Saturday, 31 August 2013

Rhodesian Gliding Incidents

I was concerned that I personally had not seen or much on Rhodesian Gliding.

 A couple of article were compiled and loaded. please see the links below.

Opening of Umtali's Gliding Club
http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=480010#596332

The Aileron Flutter
http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=176927#114447

I then approached Mitch Stirling, Bob Manser and Mike McGeorge, Mitch and Bob agreed to help where possible but Mike sent in these photographs of Gliding incidents.

Please if there is anyone who can jot down a few memories our gliding please do so, it would be wonderful to get the opening dates etc and if anyone has magazines from our era would they please consider seeing if there are any worthwhile articles and advertisements (costs)

    Nr1: Remains of Slingsby Tutor, landing accident, pilot Alf Thompson.  Place: Thorn Park airfield,        Salisbury, Situated 10ks out on the Mazoe road, on the right, just past the present polo grounds. 1958.

Nr 2: Remains of Schleicher Ka 6 cr, Glider No 40, involved in towing accident when the tug, a Super Cruiser, hit a tree on take off, causing pilot Derek Ebden, to release tow rope, stalled trying to return to the airstrip.  Pilot broken ankles. survived.


Nr. 3 Vic Ginns, who restored the Ka 6 -40, handing over to syndicate member, John McGeorge on the 27th September, 1970 at Warren Hills, Salisbury.


 Nr. 4: Grunau Baby, landing accident, Thorn Park, Salisbury, pilot Alf  Thompson, view looking at the top of the wing,1958.

Nr. 5. John Cooper by task board, prior to his fatal accident at Mazoe.


Nr. 6:  Remains of John Coopers crash at the Salvation Army Howard  Institute, Mazoe, 1968.

Nr. 7  Result of incipient spin at Warren Hills, after releasing early  whilst on tow, Glider Spatz, pilot Godfrey Brown,. survived breaking both  ankles.

Nr. 8 : Godfrey Brown, pilot of the Spatz accident.  

Nr. 9. Rhodesian competitors of one of the annual competitions at Warren Hills Salisbury in the 70s


 l-r Unknown, Rad Sutcliffe (Gwelo), killed in accident at Gwelo., Mike McGeorge, Theo Coster, Harvey Quaile, (Gwelo), Peter Carlsson, killed in Super Cub accident, Warren Hills. John McGeorge.


Nr 10 Another view of Alf Thompson,s landing accident at Thorn Park, See Photo Nr 4 

Nr. 11 Slingsby Tutor before accident at Thorn Park, Salisbury 1958, see Photo Nr 2

Nr. 12. Alf Thompson, pilot in the Tutor accident, photo No 1, and the Grunau accident photos, No 4 and 10. He survived.


Nr. 13.Showing one of the wings that separated whilst pilot Di Fowler attempted a loop just under cloud over Mabelreign. The glider a Schleicher Ka 6. Fatal. Warren Hills 1970.




Nr. 14 This is another view of photo No 7. Relating to Godfrey Brown,s accident in the Spatz at Warren Hills, being attended to whilst waiting for the ambulance
  

THERE ARE THESE CLOUDS

There are these clouds and my glider. The earth is far away,
shut out by the cockpit perspex, smudged by the deep blue air,
her sounds muffled by the wind past the glider,
smells stolen by the height. And there is an estrangement growing
between me and the earth.

I should go down and land; struggle out of the cramped cockpit
and the parachute harness; and walk the warm mother again,
breathing her air and smells, humming her tunes.

But then I would never see the clouds so near again,
and each of them, overhead, would catch, like the earth today,
at a thin scar-string of a bygone love. 

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 

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Thursday, 29 August 2013

'LADIES ONLY' night at Salisbury night clubs


by  CYNTHIA STAINER
photographer by ALAN ALLEN

ALL OVER Southern Africa MEN-ONLY bars and clubs are common place. But at two of Salisbury's best-known night clubs —Le Matelot and Brett's—it's LADIES ONLY one night a week.

 The only men allowed are the entertainers and waiters.

 Women of 18 upwards from every walk of life—secretaries, students, nurses and so on—come along for a drink and chatter, let their hair down, dance with each other and have an enjoyable night out.

 Women attracted to the Ladies Only are visitors to Salisbury, girls without boy-friends who want an evening out, housewives getting away from household chores, daughters, mums and grans bridging the generation gap, and wives and girl-friends fed up with sitting alone while the men are out drinking with the boys.

