140.74

Rhodesians Worldwide Magazine Income and Expense Data for 2008 Income from all sources: Expenses:

$38,467.39

Total expenses

Profit

$38,277.68 $ 189.71

(Not included are all expenses related to all car expenses to pick up magazines from printer and to deliver magazines to shipping company. Both involve a 40-90 mile round trip drive. Also excluded are all expenses related to us attending the 2008 Pioneer Club Braai as a family to promote the magazine all expenses for which were paid out of personal monies earned as a teacher.)

Printing of Magazine: $14,045.76 Postage and Shipping Charges: $16,995.10 Office Expenses (envelopes, phone calls etc.): $3,267.21 Purchases of items for sale: $620.38 Licences and Subscriptions: $795.88 Internet and website: $807.61 Donations to FLF, ZPSF and pensioners: $1,400.00

Thank you all for helping to keep the spirit alive.

Book Review

Book Review and happy, as with the country itself, Zimbabwe, there are many darker, sadder moments in the book. The balance between the troubles in Zimbabwe, the joy and tragedy of life as it plays out in the lodge are chronicled in such a way that it is obvious to the For an entertaining and heart warming story about day to day reader the joy the Peek’s receive from it. existence one mustn’t miss Bookey Peek’s new offering of Wild Life, love, struggle and even death are creatively woven into an Honey. With this particular story it is hard to know where to start. intriguing story given only as Bookey and Richard Peek could. It The story takes place in a part of the world that is now so turbulent is the balance of life played out in the African bush as only it could that it seems to be hard to think that anything happy or good could happen in the current economic and governmental struggles that come out of it. In the Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe the Peeks are sur- Zimbabwe face. With that being said, I believe this book will lift the rounded by farm invasions and a disastrous land policy from the spirits of those who read it and show the strength of man in the face government. But happy and full of life is the only way to describe of what seems to be impossible odds. As Bookey Peek says, “The world speaks to us in different ways. If Rich has to assemble somethe beginning of this book.

At the beginning of the story she compares their experiences at thing , he throws away the written instructions, which I then pick out running a lodge as “Fawlty Safaris” a play on words from the John of the wastepaper basket and file away.” The world for them conCleeses’ Fawlty Towers. Poombi, the warthog, again is in a staring stantly changes and may not have any written instructions, but they role and her saga continues as the warthog ages and starts her seem to be surviving, and even enjoying the life they chose.

More Stories From An African Wildlife Sanctuary, by Bookey own family. More animals are introduced, Badge the badger, and Peek, published by Max Press, £8.99, 2009, Bookey Peek. To order a serval named Cleo to name some. Bookey Peek compares their experiences, or unexpected comedic lodge problems to things that a copy (p&p free), call 0845 155 0720. You can also order this wonmight have happened or could have happened in the show. Book- derful book from Booktopia in Australia at /www.booktopia.com.au ey Peek even goes as far as to name one warthog’s litter, Squeak, at Eaststreet in Australia at www.eaststreet.com.au, or at Target in the USA at www.target.com after the characters in Fawlty Towers.

Now I don’t want people to think that this book is only about light

Wild Honey

Book Review

Book Review

Dawn of Deliverance When I first started to read the book Dawn of Deliverance I wondered how much of it was really fiction. The author, James R. Peters has a statement at the beginning of the book stating that, “Certain of the characters in this work are historical figures, and certain of the events portrayed in it happened...All of the character, names and events, as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.” I believe it is less fiction and more fact from the feeling and the tone of the book in the beginning and less so in the middle and end. Written in first person, it seems to have almost been heartbreaking to begin with.

Before beginning this book one might think about all the memories and feelings that it will dredge up about the guerilla war in Rhodesia if one lived through those experiences. The book itself traces the lives of two of its major characters during this time period and the clashes between them. One character is Jamie Ross, the district commissioner, and Josiah Makoni commander of ZANLA Forces.

One of the things that seemed to interrupt the flow at the beginning of the text was the constant switch back and forth between the present and the past with each character. Although the switches were necessary for the story line, a little less often in the beginning would have made for easier reading, but it also may not have given the emotional punch the author succeeded in achieving. The rest

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of the story reads as one might expect a story about terrorists and the government. At the end of the story, though there is a very unexpected conclusion. In some ways, after reading the rest of the book, it seemed the most fictitious part of the entire story. It is for each to judge on their own how real the ending seems to them.

One thing the author James Peters did was to put his glossary of terms in the beginning of the book. This may seem strange as most glossaries are in the back of the book, but by having it in the front it made it nearly impossible to miss. This glossary will be very helpful to those that may not have lived through this period of time but are looking for some understanding of it. It will also give those reading the book that don’t have any knowledge of the conflict a way to understand some of the local terms the author uses. Overall I can not say whether one should read the book or not because of the varying emotional response each individual reader might feel. I can say that it was so well written that it made me feel a part of the experiences and evoked some very strong feelings.

This book costs US$19.95 plus shipping And handling and can be obtained from IUniverse at 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403 or at www.iuniverse.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble. com, BooksAMillion.com

MAGAZINE DEADLINE The deadline for information for the next magazine is

August 15, 2009

Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund Trip Report For May 2009 On this trip we were once again driving all three our trucks and the trailer behind the Nissan UD80 driven by myself, and the Dyna driven by the latest addition to the team, Bob Daniels. This was Bob’s first trip with us and says he found it particularly hard to see well presented people hand over their “life’s savings, representing their lives” wrapped in a brown paper wrapping and still smile. “It really hurts man.” He says also seeing people with weeping ulcerated wounds for which they have no medication “was too much for me” he said as he choked back his emotions while also recalling the shoeless lady with swollen feet. Yes, folk, these are the realities we face every trip. We were doing the long route while Hannes and Marx, a freelance journalist, did the short trip in the UD 90.

We left Malelane on Friday the 15th Marx headed for Bulawayo and Bob and I set off for Masvingo. Once again I can just say what a pleasure it is to be known by the Authorities on the roads who greet us with smiles and thank us for the work we are doing as our trucks and our mission are now well known. We arrived in Masvingo at 5pm and our faithful connection, Lulu McKenzie and helpers were on hand to help resort the Masvingo parcels, after which we called it a day and met with Gerard Burger to stay over for the night.

On Sunday the 17th we were up early and did the Pioneer Cottages, Frail Care and Kitchen as well as some of the folk in Emsley Close. Our aim is to get to see more of the folk personally and feel the beat of their hearts as they share with us. In the afternoon we did the Mucheke old age home and then retired for the day to Gerard’s home again.

On Monday the 18th, Ms Lulu Mc Kenzie had arranged for the outside folk to come to collect their hampers from us at Masvingo Chicks and once again we were able to chat with all who were able to come. We left for Mutare at 10.30am and took a comfortable slow drive up there enjoying the scenery as non of us had been that way before. We finally arrived at our appointed meeting place with Des Becker at about 2.30pm. We parked the trucks for the night at his workplace and proceeded to their home where we enjoyed a lovely lunch.

Des and Sally are very involved in helping the old folk in Mutare and have done a sterling job rebuilding and refurbishing the premises used by the pensioners in Mutare. They are wonderful hosts and we found it difficult to leave there after spending three days working amongst the three different establishments encompassed in the Eastern Highlands Trust. Here amongst these old folk we managed to see every one and do personal ministry to all, including the clinic personnel who were able to administer medication for “minor ailments” as well as do prescriptions for the next trip.

Folk, unless you can accompany the trucks or join us on a trip I doubt you will ever get the full picture of the situation that is “The plight of the Pensioner” in Zimbabwe today. Remember, trade in the Zimbabwe dollar has been “temporarily” suspended and all business is conducted in forex such as the US Dollar and the SA Rand. The government is attempting to pay all “workers” in US$ and the pensioners are not workers, so adding two and two together you will see that their income and spending power has been removed. In January, 12 digits were removed from the local currency reducing Trillion to Tens and Billions to nothing, overnight. It is only by the Grace of God that many of these people are able to even remain as inmates in some of the homes we visit. There are real good Samaritans who are paying the rent for a lot of these dear folk and by their own admittance, they would not survive without the donations of food and goods you wonderful people of South Africa are giving to them. God Bless You All. Early on Thursday 21st we eventually left Mutare and headed for Rusape where we were able to hand out individual hampers to all the folk and enjoy a good cuppa tea administered by some wonderful ladies. We pressed on to Harare where we offloaded the goods for the Pension fund and SOAP to be distributed by our good friends, Mike and Marion Futter as well as young Mark at whose home we stayed the following two nights. Thank you for your hospitality, kindness and love. Also thanks to the people of the Masonic Lodge where we were once again able to store our trucks safely overnight. A special thanks to Hugh Chisnall who is always on hand to see to it that we have open gates and a warm welcome.

We left early on Friday 22nd to do the Mazoe Trust Home in Bindura and later Malvern trust in Mvurwi. It was while at the home in Bindura as we helped carry the hampers to the homes, that Adri from the medical team, was using the bathroom of one of the recipients, overheard her praying

9

and thanking God tearfully, for the food hamper, as they were about to run out of food that day. Needless to say she spent longer that usual in that little room. Another lady, overcome by gratefulness handed over a small hand made xylophone to her as a token of her gratitude and no amount of “no thanks” were listened to. It is in these moments that you realize how small you are and how big God is.

Our visit to Malvern trust in Mvurwi was quite different this trip too as we were taken to the “Coffin” room. Here, every person in the home has a coffin ready made by a local farmer in case of death and as the burial system in Zimbabwe has all but also collapsed, once cause of death has been established, the person is buried from the Chapel on the premises and laid to rest in the little cemetery adjacent to the Chapel. This gives friends and family time to come up and in a quiet atmosphere to have a memorial service at their earliest convenience. Some people think of everything.

There was also a water drilling rig on site, a relic from the distant past, drilling for water, another precious commodity in Zimbabwe, what with the cholera situation there. We headed back to Harare once after our chores were done. We dropped in at the West Gate Mall on our way home and established that the shelves were full and some people were buying even though on average the prices of goods imported from SA were between 2 to 4 times SA prices but as the floor manager assured me, prices were coming down daily. However, as I indicated before, the Pensioners will not in the near or distant future have access to these goods and rely on your generosity and our availability to live a reasonable life of dignity where they are. That night we read some of the Thank you letters we receive each trip.

Within the next few weeks I will be putting together a bunch of these for you to enjoy, as after all, they are meant for you, the donor and supporter of this great work we are doing.

Saturday 23rd, early, we set off for Sunningdale in Chinhoyi did the drop, hugged, cried, kissed and enjoyed some coffee with those precious old folk who are so tender hearted and loving towards us. The task is tiring but the rewards are great and make it all worthwhile. After spending more than 2 hours there we set off for Westview in Kadoma where we left the trucks and slept at the O’Reiley residence.

Sunday 24th we offloaded the hampers, enjoyed some tea, said our “good-byes” and headed for Lynbrook in Kwekwe and on to Herbert Lee in Redcliff. At these two stops we chatted with the folk who “did not attend church”, they don’t have petrol so they are excused. The medical team were on hand to administer the necessary. Our man on the Spot, Ken Connelly and his wife Beda invited us for lunch at the local family day outing where “a form of cricket” was being played and enjoyed by all. Thank you Ken, we needed that break before we headed on. We then went on to Gweru where we spent the night with Attie and Anna Scheepers before heading for home via Masvingo at 4am the next morning. We arrived at the border at 2pm, cleared by 4pm and were home and dry by 9pm and so another trip to the oldies of the land of the Flame lily ended well.

As quoted earlier, Hannes and Marx took the other leg covering King Haven in Esigodini, all the Bulawayo homes and outsiders and moved on to do the homes Bobbies and Huis Vergesig in Gweru, MUUS cottages in Sherugwe, the folk in Zvishavane under the care of John and Lynne D’Ewes. They also encountered many heart-rending moments where the needy were calling to them for help. One needs to understand that the situation for our oldies is deteriorating by the day and more and more people are being added to the cauldron of hopelessness. We were fortunate that we could drop four heavy-duty gas burners at Verity Amm and have someone do repair work to their existing electric stove. We are also in the process of getting an industrial size gas cooker for this “soup kitchen/meals outlet” so they can operate more efficiently.

Special thanks to Les Hunt and her staff at Southern Comfort Lodge in Bulawayo for once again opening their doors to the drivers of ZPSF and giving us sleeping space, security for the truck and good meals to boot.

Bless you guys. Once again, we as the custodians of this operation, along with Hannes, the founder, want to thank you, the generous donors, prayer partners, public and friends of the Zimbabwe Pension Supporters Fund for all you do to make this task possible. We rely on your continued and loyal support in all areas.

God bless and prosper you all in every thing you do and may your baskets always be full.

If you would like a presentation done in your area of who and what we do, do contact us on our email pensupzim@telkomsa.net OR thebothas2@telkomsa.net Thank you once again.

Pastor Attie Botha.

Cell 0829012291

Rhodesia to Zimbabwe 1980 Extracts from The Silent War: South African Recce Operations 1969-1994 by Peter Stiff, published by Galago.

Published with permission. www.galago.co.za.

An interesting insight into the military’s thinking came years later in 1989 when Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Reid Daly, the founding commander of the Selous Scouts, produced a foreword for the book, The War Diaries of André Dennison by J R T Wood. He wrote of Lieutenant Piringondo being ‘killed in action in the closing stages of the war as the elections reached finality’, suggesting the posthumous award to him of Rhodesia’s Victoria Cross ─ the Grand Cross of Valour, would have been a foregone conclusion if ZANU P/F had not come to power. ‘His citation,’ he continued, ‘stopped at source, is one of my most treasured possessions . . .’

Strange, considering the war had been over since the implementation of the cease-fire ─ two months before Lieutenant Edward Piringondo was killed in action.

When Robert Mugabe was scheduled to visit Bulawayo to speak at ZANU P/F’s major election rally, a complex plan involving three interlinked assassination plots to eliminate him were set in motion.

A Selous Scout with a sniper’s rifle was concealed in an ambulance at Bulawayo Airport with orders to kill him if the chance of a good shot arose. If one did not, a SAS standby team would take over and ambush his car on the way to the stadium where he was scheduled to speak.

If that failed, a black Selous Scout with impeccably forged credentials showing he represented Drum Magazine was waiting at the stadium. He would place his microphone, packed with high explosive and ball bearings to form a claymore, on the podium next to Mugabe with the rest of the microphones. Afterwards he would retire to the audience and wait until Mugabe was close enough to the device and command detonate it.

Robert Mugabe, however, cancelled his Bulawayo trip at the last minute. He told Lord Soames later that he had cancelled it because he had ‘learnt that Nkomo’s minions were planning to assassinate him’.

A case of the right information, but the wrong set of assassins.

On 10 February, 1980, after attending an election rally in Fort Victoria, the SAS mined a culvert Mugabe had to pass over during his drive back to Salisbury. The plan failed because the commandactivated explosion took place behind Mugabe’s vehicle, instead of beneath it. It was not only fortunate for him, but for his BSA Police escort whose presence had been ignored by the SAS. There had been another attempt on Mugabe’s life the previous day. Flower noted in his diary: ‘Two further attempts on Mugabe’s life at Fort Victoria yesterday and today, both of which aborted.’

Plans were made for the SAS to shoot down a Moçambique passenger jet flying Robert Mugabe and the twenty-eight members of his central committee from Maputo, using a Soviet-made SAM-7 Strela missile, as it came in to land at Salisbury Airport. It was planned for 2 March, 1980, two days before the election results were announced. Some SAS operators objected because it meant killing the air crew as well. It was cancelled by Combined Operations so much at the last minute that the aircraft had already taken off from Maputo and was en route to Salisbury.

Plans supplementary to Operation Hectic were also embarked on. Before Robert Mugabe’s return to Rhodesia from exile, the CIO had concluded it had been a mistake to call off Taffy’s assassination exercise in London. They asked him to mount another, this time too Taffy and another ex-British SAS operator would wear overalls and pose as road workers. They intended erecting ‘Road Work’ signs and digging a long shallow trench in the tarmac on

Queensway, the road leading from Salisbury Airport to the city. In it they intended planting four Soviet TM-46 landmines connected in series, then covering them with tarmac. Taffy did not expect the preparations would draw attention from the public. He planned to command-detonate the charge from a concealed hide as Robert Mugabe’s car straddled them while en route from the airport to the City of Salisbury.

The CIO called off the operation at the last moment without explanation.

The CIO ordered Taffy to plan further assassination attempts. One involved the planting of a bulbous fifty-kilogram sausage of plastic explosive in a PVC pipe in a storm drain under the driveway of Mugabe’s house in Mount Pleasant. In another he planned to bury a daisy chain of Soviet TM-46 landmines in North Avenue, Salisbury, a road Mugabe used regularly when visiting Lord Soames at Government House. Both could be electronically command-detonated when the moment came. Neither operation was allowed to proceed beyond the planning stage.

In another operation orchestrated by the CIO with the assistance of South African Intelligence, it was planned to kill Mugabe in Moçambique. The Recces, probably with the assistance of EMLC, their technical division, prepared a powerful car bomb, packing the bodywork with large quantities of P4 plastic explosive. To detonate it, they fitted a second vehicle with a concealed ‘rads’ device.

On 16 January, 1980 the ‘rads’ vehicle was driven through the border at Komatipoort and concealed at a safe house in Maputo.

The car bomb followed when information was received that Mugabe was flying out from Maputo Airport at 08:00 27 January, 1980.

That night two Rhodesian operators parked their car bomb 500 metres from Maputo Airport’s main terminal building. Early the next morning they prepositioned themselves in the ‘rads’ vehicle within sight of the car bomb and readied to detonate it when Mugabe’s escorted car appeared. It did not appear. At 08:30 they tuned into a radio newscast and heard that he had already left Moçambique.

How he left was not mentioned. The ‘rads’ vehicle was promptly driven back to South Africa via Komatipoort, crossing the border at 14:00. After being disarmed the car bomb followed on 31 January.

At the debriefing several possibilities for failure were advanced: (i) He had been warned of the attempt on his life; (ii) He had gone to the airport in a vehicle different to the one expected; (iii) He had left via a different airport; or (iv) He had left the country by a different means of transportation.

Eleven years later in August, 1990, President Mugabe awarded CIO’s ‘head of internal security’, Danny Stannard, formerly an officer in the British South Africa Police, with the Gold Cross ─ Zimbabwe’s highest award for valour. A cryptic citation said that on 16 April,1980 ─ two days before Britain finally handed over power to Mugabe ─ Stannard had ‘foiled an assassination attempt by South African agents’ against Mr Mugabe and international heads of state who were in Harare for the independence celebrations. This, it seems, was an additional attempt to those already listed.

In the period before the election South Africa had also deployed some 800 military personnel into southeastern Rhodesia and the Limpopo border areas, to provide stability against a deteriorating situation in Moçambique and to offer protection for Rhodesian whites should there be a Congo-style exodus.

The polling began on 27 February and lasted for five days.

The Rhodesians had contingency plans in the event of ZANU P/F winning the election because of their intimidation of the electorate.

This entailed manipulating the results by substituting ballot boxes.

The final decision to go ahead lay with Ken Flower, but in the final forty-eight hours before the results were announced, it became clear to him that a ZANU P/F victory was inevitable. Substitution, to have any marked effect, would have to have been so large-scale

10

it would have raised too many suspicions, so he called it off. He remarked that ‘the key figures in the plan were patently as relieved as I was that it was off.’

In the country town of Bindura, however, and perhaps in others, rigging attempts went ahead, apparently on the authority of the local Special Branch commander. It made no difference to the result.

Bishop Muzorewa, suddenly realising the British had manoeuvred him from his position of power, called the Rhodesian political and military leaders together and requested they ask Lord Soames to ‘postpone the election so that the trend of events could be reversed, by force if necessary’.

The service chiefs declined to use force. Events would have to take their course. Despite this General Walls, on his own behalf, summoned Sir Anthony Duff and Robin Renwick to Combined Operations HQ and asked the British to declare the elections as not free and fair and set aside the results. They declined to intervene.

The attitude of General Walls and his subordinate officers at Combined Operations HQ gave Duff and Renwick the impression that the Rhodesians might well embark on a coup to reverse any electoral decision, although no such intention existed.

As a last throw General Walls, acting in terms of a personal agreement with Mrs Thatcher, secretly appealed to her over Lord Soames’ head for the election process to be declared null and void because of ZANU P/F’s intimidation. There were later suggestions that the British Foreign office deliberately delayed his message in Nairobi until after the announcement of the election results. According to Flower, however, it was delayed because Walls had directed his communication through the South Africa Embassy in London, instead of directing it as protocol demanded through Governor Lord Soames. That the method of its delivery made the difference is wishful thinking. Walls could have carried it to her himself in a forked stick and she would still not have nullified the results.

The issue would eventually cost General Walls his birthright. He would be sacked by the ZANU P/F government and his Zimbabwe citizenship revoked after he unwisely spoke to the BBC in August, 1980 about his appeal to Thatcher, revealing his disloyalty to the new regime.

The British took the perceived coup threat seriously and the night before the election they withdrew detachments policing the guerrilla camps and had them replaced by watchdog Rhodesian units. British officers at Government House drew arms and readied to defend themselves against the Rhodesians on the morrow. It was shades of the Indian Mutiny.

At 09:00 on 4 March, 1980, the Registrar of Elections, Eric PopeSymonds, announced the election results. Twenty seats had been reserved for whites, so only eighty of the one hundred parliamentary seats were in contention. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU P/F had won fifty-seven seats (62,992% of the poll) in Mashonaland, Manicaland, Victoria and parts of the Midlands. Joshua Nkomo’s Patriotic Front (ZAPU) had captured twenty seats (24,113%) in Matabeleland and in the Midlands. The Ndebele were estimated at 20% of the population, so the Mashona votes drawn by ZAPU were minuscule. Bishop Muzorewa won three, but the other contenders, Ndabaningi Sithole, James Chikerema and Chief Kayisa Ndiweni, failed to win a seat.

Rhodesia was history.

John Edmond CDs Available in the United Kingdom John Edmond’s new CD compilation called Heritage is available in limited quantities in the UK from Caroline Witts at 1 Wrefords Drive, Cowley Bridge, Exeter EX4 5AL tel UK 01392-259587 (evenings or weekends only)

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Ode to Prime Minister Ian Smith Signed: Black Man in Canada, the sad night we witnessed Ian Smith’s passing.

“I didn’t go to a first class school in Rhodesia, yet Rhodesia gave me a first class education.

I had no right then, to vote in Rhodesia, yet Zim gave me the right to vote for a devil.

I was brought up to hate you, Smithy, while young, but as a man I grew up to hate your Enemy.

I believed that Rhodesia would never have black rule, but I can now, I will never live under a Zimbabwean fool.

I’m not white and never took you to be my PM then, but I’m black and would rather have had you as my PM now!

You were right, and had to leave your Government, yet I was wrong and left my beloved Country.

I am not a poet, but these are my thoughts.

I am proud of what I have become, yet you are the man who made me the person I am!

On behalf of the many black faces who dare not say, if ever you were hated, you are missed today.

The only PM we should have kept!”

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Find out how contact Julian Haw ACIS, CFP Email: jrhaw@iafrica.com fax +2731 2076298 P.O. Box 10672, Marine Parade 4056, South Africa Visit www.julianhaw.com

NORTHERN RHODESIA REPORT type of bushveld with different birds. The dam where we had our boerewors rolls for lunch had Pygmy Geese and our first Dabchick of the trip, as well as Zebra Waxbills in the reeds. When we arrived back at the campsite in the evening, the charming owner George The Northern Rhodesia Reunion Association lunch will be held on Woodley,ex Kenya and the Kenya Rifles, gave us a complimentary Friday 23rd October, 2009 at the Royal Air Force Club, London. For meal of a delicious mutton curry and rice. Sandy and I were demore details contact Peter Luff at UK tel 01206-548609 or on email lighted, as it was our turn to cook and we felt the price of a kiss that peter.luff@virgin.net George asked for was well worth it!

On Friday morning we had a short run into Lusaka, where we were to leave Peter overnight as he had a talk to give to the Zambian Ornithological Society, and Heather, as she wanted to see her Zambia Trip - May-June, 2008 daughter and grand daughters. I was thrilled to meet up with Monica At 8 a.m. we set out in the two “banana” boats, poled by two pol- Robson, whose husband Trevor had given us a lot of advice on the ers each to look for the Shoebill. They were not yet nesting, as they vehicle requirements for Zambia, and also Jeannie Heinrich, an old should have been in early June, because of the exceptional rainy friend from Francistown that I hadn’t seen for well over 10 years. season they had had, so were more difficult to find. We had ex- On the way south out of Lusaka, we stopped to buy some excellent cellent views of Squacco Herons, Openbill Storks, Wattled Crane, samoosas for lunch and arrived at Moorings Camp near Monze in Black Crake, Malachite Kingfishers, etc, etc as we glided across good time, so we were able to sit around in the camp site for most water lily covered lagoons and through fish traps set by the local of the afternoon, for the first time on the trip. It is a lovely treed Bemba fishermen. Finally at about midday after two attempts to find site and there were lots of birds to see including an African Golden them on other “islands” they called us to come as they had found Oriole. The next morning we did birding on the farm in the vicinity one bird. It wasn’t a dry island that we had to walk on for about 1 of the house and camp site and I had a long and smelly visit to the km but floating vegetation and papyrus. We were in water up to our pig sties. Peter and Heather arrived in time for lunch, brought out thighs at times, not easy to negotiate with short legs. Finally we ar- by Rory McDougall, a registered guide, another of Peter’s pupils, rived at a place where we had a good, if slightly distant view of one whose mother lives in Knysna and I know her quite well. The last Shoebill. It really is an amazing bird, looking a bit like a silver grey day before the start of our journey home Rory led us into Lochinvar Donald Duck or a Dodo on stilts. Trying to use a telescope on a National Park on the Kafue flood plain along another of Zambia’s tripod that is on a floating base was quite a challenge, but I did man- specially awful roads. We visited the Gwisho Hot Spring where the age to get a reasonable photograph. On the way back to the boats water of 80C had fried the dragonflies and on to the Chunga Laon legs that were very tired I fell. Luckily Peter behind me kept my goon where we saw Saddle-billed and Maribou Stork and lots of two cameras out of the water and my Swarovski binoculars proved terns. We then drove as far as we could towards a rapidly drying that they are waterproof. Once in the boats, we had the unenviable out area, which was full of thousands of Waterbirds,including a pair task of removing lots of leeches using a sprinkling of salt. We re- of Crowned Cranes and a drumming African Snipe overhead. We turned to camp, all wishing that we had thought to bring a bottle of also saw hundreds of Common Pratincoles coming in to drink. On bubbly with us to celebrate, that we had found the bird on the first the way home we saw Yellow-throated Sandgrouse and arrived in day. The next morning the guides wanted to know if we wanted to camp again, well after dark. go look for another Shoebill, but we all declined and spent a more The next day we started for home and after picking up very good restful day in the boats or walking on one solid island where we had pies in Livingstone, headed west towards Shesheke and the bridge great views of a pair of Rosy-breasted Longclaws, a bird I had long over the Zambezi into Namibia at Katima Mulilo. The manager of wanted to see. the Zambezi Lodge opened up the new ablution blocks which we On 2nd June we set off back to Chikuni to collect our vehicles christened that night and we slept again outside on the banks of the that had been looked after by ZAWA ( Zambian Wildlife Authority) river on the verandah of a new cafeteria. The following morning, we officials and to drive back to Kasanka, where we were to spend two spent some time on the bank of the Chobe River before we crossed nights. We had a picnic lunch in a Community Camp site at Lake back into Botswana looking at the array of birds on the flood plain.

Waka Waka and arrived at our next camp before dark for a change. We were disappointed not to see any elephant in the National Park, As we were setting up the tents, we heard a most strange froglike as there are so many but we did spot a beautiful sable bull. We call, that a couple of people recognized as the call of the African battled to find fuel in Kasane and Kazangula but finally got on the Broadbill. As it was almost dark, we couldn’t see it and in fact never road back to Francistown,where we were too late in the day to find did, even though we heard it call again each day at first and last light. the Boulder Chats that can be seen 62kms north.

The riverine forest and woodlands in Kasanka were full of birds and After another good night at Guy’s guesthouse we had a very early we were all thrilled by our first sighting of Lady Ross’s Turaco,and start, 4.30 a.m. as we had to get to Kimberley before sunset to see the more numerous Schalow’s Turaco. Some of the group managed the flamingoes. By now we were only two vehicles as the others to see the Blue-spotted Wood Dove, which I missed but Peter and I were going home via family in Joburg. Just before the S.A. border saw Racquet –tailed Rollers instead. The most fascinatingly named I managed to get a speeding fine and the excuse of rushing to bird that was seen next to the river was a Yellow-throated Leaflove. see the flamingoes didn’t help. We did make it to Kimberley in time It was a pity we hadn’t booked for another day at Kasanka,as the to meet with Mark Anderson, the ornithologist with Northern Cape birding was excellent with a wide variety of habitats.

Wildlife Department, who was responsible for the erection of the We all made it back to the filling station at Serenje, although breeding island. The island has been an unqualified success with Geoff had had to siphon out some diesel for George’s Landrover. about 9000 chicks this season, the first time Lesser Flamingo have The next two nights were spent near Landless Corner, at Fringilla bred in South Africa and it is only the fourth breeding site on the Afof boerewors fame. Andre van Eeden met with us again on his own rican continent. The spectacle of about 40,000 pink birds on Kamfarm this time and we spent a delightful morning in a much drier fer’s Pan as the sun set was the fitting finale to a wonderful trip.

Northern Happenings

12

Children of the Veldt

by Gaenor TURNER (nee Lombard) Chapter Eight Beatles, Bugs and Beasties Life in the tropics is full of creepy crawlies. There were those that I didn’t mind but anything that had lots of wings and legs that fluttered, flew, crept, crawled and jumped, I couldn’t stand.

Mr. Dung Beetle As children we liked to watch clever Mr. Dung beetle roll his mound of dirt along backwards in the chicken manure compost heap.

and end up a mass of transparent wings and ants crawling all over the place.

In the chicken runs the hens gobble up these delicate morsels as do the wild birds, particularly the Swallows and Swifts who have just returned from England and Europe after a long and hazardous exhausting flight.

Mr. Scorpion Mr. Scorpion was also busy running around under the night lights catching ants, crickets and spiders. It was the law of the jungle.

Lethal Mr. Scorpion takes advantage of the summer nights. He catches his prey with his big pincers and poisons them with a swift Mr. And Mrs. Chongololo overhead sting from his tail. His sting is very painful and best avoided.

Mr. And Mrs. Chongololo crawled along with their fat striped bodies Mrs. Scorpion’s children are all born alive and cling to her back for and a ripple of millions of little legs. If you poked them with a stick, the first few weeks. they curled up into a tight circle. They came in all sizes with the Mr. Tocktockie rains – baby ones, big ones and very big ones.

The slow moving Mr. Tocktockie, I wonder if he knew what his purpose in life was?

Mr. Trap-door Spider A finely spun tunnel led into Mr. Trap-door Spider’s den. He cleverly used half a peach pip shell as a door to shut out the rest of the orchard. He likes his privacy, peace and security.

Mr. Chameleon

catch a careless baby Praying Mantis.

Mr. Chameleon camouflaged himself in the poinsettias and wore quite a different coloured outfit from his wife, Mrs. Chameleon, who was balancing on the top of the granadilla fence and shooting out her very long tongue to

To end up on a much gentler note, let me introduce you to: Mr. And Mrs. Glow Worm who are like green flashing beacons on summer nights. Among the Frangipani and Honeysuckles and grass we search for them. Mr. Glow Worm flies like his friend Mr. Firefly, while Mrs. Glow worm is housebound with no wings. She and her children, all the little larvae Glow Worms, are easy to locate in the grass because of their intermittent green luminous signals.

There is still the tale of Toads and Crickets, Spiders, Lizards, bees, wasps and Shrews to be told, but time runs out

Zimbabwe Aid Fund -Australia and UK

(Pensioner Fund Raising) Mr. Ant Lion A recipe book “GRAZE” has been put together to help raise funds for the While Mr. Ant lion lay diligently at the bottom of his crater in the pensioners (SOAP and ZPSF). It contains a number of excellent animal sand, waiting for an unsuspecting ant to fall in and be grabbed by his photographs and bits of history. Your support pincers, we liked to throw a grain of sand in and see him move. would be greatly appreciated.

The tale is told that Mr. Ant Lion turns into a lovely green lace winged Copies may be purchased via moth, a fragile insect that looks like a dragon fly and dive bombs the www.zimbabwebooks.com electric lights in the evenings after the rains have come.

Donations can be made to: Zimbabwe Aid Fund (UK), Natwest Stroud, After a storm the earth springs many little holes out of which crawl Sort Code: 556108, Account No.:6658135 myriads of little winged ants which lift off into their nuptial flight. or These ‘flying ants’ come like an invading army – one after the other Zimbabwe Aid Fund (Australia) Westpac St. in quick succession and flutter off like a squadron. However their Ives, BSB: 032-188, Account No.: 248716 airborne life is short for they return to earth and shed their wings and All enquiries to Sean KELLY at continue their journey on foot.

SeanKelly@chisipite.co.uk At night, their main mission appears to be to fly into the lights

13

ZIMBABWE ROUNDUP

fertiliser even buses.

“The farmers obtained assistance from the bank so they could sustain the population which remained strong as a result. It is Gono who sustained us.”

Mugabe was speaking in Shona.

“That is the crime he is alleged to have committed,” he said, “that he stood by the government of this man, Robert Mugabe. We must collapse so that there is regime change in Zimbabwe.”

the front door. They invaded the hallway and occupied the courtyard. The flames leapt into the thatch as they pulled the tyres under it, but it did not catch alight.

This was last Tuesday. I called the police but then the invaders took the phone away.

Their leader, who calls himself “Landmine”, was armed with a rifle. They pushed us around and raised sticks and said that we must leave.

They beat my tonga drum so hard that the cowhide skin broke.

One of them went up to the children, who had been woken by the din. “Josh, Josh, there’s a man in our room,” said Anna, 4. Joshua, 9, told my wife Laura afterwards that the man was making hyena noises. My other son, Stephen, is 7.

Police arrived and the invaders were ushered out. None was arrested, but “Landmine” did return my phone at the request of the police.

When the police left, though, the invaders resumed their attack. They did not break in this time, but they made a lot of noise, circling the house like whooping hyenas and shouting before they left: “We will eat the children.”

By the time the police came back a second time the invaders had given up: returning to the house of my wife’s parents on the other side of the farm. My parents-in-law were evicted by “Landmine” two months ago.

To be caught on the edge of life, isolated, without help and abandoned, is a hard thing.

This is how it is living on a farm in Zimbabwe today. Our house, surrounded by wild stretches of swaying savannah grasses, should be a haven of peace. For us, though, looking out and listening, there are things we see and hear that make our hearts beat fast and our minds race. It is like looking out on a tranquil river, the languid stretches of the mighty Zambezi, and somehow being able to see the crocodiles beneath the surface lying in wait for the one who is careless and not alert.

We thought that with the new Government, and Morgan Tsvangirai becoming the Prime Minister, things might get better. Underneath the waters, though, we knew that the great crocodile, Robert Mugabe, was still in control.

It is clear to us now that Tsvangirai does not want to harm Mugabe’s “sacred cow” — the eviction of the last of the white men from their farms must continue. Last week Tsvangirai said that there were invasions on only “one or two farms” and that they have been “blown out of proportion”. This is not the truth. Almost every white farmer that has so far survived is either being prosecuted criminally by the State for still being on his farm, or is facing an attack in which invaders take the law into their own hands.

Stories are summarised from the Zimbabwe Independent, Financial Gazette, The Daily News, The Standard, The Herald other foreign sources and from news articles mailed to us.

We can only hope to give you a glimpse of the news from Zimbabwe. For daily coverage go to www.zimbabwesituation.com, but be prepared New Currency! - Africanews.com May 29, 2009 to be shocked and depresssed.

Disgruntled parents of Sojini Secondary Unity in Name Only! - swradioafrica.com May school in South West Zimbabwe have 15, 2009 expressed their anger towards the headmaster Last month National Constitutional Assembly of the school whom they accuse of trying to (NCA) leaders reported they had been blocked milk them dry by demanding outrageous fees in their attempts to see the Prime Minister, by structures. security details at his Munhumutapa offices, Some of the parents revealed to AfricaNews despite having been invited by Mr Tsvangirai that the school which is located in Mbembesi himself. The Prime Minister sent his private rural district, was demanding 10 and 16 secretary to confirm that Dr Lovemore Madhuku buckets of maize plus some chickens for O and his team were his guests, but they were and A’ level students respectively. still turned away by the security agents. The “The school is demanding outrageous NCA leadership drove off but were called back amounts of maize as an alternative to cash

by Constitutional Minister Eric Matinenga, who which most of us cannot raise. How can I told them that Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani pay 36 buckets of maize since I have three Khupe had been called in to intervene.At children in that school?” demanded an the time NCA Director Ernest Mudzengi said outraged parent. when they finally saw the Prime Minister he In a telephone interview with the headmaster acknowledged that on a daily basis his visitors on Friday, he said that it was suggested in a undergo harassment and he was trying to stop meeting with parents that an alternative to this.This week another incident has occurred, paying in cash be made thus coming up with which exposes the fact that the Prime Minister those items. is still not being accorded the respect he “These people who are complaining do not deserves. A delegation from North Korea is know what they are talking about as it was visiting Zimbabwe and Mugabe held a state discussed at a meeting. I will come to your banquet in their honour. offices tomorrow to explain our position,” Although Tsvangirai had an invitation to attend said Nkala. the banquet he was forced to make a u-turn However in a follow up interview on Saturday when he arrived at the State House for the the head refused to comment saying that it event. His spokesperson James Maridadi said was against the principles of the ministry to the guards denied him entry, because one of talk to the press and that we should talk to his security cars had not been cleared. the regional director.

Sources close to this paper revealed that I Am Not Crook! zimbabwetimes.com May fees had been pegged at R500 for Form 1-4 25, 2009 and R800 for A’ level students.

President Robert Mugabe has declared They said that most parents could not raise in no uncertain terms that Reserve Bank of that much and had appealed to the school to Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono will not leave bear with them and give them time. office before his second term of office expires in The parents said what angered them the 2013. Mugabe said there was nothing to justify most is that the headmaster was chasing local and international calls for Gono’s ouster away students who had not paid fees in full. saying the central bank chief was not a thief.

They said on Tuesday the school was empty He said clamouring for his dismissal was, as most of the pupils hadn’t paid. therefore, a waste of time.

The Zimbabwean leader said Gono was Normal Life in Zimbabwe - timesonline. being unfairly victimized for his initiative and com June 1, 2009 industry since his appointment in 2003 when The invaders came at 11pm. Fifteen of sanctions affected Zimbabwe the most, leaving them - singing, chanting and crashing metal What a Laugh! The Zimbabwean June 4, government on the verge of collapse. objects together by our windows. “Out, out,” 2009 “The Reserve Bank became our salvation,” they shouted as they surrounded our farm — President Robert Mugabe takes over the Mugabe said. “That is where all assistance they certainly wanted us out. They broke into chairmanship of Africa’s largest trading bloc, came from - scotch-carts, ploughs, seed, the house and dragged burning tyres through the Common Market for Eastern and Southern

14

Africa (COMESA) in Victoria Falls on Sunday.

The summit has been cancelled three times in a row due to Mugabe’s legitimacy crisis. Only the formation of the GNU has made it possible for the summit to take place.

Outraged critics said it was ironic and unfortunate that Mugabe, who has vandalised his own country’s economy, should occupy the top position of the regional economic body.

John Makumbe, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said Mugabe’s leadership of the 19-nation trading bloc was “highly questionable.”

Trouble in Paradise! afrol.com June 4, 2009 Senior army commanders have told Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe that they are now afraid to review parades at army barracks as they risk being shot by mutinating soldiers and junior officers.

At a crisis meeting with President Mugabe on Thursday at the Defence Forces Headquarters army commanders told him there was growing indiscipline among the junior ranks.

“Army commanders are now afraid to review parades, saying junior solders are plotting to kill them, so they sought guidance from Mugabe who is their commander-in-chief,” said a source at the headquarters.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) commander, Air Marshal Perrence Shiri, and his Number Two, Air Vice-Marshal Henry Muchena were reported to have attended the meeting.

ZDF Commander Chiwengwa is said to have pleaded with President Mugabe to sort out the welfare of members of the uniformed forces saying: “We are sitting on a time bomb.”

According to the source, “He told Mugabe that it would not be surprising if one was shot at while reviewing a parade.”

Indiscipline was said to be particularly rampant among young officers who are disgruntled with the US$ 100 that they are being paid by the new coalition government.

Last year soldiers ran amok in the streets of Harare, looting shops to augment their salaries that had been eroded by hyperinflation and beating members of the public indiscriminately.

The soldiers are aware that their senior officers live in the lap of luxury, thanks to the ruling Zanu (PF) party’s patronage system which has given them farms, vehicles, equipment and unparalleled business opportunities particularly in mining ventures at home and in Congo Kinshasa (DRC).

It was recommended that service firearms should be withdrawn from members of the security forces to limit the prospect of a mutiny.

Top army officials and war veterans are said to be involved in farm wrangles here as the fight for farms heats up in Zimbabwe.

Colonel Naboth Manyau who is embroiled in a land dispute with one resettled war veteran Willie Lazio Chiremba over a 22 hectare plot, said he had made numerous reports to the responsible authorities to intervene but nothing had materialized yet.

“Manyau came with an offer letter dated November 2008 but when I told him that I had not been served with a withdrawal letter he brought one and that is when he started destroying my ridges,” stated Chiremba.

A letter was served to the District Lands Officer Jacob Chimwoto from the Provincial Lands Officer instructing that Manyau be given another piece of land. Chiremba is hindered from continuing with operations on the land despite assurance by Chimwoto to go and work on it.

In a related development Bonface Matibiri who was issued a 33.5ha plot at Farm 38 sub-division of Hippo Valley in November 2001 estates is facing a similar problem from Colonel Matema who claims ownership of the land.

Col Matema is alleged to have brought an offer letter 22 September 2008 which Gamuchirai, wife to Bonface, rejected since she had not been served with a withdrawal letter.

“I told the colonel that I had not been given the withdrawal letter therefore my offer letter is still valid. On April 29 this year Matema came with a withdrawal letter signed by the current Minister of Lands Dr Hebert Murerwa but I am not satisfied since the scanned document may be a bogus one,”said Matibiri.