Above: A stripping competition gives the girls a chance to rival the professionals. It is all good fun and It doesn't go too far.

 Brett's Ladies Only is every Tuesday and Le Matelot's every Wednesday. So the girls can go wild and have a Ladies Only twice a week if they wish.

 Both night clubs charge an entrance fee of 25 cents—within every working girl's pocket. This gives them a band, a cabaret and compere, dancing and competitions. Drinks and snacks are extra.

 The ladies start arriving at 5 p.m. and usually come straight from work. They unwind, have a few drinks and talk with the other girls and dance to the band until the cabaret starts at 6.30 p.m. When the cabaret is over, there's usually a competition—and that's when the fun really begins. The girls round off the evening with more dancing.
   

If the feeling takes you, and the dance floor is crowded, then no one objects to dancing on the table. Relaxing the rules encourages a happy atmosphere at Ladies Only nights.

 Brett's Ladies Only night finishes at 8 p.m., Le Matelot's goes on for another half-hour, but they need not go home. The rest of the evening is mixed, some of the ladies being joined by their husbands or boy-friends, all inquisitive to know what they've missed.

 I had permission from the owner of Brett's, Mr. Appie Olivier, to come with a male photographer. He wanted me to dress the photographer as a woman, for his own safety. Previously an entertainer, Alan de Wolfe, had been stripped of everything but his underpants. But the photographer wasn't coming in "drag" for anyone. When we arrived, the girls were quite well disposed to having a photographer taking flashes in their domain, and soon forgot he was there.

 The photographer was surprised to find the girls had even taken over the gents' toilets but that's Ladies Night for you. As far as they were concerned, he was the intruder.
 Above: A crowded evening at Le Matelot, with the ladies clapping along with the entertainers. Tho support these evenings — unique anywhere — receive, comes from both Salisbury girls and visitors to tho city.

 The cabaret on the night we went consisted of Los 3 de America, a superb group from Madrid who sang Paraguayan style, Rosita, a Spanish belly dancer who tried to teach some of the girls how to gyrate, and Carlos Quintas, a Portuguese band.

 The girls had already begun to sway with the rhythm. They were clapping, stamping and even dancing on the tables. The atmosphere was becoming hazy.

 But the high point of the evening was competition time. In the past, Brett's have had a variety of competitions, ranging from can-can, twist, go-go dancing, hamburger- eating and drinking a bottle of beer. They've even had the girls dipping their heads with their hands behind their backs, into filled bathtubs with apples in them.

 Usually the prize is a bottle of champagne, but the winner of the go-go competition received two return tickets to the Victoria Falls. In another competition the winner received a generous gift voucher from a Salisbury boutique.

 The night we were present there was a stripping competition. Daredevil, the winner, ended up in the middle of the cabaret floor with a pair of briefs on and a bra partially off. But it was all good fun. The waiters were shooed out of the room before the competition started by Mr. Olivier, and the winner was egged on by the female audience shouting "take it off".

Cabaret at the Ladies Only evenings is provided by top entertainers, and at the nominal entrance charge of 25c, the ladies receive wonderful value for money.

 When the competition was over it was back to dancing and letting rip on the cabaret floor.

 In the past, Brett's and Le Matelot have had female strippers in the cabaret on Ladies Only nights, but they don't go down at all well. Why do they want to see a member of their own sex strip! Now if it were a man! "These girls know what they want", said Mr. Olivier and he is shrewd enough to know how to please the customers.

 The next night, the photographer and I went along to Le Matelot, where Ladies' Only nights originated. Mr. Hollingshead, the general manager, thought up the idea while talking to friends about a bachelor party he had attended. That was 18 months ago.

 The audience at Le Matelot are, on the whole, more mature than at Brett's. Brett's specialise more in a Continental cabaret and Le Matelot in British entertainers.

 The evening we were at Le Matelot, Diane O'Connor, a comedienne, singer from Ireland, and Dave Berry, well-known British pop singer, were the cabaret, supported by a band called "Spell" from Cape Town.

 Things really got warmed up when Dave Berry came on. When he partly removed his shirt and showed his bare chest, the girls were standing on the tables and screaming for more.

 Le Matelot have their share of wild evenings. In fact, the manager believes that Ladies Only nights have saved a lot of marriages, as this is one way the girls can really give vent to their emotions, which they can't do at home.