Matema is alleged to have victimized the workers working for Matibiri and has since employed his own who are cutting the sugarcane. “Last year I failed to harvest the cane due to the poor returns since it was being bought with Zimbabwean dollars and there was a carry over of 20ha which Matema is cutting down,” alleged Matibiri.

Small Victories - SADC Tribunal Watch June 6, 2009 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tribunal today dismissed a last-minute application by the Government of Zimbabwe to postpone a contempt application against it by Zimbabwe commercial farmers.

The Tribunal then proceeded immediately to hear the farmers’ application for a ruling that Zimbabwe is in contempt of the Tribunal’s November 2008 decision.

In the earlier decision the Tribunal, now presided over by former Chief Justice Pillay of Mauritius, and with senior judges from Angola, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique What Goes Around Comes Around - held Zimbabwe’s land seizure programme RadioVOP June 5, 2009 in breach of the SADC Treaty’s human rights

15

provisions.

After hearing argument today, the Tribunal adjourned to consider its ruling.

On reconvening, the Tribunal delivered a unanimous decision.

Chief Justice Pillay stressed that Zimbabwe had not only breached the November order, but was in contempt.

He singled out public statements by President Mugabe and by the Deputy Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, Justice Malaba, earlier this year, as well as a statement by the Deputy Attorney-General that Zimbabwe would continue to prosecute farmers protected by the Tribunal’s order.

He added that the applicants had also submitted “ample proof” of violations on the farms in recent months, either investigated

by Zimbabwe Government police officials or permitted by them.

In an unusual move, the Tribunal also ordered the Government of Zimbabwe to pay the farmers’ costs. Costs orders are only made by the Tribunal in “exceptional circumstances”.

The Tribunal concluded its ruling by referring Zimbabwe’s contempt to the SADC Summit for consideration of measures to be taken under the Treaty against it. These measures could include sanctions or expulsion of Zimbabwe from SADC. Begging Bowl in Hand - The Herald June 6, 2009 Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is today expected to leave for the United States and Europe after being tasked by the Government to call for the removal of sanctions and seek a financial package to revive the economy.

President Mugabe met with US Congressman Donald Payne last week ahead of PM Tsvangirai’s three-week visit to Washington and European capitals to call for the lifting of sanctions and seek a package to revive the economy.

The President told Mr Payne that Government had tasked PM Tsvangirai to visit the US and European capitals to call for the lifting of the embargo and seek aid to resuscitate the economy.

According to sources close to the deliberations between President Mugabe and Mr Payne, the President expressed hope that his visit would lead to the removal of the sanctions the US imposed through the socalled Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZDERA).

“The President especially underscored that what Zimbabwe wanted were not just handouts and donations, but soft loans and credit lines which Zimbabwe would pay back on the strength of its own resources.

“He was hopeful the Congressman’s visit would bring ‘the flag of freedom from sanctions’,” a source said.

Kariba

Metcalf visit the gorge.

by Sylvia Pugh-Roberts 1927 A private party was given for the services of Mr P. H. Haviland of the Dept of Irrigation, who, after a visit to the gorge, in his final The first mention that we have of the Kariba Gorge was in a dispatch report, dismissed the idea of building a dam at Kariba. sent by the renowned Portuguese explorer Manuel Baretto. This 1941 Funds were allocated to investigate possible hydro-electric was dated 11 December, 1667. It is thought possible however that schemes and JLS Jeffares conducted another survey. this does not refer to Kariba, but to some other gorge, there being 1945 A river gauging station was set up at Chirundu with a camp numerous others towards the sea along the Zambezi River. mid way between Chirundu and Kariba.

Dr David Livingstone by-passed the area. Frederick Courtenay 1951 “The Panel” decides on Kariba as the best possible site for Selous entered the gorge on 24 November, 1877, which is nearly the hydro-electric scheme on the Zambezi. Tenders were called for 200 years after the possible visit of Manuel Baretto. to build the wall, transmission lines and township.

In 1891 William Keppel Steer reconnoitered a possible rail link Aug FirstcablelaidacrosstheZambezi,andtheNorthabutmentstarted. route across the Zambezi River. An expedition headed by Major A 1956 Richard Costain awarded contract to construct the Kariba Gibbons came to the area to select the best route in the years 1898 Township. and 1899. The rail link however never materialized.

Feb Work starts on townships, houses, hospital, canteen, In 1912 Mr H S Kergwin, the Native Commissioner at Sinoia recreation and administrative buildings, meeting hall, advocated damming the river at the gorge to provide water for shops, banks, post offices, fire station and 11 miles of road. irrigation. In 1914, Kergwin plus Messers Randall and Howell, who July Italian consortium Impresit awarded contract for construction were both irrigation engineers, plus a Mr. McGregor (an agriculturalist) of the dam wall and the transmission lines. Work starts on bins, built were joined at the site by Sir Charles Metcalf. Apathy appears to have to store 24000 tons of cement at any one time. Built on North Bank. set in, as after this visit, nothing was achieved.

Sep Engineers start mining vast cavern to house the power The Electricity Supply Commission instigated an investigation for station. (500 feet underground, 468 ft long, 132 ft high and 75 ft possible hydro electric schemes to be started at Kariba and, in 1941, wide) funds were allocated. Mr J. L. S. Jeffares conducted yet another Nov North bank coffer dam completed. survey of Kariba Gorge.

Dec North bank coffer dam, together with diversion tunnel As a result of this survey, a river gauging station was set up at completed. 5 blocks of the main dam wall concreted inside the coffer Chirundu, as well as at a camp sixteen miles downstream from the dam, leaving 4 openings. present dam wall.

1957 Jul North bank coffer dam breeched.

Activity increased and river measuring parties were operating from Sep Work completed on all township projects.

Chirundu to the Victoria Falls. Water surveys and trial drillings of the Oct Main coffer dam completed. river bed were carried out in various parts of the gorge.

1958 Feb 18 Road bridge swept away by floods.

Four possible sites were thought suitable and investigated more Mar 3 Suspension foot bridge swept away by floods. (River thoroughly and found to be wanting. Interest was then focused on rose 110 feet in gorge above low water level. 3,500,000 gallons per the present site of the wall. second flowed through the gorge) Both Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia, as they were Jul Construction of mainwall continues as well as above the then, were in contention as it was thought that the Kafue River blocks built earlier inside the North Bank coffer dam.

Gorge site in Northern Rhodesia was preferable to the one on the Dec 3 Water begins to back up against the wall. Diversion Zambezi. The question was solved in 1951 by a board of experts tunnel and temporary openings blocked and free flow of the Zambezi known as the ‘panel’ who were all agreed that the dam be built on River ceases for the first time in many thousands of years.. the Zambezi River.

1959 Jun Dam wall reaches full height of 420 ft.

In August, 1955 the then Federal Government of Rhodesia and Dec First generator commissioned.

Nyasaland called for tenders for the construction of the dam wall. 1960 May 17 Kariba South Bank Hydroelectric Power Station In February, 1956, the contract for the construction of the Kariba opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Township was awarded to Richard Costain, and the main construction 1962 Mar All generators working, stage 1 complete. Wall, South contracts for the wall and transmission lines were awarded to the Bank Power Station, 330000v transmission network in Zambia and Italian consortium Impresit on 16 July, 1956.

Rhodesia.

The Kariba South Bank Power Station of the Kariba hydroelectric 1966 Oct 268 miles of 330000v transmission lines from Kariba scheme was officially opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, The to Kitwe inaugurated.

Queen Mother on 17 May, 1960.

That is the 1st part, the next deals with a whole host of dates - 1667 to Oct 1966 (nearly 300 years) and what happened in those years.

Pioneer Club 2008 Braai DVD

The 2008 Braai DVD is now ready for sale (we will not be doing any elaborate artwork on the front cover to keep costs A HISTORY OF KARIBA DAM IN DATE ORDER to a minimum). They will make great small gifts, serve as 1667 Visit by Manuel Baretto a reminder to those who attended and show those that 1877 Nov Visit by Frederick Courtenay Selous.

1891 Visit by William Keppel Steer to reconoiter a rail route have not attended a braai what they are missing out on.

All proceeds will be going to the charity.Please consider link across the Zambezi River.

1898/9 Visit by Major Gibbons to select a rail route across the purchasing one for friends and family who missed the Zambezi River.

2008 Braai 1910 Jul Visit by Eric Trestrail Palmer (clerk in charge of Urungwe sub-station) on patrols through the gorge.

1912 HS Kergwin (Native Commissioner of Sinoia) advocates damming the Zambezi at the mouth of the gorge for irrigation purposes.

1914 Kergwin, Randall, Howell, McGregoe and Sir Charles

16

Cost £6:00 plus shipping

For more details or to order one contact

Ian DIXON at email: ian@12buzz.com or call Vicki BOWKER Phone UK 08703 708 704

January - March, 1969 * The passing of a great Rhodesian in the person of Mr. Winston FIELD, a former Prime Minister has been mourned by people of all races and in all walks of life. He was aged 64. * An appeal to European farmers to give employment opportunities to graduates of the Chibero College of Agriculture for African students, was made by the Secretary for Agriculture Mr. R.A. GRIFFITHS. *A super hotel scheme is in prospect for Salisbury. The well-known Meikles Hotel site is to undergo a feasability study on it potential. *On the eve of his retirement as Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Harold HAWKINS reviewed the passing out parade of new patrol officers of the B.S.A.P. * By winning the Rhodes Centenary Long Range shooting Test match against South Africa in Bloemfontein, Rhodesians have once again proved they are the finest .303 shottists in the world. * Air Vice Marshall Harold HAWKINS has been named as Rhodesia’s new Accredited Diplomatic Representative in South Africa from 1st July.

He replaces Mr. John GAUNT. *The Ministry of Local Government and Housing announced that it was hoped that funds for the construction of 6 000 African houses would be made available next financial year ending in June, 1970. * Work on the £65 000 first phase of Bulawayo’s new motor racing circuit will be completed in readiness to hold an important international event-the Three-hour Endurance Race. * Opening the annual conference of the Lolcal Government Association, the Prime Minister, Mr. Ian SMITH, warned the country’s civic leaders to be on their guard against a hand-over to majority rule, in whatever

guise it might be presented. * An appeal to make greater use of water from the Zambezi river was made by the president of the Local Government association, Mr. Abe MENASHE of Bulawayo at that body’s annual conference held in Victoria Falls.

January - March, 1979 * British passports issued to Joshua NKOMO’s ZIPRA terrorist organisation’s commanders by the British High Commission in Lusaka, were taken by Zimbabwe Rhodesian secutiry forces during raids into Zambia. * Hundreds of African children, deprived of education as a result of terrorism, are returning to the many rural schools gradually being reopened throughout the country. * The World Health Organisation must be “sick” to coinsider severing all links with the new black government in Zimbabwe Rhodesia in favour of supporting the terrorist leaders. *Bush-loving Sue CHILDES is a girl in a man’s world, becoming the first woman to work on research at Wankie National Park. * A Bulawayo African, Mr. Michael NDUBIWA, has become the first black deputy town clerk of a municipality in Zimbabwe Rhodesia. * Gareth CONNORS, a student at a Salisbury college has won the coveted $4 000 Ministry of Education scholarship in the annhual Young Scientists Exhibit. * Come home your land awaits you. You will be greeted in peace and joy. This is the government’s new amnesty policy instituted by the new Prime Minister, Bishop Abel MUZOREWA a few days ago.

Pictures are from newspapers of 30/40 years ago so please pardon their quality.

Left to right, top to bottom: Opening Parliament in Zimbabwe Rhodesia, Mermaid’s Pool, 67th Anniversary of Rhodes’ death, Hovercraft competition, the late Winston FIELD, Zimbabwe Rhodesia’s professional Army, Lake Kariba, Tsanga Lodge where the soldiers recuperate

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Search for Puma Lost at Mapai April 11, 2009 - April 14, 2009 With thanks to ORAFS Under the cover of darkness, on the night of the 6th September, 1979, I was flown out of the forward admin area of Op Uric, situated deep in the Mozambique bush, to our Operational Forward HQ situated at Chipinda Pools. I was the sole passenger in the SAAF Puma that evening, and my task was to sort out notices for the casualties sustained earlier that day, when a SAAF Puma (See Photo 1) carrying elements of 1 Commando 1RLI and 2 Engineer Squadron had been shot down on the outskirts of Mapai (Rail) formerly known as Jorge de Limpopo, killing all 17 on board. During the 40 odd minute flight back to the Rhodesian border, I vowed that I would one day return to the crash site to honour my friends and comrades in arms who had made the supreme sacrifice that morning, but who, because of the expediency of the battle, had had to be left behind where they had died.

29 years later I was privileged enough to be invited to join Bob Manser’s expedition to find the Donaldson Canberra lost over the Malvernia area in January, 1977. It became plainly obvious during this search, that the local police, militia, and Mozambicans were more than willing to assist in the location of these war sites and bore absolutely no malice towards their former adversaries. It was then that I realised that it was possible to honour the pledge I had made in 1979.

Slowly over a period of 5 months I was able to assemble a ‘Team’ for the Mapai expedition by using the members of Bob’s Canberra party as the nucleus. Regrettably both Bob and Alistair Macrimmon were both unable to make it and so Neill Jackson ex Support Commando, ‘Stan’ Standish White ex SAS volunteered their services. Added to these ‘volunteers’ were Eastern District farmers Duff Odendaal and his son in law, Gareth Barry. The final search team was thus made up as follows: Rick van Malsen, Kevin Jones, Malcolm Macrimmon, Neill Jackson, “Stan” Standish White, Duff Odendaal, Gareth Barry Nearly two hundred E mails were sent out globally as we planned, sourced information, obtained eye witness accounts, speculated on where the actual site was, made up introductory letters and catch phrases in Portuguese, sorted out admin and log, etc. It finally all came together and on Thursday 11th April, 2009 ‘The Team’, complete with wives, converged on Mabalahuta camp in the southern Gonarezhou National Park.

Friday, 12th April was used as a rest day and was used to prepare ourselves for the trip to the search area. Later in the afternoon we held a final formal briefing of what to expect, where we were going, etc.

Saturday 13th April, 2009 we rose early and in two vehicles, left camp at 0500 hours so that we could be at the border at 0600 hours, the supposed opening time. True to form, the bleary-eyed border officials only arrived at 0645, which meant we only got through the border formalities at 0800 hours, 1 hour behind our planned timings. The road down to Mapai remains mostly unchanged over the last 30 years.

Trains derailed by various SF operations that many years ago, were still in evidence, as well as many shot out buildings. We all just hoped that Stan’s contribution to the road had been removed, as he couldn’t remember where he had buried them.

At 1030 hours we arrived in Mapai (Rail) and asked directions the police station. This was a broken down 2 room building that could have passed for a toilet. Not an auspicious start! A young policeman read our letter of introduction and said that we needed to see the local military or garrison Commandant. He then went off to find him but returned to say he was not there. We were then taken to the head of FRELIMO party for the area. Arlindo Penicela Baloi, who, although unable to speak English, was able to read our letter of introduction.

Thank heavens for Bob’s notes! He reiterated that we had to go back and get the Garrison Commandant’s permission. Back down the road again and fortunately the Commandant was now at home and after reading our letter cheerfully gave permission for us to go to the crash

site, but insisted we had to get the local headman’s blessing first. Protocol reined supreme! Now accompanied by Arlindo we set off to site.

Suddenly Arlindo stopped me and spoke to a portly gentleman on the side of the road who turned out was able to speak English. Wallah a translator! Solomone, the translator, climbed in and off we went. We followed a track leading directly East from the main road for about 3 kms when we stopped at a small village where, seated under a tree, was the local headman Araujo Chivite. After a brief discussion between my other two passengers and Araujo, he readily agreed to show us where the site was. With Araujo‘s 2ic also in tow, (now making 5 of us in a king cab!) we then continued down the track which gradually turned South where we intersected the main Mapai – Machaila road about 3.7 kms from Mapai (Rail) We had only gone a few metres down the road when we were told to stop and on getting out of the vehicle, we were shown an area which we were told was the crash site. An initial search turned up a partially burnt SF water bottle and then we started finding the unmistakable signs of an aircraft crash.

There was a large mound in the centre of the site and this, we were told, was where the soldiers killed in the crash were buried. We had brought a prefabricated cross complete with a base with us and asked permission to erect this on the site. Araujo immediately agreed but only on condition the site was cleaned up first, which they insisted on doing themselves! Once the cross had been erected, a brief service was held, using the exact format as Bob had used at the other sites, and the Roll of Honour read out. This is repeated below for those who have not seen it.

“With thanksgiving, let us remember those who sacrificed their lives so that we may live on in peace, and in appreciation, we now dedicate this cross to their memories. Help us to keep them in our thoughts, and never forget what they gave for us.”

CAPT Johannes Matheus DU PLOOY 1 RLI, CAPT Charles David SMALL ENG, 2ND LT Bruce Fraser BURNS ENG, SGT Michael Alan JONES ENG, CPL Leroy DUBERLEY ENG, CPL Gordon Hugh FRY 1 RLI, L/CPL Peter FOX ENG, TPR Jacobus Alwyn BRIEL 1 RLI, TPR Aiden James COLEMAN 1 RLI, TPR Mark Jeremy CROW 1 RLI, TPR Brian Louis ENSLIN 1 RLI, TPR Steven Eric KING 1 RLI, TPR Colin Graham NEASHAM 1 RLI, TPR David Rex PROSSER 1 RLI, CAPT Paul VELLERMAN SAAF, LT Nigel OSBORNE SAAF, F/SGT Dick RETIEF SAAF “They shall not grow old. As we that are left, grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor do the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them” Neill then repeated the words of the service in Afrikaans in memory of the South African crew. Finally the ‘Last Post’ was played. At all stages of the service the Mozambique contingent were actively involved which we all found very humbling and magnanimous.

At the end of the proceedings headman Araujo called a woman called Lydia, who was farming the surrounding fields, and instructed her to build a fence around the site so that the war graves can be looked after properly in the future.

After leaving an appropriate reward with the headman for this to be done, we packed up and left the site, each in our own thoughts.

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After dropping off Araujo at his village, we returned to Mapai (Rail) and then decided to go down to the old Mapai airfield and Mapai (River) both targets of the Scouts column raid in June 1977. Arlindo and Solomone both accompanied us on this leg, which rather inhibited us from scouting around too much for old military positions. At Mapai (River) we were shown a mass grave, covered by a concrete slab, which we were told held the civilian victims of this raid. Expedition members showed the appropriate respect at this site.

We then returned to Mapai (Rail), dropped off our two passengers and headed off back towards the border.

Our next task was to return to the site of the Donaldson Canberra crash site in order to place a more permanent memorial to the airmen lost in this crash. Time was running short, so we dispensed with protocol and just drove direct to the site. After placing the cross, we sounded the “Last Post” which was particularly fitting as the sun was starting to set as the sound of bugles rang out hauntingly through the silent bush.

We then had to rush for the border before it closed, which we got through without any problems and headed for home, arriving at 20 00 hours. We had travelled a total of 360 kms in 15 hours.

There are many people involved in making a trip, such as this, the success it was. My grateful thanks go to the following: First and foremost to Bob Manser, who pioneered searching for these forgotten sites.

Bob gave us all his notes to use, offered invaluable advice and encouragement throughout. Prop Geldenhuys for all the help, encouragement and research done on our behalf. Eyewitness accounts from Gavin Wehlburg, Jono Lane and Keith Dell all helped to get an overall picture of approximately where we had to look. To the ex Rhodesians of Francistown, who fabricated the crosses, galvanised them and then painted them all at no cost. They looked magnificent. To the 5 wonderful Mozambicans who took the time out to guide us and asked for nothing in return. You were a wonderful example of what true reconciliation should be. There is absolutely no doubt that this war memorial will be looked after by these people. And lastly to the most wonderful “team “without whom, none of this would have happened. All rallied to the call, and freely gave up their valuable time and at personal cost, to be there.

“Thank you” is not enough.

Racing Reminiscences I much enjoyed Francis GRANT’s article on Speedway in Rhodesia. In the early 1960s, one of the highlights of the Salisbury Micro Midget Club’s meetings at Skyline was the biker’s event. Classes of the bikes were mixed, but were handicapped by the distance back from the start line according to engine capacity. And at the rear was, inevitably, the 650 BSA or Norton (I forget which) ridden by Bernie ROBINSON. Bernie was to the biker’s race what Sam TINGLE and John LOVE were to the old Marlborough circuit in Team Gunston, and usually prevailed to add to his impressive trophy collection.

Bernie had to slow at the corners, but opened up on the straight. It was fascinating to watch him scythe through the throng with nonchalant ease, leaving others to listen to the menacing growl of his bike fading fast as he went into the next section.

Like all the best bikers he was both modest and extremely helpful to his less experienced fellow speedsters, and brought credit to the sport, and a bit of reflected glory to the S.M.M.C. This little ditty I wrote might ring a bell with Frances.

Losers Lament A disillusioned time keeper was up on the judge’s stand, A-struggling with his stop watch which had lost its second hand.

If handicaps were cleared away, he said it would be grand!

He’d put a clock on number 4, or was it number 3?

They’d done a couple of circuits, and then he’d had his tea, Oh dear! He sighed, I’d rather ride, they’ll be the death of me!

The pit marshall was frantic, he’d hollered all day long, And when the cars had started, they’d been a hundred strong.

Now there were two, where was the clue? There must be something wrong!

Up spoke a Salisbury cowboy, a leader of the aces, I’ll tell you Jack, it’s not the track, however hot the pace is, You’ll get no chaps to fill the gaps with all those ladies races!

The Treasurer stood within the gate, it was his ruling passion To hand out tickets by the score, and gaily take the cash in; But time is getting on, he yawned, I don’t care if they dash in He locked his box and packed his tent aboard his old Land Rover And heading for the track he said, The club is now in clover!

But there was not a soul in sight; the race meeting was over…

I’m worried said the beauty queen, with all my make up plaster I know I’m fast around the town, but midget men are faster, If this ends as I think it will, there’s gone be a disaster!

The drivers all came crowding in to see who’d won the prizes, Salutes were made and pots displayed in various shapes and sizes, She murmured patting back a curl, well I survived the crisis!

(The Beauty Queen was Rachelle, ex-Beauty Queen of Durban, RSA and ever popular half of the piano duo of Edwin and Rachelle, who played in the Whitehall Hotel in Union Avenue, Salisbury. No one handed out the prizes with such grace as you did Rachelle!)

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A Martyr Speaks The Journal of the late John Alan Coey killed in Rhodesia in 1975 defending Christian freedom.

Copies available from Mrs. G.E. Coey, 6555 U.S. 68 South, #E 14, West Liberty, OH 43357, USA Cost is US$20 postage included.

BULAWAYO SPEEDWAY and CYCLE SPEEDWAY in the 1950’s :

by Graham RADUE Reading through Frances Grant’s interesting account of motorcycle Speedway in Rhodesia in 1970, brought back many happy memories of the sport which was originally introduced to Bulawayo in 1953.

Bulawayo was always famous for its’ road racing motorcycle stars such as Mick Gammon, Ken Robas, Charlie Harrison, Bertie Hall, Gary Hocking, Jim Redman, Alan (“Buddy“) Harris and Bruce Beale to name a few, so it was not surprising then that Speedway would also find a firm foothold in the city.

The Rhodesian Speedway Association (a non-profit making organization under the chairmanship of prominent Bulawayo eye specialist, Dr. J. C. (Jack) Greenwood) was formed and they organized the first cinder track meeting for the Bulawayo Agricultural Society and the South African Speedway Riders Association - it was held under floodlights at the Bulawayo Showgrounds and some 12,000 spectators turned up to watch the inaugural meeting which was billed as “the World’s most thrilling sport.“ The meeting was opened by Lt.Col. H.B. Everard, General Manager of Rhodesia Railways, and there was a ceremonial entry to the arena of the specially constructed J. A. P. speedway machines, riders and track officials, plus renderings by the Bulawayo Caledonian Society. Thrills and spills aplenty and flying cinders were enjoyed by the crowd and the smell of “Castrol R“ filled the air.

That first meeting saw a test match arranged between riders from the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia. The South African team was captained by Doug Serrurier and the Rhodesian team was captained

by Bob Raw. Local Bulawayo riders who had excelled in road racing at Umgusa and Heany were invited to also try their hands at the new sport in supporting races. Those who later rode for a newly formed Bulawayo speedway team were Bertie Hall, Derek Manford, Tommy Lemon and Bill (“Bundu“) Bovett. Of the quartet, Bertie Hall succeeded in making more progress in three months than normally took top Union riders almost two years to achieve.

Around this time, a touring British Speedway team captained by reigning World Speedway Champion, Freddie Williams of Wales, was visiting the Union and, in December, 1953, were brought up to Bulawayo by the legendary speedway promoter Buddy Fuller (known universally as “ Mr. Speedway“) to ride against The Dominions, a team which included Henry Long of South Africa who was 8th in the World Speedway Final at Wembley Stadium, London, in 1952, and Trevor Redmond of New Zealand who was later destined to become a leading speedway promoter at Bulawayo’s Showground Stadium.

In 1953 / 1954, eight tracks existed in Southern Africa - at Wembley Stadium ( in Johannesburg ), Springs, Randfontein, Durban (at Hoy Park Stadium), Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Bulawayo and Pretoria.

A track at Klerksdorp was later added to the list. League racing was in vogue at the time and it was not long before Bulawayo was included in the roster. Each of the visiting British riders was allocated to a team in the Union and certain South African riders were allocated to the new Bulawayo Lions speedway team who now sported the same colours as the World famous Wembley Lions team in London - a red lion on a white race jacket. That first Bulawayo team comprised: Fred Wills (Captain), Dave Collins, Toby Boshoff, Doug Serrurier, Neil Neilson, Bev Bird and Bundu Bovett, but later included the likes of Sonny James, Bertie Hall, Dick Campbell and Arthur MacDougall (MacDougall at the time was a 22 year old plumber who had already made his mark at speedboat and stock car racing). Their first meeting was against Wembley Lions (Johannesburg) captained by Henry Long.

Later on the Bulawayo team was captained by Peter Dykes, the New Zealander, who settled in Bulawayo and who, together with Bobby Page, organised Stock Car Racing at Khami Stadium, four miles outside of Bulawayo.

The other teams the Bulawayo Lions rode against were The Rest of Southern Africa (S.A. Aces) captained by Henry Long - at this meeting, Bev Bird of the Bulawayo Lions won the Golden Helmet Handicap Trophy; Springs Stars captained by Roy Bester - Ernie Reid and his Death – Defying Crash Cars were an attraction during inter-

val at this meeting; Pretoria Eagles captained by Doug Davies (also a World Speedway Finalist) - Doug Lang won the Golden Helmet at this meeting ; and Durban Hornets who also featured Roy Browning (the Ghost Rider) in their line-up - he rode in all-white leathers and white boots, unusual as all other riders wore black leathers and boots at the time!!

In addition to these league meetings, several internationals were staged such as a test between The Commonwealth (Captain: Ken McKinlay of Scotland) against Southern Africa (Captained by Bertie Hall). A Commonwealth Best Pairs event was also staged and, in December,1955, there was a test at the Showground Stadium between Scandinavia (Captained by Olle Nygren,another World Finalist) and The Commonwealth (Captained by Fred Wills).

1956 saw the Southern Rhodesian Open Speedway Championships which attracted the best riders from Britain , South Africa and Rhodesia, and, in 1957, Bulawayo fans saw the clash between England (Captained by Alan Hunt) and South Africa (Captained by Henry Long) in a test match. Tragically, some time later Alan Hunt (who was a World Finalist in 1956) was killed at a track meeting in the Union when his machine stopped dead and he fractured his skull.

The Rhodesian Open Speedway Championship held at a later date was won by Fred Wills from Roy Bester with Peter Dykes / Arthur Duncan 4th.

Crowds of between 15,000 and 20,000 were the norm on Friday nights at the Showground Stadium and the sport became so popular, a Speedway Supporters’ Club was formed in 1956, presided over by Ernie Bernell. When a local rider, Peter Crisp, broke his arm during a practice ride, he received a cheque for ninety pounds collected by the Club and presented to him by the president at a gathering at the Old Miltonians Club.

At one stage in October, 1955, it was proposed to shift Speedway to Hartsfield and the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board was willing to extend the field, double the number of floodlights and erect permanent seating, but councillors opposed this move and Speedway remained at the Showground Stadium.

When the Rhodesian Speedway Association was eventually wound up, they gave one thousand, seven hundred pounds to charities including distribution of funds to organizations such as Coronation Cottages , St. Joseph’s Home, Queen Mary Home and St. Gabriels. Speedway was from then on run by the Bulawayo Agricultural Society with the Speedway Riders Association of South Africa.

CYCLE SPEEDWAY (commonly known as : “SKID KIDS“): gained support amongst local Bulawayo youngsters after the impact made by the Bulawayo Lions speedway team at the Showground Stadium and proved that Speedway was immensely popular.

Alick Stuart (Pvt.) Ltd., the local bicycle shop in Bradlows Buildings in Abercorn Street, in 1954 encouraged youngsters to buy special Speedway bicycles fitted out with knobbly tyres, handlebars, etc. and “Skid Kids“ gained in strength.

Brian Sudding together with his brother, Rory, and a band of other schoolboy supporters, built the first Cycle Speedway track in Bulawayo on a piece of vacant land which at the time was just bush alongside the Hillside Post Office in Stafford Avenue, Hillcrest. They formed the first “Skid Kid “ team, aptly named the Hillcrest Sables and meetings were held on Saturday afternoons at this track and also at other tracks which had later sprung up such as the Hillcrest Eagles track further into the suburb and the Park Vue Lions track nearer to the city. In addition to the Sudding brothers, other prominent riders of the day were Derek Mitchell – Henry, Gavin and Clive Peatt , Brian Donnelly (Malindela Marlins), Alan “Buddy“ Harris (Park Vue Lions and later of road racing and Speedway fame), Kenny Brown and John Jenkinson (Hillcrest Eagles).

Mr.J.F. (Jimmy) Davison was the schoolboys’ greatest ally in organising the sport and, with his help, they staged a Skid Kids Title Meeting which was won by the Hillcrest Sables, as well as a Rhodesian Skid Kids’ Championship meeting which was held in the centre arena in front of the main grandstand at the Showground Stadium. At this time Skid Kids were also in demand in other ways and were asked to give demonstrations such as at the Old Miltonians’ fete.

Speedway and Cycle Speedway happened in Bulawayo all those years ago but were enjoyed by young and old.

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A WHITE AFRICAN REMINISCES

GORDON B. GARLICK

In his preface to this biographical narrative of his life in Africa as well as some of his personal thoughts about the continent, Gordon Garlick freely admits that in places it can be sometimes rambling and disjointed. However, it is an extremely readable saga. He makes no apologies for his views – they are his alone and are based on family experiences shared through three generations.

He says that the formative years of his life were spent in Africa, his heritage is rooted there and the ghosts of his forbears are there for eternity. He left Africa with his wife and eleven year old daughter in January of 1979.

The family was able to settle in America and to make a successful life here. He says that he is proud to have been born an African, but even prouder to be called an American.

He is a larger than life character and freely apologizes for any plagiarism in his work, explaining that if he did this, it was because the words impressed him enough to remember them.

This work is intended for his daughter and grandchildren, and we the readers are grateful for his generosity in sharing it with us.

Part 4 In all my years in Africa I never owned a gun and never in all my trips to the bush shot an animal. I find it cruel and unnecessary and am proud of my record. I never begrudged people who did hunt lawfully because somewhere I figured that legitimate hunting was beneficial and the moneys generated were used for wildlife protection.

To give an idea of a how a bush trip was usually planned, we John, Fringe (a Limey friend) and I - would be in the pub drinking beer and talking about the bush. I would say “Lets go tiger fishing on the Kapompo.” and Fringe would ask “How?” I would say that John had a perfectly good VW bug “So let’s go.” The next day at work I would plot the course and calculate the mileage and logistical requirements. We would meet that night and make final arrangements. It would require carrying 500 miles worth of gasoline. (The tank was good for maybe 200 miles). Food consisted of corned beef, baked beans, and some n’shima. Beer would be rationed because of space to about 36 each for a three-day weekend. We set off with the three of us crammed in the bug with no room to spare.

One particular trip I picked a spot which I reckoned would be about 4 miles off the road at a certain point, a certain mileage from a particular hill, (I guess it was about 247 miles from home) where by dead reckoning we would go through the bush and hit the river. All went well and we reached the river right on the money. That is why my nickname was “Garlick the Navigator.” We fished for a day or two and tied our beer up a tree, inside a gunnysack, which we kept wet to chill it. On the trip home the bug started acting sick and after only a few miles it died with a burned piston. We were about 230 miles from home. Remember no phones, no gas stations, no tow trucks, no traffic, no nothing. We pulled straws and I stayed behind to guard the vehicle while Fringe and John would walk to a mission station about 20 miles away. They returned with a Land Rover borrowed from some VSO missionaries at the Jivundu mission camp, about 9 hours later.

We towed the junked VW to the mission where I left John and Fringe to the tender mercies of the white-man-starved American VSO girls, while I borrowed their 50 cc Honda scooter and went to Kalengwa Mines about 30 miles away to organize a ride to town because we had work the next day. I returned from the mine on the little bike plowing through thick Kalahari sands and encountered a lot of night animals.

The next morning at dawn a copper concentrate truck picked us up and we started the 9-hour trip to town in an ore truck. I made it to work the next day.

The stories of my life in the bush could fill pages and bore you to bits but some of them were fun. I often wonder what the safety police of today would say if they knew how we traveled the dirt roads of Africa.

We would drink beer the whole time while traveling and if I was driving and received a call from Mother Nature, I would get John to put his foot on the gas pedal while I squirmed out of the drivers seat and he would replace me without slowing down. I would then climb to the back of the moving vehicle, which was normally traveling about 50 miles per hour; I would climb onto the tow hitch of the boat trailer and

hold onto the tailgate of the vehicle with one hand and use the other to answer the call. I guess if we had hit a bump and the boat trailer had run over me I would not be telling you this story.

There was one time in 1968 when Theo Grobler, Andy Miekle and I were camped on the West Lunga at a place called Jivundu and we had two major problems in camp. The first was that the beer we had brought with us had not been brewed properly. Not surprising, because after Independence like everything else in the country one could not buy a beer whose quality was not suspect. It was sometimes full of “floaters” or was skunky. While it was lying in the sunken dugout canoe, where we kept it to keep cool, it kept exploding and sending glass shards flying all over camp. It was quite exciting going for a beer even before you checked it for floaters and foreign bodies. The final insult came when the red “surube” army ants drove us out of camp.

There was another time of interest when we were camped on the East Lunga River and decided that a night of crocodile hunting would be a good idea. Our croc hunting was just a game with no harm meant to anything or anyone. The usual modus operandi consisted of my brother-in-law, John Dorrington driving the boat, Earl Carston manning the spot light and me being the catcher. Russell Banning, who was chief advisor, oversaw all operations and passed the beers. Our croc catching activities would start after dinner, which consisted of the inevitable braai with the main course of n’shima and wors, which to this day, I swear, is the only real food on earth.

We went down the river in the dark of night and we caught a few little crocs which we put in a mealy (gunny) sack, About six crocs and probably six beers later, we came to a bend in the the river. Russell or Earl excitedly pointed out a big one. I was hanging over the nose of the boat at the time, the eyes looked too big to me and I realized that it was a hippopotamus and not a croc. Needless to say we beat a hasty retreat. I don’t think even Steve Erwin, the crocodile hunter, could catch a hippo with his bare hands.

Navigating the black waters of the Lunga River at night is always dangerous but we made it back to camp. We took the crocs into camp where Adolf, my man Friday nearly had a heart attack when we let them loose in camp and they all took off for the river a great speed.

The East Lunga was the site of a really unusual experience for my friends and me. We were traveling down stream in broad daylight when a twelve to fourteen foot croc left the bank like a torpedo and actually chased our boat on the surface. In the thousands of croc sightings I have experienced I have never had a croc do anything other than dive into the river and disappear under the waters.

I had another experience on the lower Kafue when I was walking the riverbanks I surprised a large hippopotamus on dry land and I was between him and his safety blanket in the river. He charged me and came flying by me into the river, missing me by a few feet. You don’t realize how big they are until one nearly tramples you. One of our rugby referees whom we had nicknamed Hippo had a similar experience, except he was bitten through completely. It was amazing that he lived.

All in all there was a twelveyear period between 1 9 6 6 and 1978 when we probably m a d e about five trips a year to the bush

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for from four to ten days at a time. We fished the Luapula, Kafue, Lufwanyama, Luswishi, Lunga, West Lunga, Kapompo and Zambesi rivers. You can throw in the Lukanga swamps and the Banguelu swamps for good measure. We also had some good trips to Lake Kariba.

Our river expeditions were becoming very popular and I organized a jet boating trip down the Kafue River from Luanshya to the Lubungu ferry just north of the Kafue National Park. If my memory serves me correctly it was scheduled to be about a 175-mile trip and we had four jet boats wanting to participate. All went well until we hit a hilly range south of the Lukanga swamp where we encountered bad rapids in the drying river. September is close to the height of the dry season and the river was getting to its lowest level. We holed one boat so badly that we tied it up in some trees and abandoned it. We carried on with the remaining boats but because of slow going in the rapids we ran out of daylight and made a rough camp on the river bank. It’s not too smart to sleep in the Kafue National Park with no tent, sleeping bag or food. At least we had plenty of beer and we made the best of it.

The next day we carried on until we arrived at the ferry where the support vehicles were to meet us. They were not there. The drivers of our vehicles had gone to another location about 40 miles upstream to look for us because we were a day late. We spent another night sleeping under the stars with no food and only

a few adult beverages left. I got so thirsty that I drank straight from the river while watching the hippo manure float past. I was so desperate for water that I think I would have drunk mud. A few weeks later we mounted a rescue mission for the abandoned boat, which was fortuitous because we found a delightful camping site on the Kafue River 45 miles north west of Mumbwa where the fishing and game viewing was non-pareil.

A Celebration William MYBURGH turned 100 years of age on 5th April, 2009. He was born in Umtali and his mother was a pioneer. He lived in Umtali until 1981 when he moved to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and now is resident in Sunnyside Park Clinic, P. Bag 9081, Pietermaritzburg. Known as Willie or Bill Myburgh he represented Rhodesia at hockey in 1936 and was a keen soccer and rugby player in Manicaland. He coached and refereed rugby in the province in the 1950s.

He worked in the family firm Hodgson and Myburgh in Umtali and later on was in the civil service in the Customs and Excise department. He has 2 children, Pinkie and Tony who live in Johannesburg. He has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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DO YOU NEED HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN RHODESIA/ZIMBABWE?

ASSOCIATION ROUNDUP SOUTH AFRICA

FLAME LILY FOUNDATION (incorporating RASA) I have 26 years’ experience in the National Archives of NATIONAL Zimbabwe.

Chairman: Mike RUSSELL, Secretary: John REDFERN I undertake archival and historical research, specialising in biographiPO Box 95474, Waterkloof, 0145, Tel: +27 (0)12 4602066, cal searches, philately and postal history.

Fax: +27 (0)86 6484794, E-mail: rasa@iafrica.com, My colleagues in Zimsearch specialise in family history.

Website: www.flf-rasa.org RATES AND TERMS ON ENQUIRY The Flame Lily Foundation is probably the largest and most representative organization for Rhodesians in South Africa. The FLF’s I.J. Johnstone aims are as follows: c/o Zimsearch • To promote, further and secure the interests of former residents of P. O. Box 2418, Harare, Zimbabwe Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and their descendents; Email: • To provide or facilitate residential accommodation for persons over the rokpa@zol.co.zw or ropka@mango.zw or kupas@mweb.co.zw age of 60, in particular those former residents of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe who have settled in South Africa; WEB SITES TO CHECK OUT Please let us know if any of these sites are no longer active or if the • To give help in particular to the aged and disabled; • To preserve the history and heritage of Rhodesia. content changes unacceptably.

Assisting Zimbabwe Pensioners Rhodesians Worldwide on the WWW In our previous report, we mentioned that two members of the new www.rhodesia.com unity government in Zimbabwe had assured us that they would address Zimbabweans Worldwide the question of non-payment of pensions. We appreciate that they have www.thezimbo.co.uk many other issues to attend to, and non-resident pensioners might not Rhodesians Worldwide Magazine be a high priority for them at this time. www.rhodesia.org However, on 6 April, 2009, the FLF received an email from the Rhodesian Music Site Zimbabwe Director of Pensions, in which he wrote as follows: “We now www.rhodiemusic.com have an inclusive Government trying to put things back to normal. In Zimbabwe Democracy Trust the event that the situation indeed returns to normal and we are once www.zimbabwedemocracytrust.org again in a position to pay pensioners resident outside of Zimbabwe Financial Gazette (Zimbabwe) their pensions, would your organisation be in a position to assist us www.fingaz.co.zw re-establish contact with pensioners in South Africa?”

Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation We responded by asking how we might help, and we await further http://pumamouse.com/notsouthsouthernRBC.html advice from Zimbabwe. In anticipation of pension payments coming on Zimbabwe Independent Newspaper line again before long, the FLF has updated the Zimbabwe Pensioners http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/ Association (ZPA) questionnaire for pensioners, which can be accessed Rhodesian Merchandise on our website, under Services. Any Zimbabwe pensioner living in www.mazoe.com South Africa who has not yet sent us their pension details is invited to Northern Rhodesians Worldwide register with the ZPA. Those who have provided their particulars since www.greatnorthroad.org the database was established in 2004 are asked to notify us of any Hwange Conservation Society changes that might since have occurred, such as change of address www.hwangecons.org.uk or death of a spouse. This information should be addressed to the ZPA Flame Lily Foundation (RSA) at our address at the head of this column. http://www.flf-rasa.org In addition to assisting the Zimbabwe government pensions office, Rhodesian Adoption Search the FLF is willing to assist other Zimbabwe pension funds to reach their www.angelway.info members in South Africa. We have made contact with Old Mutual’s Rhodesian Sydney Consulate Pencare and the Mining Industry Pensions Fund in this regard. http://rhodesia.nir.org.au/ Annual General Meeting C-Squadron S.A.S The FLF held its AGM and planning conference on 27-30 April at http://www.csqn.co.za/ Magalies Park by Hartbeespoort Dam. Our theme was “Meeting the 30Degrees Book Publishing challenge of change”, and this stimulated a lot of thought and discussion. www.30degreessouth.co.za The National Managing Committee was re-elected en bloc.