Above: From junior typist to fun-loving grans, they all enjoy an opportunity to let their hair down away from disapproving male eyes.

 On one occasion, the girls at Le Matelot de-frocked or rather de-kilted, a Scottish entertainer, Kerry McNeillie, who fled backstage clutching his underpants and saved his masculinity. Well, the girls were only trying to find out once and for all if Scotsmen wear anything under their five metres of tartan plaid.
Above:: Here's something to surprise the husband with when he gets home — two adventurous types receive a lesson in belly-dancing from an expert, who also appears in the cabaret

 Le Matelot do have joke competitions, although they did not have one the evening we were there. The prize is always a bottle of champagne.

 Ladies Only nights arc proving so popular in Salisbury that they could spread to other pans of the country.

End

  Source: Rhodesia Calls Magazine dated MARCH—APRIL 1974 which was made available by Denise Taylor.
Extracted Recompiled and Eddy Norris for sole use on ORAFs blogs.

Ref. Rhodesi

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Sunday, 25 August 2013

Those Were The Days

By Joe Holmes

Here’s a little tale from my youth about the Lowveld. Looking at the photographs of the Lundi in flood brings back memories of travelling around in the lowveld with my folks in 1956 in a Morris Oxford sedan. Travel around the lowveld in those days was a leisurely affair for my old man who was keen to see all the remote corners of it, and he had four weeks leave to indulge in his passion for exploring the road less travelled. Natural wild game still abounded everywhere, and it was a memorable journey just from the wildlife that we saw every single day. I don’t think that these days on a good day In Kruger park one sees as much wildlife as we saw then just running around wild! There were six of us, four of us kids, ranging from my elder sister at eight years old to my little boet (brother) who was two, and my folks. Our trip began in Umtali, and slowly headed southwards towards the lowveld, pausing here and there and camping overnight under the tall trees on various riverbanks as we progressed. Back in those days our camping equipment did not consist of much – apiece of canvas to sleep on at night next to the car, two brightly coloured canvas deckchairs for my folks to sit on, a pump-up Coleman paraffin pressure lamp, a wooden camp-box that held kettle, tea-pot, cups plates and cutlery, the scoff-box (food box) that held the food, and a blanket each. At night my two sisters and little brother slept on the car-seats inside, and my folks and I slept outside on the canvas between a fire and the car. After all, being five years old and a boy I was nearly grown up! My dad had a trusty old Smith and Wesson .38 revolver to scare off anything that came too close at night, not that he ever fired it though as he was an old hand in the bush and knew his way around. We had driven down towards Beit Bridge along the main strip road and stopped in at the Lion and Elephant for tea one day, and after being banished from the company of the adults on the stoep we kids cleared off to play in the dry sandy river bed of the Bubi river. While there we heard a strange hissing sound coming from upstream, and wondered what it could be. A minute or two later someone from the hotel ran out shouting to us to get out of the river bed, as coming down the river was the beginnings of what would become quite a torrent of water from a flash flood after rain had fallen upstream. It actually came surprisingly slowly, swirling along a few inches deep at first, carrying all manner of debris, insects, chameleons, cow dung in its van. The hissing was the sound of the air escaping from the dry sand as the water made first contact and seeped into it expelling the hot air in the process, and within about ten minutes or so the flow going by had become deeper, probably two feet or so and the flood gained momentum quickly thereafter until it was flowing strongly a metre or so deep. But the event was surprisingly short-lived, and before we left the spot and resumed our travels the flow had already subsided noticeably and become very shallow, to the point that we could wade through it to look for exciting water-borne objects while splashing around in the mud and pools left behind.

 Later on in the trip, after having driven down to Malvernia we were following a rough track that headed back up towards the Lundi river towards a point just west of Chipinda Pools. The new road at that stage was no more than a surveyors cutline, running as straight as a die through the thick bush, and we eventually met up with the Roads Dept Surveyor and his team who had a nice camp on the banks of the Lundi river next to where the about-to-be-built low-level concrete bridge was going to be sited. In those days the Lundi was still a beautiful river, not yet choked with sand, and it flowed deeply and smoothly past the camp in a clear green swirl of water, so cool and languid in the hot dry bush.