The Rhodesian Light Infantry Our host this year was the Pretoria Branch, and they looked after us www.therli.com superbly. Following are some of the messages received from branch Rhodesian Militaria delegates after the AGM: www.rhodesianmilitaria.com “I don’t think the year would be the same without the National AGM Rhodesian Merchandise get together, it has really become a part of our lives and our special www.jeppestown.com friends. It will really be a sad day when, if ever, the Association decides Selous Scouts Page that there is no longer a need to be filled.” Sheila and Quentin GIBSON http://members.tripod.com/selousscouts/ (Pietermaritzburg and Districts Branch) Rhodesians Worldwide Assistance Fund “Friday was a sad day, it was the culmination of a week of fun, www.rwaf.org fellowship, hope and speaking the same language to keep the flame Jack Malloch Website alive and time to go home, away from those friends that we see only www.jackmalloh.com once a year. Refreshed in determination to do what needs doing in the Viscounts in Africa year ahead and for this we thank you all. The Maritzburg Gang.” http://home.iprimus.com.au/rob_rickards/viscounts/viscounts.htm “I too would like to say how privileged I was to have attended the Internal Affairs (Intaf) Website Magaliesberg AGM in the company of true Rhodesian spirited persons. www.freewebs.com/dudleywall/ The meeting content was really quite challenging as to how we plan

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and cope with the issues of Change. We are truly challenged with change but we are also well equipped to handle it.” Peter MORRIS (Durban Branch) “I would like to express my thanks again to all who made this AGM such a success. I felt each day was different, and each one contributed to the success of this gathering. In retrospect you are not such a bad lot after all. Take care, God Bless and hope to see you all in 2010.”

Skatie FOURIE (Cape Peninsula Branch) Working Together Lewis WALTER, Chairman of our Cape Peninsula Branch, submitted the following: “The Cape Peninsula Branch of the Flame Lily Foundation recently received a very generous donation of Rhodesiana books for sale, proceeds to go to the Foundation’s Grateful Gran project which boosts the social pensions of certain elderly Rhodesians living in South Africa.

“The books were advertised in our newsletters, and Eddy NORRIS kindly repeated the advertisement in the Rhodesian Air Force’s “ORAFS” e-newsletter and also his Umtali newsletter. Police, army and other association newsletters then picked up and repeated it, and the result was a very successful sale which raised OVER TEN THOUSAND RAND for our pensioners!

“This is a prime example of what can be achieved when different Rhodesian organisations liaise and work together, for the benefit of our elderly who are in need of help and support.

“We record our thanks to Eddy and all who helped to bring about this wonderful outcome.”

John Redfern PRETORIA BRANCH Secretary: Mary REDFERN Tel: 012 4602066, Fax: 086 6484794 Email: rasa@iafrica.com Having hosted the National AGM in April at Hartbeespoort Dam, the Pretoria Branch held its own AGM in Pretoria on 24 May. After the business session, Chas LOTTER, well known author of Rhodesian Soldier and African Soldier, gave a fascinating talk. His subject was Rhodesiana, Militaria and Collectables, with examples on display from his magnificent collection – arguably the finest private collection of Rhodesian militaria in South Africa.

It is a constitutional requirement that all members of the committee must stand down at the AGM, although they may be re-elected. For various reasons, half the outgoing committee members did not stand for re-election, so we have four new members on the committee, namely Jocelyn BREDENKAMP, Spero BLISMAS, Gaile COBBETT and Phil GARBETT. Those re-elected were Mary REDFERN, Liz LITTLE, and Pam DARKINS. Because the Pretoria Branch handles membership for people who live in areas where there is no other FLF branch, we have a total of over 1,100 current members on our books, of which 250 are Life Members.

We keep in touch with them through our bi-monthly newsletter, the Msasa Mail. Members such as Shirley COETZEE in Hermanus, the BROOKE-SMITHs in Sedgefield, and the JAMIESONS in Port Alfred hold get-togethers in their areas. Apart from being social events, some are also used to raise funds for the FLF’s Grateful Gran project, to assist our most needy pensioners.

Our next event in Pretoria will be the annual Remembrance Sunday Service, to be held at Rooihuiskraal Terrain on 8 November, 2009. We intend to have the Rhodesian Forces Mobile Memorial for the Service this year, now that there is a special trailer for conveying it safely.

Mary Redfern CAPE PENINSULA BRANCH Chairman : Lewis WALTER, Tel: 021 782 1895; E-mail lewiswalter@xsinet.co.za Secretary : Avril FOURIE, Tel: 021 785 5620 (after 7 pm); E-mail avrilf@polka.co.za The Cape Peninsula Branch held a very successful and well-attended Annual General Meeting on 9th May. The incoming Committee is as follows : Skatie FOURIE, vice Chairman; Avril FOURIE, Secretary;

Tony HENCHIE, Treasurer; Jean BOWEN-DAVIES and Wilma KEMP, Welfare; Rosemary RUDD, Newsletter; Marie FIELD, Somerset West Liaison; Mary BRANDON and Middy MIDLANE; and finally Lewis WALTER, Chairman.

We were very sorry to lose Jo MCINTYRE who withdrew from the Committee for personal reasons. She raised our Newsletter, the Fish Eagle, to its very high standard - a task which is now being most capably carried out by newcomer Rosemary RUDD. Marie FIELD has been very successful in establishing contacts in Somerset West, for which we are grateful. Jean BOWEN-DAVIES is being ably assisted in her tasks by another newcomer to the Committee, Wilma KEMP. The major project of our Branch continues to be raising funds for Flame Lily’s “Grateful Gran” Project, which is aimed at boosting the pensions of our elderly who have no income other than the South African Old Age pension. We are most grateful to our donors for their generous assistance.

Our next major event will be the annual Rhodes and Founders Lunch, to be held on Saturday, 11th July. For information, please phone Avril Fourie on 021 785 5620.

DURBAN BRANCH Chairman: George ARCHIBALD, Tel Cell: 083 6543502 Secretary: Elizabeth ARCHIBALD Tel: 031 7634184 E-mail: elizabetha@mweb.co.za Treasurer: Jill DE BEER, Tel: 031 9043611 - 083 4498422 MARITZBURG BRANCH Contact: Chairman: Quentin GIBSON, Cell: 072 1258377, Secretary: Sheila GIBSON, Tel: 033 3432994, Email: gibs@mewb.co.za Not too much happening in Maritzburg at this time as we had no function in April with the National AGM in Magalies Park. It was as usual a terrific time, meeting with others that we only see once a year and have done so for the past 25 years. The Pretoria Branch did us proud with the catering and the AGM meetings were cosy in one lounge/dining room of a chalet. The weather was typical Central African highveldt autumn going into winter, hot and sunny during the day with the temperature dropping as soon as the sun sinks behind the hill or horizon. The evenings were spent in typical Rhodesian fellowship.

Part of the working holiday, that this AGM represents, was our travelling; on the up run leisurely travel, stopping for coffee and lunch and arriving more or less at the appointed time. We missed our turning on the N1 North, where it can be confusing if you do not know the exact names of what you need on the off ramp signs, however we had a lovely tour of Hartbeespoort area and arrived funnily enough having done less kilometres than we did on the way home down the recommended route, which was again a leisurely journey. For me the trip was a pleasure, as having done as much driving as I wanted to, I handed the control of the car to Nigel Cuerden, who was an advanced driver in the BSAP, and this showed in the consumption being a lot better than when I am behind the wheel (having been in Traffic Section for a while he sticks to the speed limits, so doesn’t have to warch out for those hidden cameras. One horrific part of the trip is having to pay the numerous TOLLS, which from Maritzburg to Joburg total R142 - plus another R8 from Durban.

We are now preparing for our branch AGM, which will be on 31st May, 2009 and we have thrown our home open for this in the hope that the weather will be kind. This will be Sheila’s 25th AGM as Branch Secretary and there are no signs of a replacement being available.

The Branch missed Vic NOBLE when he left for the Cape, as he was our Editor and initiator of the “Shamwari” our successful newsletter. I was forced into taking it over for a while, but found it too much with my other responsibilities and was very relieved when Sheila offered to try an issue, I really can’t remember how long ago that was, but she does an excellent job and is unlikely to find a relief for that either (the old army addage, never volunteer!). Preparing the Newsletter for postage preceeds our committee meeting, with Ohna TURNER, Pierre FOURIE or Nigel CUERDEN and myself walking round and round a small table assembling it in the correct order, alternating the assembled ones to pass to the folders Yvonne AHERN, Jo BUSHELL, Patricia FOURIE and Sheila GIBSON. Frieda FULTON helped with the folding until she resigned from the Committee for personal reasons.

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(AUS) 0893074790 or email byrons@bigpond.com Website www.rhodesia-west-au.com

In June we are going to try out a new place called Chill Out @ Hlathini, which is owned by Rhodesians (don’t like the epithet Ex) and this will forsake the normal Braai for a picnic. We like to find new places to visit, but distance is always a consideration as the cost of travelling is forever rising, not withstanding the occaisional backward dips that are ususally very short lived.

One of our Maritzburg Rhodies, Willie MYBURGH made the honours list recentlyand celebrated his 100th Birthday.

Shala Khale SHAMWARI TRUST Club Managers: Mark and Ingrid BOOYSEN, Tel : 031 2660836 Fax: 031 2671542, E-mail: weapont@mweb.co.za

AUSTRALIA

Rhodesian Services Association Secretary Hugh Bomford hbomford@clear.net.nz web http://www.rhodesianservices.org

UNITED STATES

HIGHVELD BRANCH Contact: Chairman: Kevin JONES, Tel Cell: 082 4170594 Treasurer: Cathy JONES, Tel: 017 6346219 (a/h), Email: jonesk@xsinet.co.za Greetings from a cool dry highveld, the winter is now starting to take a grip, not a very nice sight. Everything is so dull, but thank goodness it does not last too long.

With all the hustle and bustle of the elections now a thing of the past we are all waiting to see what the new chaps will do, is it going to get better or worse? All our hopes are that things will improve, funny enough a lot of people have a real positive attitude about the future.

The recession is also hitting the highveld area with a lot of the contractors losing work and it looks like we may have a few more welfare cases to attend to this year.

We held our A.G.M. in April with an attendance of around 70% of our members attending. The management committee was elected for this year with no surprises, the same team once again.

Chairman Kevin Jones Vice Conrad Steyn Secretary Ann Holmes Treasurer Cathy Jones Plus 12 committee members, all of whom assist the managing committee in all aspects.

Myself and Gerry Redman attended the national AGM in Magalies Park outside Pretoria. It was really great to see all the delegates once again, it has become like a family reunion nearly all of us have been doing it for over 20 years. I am sure all the details of the meeting will be covered by Pretoria branch.

Since our last input to the magazine we held our annual remembrance dinner and dance which was attended by 80 members and friends. It was a great success with everyone enjoying themselves, of course the food made by the ladies on the committee was once again out of this world with plenty to go around. The next day the committee still managed to have a great lunch together with the left overs. Our thanks go out to all the following persons for all the effort put in: Cathy JONES, Ann HOLMES, Linda REDMAN, Diane MOORE, Anita SCHMAHL, Sharon WICKENS as well as all the husbands and friends who helped set up the hall, and of course cleaned up afterwards. If I have forgotten anyone please forgive me. Also a big thank you once again to the Schmahl’s for the music provided.

We also attended the MOTH remembrance parade where we laid a wreath on behalf of fallen Rhodesians.

We still open our clubhouse which is run by one of the committee members every Friday night, food is made and sold or a bring-and-braai is held. We have had a few darts competitions against the English Club and so far have come out on top beating them at about 5 to 1. We also play a darts ladder competition as well as of course the pool table which keeps some of the members busy, but best of all it’s really great to get together with all our friends and talk nonsense over a few cold chibuli’s.

If anyone for any reason at all is in our area please do not hesitate to contact us or pop in and join us for an evening.

That’s all we have from our little clubhouse, our best wishes go out to all where ever you are all over the world.

Best wishes Kevin Jones and members of FLF Highveld.

RAWA (Western Australia) Contact Doug CAPPER

M’dalas Contact Sylvia HOLBORN (W. Australia) 08 9341 3997 email: madalas@rhodesia-west-au.com

Rhodesian Association of Western USA President John NASH-WEBBER Contact: Stella ANDERSON USA(805)570-8529 email:stella.anderson@prodigy.net We hope that you will be able to join us for the 2009 Annual Rhodesian Reunion, Friday October 9th - Sunday October 11th. It is a wonderful event and a great opportunity to visit with old friends, meet new ones, have some good old Rhodie fun and listen to Alan R. and Paddy Q.’s Shona/Matabele live auction while enjoying that shumba! 2008 was a great success and we are looking forward to a festive reunion this year.

For more information contact Stella ANDERSON at phone number or email address above Arizona Rhodesians Contact: Chris Whitehead at USA(480)924-0431 CANADA Ontario Branch Contact: Peter and Dianne Fisher, 5726 Rama Road, RR 6, Orillia, Ontario, Canada tel: (705) 327-3461 Rhodesians Worldwide-British Columbia Branch Contact:Allistair and Wendy BALL Canada tel: 604-533-1203, email alwend@shaw.ca

UNITED KINGDOM Rhodesians Worldwide-Kent Branch Contact: Ron WILLIAMS,lynneandron@hotmail.com Telephone (UK) 01622 762189 Kent Branch has had a successful few months with a change of leadership and Committee. The new Chairman Ron WILLIAMS would like to take this opportunity to thank the out going chairman, Bryn PRICE, for all his hard work and leadership over the past two years.

Our branch has grown somewhat over the past 3 years and we regularly have 60 or more people in attendance. We have seen several new faces at our meetings this year, and hope to see the ranks swell even more as the year marches on.

Gina SHAW organised an Easter Bonnet parade at our April meeting and this was a huge success. Thanks to Gina and all who took part.

We anticipate doing this again next year,so plenty warning.

We bid farewell to Beryl POTTER,who left us for a new life with her son in New Zealand. Beryl and late husband Norman were huge supporters of our branch for many years and for this we thank her for their friendship and contribution. Beryl’s grandson Josh continues to attend our meetings,entertaining the youngsters and keeping them occupied.

Sadly we lost my cousin, Ann BAKER,who passed away in March.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Alan,Glyn, Sharleen and Richard.

She was a wonderful lady who,for many years supported our branch.

We also have Anne to thank for the wonderful hall we meet in,as it was the Bakers that brought us to Chilham all those years back.

The July Braai 2009 is nearly upon us and the kent branch as usual,will be there in great numbers. We look forward to making a donation, to be decided by the committee and branch. We will continue to support the ZRWAF as we have done for many years past.

John LEROUX has been elevated onto the committee and volunteered to take on the task of “Sadza Master” much to the relief of those who have gone without for the past two months. John’s good lady Jackie, has taken on the task of Treasurer and will take over from

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Stan in June. Stan has done a great job as “interim” treasurer and for this we thank him on behalf of everyone. It was also agreed that Bryn will look after the bar stock as Phil, our master barman, has done so for more years than can be remembered. Phil has done a great job of looking after our refreshments over the years and will continue to do so, with a little help from members stepping in to give him a well deserved break. We have a great team of people who help set up, light and tend braai fires and pack away at the end of the day, not to mention the ladies who set out all the teas and cakes and then clean up afterwards.

So if you are an ex Rhodie/Zimbo, pop in for an afternoon of braaiing with folks from the old country. Have a cold Castle and chew on some biltong, you’ll soon get into the spirit. If you want to receive our news letters, contact me on the above email and I will pass on your details to Sandra, our hard working secretary, who will update our data base.

Berkshire Branch Contact John O’ BRIEN Phone 01635 43100 or 254101 Email john@dovetailhrs.co.uk, Secretary Karen BEZUIDENHOUT Email penguin@bezfamily.net Our first meeting of 2009 was an Easter egg hunt for the little kids and a braai for the big kids. It was extremely successful and we had a record crowd of almost 100 people. Two of our newest members Gill & Grant Edmonds (Grant is John Edmond’s son the fantastic musician you will all remember from Rhodie days) treated us to some fantastic music. They played many of our old favorites from home and some of their own music and the crowd loved it and it created a real party atmosphere.

This was followed by our May meeting a Boulez competition and braai. Again we were blessed with good weather and a real fun day was had by all. Siobhan O’ Brien our reigning champion of the previous two years defended her title against all comers but was unfortunately knocked out in the early rounds. The final was a keenly contested affair between Alan Fotheringham and Wally O’ Brien with Alan the eventual winner in a very closely fought affair. We had music provided

by DJ Derek Nicklin who treated us to many of our favorite tunes and a great day was had by all.

All Rhodesian’s / Zimbabwean’s and friends are welcome at our forthcoming meeting which I list below and are at our permanent home Burghclere Sports Club Harts Lane, Burghclere, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 9JD unless otherwise stated.

Sunday 23rd August Rhodesia/Zimbabwe select vs. Burghclere cricket/Braai 1pm Saturday 17th October Quiz at 8pm.

Saturday 14th November national dinner dance at Calcot Hotel Reading 7.30pm.

North Eastern Branch (Yorkshire & Leeds) Contact: Gary MCMASTER 07759 660 604 karibalodge@aol.com Milton Keynes Branch Contact: Joe DEENEY at Phone 01908 608424 email dan.cherry@virgin.net

Year, at our first meeting of the year, in Herefordshire on January 10th, a freezing cold day, but nonetheless we all enjoyed good company, home-made cooking and kept warm playing skittles.

The morning of 17th May dawned rather wet and overcast, but thanks to one of our members, we would be meeting in a well-equipped hall where we could chat and exchange news and views, like the good old days. We all made contributions for a ‘Bring and Share’ meal and as usual enjoyed tasting each others favourite dishes. Lovely Koeksusters completed the meal.

A short meeting preceded lunch when I was able to report that donations have once again been sent to ZANE through cash donations and the annual sale of my ever increasing stock of Flame Lily rhizomes. This beautiful flower is making its way into English gardens where they bloom profusely during the English summer months.

Attached is a photo of those who managed to attend in May. Vyv Tantum is holding Mitzi and Richard and Caroline their Labrador.

We will be meeting again in August and with the ‘promise’ of a decent summer we will definitely have a braai.

OTHER Rhodesian Army Association Contact: Brig. David Hepenstall at UK (0)1590 678201 or email d.heppenstall@virgin.net The Inaugural Rhodesian Forces Dinner was held in March at a venue in Gillingham, Kent. There was an excellent 4 course meal with wine and port and the main guest of honour was Lord Walker, a General in the British Army who is now running the Chelsea Pensioners Home (for retired British army personnel) in London. His father had served in Malaya with the Rhodesian Army, assisting the British Forces during the 1950’s emergency.

During his speech, Lord Walker gave us several amusing anecdotes of some of the incidents with the characters resident in the home.

One example concerned an official visit by royalty to the Chelsea home.

They went into the hospital wing and the a voice from a bed called out, “Hey missis, you look just like the Queen.” Quick as a flash came the tart reply, “Sir, I am the Queen!”

As the photograph on the back cover shows, a good time was had by all who attended. It has been suggested that this becomes an annual event so watch this space.

Gloucester Zimbabwe Club Contact David & Veronica MAGDEN at zgca40@btinternet.com British South Africa Police Association (UK Branch) HELLO FROM GLOUCESTER ZIMBABWE CLUB – Veronica Contact : Barry Henson Hon. Sec. at 30, Hilltop Drive, Oakham, Madgen Rutland, LE15 6NF [Tel: 01572 770331] E-mail bsapuk@aol.com The Club was formed in Gloucestershire some years ago through the staunch efforts of Tiny Tantum with Vyv by his side, to assist, where Hwange Conservation Society possible, newcomers to the UK. Richard Keene, an old friend of the 38 Sighthill Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 4QG tel: 0131-453 3924 Tantums’, was President and Don Gardener, Treasurer.

Rhodesian Christian Group At an AGM two years ago, David and Veronica Madgen agreed to Contact Denis WALKER, P. O. Box 5307, Bishop’s Stortford, keep the group in touch with each other and co-ordinate and organise Herts CM23 3DZ, UK get-togethers.

Our membership covers the three counties of Gloucestershire, RHODESIAN PIONEER CLUB. Herefordshire and Worcestershire and as a result we are now trying Contact Vicki Bowker Phone UK 08703 708 704 to meet in each other’s ‘patch’ and see a bit more of the English email Pioneer@rwaf.org countryside and the history it has to offer. We met early in the New

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Obituary

Obituary

Obituary

Stu DUNBAR

Obituary

Anne Joy Eileen BAKER

Stu DUNBAR, late of Northlea School, Bulawayo, and Kenton-onSea, Eastern Cape, died yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 22nd April, 2009),after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Stu was a wonderful fellow - full of humility, a carer for his fellow man, a magnificent sportsman and athlete. Preston Robertson, who was the Rhodesian captain when Stu was first selected to the team had this to say....” I remember him well - I called him The Mule ‘cos he could kick the ball so damn far and this young guy came in to the team and covered himself in glory from his first game” ... and I remember watching Stu put over a penalty kick fully 70 m out for Rhodesia during a Currie Cup game played at the Salisbury Police ground in about 1972. When he followed through on his place kicks, his right foot would be way above his head (over his left shoulder)- it was an amazing sight and given his muscularity and height, it is no wonder he was able to kick the ball so far.