 This caused my dad some consternation, as it was immediately obvious that the water was much too deep for our Morris to drive through, and it seemed, much to his dismay, as though we might have to retrace our steps on a long and hot and dusty drive back around where we had come from. However the surveyor, over a cup of tea in his camp, explained to my folks how one would cross, and they seemed to relax. To us kids however this was clearly an impossibility and we wondered what could be done to prevent us having to turn around. Back in those days however, kids were seen and not heard and were not allowed anywhere near where the adults were sitting under the tall riverline trees drinking tea on their canvas deck chairs, so we just played around near the river bank under the watchful eyes of the camp cook unaware of how our predicament would be solved. The cook had been detailed to make sure we stayed away from the water’s edge as the river teemed with crocs and had eaten several of the unwary cut-line gang taking ablutions in the river.

 Tea here in the bush was a relaxed affair, as all caught up on news and travel information; where to buy petrol and where the best places were up ahead to visit and so on. For the surveyor and his team news from the outside world was scarce, so the unexpected dropping in of passing travelers in this still-remote bit of old Rhodesia was a very welcome and he was eager to hear what had been going on around and about . Once this had been enjoyed and dispensed with the cook was yelled for and told to call the cut-line chopping gang. A few loud shouts in the quite of the bush soon had a horde of scruffily dressed men swarming around, dragging long stout mopane poles behind them and gathered on the water’s edge. My dad drove the Morris down to the edge of the river, and under the expert instruction of the surveyor the poles were placed crossways under the car, one tied with strong rope to the front bumper, and another to the back bumper. Now you know why cars were built so tough in those days, with strong steel bits in their appendages. My mother carried my little brother on her shoulders, my little sister on my dads, and I and my older sister were lifted onto the shoulders of two of the cut-line men.

 Then, on a cue from the cook, with a huge shout, the entire gang gripped the poles protruding out from either side of the car and bodily heaved them up to shoulder height, bearing the car aloft. We kids gasped in amazement - it had never occurred to us that mere men could pick up an entire car! The mass advanced with a number of the men flanking this phalanx of carriers either side, armed with long thin poles to strike the water loudly and scare the crocs, and our entire party set off to wade through the Lundi river. The surveyor carried a rifle and kept his beady eyes on the water from submerged saurians and we kept in very close to the back of the car where it was deemed to be the safest place. It was hugely exciting, and from our shoulder borne perches swept our gaze constantly across the water’s surface for any sight of marauding crocodiles sweeping in to the attack, but alas there were none, and we were disappointed not to see the surveyor blasting them with his rifle! But the crossing in itself was exciting enough, with our carriers soon chest deep in the water, then shoulder deep and we thought they would drop the car and drown it, much to our horror. At five years old this seemed like a most terrible calamity to potentially befall one, after all my favourite toy, a red wooden tractor was in the boot of the car, and horror of horrors it could well be lost if the car was dropped. I held onto the head of my porter with a tight grip as we crossed this deepest section in what seemed like an eternity of time and willed the carriers on.

 I would guess now on reflection that the river was probably only about a hundred metres wide, but back then it seemed like miles as we slowly made our way past big clumps of feathery phragmites reeds breaking the current in places and eventually the depth lessened to waist deep then knees then ankle, and we wriggled off our shoulder mounts to leap into the shallows and run alongside the procession yelling in joyful glee at the successful fording of the river. Once on the sand the car was put back onto terra firmer, started up and driven and pushed across the sandbank and up onto the hard ground under the trees where the track continued. We were all sopping wet so dried out in the sun for a while as the adults continued their news-swopping, then we bade our farewells to the surveyor man, climbed into the Morris once again with the Lundi crossing behind us and drove off down the winding dusty track towards Chipinda Pools and more adventure.

Morris Oxford (from Google)

What a wonderful tale. please keep your pencil sharp, and share more of your early stories with ORAFs.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 

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Thursday, 22 August 2013

Eveline High School (Bulawayo) -Tennis 1961

Back Row (left to right) : J. GRIMES, L. EVERED. P. WALKDEN (Captain), H. VAN DEN HEEVER, L. PATTTSOB
Front Row (left to right) : E. KUTTNER, Y. SMITH, A. BENSON.

During the first term only five matches were played. Those played by the 1st team against Jameson, Roosevelt, Chaplin, were won and those against Townsend and Queen Elizabeth were lost. This term we beat Roosevelt a second time and are looking forward to playing Jameson again. The 2nd team was very successful and lost only one match.

In the Matabeleland Championships Pat Walkden won both the Under 16 and Under 18 singles. She also won the Under 18 girls' doubles, playing with (J. Timms and the Under 18 mixed doubles with J. Bartels. Our congratulations go to Pat for subsequently being chosen to play for Matabeleland.

The 1960 school tennis championships were won by A. Micklesfield, who beat L. Evered, in the senior section and, in the junior section, P. Walkden, who had a walkover as D. Forman was ill. A Micklesfield and P. Walkden beat M. Conradie and M. Nicholson to win the Cosen's doubles trophy.

JOAN BLOWERS.

Source: Eveline High School Manual of 1961 which was made available by Lewis Walter.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris for sole use on Our Rhodesian Heritage Blog which ORAFs administers.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 
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Eveline High School (Bulawayo) - Hockey 1961

Back Row (left to right): I. THOMPSON, H. STOWK, K. SACHSE, A. DRUMMOND, S WRENCH, D. MATHEWS.
P. WALKDEN, D. HERRING
Front Row (left to right): H. VAN DEN HEEVER, J. BLOWERS (Captain), J. McNEILL

This season was a successful one for the 1st team despite their bad start. The team was very unsettled and lost the first match to Thornhill. However we were extremely fortunate to have the help of Mrs.Walkdeu who gave up her time to assist in coaching us and who encouraged us immensely. After losing one more match, to Jameson, the team settled down, winning matches against Townsend, Northlea, Que Que, Mabelreign, St. Peters and Technical College, drawing with Roosevelt and Chaplin and losing only to Girls' High School. We also played a match against Technical School, which we lost.

The 2nd team had some good matches this season and their losses equalled their wins and draws. In a well supported and entertaining match the girls beat the staff in the annual girls versus staff hockey match.

In the senior section of the Inter-House matches, Langdon beat Connaught in an exciting and close game. Northward defeated Athlone in the Junior section. The cup was won by Langdon with Northward as runner-up.

Congratulations go to P. Walkden, J. McNeill, H. Stow and T. Francis on their selection for the Matabeleland A team and to H. van den Heever, and T. Thompson who were selected for the Matabeleland B team. Special congratulations go to P. Walkden, our main goal scorer, who was chosen to play for the Rhodesian Schoolgirls' team.

Colours were awarded to P. Walkden, J. McNeill and H. Stow.

JOAN BLOWERS.

Source: Eveline High School Manual of 1961 which was made available by Lewis Walter.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris for sole use on Our Rhodesian Heritage Blog which ORAFs administers.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 
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Eveline High School (Bulawayo) - Athletics 1961

Back Row (left to right) : L. SCHOFIELD, S. WINNING, E. McLOUGHLIN, L. SMITH, P. HAZELTON
(Captain), B. MORRIS, M. VAN NIEKERK, J. PIETERSE, R. HITCHCOCK.
Front Row (left to right): P. WALKDEN, Z. WALKER, R, GLEDALL, E. BENSON, J. VAN NIEKERK.
At the beginning of this year the athletics team showed great promise and enthusiasm. A large number of girls came regularly for training, although a few were not up to the 1960 team's standard.

Thanks to the hard work and excellent training by our staff, the team chosen for the Athletics meeting, in the first term of this year, was very successful. Eveline won the McHigwalong Cup for the second year in succession, with 105½ points, and Townsend was the runner-up, with 95 points. The other schools who took part were St. Peters, Northlea and Convent. This victory was the reward of hard, regular training. Congratulations go to the girls, and to Mrs. Withersand Miss Katzenellenbogen for their kind co-operation in making this year such a success.

Three records were broken by Eveline, the 100 yards, under 14, by M. van Niekerk, the Under 14 Long Jump, by E. MacLoughlin, with a record jump of 15 feet 5 inches., and the Under 14 High Jump, by L. Schofield, with a jump of 4 feet 9 inches.

Colours were awarded to R. Hitchcock.
Team girdles were awarded to:
Seniors: Z. Walker, T). Miskin and A. Pieterse.
Juniors: S. Baynard, E. Benzon, M. Hyde, G. Powell, R. Brazendale, L. Lambert and A. White.

This year has been a great success, and I hope that next year this high standard of achievement will be
maintained.

RUTH HITCHCOCK.