Stu played for Rhodesia from 1970 to 1974 - (except for 1973 when he was recovering from a seriously broken ankle that occurred when playing against the touring Cardiff XV (that famous Welsh team lead

by Gareth Edwards) - it was this ankle break that had him turn down a Springbok rugby trial. Stu played in every backline position for Rhodesia in his time in the team except for scrumhalf (not surprising seeing that he was well over 6 feet tall!).

Jonty Winch, who wrote the book... Rhodesia Rugby - a History of the National side 1899 - 1979 had this to say....” There was admiration for two Rhodesians in 1974 when they returned to the national fold after long spells out of the game through serious injury. Ray Varkevisser came back......and his Bulawayo Queens clubmate, Stu Dunbar, after playing all the positions bar scrum-half behind the pack for Rhodesia, broke his leg playing for Midlands against Cardiff early in the 1972 season. The injury, which prevented him from accepting a Springbok trial, was complicated by twisted tendons and ligaments, but contending with immense discomfort, he returned to the Rhodesia side as fly-half’.

He left Rhodesia for Rhodes University in 1975 where he studied and completed his Pharmacy degree with distinction. Because of the previously mentioned ankle injury, he declined to play rugby at Rhodes, despite all us there imploring him to and turned his attention to the game of squash, where, within a short time, was the E.P. number 1 senior men’s squash player and on his day, could beat any of the top ranking S.A. (Springbok) players.

He continued to play squash into the Master’s leagues and was a presence at many S.A. Senior and Masters tournaments over the years.

He was also a fine golfer and could drive the ball hundreds of yards - given his height, natural strength and natural ball playing skills whose handicap was way down into the single figures.

After completing his Pharmacy studies at Rhodes in 1978, I lost contact with him as I was moving around the country but as Port Alfred became a place of choice to visit during holiday time (my in-laws had a cottage there), I came across Stu at the Kenton-on-Sea pharmacy which he subsequently bought (Kenton is about 20 km S of Port Alfred).

As we tended to only visit Port Alfred during peak season (Christmas and New Year) trying to see Stu in his exceptionally busy pharmacy was difficult for more than just a snatched conversation here and there but through my brother-in-law, who was also a pharmacist and a golfer (living in Port Alfred), the communications lines were kept open.

I mentioned his humility and caring for others - during the last part of his illness, his main worry was for his family and friends, he feeling that he had let them all down with this terrible disease. When I last spoke to Stu - about a month ago - he said to me that he had try to fight the cancer the medical way by chemotherapy but it had left him feeling so ill that about 9 months ago he had decided to fight it on his own ground - and that seemed to work until about 6 weeks ago, when he took a bad turn from which he did not recover.

The world has lost another wonderful person and a young one at that, as Stu was born in about 1949 or 1950 so he wasn’t even 60 years of age when he died. I am just so thankful that I had got to know him and am honoured to have been able to have called him my friend.

Anne Joy Eileen Baker (nee Jolly) died peacefully at home on Sunday 1 March, 2009 following a tireless and brave battle against cancer.

She was born 29th April, 1940 in Kabwe, Zambia to Victor and Kathleen Jolly. She has a brother, Chris, in South Africa and a sister, Sue, in New Zealand. Her older brother, Norman, died recently in Harare.

Anne attended Girl’s High School in Harare. She qualified as a Higher Primary School Teacher at the University of Cape Town iin the late 1950s where she also took speech and drama courses. In the 1960s and 1970s she taught at Umtali Junior, Chancellor and Baring Schools in Mutare and Admiral Tait in Harare.

Anne married Alan on 18th December, 1965 at the Cathedral of St. Mary and All Saints, Harare. Sharleen, Richard and Glynn arrived in the next few years. Anne loved her family, home, dogs and garden and enjoyed many interests, particularly theatre. She was a member of the Marian Players and Umtali Players being involved with, among others, Johnny Belinda, South Pacific and Oliver. She also enjoyed badminton and hockey. In 1971 with the family she moved to Salisbury and enjoyed being a member of Reps Theatre. In 1978 another family move took her to West Yorkshire. She directed the local high school’s entry in the area’s Festival of Plays and won first prize. In 1984 the family moved to Kent. She took on the role of Secretary of Chilham Village Hall and served as teaching assistant at the primary school.

She joined the Arden Theatre in Faversham and enjoyed directing and all other aspects of theatre. Shee later became involved with “Operation Sunshine”. While in hospital she encouraged visitors and staff to knit 6” squares to make blankets and teddy bears for needy African children.

The family were pleased to see Rhodesians Worldwide Kent Branch members at Anne’s cremation service in St. Marys’ Church, Chilham on 27th March, 2009. Alan, Sharleen, Richard and Glynn have so many wonderful memories of a lovely lady.

Obituary

Obituary

Jean Maitland STUART Jean Maitland Stuart passed away recently after a long battle with cancer.

She was a pioneer of reporting in Rhodesia, having covered British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s “Peace in our Time” speech when he returned in 1938 from talks in Munich with Adolf Hitler.

Jean spent her working ife with the Rhodesia Printing and Publishing Company -- now Zimbabwe Newspapers -- and concluded her career as editor of The Umtali Post. It was there in 1981 that she came to world attention after publishing a scoop about North Korean troops stationed at Nyanga where they had come to train the Fifth Brigade ahead of the Gukurahundi genocide.

She was arrested and taken to the home of Prime Minister Mugabe for interrogation, but, as always, she kept her cool and refused to divulge any sources. On 25 September, 1981, she was forced to take early retirement.

Despite her work as a journalist, Jean played an active role in the social life of her home town, Melsetter (now Chimanimani) and also held a private pilot’s licence.

Geoff Hill who went on to write two books about Zimbabwe and is now bureau-chief Africa for the Washington Times worked with Jean on the Umtali Post. “She was a mentor and mother to us all and her delight was in helping others to excel at their work, regardless of who took the credit,” he said. “I will always remember her as one of the most special people I have ever known.”

As mother of Jim, Rob, Alistair and Morna and all the many grandchildren, step grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jean will be greatly and lovingly missed.

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CLASSIFIEDS BIRTHS Elijah (Eli) Judah born to Tirzah and Troy Warwick recently. Grandson to Antoinette (nee Fourie) and Ron Dick. Congratulations.

DEATHS ARMSTRONG, Ron passed away peacefully on 6 May, pain free at last. Beloved father of Glenn and Judy, Barry and Linda, Shelley and Clive, and wonderful loving Grandad of Rory, Scott, Kiara, Diandra, Janita, Shannon and Ethan. Dad you will be forever remembered, loved and missed by all of us ARNOTT, Gerald (Gerry), husband of Lorraine, ex-husband of Pam passed away 26 March, 09, formerly of Lizmore Farm, Mt. Darwin and employee of TSF and then BMZ. Sadly missed by his wife and his children (from his first marriage) Guy and Nola and their families.

BINGE, Rachel Louise (nee Jeanne) passed away in Orlando, FL on April 18th, 2009 at the grand age of 92. Rachel was born and grew up in Jersey, Channel Islands, U.K. She lived in Madagasgar and South Africa before moving to Rhodesia in the mid 1940’s. Ray married Sydney T. Binge (deceased July 1997) and together, they opened up and farmed Greenwoods farm in the Salisbury South / Beatrice area. Later, Ray worked as a Matron and Librarian at Girls High School and Chisipiti High School while Sydney worked as a Land Inspector for the Rhodesian government. In 1995, they moved to the U. S. to live with their son, Simon. Ray will be sadly missed by her daughter, Estelle Dodd; sons, Simon & Jeremy Binge; daughters-in-law, Katy & Pam Binge; grandchildren, Justin (wife Sarah) Adam, Jessica (husband Ryan Miller) and Sebastian (wife Metasha) Reynolds and Tony (wife Kathleen) David, Dustin, Brain and Carly Binge; great-grandchildren, Sakeena, Tariq and Jemima Reynolds.

BROOMBERG, Harold, 28 September, 2008.

Harold and Sylvia ran The Gwaai River Hotel for over 40 years and were well loved and well known to lots of Rhodesians for their wonderful hospitality and friendship especially to members of the armed forces stationed in that area.

Harold and Sylvia retired to Johannesburg and he is survived by Sylvia and their 3 daughters, Denny, Louise and Rinkie and three grandchildren.

CARTWRIGHT, Guy (from Waltondale Farm, Marondera) passed away suddenly on Thursday 2nd April, 2009 in Johannesburg. Sympathies to the family.

CLARKE, Graham of Howick (formerly of Chisipite), Husband of Dulcie and father of Nella, William (Bill), Mary, Sally, Anthea and Joy died after a stroke on 15th May, 2009 aged 97

years and 3 months. Dulcie - dandgclarke@ formative years in Bulawayo, attending Evelyn High School, and then working at the ESC. iuncapped.co.za She then moved to Harare after meeting and CHRISTIE, Rowan, died suddenly in Seattle marrying the outstanding sportsman Willie USA on 15 April, 2009, at a time when her Fulton. They had 3 children, Anne and the parents Jean and Alistair were just settling twins - Arthur and Robert, all of whom now live into their new home at Upper Heyford in in America. Willie and Grace started their very Oxfordshire, UK. successful sporting goods business, Fulton and CLAXTON, Bill, good friend, fellow farmer Evans in 1946, and continued to run it until the and wonderful Father, passed away Friday 90’s, when Willy was stricken with Alzheimer’s.

8th May. Deepest sympathies to Doreen Grace was extremely well-known, a good sports and all the family on this sad loss, Cherith, person and great bridge player, having a very outgoing personality, and she had many friends Amanda, John, Forbes and Bradley. with whom she kept in touch after she left Zim. CORNHILL, Pamela (nee Jepherson) passed She had just completed her biography, which away 29th May, 2009 on her farm in Mkushi she had published, and which is a good read Zambia. Farmed with her husband Miles 1960 for those interested in the early Rhodesian days.

- 1999 and then for the last ten years alone. Grace leaves family all over the world except A truly wonderful lady of noble birth, trained Asia, and continued to be interested in all of at Barts Hospital came to Rhodesia to nurse their lives. She will be sadly missed. and devoted her life to her family and friends.

A wonderful friend who will be sadly missed HARDWICK, Vic passed away in April, 2009.

by Cherith, Amanda, Forbes, Hazel, Bradley He was a former teacher at QQHS and will be and Nigel. Deepest sympathies to Clare and sadly missed by all who knew him. family in UK, Susan and Family in USA, and HINDE, Terence Stanley passed away 31 May, the late Sandra’s family in Australia.

2009. Formerly of Condwelani Farm, Bindura.

CRABTREE, Kay passed away at Amberglen, Loving husband to Sue; fantastic father and Howick on 8 April, 2009. Kay had not been father-in-law to Sarah and Don, Christopher and well for a number of months and had been in Carol, Louise, Nicholas and Nikki; and doting and out of frail care. Kay was the wife of Bill grandad to Chloe, Emma and Daniel, Megan, Crabtree, ex-BSAP. Messages may be sent to Kyle and Tarryn, Michael, Jonathan and Ryan, and Amy and Rachel. We will miss you so much Mike Crabtree at dcs.mdc@telkomsa.net and you will leave such a big gap in our lives.

CURTIS, Ida, devoted wife of the late Eric Curtis, passed away peacefully, in The Horton HURLEY, Ski passed away quietly in Hospital, near Oxford on Easter Sunday. She Johannesburg in the early hours of Saturday worked at the Bulawayo Post Office for 11 9th May, 2009. Much loved Sister of Vic and years, before joining her husband, Eric, to Sheila and At and Aggie, Aunt of Jen, Nick, Lal, become the Matron, at St. Josephs Home For Kim, Bobs, Di, Kevin and Shirley and Great Aunt Boys a job that she really loved. She will be to many. Committed, long - term secretary of sadly missed by her son, Peter, Sarah, Marc, the Centenary Farmers Association, ICA and Julie, Giles, all the Grandchildren and Great Centenary Country Club. Respected member of the community for 43 years. Ski, you will always Grand children. be missed and remembered with affection.

DEAN, Marian Irene, ex Que Que, beloved wife of Peter and mother of Pam, Greg and JACKAMAN, Ray passed away suddenly.

Debbie, passed away peacefully in Perth, Deepest sympathy to Frith and Brett. Thoughts Western Australia, on 3rd May, 2009. Marian and prayers are with you. We will always have will be sorely missed by all at the Madalas’ fond memories. Love Mike, Angie and family Club.

LENNOX, Jayne (nee Godden) SRN SCM ex DENT, Betty passed away peacefully on Rhodesia Nursing Service, died suddenly on 7 Monday 20th April, 2009. Beloved Mother of May, 2009. Loved and respected wife of Barry Stephen and Christopher, Mother in Law of for 42 years.

Gill and Carol, and Gran of Michelle, Sarah LEWIS, Owen passed away peacefully on and Lauren.

March 20th, 2009 at Melksham in Wiltshire, EVANS, Peter died in May 2009 at Golden UK. He was just 41 years old and attended Pond, Pietermaritzburg. Peter was well- Greengrove and Churchill schools. Sadly known as an eye specialist and TV personality missed by his father Roy Charles Lewis. in Bulawayo.

MALLETT, Nev. To Les, Lindy, Tracey and FULTON, Grace Alma died peacefully in families my sincere condolence to you all on the Houston, TX on 23rd November, 2008, passing of Nev. He was a good friend and it was after leaving Zimbabwe a few years earlier. a privilege to have known him. May God Bless She was born in Que Que at the Globe and and comfort you in this sad time. Mike Peens Phoenix gold mine in 1921, and spent her MANNING, Francis, passed away in Ireland

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early Monday morning 23rd March, after a brave struggle with cancer. He and Liz farmed in Doma and Old Umtali. Spent some years in Sark and South Africa and latterly lived in Ireland. We and his many friends will miss him very very much.

A special and much loved friend. Pip and Sue Rogers at email fossilszim@yahoo.com MASSON, Lilian - 28.03.1925 - 26.03.2009.

Lilian passed away in Mutare on Thursday evening, after a spirited fight against emphysema. She will be sadly missed, and always remembered, by her family in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

MILLER, Gwen went home to be with the Lord, 8 April, 2009. She had not been well for some time. She leaves her three children Val, Lyn and Steve, Bob and Jean, nine grandchildren, one grandson who is with her, and six great grandchildren. From Val Mienie and family, the Gilliland family, and Bobby Miller and family.

MINNAAR, Rosalie beloved wife of Ters, mum to Richard and Keith, Ouma to Rebecca and Emily passed away recently in Zimbabwe.

25th July, 1910 and lived in Rhodesia until March, 1979 when she and her husband Noel emigrated to the UK to be with their daughters.

She was the widow of NKOMOYAHLABA who predeceased her by 25 years. She was fortunate to live a full and active life for her 98 and a half years. Her decline was very sudden and she left us peacefully, in her own home in Uffington, UK, surrounded by her loving family. Beloved Mother of Mary and Yvonne, Grandmother of Camilla, Amanda and Robbie, and adored Great Grandmother of Harry, William, Poppy, Honor and Thomas.

She will also be lovingly remembered by her wider family and friends across the world.

car accident on the 24th March, ‘09 and was buried on their farm in Zambia. Dear friend to many and sadly missed. Those who attended his funeral were requested to do so in khaki shorts and open-neck shirts.

ROBEY, Don died on January 18, 2009 just short of his 90th birthday. He was the Manager of Manica Trading, Umtali for many years and colleague of Denis Quintin-Archard. Missed by all who knew him.

HINDMARCH, Herbert and Hester, in loving memory of our parents who passed away July, 1989 and July, 2006 respectively. You are both dearly missed . Sandra and Linda.

SHROSBREE Eric Garfield, passed away 28th May, 2009 in Somerset UK. He farmed Matila Farm, Mkushi Farm Block in Zambia 1961 – 2009. A Wonderful friend who went out of his way to help Zimbabwean farmers.

A Man of Substance, sadly missed by Cherith, Amanda, Forbes, Hazel, Bradley and Nigel.

Deepest sympathies to Di, Dave, Guy and Rhett Parker-Dennison, Somerset UK.

MORGAN, Ray, a wonderful man who never had a bad word to say . Dedicated to family and friends. Rest in peace, you will be sadly missed by everyone. Deepest sympathies to Mrs. Morgan, Glen and all of the family. From Cherith, Amanda, John, Forbes, Hazel and SNUGGS, Albert (Burt) died of cancer on Bradley.

29th March, 2009 in Pretoria at the age of NICHOLSON, Roger, died March 3, 2009 of 82. Beloved husband of Jacqui and father cancer at age 77. Nicholson was an MP for of David, Mark and Jaime. He was born in the UFP in Rhodesia and lost his seat to the Lancashire and came to Rhodesia with the RF. He returned to journalism and was jailed Royal Air Force where he met and married in 1969 for passing secrets to the US CIA. Jacqui. They farmed at Claremont, Bulawayo He was expelled from Rhodesia after the US before moving to South Africa. May he rest in Government threatened to withdraw diplomatic peace. Condolences to Jacqui and the boys representation from Rhodesia. He became from Pam and Timothy Darkins. the managing director of Thompson regional STEWART, Margaret, passed way peacefully Newspapers in the 1980s and eventually retired in the UK on 6 March, 2009. Loving wife to Creiff in rural Perthshire where he continued of Don, Mother of Cath, Dave and Ken. to dabble in journalism. He frequently visited Grandmother of Nicola, Lara and Andrei. We Zimbabwe and retained a deep interest in the will miss you. country. He is survived by his second wife Maureen who was a correspondent for AP in THURMAN, Group Captain Keith, beloved South Sfrica, and a son and a daughter from husband of Manuela, father of Rohn and his first marriage.

Kim, stepfather of Nicolle and Michelle, and grandfather of Erin; died in Harare, Zimbabwe PHILLIPS, Ralph, ex-Que Que High School, on 28th March, 2009, after a long battle brother of George, passed away on 21st April, with cancer. During his 23 years in the Air 2009 two days after his 68th birthday, following Force, he served with the Royal Rhodesian a heart attack. Ralph completed his education Air Force, the Air Force of Rhodesia and in the UK and after qualifying as a teacher, the Zimbabwean Air Force. Rest in peace emigrated to Australia with his wife Pam. Keith.

They returned to UK and Pam passed away in September, 2002. Condolences to the children, TOZER Dawn Olivia, mother of Errol, Deb, Jackie, Kay, and Ian, and also to his close friend Philip, Andrew and Tracey passed away on Pat. Remember by Dave Owen for our happy the 29th April, 2009 at Borrowdaile Trust days at the Que Que swimming pool and also Marondera. our adventures on the G & P mine dumps.

WATT, Jimmy, Ex Tengwe/Karoi. Beloved ROBERTSON, Eileen (nee Harper) passed husband of Val and father of Roy, John, away on 18th January, 09. She was a “Child Bruce and Kirsty was tragically killed in a of Rhodesia” born at the Antelope Mine on

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WILKINSON, Alice, sister of Bobbie Eccles was attacked on her farm Loudown in the Gwelo District in November, 2008. She passed away from the injuries suffered in the attack. Fondly remembered by all who knew her.

WILSON, Brian John, died in Southampton on 22 May, 2009. Sadly missed by his wife Mary and family.

IN MEMORIAM

LALLY, Laurence, two years on 27th October.

Sadly missed by Maggie and family MANNING, John Stewart, ex-BSAP and RBC. Always and forever in my thoughts and prayers.

Margy NICHOLAS, Jennifer (nee Coleman), in cherished memory of my beloved daughter Jenny who passed away on the 11th July 2007.

How I miss that lovely laugh, safe in the arms of Jesus. Your loving Mom Audrey.

NICHOLAS, Jen, in memory of our dearest sister who passed away two years ago on the 11-07-07. Sadly missed but not forgotten, Tish and Ian huntian@telkomsa.net POTTER, Norman 29/06/2007. Beloved husband of Beryl, and the best friend of Malcolm, Daphne and the late Greg (3/04/2000) and the greatest grandfather to Nigel and Joshua. You will forever be in our hearts and we will miss you forever.

PRINCE, Freda, passed away in Perth Australia July, 2007. Remembered by Rob, Linda and family.

SPRINGER, John died 9th August, 2006. Three long years have passed, the tears have not dried, but memories will never die. Still loved and missed by Pam. WATTERS, Irene Merle 1918-1992. In loving memory of my wonderful mother. Formerly of GPO Kingsway and Causeway during the 1950s and 60s, mainly the telegraph office. She was involved with the initial training of Africans to do counter work, some of whom later became Postmasters.

WESTWOOD, Al, died 24th April, 2008, WESTWOOD, Sybil, died 12th June, 1999.

Dearly loved parents of Penny and Nigel and grandparents to Jonathan and David. Treasured memories to keep forever in our hearts. Still so sorely missed.

BIRTHDAYS Ruth LEARMONTH will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 14th, 2009.

Congratulations from your loving husband Doug and from all Rhodesians worldwide.

Milton John Bishop MCGARRICK celebrates his 95th birthday on June 6, 2009.

Congratulations from all Rhodesians worldwide.

Major C.B. TURNER turned 96 on 12th May, 2009. He went out to Rhodesia in the 1930s to join the B.S.A.P. and the first house he built was two thatched rondavels in the middle of a plot of 5 acres in Borrowdale. Congratulations on your birthday from all Rhodesians worldwide.