End

Source: Eveline High School Manual of 1961 which was made available by Lewis Walter.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris for sole use on Our Rhodesian Heritage Blog which ORAFs administers.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 
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Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Lundi River in Flood


By Nick Baalbergen


You have previously included the 1974 photo as a part of the story on 'strip roads'.

I thought it might be of interest to compare similar photos, 46 years apart. The 1928 photo was apparently taken shortly after the low level bridge was completed.
Lundi River in Flood 1928
Lundi River in Flood 1974
Hope you enjoyed the photographs.
Nick

End

Thanks Nick for sharing your photographs and memories with ORAFs.

Lundi River, river in southeastern Zimbabwe rising at Gweru in the Highveld and flowing southeast to Hippo Valley at the confluence with the Shashe River in the Middleveld. It continues across the Lowveld and joins the Sabi River near the Chivirigo (Chivirira) Falls at the Mozambique border, after a course of 260 miles (418 km), to form the Save River. Among the Lundi’s great network of tributaries are the Ingezi, Tokwe, Mtilkwe, and Chiredzi rivers. In its upper reaches the river is arrested by Gwenora Dam, and its lower section is incorporated into the Sabi-Limpopo Irrigation Project.

Source.
http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/351432/Lundi-River


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Eveline High School (Bulawayo) - Netball 1961


NETBALL TEAM
Back Row (left to right): M. STOWE, V. CUNLIFF  j. WAYLAND (Captain), M. BANCROFT
Front Row (left to right) : Y. SMITH, L. KAiPP.

This year's Netball teams were, on the whole, quite successful and the players thoroughly enjoyed their matches.

The 1st team played six matches; of which they won four and lost two. The 2nd team played only one match but unfortunately lost. The Under 15A team played very well this season. Of the seven matches played they won six and lost one. The Under 15B and Form IA, IB and IC teams were undefeated.

The 1st and Under 15A teams travelled to Jameson School in Gatooma and were supposed to travel to Salisbury to play Girls' High School but this match was cancelled. We did, however, play Girls' High School later in the term.

The Inter-House Netball Cup was won by Mcintosh with Connaught as runners-up. We were pleased to see a Day-scholar house doing so well.

The staff versus girls match was very entertaining. The staff were dressed in maroon tunics and the girls were dressed as babies. The result of this match was an 11—5 win to the staff after much cheating.

No Netball colours were awarded this year.

My sincere good wishes go to all players returning next year, and may you have good luck in the coming season.

JENNIFER WAYLAND.

Photo By Robal Studios

End

Source: Eveline High School Manual of 1961 which was made available by Lewis Walter.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris for sole use on Our Rhodesian Heritage Blog which ORAFs administers.

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com 
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Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Eveline High School (Bulawayo) - Swimming 1961

The Inter-House Gala was held in November I960 and resulted in a win for Gladstone with Selborne second. The  main gala results were as follows :

McDonald Inter-House Cup...................................Gladstone
Pearl Carpenter Relay Cup................................... .Selborne
Senior Championship .......................................... ..V. Schofield
Intermediate Championship ....................................D. Sutcliffe
Junior Championship ..............................................L. Schofield
Aitken Cup (100m. crawl) .....................................D. Sutcliffe
Via Diamond (100m. breast) .................................M. Crozier
Morgan Cup (100m. back) ....................................D. Sutcliffe
Lorraine Howell (Open Diving A) ..........................B. Green
B Section Diving ...................................................M. Crozier
Junior Diving .........................................................E. Peach
Muller Life Saving Cup..........................................D. Williams
Daphne Forbes Life Saving Cup ...........................D. Williams


SWIMMING TEAM
Back Row (left to right): B. MORRIS, B. GREEN, M. REA, L. GLEESON, V. NASH, V. McLEROTH,
A. PATTERSON, H. BARROWMAN, D. BANKS, J. BLOWERS, D. SUTCLIFFE.

Middle Row (left to right): J. CULLEN J. PETERSON, H. SMITH, S. WINNING, T. BOYCE,
H. STOWE, G. ROBB, E. McLOUGHLIN, L. SCHOFIELD, P. SMITH, P. HIRST.

Front Row (left to right) : E. WIGGINGTON, S. BRADLEY, F. PRETORIUS, A. DRUMMOND,
V. SCHOFIELD (Captain), A. WAYLAND, C. FOSTER, N. TOMAN.

In the Matabeleland Inter-Schools Gala, Townsend came first with Eveline second. The Preliminary Trials were held  in Que Que and Townsend again beat Eveline. The four schools qualifying for the final in Salisbury were Townsend, Eveline, Northlea and Chaplin. In the finals G.H.S. Salisbury beat Townsend by one point. Eveline were only able to  take sixth place with Umtali. Eveline broke five of eleven records in the Finals. Congratulations to the following for breaking them :

D. Sutcliffe — 100 yards Back Open A.
M.Rea — 100 yards Crawl Open B and 100 yards Back Open B.
A. Drummond — 50 yards Back Senior B.
Under 15 Crawl Relay team.

In the third term, I960 colours were awarded to V. Schofield and in the 1st term, 1961, to F. Pretorius and A.  Drummond.

In League results, Eveline won the Under 14 and Under 16 sections and came first in the Overall points with Townsend second.

In 1960 a new cup was awarded. It is the Ann Webb Cup for General Proficiency and Progress in Swimming and was  awarded for the first time to V. Schofield.

I wish all girls returning, the best of luck in their swimming.

VALERIE SCHOFIELD.

LIFE SAVING AWARDS

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION:
December, 1960: A. Steyn, H. Stowe, A. Francis, M. Hardy, H. Marshall, S. Schwim, E. Benzon, M. Hellmuth, J. 

Manicom, I. Thompson, K. Karlander, A. Shinn, L. Hyman, B. Lerman, N. Toman, J. Baker, C. Cronje,L. Gass, P. Phillips, I. Wood, B. Graaf E. Mclaughlin, C. Foster, M. McGowan.

April, 1961 : L. Till, C. West, M. Maine, M. Hendry, E. Herbst, J. Eales, D. Penderleith, P. Hirst, P. de Smidt, P.  Eppel, J. Smart, J. White J. Spiller, C. Torpey, E. Winchester, E. Bakkes, L. Hewlett, A. McGowan, J. Staples, S.  Staples, M. Rea.

BRONZE MEDALLION EXAMINATION:
December, 1960: T. Pollard, D. West, T. van Ryneveld, B. Green, A. Smith, Z. Walker, V. Nash, B. Clegg, L. Wordsworth, M. Fraser G. French, S. Allen, M. Searle Smith, J. Bradley, V. McLeroth, S. Maurice, A. Darlow, W. McLean, L. Gleeson, G. Rudman, J. Welgeinoed, J. Peterson.

April, 1961 : I. Wood, R. White, J. Brodie, H. Barrowman, A. Francis, H. Marshall, M. Hardy, A. Shinn, E. McLoughlin, E. Benzon, D. Miskin, J. Manicon, B. Lerman, L. Hyman, N. Toman, M. Hellmuth, B. Knapp, M. Curry, V. Lindsey, M. Rossou, A. Wavland, B. Graff, C. Foster, F. Pretorius, N. McDonald, M. McGowan, L. Schofield.

BRONZE CROSS:
December, 1960: K. Blizard, T. Francis, E. John, L. Borland, C. John, M. Gibson, J. Blowers, G. Hulett, J. Coupe, M. Cloete, J. Maurice, Y. Smith, H. Smith, V. Schofield.

April, 1961 : S. Maurice, W. Maclean, L. Gleeson, D. West, B. Green, V. Nash, B. Clegg, G. French.

SCHOLAR INSTRUCTOR'S CERTIFICATE:
December, 1960: J. Maurice, S. Evans, A. Hellmuth, D. Chamberlain, V. Schofield.

INSTRUCTOR'S CERTIFICATE:
April, 1961 : V. Schofield, M. Buckley, J. McNeill, L. Meyer, Z. Walker, S. Maurice, E. John.

AWARD OF MERIT:
December, 1960: T. Boyee, A. Drummond, V. Schofield.
April, 1961 : V. McLeroth, H. Smith.

End

Source: Eveline High School Manual of 1961 which was made available by Lewis Walter.

Extracted and recompiled by Eddy Norris for sole use on Our Rhodesian Heritage Blog which ORAFs administers.

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Monday, 19 August 2013

Rhodesia's Wankie National Park

  

Reprinted from RHODESIA CALLS, by Mardon Printers, Rhodesia, and distributed by the Rhodesia National Tourist Board. ©Rhodesia Calls (Pvt.) Ltd. 1975.

Foot safaris, under the supervision of experienced guides (main picture above), are a new dimension in game viewing that has been successfully developed at Wankie Safari Lodge (inset 1). a three-star hotel just outside the national park and near to Wankie airport.