ANNIVERSARIES CORRY THOMAS, Chris and Sue celebrate their Sapphire Wedding Anniversary on 29 August, 2009. We were married in Kericho, Kenya by the Arch Bishop of East Africa, Leonard Beecher. Also, on the 29 May, 2009 Sue celebrated her 3 score and 5 years with family and friends at Long Eaton, Nottingham. Tel: (UK) 0115 9460945 - email: suechrisct@talktalk.net

WANTED Can anybody help? - I am trying to trace a copy of the book by Dusty Durrant called “The Smoke that Thunders” (A book about Garratt steam trains). I have already tried the most obvious sources that are in the U.K., namely the book retailers Ottakers, Wartstones, W.H.Smiths and the internet company Amazon. com. Please contact John Laban if you can help at UK tel 01902-632239 Rhodesiana, including old newspapers or cuttings. Rhodesians Worldwide magazine would very much appreciate the donation of any Rhodesiana. Sales of Rhodesiana by the magazine are used to offset the costs of mailing our complimentary copies of the magazine and help with the general costs of running the magazine. Please contact us if you have anything to donate or are thinking of getting rid of. Our address is P. O. Box 22034, Mesa, Arizona 85277-2034, USA. Postage Stamps: Postage stamps used or mint urgently needed by the British Section of Hwange Conservation Society for use in their fund raising efforts to help and support wildlife in the Hwange National Park Zimbabwe.

Please send any contributions to:- Anne Wilkinson, Spotted Dog Cottage, Whorlton, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham DL12 8XQ, United Kingdom.

FOR SALE A selection of Rhodesian memorabilia books and pictures mainly. Mary Slevin has a number of items she would like to dispose of for a reasonable amount of money. all proceeds of sale will go to the Zimbabwe Rhodesia Worldwide Assistance Fund. Please write to her at 11 The Old Flour Mills, Mill Road, Buckden, St Neots PE19 5WX, UK or email her at john.slevin@live.co.uk. There are also a few museum items.

A numbered copy of a book “Southern African Epiphytic Orchids” by John S Ball. No longer in print - only 2000 were ever printed – what offers? Half the proceeds going to RWW and the other half to go to “Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund”. The buyer must be willing to pay the postage cost to wherever they live. To make an offer or for more information please contact Mick Hawkes at email hawknest5@btinternet.com PLAQUES: Special Branch – Matabeleland, Operation Ranger - North West Border, Operation Repulse – South East Border, Operation Hurricane - North East Border, SALOPS Salisbury and District, Special Forces (Scorpion), Operation Grapple – Midlands, PATU – BSAP, Rhodesia, Operation Splinter – Kariba, Operation Thrasher – Eastern Border, Operation Tangent – Matabeleland, One plaque with Rhodesian flag and coins, One with map of Rhodesia and animal stamps, One with map of Rhodesia and coins MUGS: Operation Hurricane Mount Darwin 1978 (139), Troutbeck Inn (with fishing flies), Wankie Golf Club, Baobab Hotel Wankie, Wankie Cricket Club Oktoberfest 1981 (2 of these), Victoria Falls Snake Park, Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, Lions Club of Wankie 3rd August 1978, 10th Battalion, Wankie Power Station Grinakers 1980-1983 (2 of these), Rhodesian Air Force Thornhill Airmen’s Mess, Rhodesia (flag) 1890-1979, One mug with insignia of various regiments, eg. Selous Scouts, RAF, etc., A’Zambezi River Lodge Victoria Falls, Intaff – Operation Tangent, Rhodesia (with flame lily), To Brave Men 1893-1980. For more details or to make an offer contact Anne WILKINSON at UK tel 01833-627377 or on email at charitsaub@ yahoo.co.uk

US$26.09, C$30.00, EUR21.43, £15.00 This is the autobiography of a former member of the B.S.A. Police, of Rhodesia, a force with a long and distinguished reputation as one of the finest police forces in the world. He spent much of his service in Victoria Province in the South of Rhodesia and most of that in the South Eastern area at Vila Salazar, a police post on the Mocambique border where the countries Political restricted were being held in camps.

He grew to love the Gonarezhou area, its wild life and its people and made many friends in Rhodesia, South Africa and Mocambique during his service in that area. As the terrorist war crept Southwards Tony cultivated these friends as willing agents for the Rhodesian Security branch. He tells of the tragedies and triumphs of the country then attacked from all directions and the eventual take over of the Rhodesian Government by the Mugabe led Zimbabwe African National Union in April, 1980. Tony recently passed away-let’s help his family by buying this book at the following website:http:// www.trafford.com/4dcgi/dosearch BOOKS: Ray Smith, Bishops Stortford, UK, specialist bookdealer since 1992 on the Rhodesias and Cecil Rhodes announces that his stock can now be seen on the websitewww.ukbookworld.com. Ray can be emailed at Raymond.smith63@ ntlworld.com Coloured Posters 50cm x 87cm “Bullfight in Villa De Manica October 5th 1954/5 (the last one ever) and “Matador and Bull Figure in Action”. Lettering on the posters – One fight on horseback – Edith Evans from Mexico. Two Matadores – Armando Soars – Jose Simoes de Lourenco Marques led by Jose Correia. What offers. Contact made through the following email: biltonghenry@ tiscali.co.uk

RHODESIAN BOOKS: Pattie Pink has a number of Rhodesian books that she would like Two Commemorative Limited Editions to dispose of for a reasonable amount of money. produced and published by Frank Read If you would like to find out what she has write Press (Mazoe) each with a complete list of to her at 38 Meadow Court, Newtown Lane, Verwood, East Dorset BH31 6JD, UK. 240 subscribers.

1. The Art of Edmund Caldwell (Vol. II).

ACCOMMODATION Forty-three Caldwell Water Colours of African game animals. Reproduced actual size from Menorca: Attractive new three-bedroom holiday the original works and with descriptive text. villa 30 m from the water’s edge. Fully equipped 250 pages, size 17 ½ “ x 12 ¼”, weight 9lbs. inc Sat TV and DVD. Private pool and garden. £250-£959 weekly. Phone Spain 34-971480158 Original cost in 1982 Z$750 2. An Art folio of six prints of pictures or email villasmenorca@ hotmail.com painted by David Reid-Henry (1919-1977) English Southcoast, Bournemouth - Fern internationally known bird-painter- Crested Lodge B & B will give you a warm welcome. 4 Barbet, Iceland Gyr Falcon, Mallard Ducks, minute stroll through the Alum Chine (heavily Fish Eagle, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Trumpeter wooded donga!) leads to seven miles of white Hornbills all photographed from the original sandy beach. Bruce and Sandy Haslam, ex paintings. Folio size 23” x 17 ½”, weight 9lbs. Umtali, would love to see fellow Rhodesians.

Original cost in 1980 Z$750.

Phone (+44 ) 1202 761273.- fennlodge @ Would consider offers of over £100 plus btopenworld.com - www. fennlodge.co.uk postage costs. If you are interested please write to Mr. K.A. or Mrs. M.M. Hopkins at 32 GARDEN OF ENGLAND B & B, in the heart Lindale Avenue, Hornsea, East Yorkshire of Kent, just 10 minutes from the Eurostar Station in Ashford, 20 minutes from the Channel HU18 1RN, UK or tel UK 01964-533181.

Tunnel, and 30 minutes from Canterbury The Victorians: Memories of South Africa in all it’s historic splendour. This is an ideal and Rhodesia by Tony Seward 254 pages; stop-over to or from the continent. 1 Double, quality trade paperback (soft cover); 1 Single with separate facilities. Full English catalogue #06-0901; ISBN 1-4120-9147-0; or Continental breakfast daily, and dinner

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occasionally by arrangement. Off-road parking and quiet countryside setting Contact Viv & Will RANSOM on +44 (0)1233-733736 or our new email address ransomsathome@ googlemail. com Woodhayes Country House and Cottage is a bed and breakfast in Devon run by Lynda and Eddie Katz. It is easily accessible from the A303, M5, Exeter Airport and Whimple Station (Waterloo Line). Contact them at Whimple, Exeter, Devon EX5 2TD, UK, phone UK 01404822237, email info@ woodhayes-hotel.co.uk.

B&B at Greenwoods, Hoekwil, Central Garden Route. Magnificent views of the Outeniqua Mountains in tranquil surroundings with bird life. Accommodations consist of 2 double bedrooms, bathroom and family room with own entrance. George 30 kms. & Knysna 45 kms. and close to N2. For infomation contact Guy or Margaret Brooke-Smith. Tel/ Fax27-44-8501272 or e-mail mbrooke smith@ eject.co.za Old Umtali Guest House: bed and breakfast in our establishment in Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg North. We are fairly new in the market place and much in need of the publicity, Check us out on www.oldumtali.co.za. Terry and Gloria Browning, Old Umtali Guest House, 55 Albatross Drive, Fourways 2055, South Africa. Tel 011 465 2783 AUSTRALIA. Aarn House B&B Perth Airport. Ex Rhodies, Jim and Hilary Farquhar offering gracious Cape Dutch Accommodation at 101 Fauntleroy Avenue, Ascot, 6104, Perth, WA. Facilities include: 4 Ensuites, Guest Kitchenette/Lounge. Lap Pool, Phone and Internet in rooms. Phone 618 9479 3556 Fax 618 9479 3997 www.bedandbreakfast-perth. com. BB price A$95 per night (double).

CAPE: Self catering. Near beach and transport. Wheelchair friendly. Self-contained.

Off-street parking. Pets welcome. Lewis Walter, 9 Banks Road, Fish Hoek 7975, South Africa. Tel. (021) 782-1895 evenings or email lewiswalter@xsinet.co.za FISH HOEK, Cape, Bay Cottage, fully equipped self-catering cottage sleeps up to 6 people. Secure home in a new development five minutes walk from Fish Hoek beach.

Contact John and Carol Byett at tel RSA 27-2182-5315551 or email joca@absamail.co.za HOLIDAY COTTAGE FOR RENT Rural North Wiltshire, UK - farmhouse cottage, 2 bedrooms (sleeps 4). Warm welcome guaranteed, ideal base to explore local area and beyond. Further details: www.bittlesea.com.

FARM STAY IN THE KLEIN KAROO, WESTERN CAPE: We offer a self-catering farm-stay on a working cattle and sheep farm near the scenic R62. Come stay in the original old farmhouse (165 years old) and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Klein Karoo. Walk along the river or in the veld, partake in the day to day farming operations, or just relax and enjoy life. Reasonable rates. Contact: Denise Waring, Tel: 028 551 2187 or e-mail -

gwwaring@iafrica.com NORTH WALES B&B BRYNTEG GUEST HOUSE - Brynteg Guest House run by Steve and Delene McGeoch. The perfect base to tour the beautiful north Wales coast. We will endeavour to make your stay stress free and memorable. We are a family run Bed & Breakfast within short walking distance of the beach, Sun Centre, sea life centre, theatres, Bingo, shopping complex, fairground, Crazy Golf, children’s paddling pool and many more amenities. Brynteg Guest House, 42 River Street, Rhyl, Denbighshire LL18 1PT,UK Tel: UK 01745 338 549 or alternatively Email us at: Brynteg@ rhylguesthouse. co.uk Kunkuru Lodge in the Limpopo Province.

200Km from Pretoria on the N1 North on the way to Zimbabwe. Game viewing, varying size lodges mostly with open kitchens and self-catering. Contact John and Teresa Edmond at P. O. Box 85, Leeupoort 0486, RSA tel 014-7350774 or via www.mazoe.com.

Luxury Self Catering holiday accommodation, Somerset West South Africa. Situated in the winelands, this accommodation is equipped to a very high standard ensuring that you will enjoy a peaceful and relaxing holiday. Please visit our website www.ainsworth-properties.co.za or email info@ainsworth-properties.co.za for more info. Tel (+27) 21 851 8331

SERVICES Registered Professional Nurse and Midwife available to visit elderly relatives in the Bulawayo area. Address: 18 Milton Avenue, Malindela, Bulawayo Phone: Bulawayo 243128 Cell: 091 301668 and email: tigger@mweb.co.zw - Must stipulate to Viv Bancroft

APPEALS Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund is in desperate need of donations of food and money for food and supplies. If you have read the report on page 9 and you are moved to help please do so. There are a number of ways in which you can help. The direct address for this registered organisation is: Zimbabwe Pensioner’s Support Fund, P.O.Box 1349, Malelane 1320, Mpumalanga South Africa or you can phone them at RSA Cell 0829012291 or you can email them at pensupzim@telkomsa.net or thebothas2@ telkomsa.net The people you will be contacting are Hannes or Attie BOTHA, and they are the people who coordinate the trips.

You can also contact the Flame Lily Foundation in South Africa at PO Box 95474, Waterkloof, 0145, Tel: +27 (0)12 4602066, Fax: +27 (0)86 6484794, E-mail: rasa@ iafrica.com, and they will help you get funds to the ZPSF. In the USA you can contact us at the magazine and we can arrange for funds to be transferred to the ZPSF. If you are sending a donation via us please specifiy that it is for the ZPSF

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Ideas or information regarding affordable (50+) accommodation solutions in today’s changing times to rent/share or buy in the UK. Healthy environment and near enough to public transportation. If you have any ideas please contact Cynthia West at email vcwest47@ yahoo.co.uk

APOLOGIES Reg PRYCE’s address in a previous edition was incorrect and should read as follows: 2 Hurstlea Road, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8DF, UK

FOR THAT RHODESIAN IN YOUR LIFE! The following items can be ordered from

Rhodesians Worldwide Magazine Hats (baseball) embroidered w/coat of arms or flame lily US$22/£15 Floppy hats with embroidered coat of arms M/L or L/XL US$32/£20 Polo/Golf Shirt embroidered w/coat of arms or flame lily US$32/£20 T/shirts embroidered with the full Rhodesian coat of Arms– US$22/£15 Ladies scoop neck t/shirts embroidered w/coat of arms or flame lily – US$22/ £15 T/shirts with embroidered Selous Scouts Osprey US$22/ £15 Polo Shirts with emboridered Selous Scouts Osprey US$32/ £20 All shirts are 100% preshrunk cotton and in a variety of basic colours. Sizes are M – XL (2XL add US$5/£3)

Other: Rhodesians Flag stickers $3.50/£2 Flame Lily pins $6/£ 4 Rhodesian Keyrings $6/£4 Assorted DVDs and Videos on Rhodesia-Please contact us All items are inclusive of shipping and can be obtained from the Rhodesians Worldwide address.

View all of these items at our website

www.rhodesia.org

12th Hatfield Scout Group It was decided that, as some of the boys were older and eligible, a Senior Scout Troop should be formed. Duncan MACKINTOSH, brother of Angus, became the Senior Scout Master. Amongst those I remember in that troop were Nigel SEAWARD (he became a policeman) and was the oldest, Alan BYERS, and Terry BENNETT. There were more but their names escape me. At about this time some of the younger boys were getting out of hand and eventually were expelled from the Scouts. Of these were Freddy FORD, Alan BYERS, Nigel SEAWARD (their leader), Brian BYERS, Gerry DYER, and some others who I can’t recall at this time. I suspect that some of them never told their parents, as they still came down to the Scout Hall every Friday evening and hung around outside. They would then “harass” us as we rode home. There were one or two fights as well.

I do remember Mrs. BYERS arriving at Scouts one evening, very upset as she had found out about her son’s being kicked out. She and Mac went outside and there were raised voices. Eventually Alan, Brian, and Gerry Dyer were given a second chance. Most left the troop soon after anyway.

At around this time, we organised a camp to Ruwa Park. I was in charge and we arranged the menus and all of the gear. We were to have a week there I think. Anyhow, after a few days some of the boys were playing up and I was not able to control them. It got so bad that about three of us decided to pack up and walk back to town. This was about 14 miles. We must have got a lift as I remember arriving at my mother’s work. That evening, Mac was informed and after much discussion, I agreed to go back. My parents put in the money to pay for Gerry Dyer to stay as well and the Bennet boys, Errol and Terry, came out too. Terry was put in charge. After that there was no trouble and we had a good time. Ruwa had a small stream running through it and a small dam had been built. The water was periodically treated for Bilharzia and we used to swim in the dam and built rafts or pontoons to sail on it. One of the Leaders would take himself off to the rocks near the dam and sunbathe in the nude. We found this very exciting and used to spy on him.

At some stage, a local farmer, Mr KILLEF, allowed us to have the use of a small part of his farm to set up a campsite. This was about 5 miles from our Hall on the Prince Edward Dam Road. We were able to leave our heavy gear in one of his barns and have the camping area semi set up permanently. As we were still young, we used to have to have an adult spend the nights there. A chap called Trevor WOODS, who was a very good artist but not a scout, agreed to camp with us. He would sit and paint whilst we did our scout things. Not far from where we camped was a large dam. This attracted many birds and small animals which all left their foot or paw prints in the mud around the edges of the dam. Trevor taught us to make plaster casts of some of these and to recognise what animals or birds they were made by. I don’t remember why we stopped using the site. Perhaps the farmer needed the land for crops. He grew tobacco and maize.

In about 1954 or 1955, there was a huge Central African Scout Jamboree at Ruwa Park. Scouts from all over Central and Southern Africa attended. For about a year before, the local Scout Groups were expected to work at Ruwa at weekends to get it ready. I remember helping to lay bricks for some new buildings. I had just acquired a new portable radio and took it with me. The Jamboree was really great and was an eye opener. Rhodesia practised racial discrimination but the Scouts did not. As a result, we had lots of Black African Scouts there from places like Basutoland (Lesotho), Bechuanaland, Kenya and Tanzania. We swapped badges, had displays from each country, attended campfires, and had a fantastic time.

Not long after this the World Jamboree was held at Sutton Coldfield in England. It was agreed to send one boy from our Troop as part of the Southern Rhodesian contingent. Ronnie Milne was picked (I was disappointed as I hoped it would be me). He was picked on a bit by some of the others because of being chosen. They flew to Nairobi and visited a game park there and then on to the U.K. It was by all accounts a very good jamboree.

A couple of incidents that I remember from scouts were: some of the boys, including the expelled ones, climbed the fence of the Hatfield Swimming Pool near the Hall and went skinny dipping; the Cub Master who was also a Police Reservist, coming down to us

one Friday night complaining that some of us had kicked over all of the sanitary bins which had been placed along the road awaiting collection. We all denied it but also knew who had done it. The stink must have been pretty bad and unpleasant. I also remember Ronnie Milne and Rocky Wood having had a row with Mac and left Scouts for a few weeks. They then went to the High School and climbed the yard fence, siphoned petrol from the tractor, and made off. However, they had been seen and got into serious trouble.

Ronnie and I were keen on our image and would often march up and down the road outside the Hall in true military fashion. I was usually designated as cook on all the camps. I am a reasonable cook and enjoy it so I guess that is why I got the job. I do know most of the boys’ cooking was inedible which gave me an incentive. When we went camping, we often took a small tin of sweetened condensed milk with us. This we would drink from a hole pierced in the top of the tin whilst lying in bed at night.

One of the blokes who was in scouts was a Karl KRIENKE. He was very Afrikaans and was also very poor. We used to rag him a great deal. I secretly felt sorry for him but would not admit it publicly. I always remember that he couldn’t even afford to bring a tin of condensed milk for the evening.

Our troop was nominally affiliated to the local Anglican Church. We had a couple of Church Parades that I remember at the local church.

The troop would all line up at the front door to the church. The troop flag would be carried by one of the boys in front and we would all march in behind it. The flag would then be lowered and handed to the priest. We then took our places in the pews and had the service, which included a blessing of the troop. We then got the flag back and marched out. Unfortunately, on one occasion the flag carrier forgot about the chandelier near the front and damaged it a bit.

A young chap named Nicholas SMITH joined the troop. He was very quiet and didn’t join in. I tried to get him to take an interest but was having great trouble. I remember Ronnie Milne and me going around to his house to teach him his knots. He wasn’t very welcoming and we weren’t even invited in. I think his parents had forced him to join.

However, over time, he came out of his shell and was a good bloke although always different.

As a fundraising effort, the Scouts arranged to help the local Roads Department and carry out a road use survey around the country. Our troop put up two camps spaced a few miles apart on the Beatrice Road. One was at the Hunyani River and the other was near the Salisbury South Country Club. The one near the Hunyani River had the “Senior Scouts” in it with Nick Smith (bad choice). The one near the country club had the younger ones with me in charge. The idea was that we would work on a roster basis and record every vehicle that drove past us. We did this day and night. There were quite a few tobacco farms nearby and small truck or tractors and trailers drove past during the day carting wood for the fires curing the tobacco in barns.

These were usually driven by African men and quite often had young Africans hitching lifts on them. The boys at the river camp were quite a crude bunch and teased Nick Smith most of the time. At some point, one of them broke an egg on Nick’s head. Big mistake! Nick was slow to anger but when he did he really lost it. This time he lost it. He pulled a very large knife from its sheath (we all wore sheath knives but Nick’s was bigger than most) and chased the boys. I have no doubt that had he caught one of them he would have done them serious damage.

Fortunately, at that moment, a wood truck drove past and all of them minus Nick jumped on and arrived in a state at our camp. We went back to find Nick very upset and I managed to calm him and sort it out.

I think he went home after that.

It was also on that camp that we got caught not doing our duty. As I said, we had to take turns on a roster basis to monitor vehicles passing by. We did two hours on at night all on our own. This was stupid as young boys are not good at that sort of thing. After about 9 or 10 at night, very few vehicles went past; about one or two an hour, if lucky. I remember doing my shift, getting into the tent and telling my replacement that it was his turn. He answered me but I didn’t wait to see him get up. You guessed it, he didn’t. It was around midnight and for some reason, Mac decided to pay us a visit. He found us all asleep and was not at all amused. We wouldn’t have missed more than a couple of vehicles anyway. I do remember on the day we left feeling terrible from lack of sleep and crashing for nearly 24 hours as soon as I got to bed.

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CONTACT Doreen JONES is looking for information on her brother, Harry Wallace RITCHIE who was the son of the late Charles and Hetty (Ester) RITCHIE. He was born on 23rd April, 1931 in Bulawayo and went to Milton Junior School and then Bulawayo tech. He worked on Rhodesia Railways as a clerk. He left Bulawayo around 1963/64 to go to the UK. She heard from him a couple of times when he was working as a barman at Rhodesia Club or Rhodesia House and then nothing more was heard of him. She is not sure if he left the UK to go elsewhere. Did he ever get married and if he did what family did he have? If he is still alive she would love to hear about him or from him. You can contact Doreen at Flat 31, Mothwa Haven, P.O. Box 83304, Southhills 2136, Gauteng, South Africa.

Milton John Bishop MCGARRICK would like news of a Mrs. Peggy WILSHIRE who had a daughter who married a Mr. BROWN. Peg also remarried but he does not remember her new name. He does know that her new husband served with the Artillery in WWII. They were both active in the Jehovah’s Witness movement in Salisbury (Eastern suburbs). He thinks Peggy’s daughter’s name was Laura and she and Peggy lived at Milton House 7th Street for a while prior to her remarriage. Milton can be contacted at 17 Rivendell Guineaport Road, Wadebridge PL27 7JN, North Cornwall, UK. Barbara BURROWS would like to make contact with Olwen MORGAN in connection with a Silver Jubilee portfolio of botanical prints issued by the Rhodesiana Society. Please call her on UK tel 01359-221176 or write to her at 2 Paddock Farm, Coney Weston, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 1DS, UK Angus KIRKPATRICK would like to locate Billy GREEN. He writes “I was at Milton Junior in the early 60’s and would like to know what happened to my school friend Billy Green. I moved to Hillside Junior and then Guinea Fowl, but know that he went on to Milton Senior. We then left Bulawayo and moved to Malawi. The old story, and I now live in Singapore! Anybody know or remember Billy or maybe Dave HARRISON who was also in our class? What about Diane FINCHAM or Meryl MCILROY who were (girl) friends at Hillside and both then went to Townsend? I’d love to know and would appreciate any news.” If you can help email Angus at anguskirkpatrick@yahoo.com

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JONES. They were school mates in the 50’s and 60’s in Salisbury and were last seen at the Elley’s wedding 11/11/67 in Gwelo. Any information can be sent to Chris at email christopher.elley@philips.com

1958. This was in the days before police squad cars arrived in Salsibury. It holds great memories for Doug. If you can help contact them at 34 Perry, Meath Care Inc., 18 Hocking Road, Kingsley 6026, Western Australia

Roger LINES is looking for information on John HOARE who was from Bulawayo.

John and Roger worked to together at Sasol2, Secunda, South Africa in the machine shop. His wife’s name was Lynn. The last time he had contact with him he was living in Johannesburg South Africa. Anybody know his whereabouts can contact Roger at email june1lines@hotmail.co.uk

Rob EASTLEY writes “I am after the meaning of the word “MALEME”, as used in the name “MALEME DAM”. I am still after photo’s of the dam as well, particularly of the causeway.

Should anyone out in Rhodesia-Land be able to assist, I would be most grateful.” Bev and Rob can be contacted at 16 Oslove Drive, Booral, Hervey Bay, QLD 4655, Australia or on email maleme08@bigpond.com

Trevor SALMON would like to make contact with Ulrich WEIGAND who attended St. Josephs Home for Boys and Allan Wilson School in Salisbury in the late fifties.

His father managed a granite quarry at “Chimoia” (spelling suspect) in Mozambique. He had two older sisters whose names are not known. He and Trevor were best mates at school. If you can help email Trevor at trevsyl@bigpond.net.au

John GREENWAY would like information about the BSAP picture reprinted in the BT section of the magazine. If you can help him contact him at 23 Green Point Road, Pearl Beach, 2256, NSW, Australia or on email j.greenway@hotkey.net.au

Marion JOHNSON (nee Kelham) writes “I am looking for my biological daughter. I have tried the YOU magazine, and many other place’s, with no joy. I have even tried the Anglican Church and have heard nothing. The trouble is that I have no info at all on her. The only thing that I have is that I know that I gave birth to her on the 2nd April, 1977, at the Lady Rodwell Hospital in Bulawayo, and that she was adopted ten days later, from St. Clares the place of birth was at Lady Rodwell Hospital, and the adoption was arranged from St. Clare’s Home where I was staying at the time. I have tried the social welfare in Bulawayo no joy.” If you can help contact: Marion at email chrisaaj@absamail.co.za

Mrs. Alice WILSON would like to make contact with Karen MITCHELL who was featured in the last ‘Contact” section of the magazine (Oct-Dec edition). Alice and her husband owned Glengarry Store and knew the Mitchells well. Roy and Thetla she thinks are the parents of Brendan, the ex-husband of Karen. Robolts was the name of Roy’s business and he used to accompany Alice’s husband, Ernie, during the terrorist war when they both joined the Reserve Police Auxillary Spencer RATCLIFF is trying to find Val CART- Service to man the Glengarry area. Alice can ER, married name unknown. Val lived in Salis- be contacted at 38 Turmore Dale, Welwyn bury in the mid 1970s and worked at the Am- Garden City, Herts AL8 6HS, UK bassador Hotel. Can anyone help? You can contact Spencer at email spirit.lake@hotmail. Ruth and Doug LEARMONTH wonder if anyone can remember the name of the percom son awarded the George Medal for his couChris ELLEY is looking for Kieth (Lankie) rageous part in the jewellery robbery way LANCASTER and Martin RICHARDSON back in 1958. They think it was in January of

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Richard STRACEY is looking for information on Harvey SHEFFIELD whom he last saw in CT in 1976. He was working as a mechanic/ salesman for a fork lift company. Harvey is Ex Coperbelt and Van’s Service Station/ Cairo Rd Service Station Lusaka. He is also trying to contact or find news of George ROWLANDS (ex Lusaka & Salisbury).He lost touch with his daughter Pam GOGGIN after she and husband Mike left Botswana and I think moved to the Johannesburg area. You can contact Richard at email rhstracey@gmail.com Geraldine MORRIS is trying to trace any members of the FRANCO family (Mark, Peter, Paul) who emigrated to Camp Hill, Brisbane in early 1981 from Zimbabwe. Their parents were Beppi and Molly. Geraldine can be contacted at Cloford, West Lynne, Cheddar, Somerset BS22 3JL, UK Jerry ERASMUS would like information on Gary and Sonja ERVINE or IRVINE who used to farm west of Harare Mt Hampden way. I met a Kiwi here who spent time with them in the 90s and wants to contact them. You can contact Jerry at email jocandjerry@slingshot.co.nz Paul JOHNSTONE writes “I wondered if you may be able to help me. My sister Niall was married to a Zimbabwean farmer, Anthony MILLAR. They were married in 1986 and then Niall developed an illness and sadly passed away 6 months after the marriage. Our families remained in contact until my family all left Zimbabwe and now we have no contact at all. If you have any contact details for Stuart or Colleen or any of their sons - Anthony, Andrew or Robert, I would be most grateful. You can contact Paul at email talipaul21@htmail.com Margaret CLOETE (nee Vogel) would like to

CONTACT find Virginia PICOTA (Nee Da Costa). Her sister’s name was Maria and they attended QueQue High together and the last she heard was that Virginia went to Portugal. She was known by the name Gina. If you can help email Margaret at marge.cloete@eskom.co.za Gloria CORNISH (nee Parratt) would like information about Auriel RAUBENHEIMER (nee Nolan). She writes “We worked together at Federal Treasury. I was her chief bridesmaid and lost contact about 10 years ago. An East London contact address drew a blank. She is possibly living in RSA. Her husband is Scott.”

If you can help please contact Gloria at email geoffc@iinet.net.au Helena Alves LOURENÇO is looking for information on Rogerio Lopes VIEIRA. She writes “My Dad Anibal ALVES is looking for Rogerio Lopes Vieira, who worked with him in Salisbury and in South Africa. He is still in South Africa, my Dad is back in Portugal, He is about 50. He has 2 brothers, who went to Southerton Junior School when they moved to Salisbury in 1973, both younger than Rogerio. Last we heard of him he was living in Jo’burg. He is a panel beater and my dad was his “teacher”, when Rogerio was 16 and moved with his parents and brothers to Salisbury, they worked for Express Panelbeaters, in Salisbury. Finding Rogerio would be a lovely surprise for my Dad, I’ve searched in the SA white pages, and nothing.” If you can help contact Helena at email alves_helen@hotmail.com Rob and Jacqui BARBOUR (nee Main) write “We are looking for Yvonne LEE. She married a Canadian, Tim CLARKE, and I seem to remember they lived in Toronto or Quebec. She was originally from Salisbury.(Harare) during the 60’s and early 70’s. We last were in touch in Joburg in 1980 or 1981.” If you can help contact Rob and Jacqui at 6 Borgo Bello, 62 Johannes St, Fairlands 2195, Johannesburg, RSA or on email barbour@telkomsa.net

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mining (which I presume indcates a Cornish origin). I understand there were a couple of daughters, who have probably married. I am curious to know if anybody is in contact with any of them or could provide information.

My father emigrated from Somerset in 1923 and farmed in the Umvukwes district until 1977. He died in 1980. My brother John and I had careers in the Rhodesian Government service and both live in England now.

We have a half sister Teresa living in Ireland. The Hartley family and ourselves were I believe the only Clatworthys in Rhodesia, though I understand that I had a namesake working in Harare in the ‘90s.” Richard can be contacted at 19 The Ridings, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 7ER, UK or on email clatworthy@clatworthy.karoo.co.uk

cost of hotel, or even bed and breakfast accommodation, when faced with all the other migration costs, can be daunting. This way people can stay in a new home with someone who has been through the arduous process of settling in a new country and who will hopefully be able to offer some advice and assistance. While it is would not be a free service, cost would be very reasonable, as my primary motivation is to be able to help out new migrants. I can be contacted by email on clareh@gardenoffice.com.au.”

Gina and Alan MILLER in Brisbane are wanting to contact James and Jane MCCULLAM, Alan and James were at Gwebi Agric College together. Contact Alan direct at email ridmil@qld.chariot.net au

who attended Godfrey Huggins School, Marandellas, Mary-Anne MOSTERT who also attended Godfrey Huggins School, Marandellas.

Any information can be sent to Betsy at email wikusbetsviljoen@yahoo.com

Gerry VAN TONDER writes “I am doing a bit of research, and I was hoping you might be able to help via your newsletter. I am trying to find out who was responsible for the design work of our Rhodesian Medals. Were there individual artists cum designers, like with the postage stamps, or was it a government panel? Would the same persons also have decided on ribbon layout and colour? I am led to believe that Mathews Mfg in Bulawayo (that wonderful city that only spawned the best!) did the actual manufacturing – maybe there is an ex-employee out there who can also assist with that side of things, eg metal used, process, etc.” If you can help contact Gerry at email g.van-tonder@sky.com

Janet FRAME (nee Fey) is looking for Beverley BURNELL, who married Stan KELLY. They were school friends at Avondale Primary and Queen Elizabeth Girls High and were nursing together in Salisbury in the early 70`s. She is also looking for Ann GODWIN who was also an old QE friend - form 6, 1971 and Victoria CORBET, Lorraine BARTLETT-CLAIRCOURT from nursing days. Any help locating these girls would be great. You can contact Janet at email janframe@hotmail.com

Carole NETHERSOLE writes “I am an ex Rhodesian who gave up a child for adoption in 1981 in Rhodesia. There was a site run by an ex Rhodesian who was helping people trace parents and children, but I don’t seem to be able to find it anymore. Can you help. My e-mail address is carol.hostile@gmail.com my name Allan FITZGERALD would like to make is Carol Nethersole. Any help would be much contact with the SHEPHERD family of Um- appreciated.” tali. The parents were Max and Barbara who lived at 4 Dorianton Court in Umtali. They Kevin ANDERSEN is looking for either Sarah had a daughter Katherine who attended Elizabeth DAVIES (maiden name) or Norman Marymount in ‘70’s, and who, he thinks, lat- KNOESEN. They were in the Que Que area er married a farmer from the Norton district. round 63/64 - does anyone know how he can He last heard from the parents on a visit in get hold of them? If you can help email Kevin at Umhlanga. He is also looking for Mark OUT- kjandersen@momentum.co.za HWAITE ex-Umtali and Salisbury. He was Betsy VILJOEN Looking for the following peowith Air Force and is believed to have gone ple all of whom lived in Harmony House (all of to the UK where he was, or still is flying with the surnames are their maiden names): Connie a regional airline there. If you can help with DE WET who worked for Barclays Bank Salisinformation in either case please contact: Al- bury, Lettie and Esti BLIGNAUT - ex Mangula, lan at email charter@intekom.co.za Martha HEYNS – ex Beatrice, Jill HARTLEY

Cliff BUDGEN is looking for Michael YOUNG. They went to Waterfalls (Salisbury) Junior school together and both lived locally. He has a sister Maureen and Cliff recalls that his mother was very much into the church. This was in the late 1950s so he would be approaching 60 years old now. He is also looking for information on Denzil GEE and Adrian HAWKINS. Denzil was a mate of his in Lusaka in the 60s. They both went to Gilbert Rennie and he thinks he might have ended up in JoBurg. Adrian used to live at Lusaka Fire Station where his father was Clare HONEYWILL writes “I am able to ofin charge. If you can help Cliff please contact fer accommodation at a reasonable cost to a couple, or small family, re-locating to Perth. I him at email cliff.budgen@btinternet.com have two furnished double bedrooms at the Richard CLATWORTHY writes “I recall there back of my house with their own bathroom was a Clatworthy family living in or near Hartley, that I am happy to let out short term. The

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Erica LAST is am looking for a few of her old friends from Bulawayo; Jean and Trevor VINCENT who lived in Montrose, Bulawayo, they had 3 children Stephen, Barbara and Michelle.

The last contact she had with them was in 1970 she left Bulawayo to live in South Africa. She now lives in the UK. She would be very happy if anyone can send her info on their whereabout.

Erica can be contacted at email angelal@scubadiving.com Graham FIDDES, late of Rhodesia Railways,

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is seeking any news of Sandy and Audrey ROSS, who were last heard of in Malawi in the 70’s, or daughter Carol Ann and son Gregor.

You can contact Graham at email oldgraham@ aol.com

HORENZ or SAWYER familes from Fort Victoria may know where he is. She would also like contact with anyone who knew her from Rhodesian days to contact her. Lizzie can be contacted at RSA Tel (work) 011-9553638, cell 0836590364 or on email at lizziel.flightClaire DAVIES (nee Pemberton) is looking for specials@galileosa.co.za Raymond SOUTHGATE, a friend from Mangula days. If you can help her email Claire at Gary CROESER is looking for Andre, Lol clairejd@sky.com and Joan MACDONALD who were friends from Umtali/Odzi area. Gary went to Churchill Des MCLINDON is looking for anybody that school in Salisbury with Andre. If you have belonged to the sea cadet unit T.S Mashona. any information please contact Gary at email The unit was in the grounds of the main drill hall garycroeser@hotmail.com in Salisbury. He was there from 1964-68 when he eventually joined the merchant navy. Des is Robin PEREIRA writes “I am looking for Ex Churchill and participated in the pipe band. two school friends for my daughter Nadine Des can be contacted at email desmclindon@ PEREIRA. Firstly: Debbie RICHARDSON hotmail.com who went to Mabelreign High School, last known address was in London, England and Jenny and Frik VAN HEERDEN would like prior to that Abu Dhabi. Last contact with her to make contact with Jan and Peter WELLS. was in 1984. Secondly: Sonia PEARSON They write “We knew them in Wankie from 1973 who went to Southerton Primary School, to 1975. Peter was godfather to our son, Jalast known address was Johannesburg, son VAN HEERDEN, born at Wankie Hospital.

South Africa. Last contact with her was in We believe they left for the UK. They have a February, 1980.” If you can help email Robin daughter Jan who may also be in UK. You can at raulpereira@bigpond.com contact Jenny and Frik at email jenfrik@absamail.co.za Louis J G FOURIE is searching for the following; Lorraine HARPER, last known to be Gavan DUFFY ex-Churchill Boys High is lookin Durban, last contact with her was in Que ing for classmates of those years ago. Namely: Que, 1979, Leicster GILBERT, ex Que Que Matthew VAN ROOYEN, Terry DYER, Ross High School and Donald and Billy CHRISBARNES to name a few. If you can help email TISAN from Que Que. If you have any inforGavan at gavanduffy55@hotmail.co.uk mation on any of these people please con(Peter) Gavin BUCHANAN, looking for Clive tact Louis at email lfourie@cisco.com MARKHAM. He writes “ We were at school toChris and Linda THOMSON, would regether at Prince Edward - 1967. I heard he had ally like to find the following people; Carmo gone to SA and worked for Checkers and had MAIO and Ronel SMITH who worked at Rhomarried with two girls. I would very much like bank in 1973/4. They would also like news to get in contact.” If you have any information of Leatitia FERREIRA, Frances HULME please contact Gavin at email pbuchanan@ and Mary-Jane WILLIAMS who were at sapo.pt Macheke Junior School around 1964. If you Diane SOLOMON is looking for Peter COATES have any information please contact Chris He used to live in a garden flat next to Diane, and Linda at email chrilyn@telkomsa.net along Greendale Avenue near the Red-Fox. He Sally VAN RENSBURG writes “In October, was in veterinary research in Rhodesia. If any1981 I had a baby daughter, who I gave up one knows where he is please contact Diane at for adoption. I have been trying to find her email diane_deklerk@yahoo.co.uk for some years now and in Sept. 2006 I was Lizzie LOURENS (nee Bezuidenhout) is look- finally given more details on the adoption, ing for John Degray BIRCH who was a bit of who adopted her and what her name is. I did a shortie (small man). He had brown hair when not put this in my initial enquiries because she last saw him and he is probably bald by I wasn’t sure if she knew that she was adnow as he is older than 60. He is believed to opted! Her adopted name is Jacqueline be living in South Africa and she heard through Bronwin JONES, her adoptive parents are a friend that he might be in the Pretoria area Sandra and Derek JONES. I understand where he may have joined Intelligence Services that the family may not want anything to do or the CID. Lizzie met Johnny when she was with myself and my family, but I have a 20 still at school and living in Fort Victoria. She is year old daughter who is desperate to meet also looking for Ricky BRITTON who is also her sister! hopeview@polka.co.za” ex-Fort Victoria and had a fantastic sense of hu- Tracy MOSELEY writes “I am busy premour and a contagious laugh. The WENSLEY,

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CONTACT

paring a personal “Life Story” video, as a “surprise”birthday gift for my mom, who will be turning 60 later this year. I would love to include some photo’s or info on her primary school years, but so far, the sourcing of either has proved rather fruitless. My mom attended Bancroft Primary School, Northern Rhodesia. I believe she attended the school roughly between 1954 and 1958 (give or take a year). I would SO love to dig up some info or pics of the school, past pupils etc. In fact, any info or material that I manage to find would be really useful, and I’m sure she’ll definitely get a BIG surprise!

Please may I ask, that if you are able to help with me with my search in absolutely anyway I would be eternally grateful.” Tracy can be contacted at email poitjie@hotmail.com or on Cell: +27 82 460 3880 Bryanston, Gauteng Terry REMMER ex-Banket and Banket Primary School would love contact with those that might remember her. She can be contacted at 8 York Road, Wetherby, W. Yorks LS22 6SL, UK Don BEATON can be contacted, regarding the information in the Bush Telegraph section of the magazine at email donbeaton@bulldoghome. com

Rhodesians Worldwide P. O. Box 22034, Mesa, Arizona 85277-2034, United States of America.

Phone: (480) 924-0431 Fax: (480) 924-0269

Emails: rhodesia@rhodesia.org

Annual subscriptions (4 issues): USA $20 (USA subs only), UK £12, RSA R80 (RSA subs only), Australia A$30, Canada C$26, New Zealand N$34.

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RSA subscriptions to : Flame Lily Foundation, P. O. Box 95474, Waterkloof 0145, South Africa (cheques made out to Rhodesians Worldwide-SA)

Photographs on this page 1. ANZAC Day New Zealand, 2. Ian Taylor Colin Gray (Paul Taylor’s son-in-law), Paul Taylor (ex BSAP). 3. Greg O’Carroll, Wolf Hucke, John Graham, Martin Kietzmann, Winston Hart, 4. hats from the Easter Bonnet Parade in Kent 5. Rhodesian Forces Dinner, 5/6. Hats 7/8. Bulawayo Race Track, 9. Mr Coffee with empty envelope, 10. Hannes Botha and his team of drivers for ZPSF.

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