 Foot safaris are also operated from Main Camp within the park. North of Wankie National Park, stretching almost 80 km to the Zambezi river and the Victoria Falls National Park, is a vast tract of uninhabited land reserved as safari areas. Here hunting and photographic safaris are operated by private companies.

 Within the Matetsi safari area is the Matetsi. Wild Life Leisure Resort (inset 2), where "a range of accommodation from hotel rooms and fully equipped chalets to caravan and camping sites is provided. The resort offers game viewing on foot and by land-rover. Access from the resort to the northern areas of Wankie National Park is also convenient.

 For further information on Wankie National Park, or other areas of tourist interest in Rhodesia, please contact the  Rhodesia National Tourist Board, P.O. Box 8052, Causeway. Salisbury.

 BOOKINGS for National Park accommodation should be made to the Central Booking Office. P.O. Box 8151,
 Causeway, Salisbury.


 End of Pg 2

Above. National Parks are created to preserve and protect the natural landscape and scenery; and to preserve and  protect wild life and plants, and the natural ecological stability of wild life and plant communities therein; for the  enjoyment, education and inspiration of the public. Rhodesia's Parks and Wild Life Act. 

Wankie National Park is a place — and an experience. Within its 13 000 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness the protected wild life and natural vegetation reflect a diversity and interdependence that has long disappeared from the manipulated environment in which the mass of humanity lives.
Here the visitor is given an opportunity to throw off the routine of his man-centred world and become a spectator. For many the sight of zebras caught in the light of an afternoon sun (main picture left) will be the highlight of their visit. For others, it will be the appeal of the tiny steenbok (inset 1); a secretary bird stalking across the veld (inset 3); or a herd of sable making their haughty way to a waterhole (main picture right).

The visitor will find that by and large the wild life will ignore him or. at most, find him a temporary irritant if he intrudes too far into their world — then the elephant will trumpet at him, or make a fearsome mock charge, while the smaller animals will melt away into the surrounding bush.

Although for most visitors to Wankie the greatest attraction is the variety of wild life that may be seen, the wide  range of plant life forms a splendid backdrop to any scene — from the teak forests in the southern part of the park  to the thin shade of the Mopani forests in the central and northern areas.

While Wankie is wild and untouched, the modern visitor may reach the park on wide, modern highways, or even by  regular Air Rhodesia scheduled services to the park's own airport (inset 2).

There are 107 species of animals — from the elephant to the shrew — and 401 species of birds in Wankie National Park. Yet the visitor who proceeds through the park with a checklist and a pencil will not gain the enjoyment or the lasting memories of the person who waits and watches.



An elephant is an elephant to the first visitor, but to the second it is a member of a family group, the behaviour of which is as fascinating as the spectacle of a small herd crossing a dry river bed (main picture left)

 At certain waterholes, game viewing platforms and hides (inset 3) have been erected and these provide ideal vantage points (particularly during the early morning and late afternoon) for those who are willing to sit and wait.

The behaviour of a group of animals at these waterholes will provide the patient photographer with an opportunity for particularly interesting studies — such as a young bull elephant chasing off a group of baboons (inset 4), or a white rhino with its hitch- hiking ox peckers (inset 1). To see a herd of buffalo emerge singly and then in a mass from a distant tree line, surround a waterhole (inset 5) and then recede as noiselessly as they came, is a never-to- be-forgotten experience.

 But it is not only the large animals that merit attention. The smaller species such as the bat-eared fox (inset 2), also have their appeal.

 The species of game more likely to be seen in the areas surrounding Wankie's three camps are:

 Main Camp — zebra, giraffe, kudu, elephant, steenbok. warthog, buffalo, wildebeest, sable, lion, black backed jackal, hyena, bat-eared fox.

 Sinamatella — impala, kudu, elephant, warthog, giraffe, hippo, klipspringer. hyena, lion, leopard.

 Robins — impala. waterbuck, buffalo, kudu, elephant, giraffe, sable, roan, reedbuck, lion, hyena, side-striped jackal, cheetah, tsessebe.

 The reason for the abundance of certain species in certain areas depends on the living requirements of the species concerned and how the plant ecology of the area satisfies those requirements.

Although Wankie relies for its appeal on remaining an unspoiled and undeveloped wild life area, accommodation for  the visitor is comfortable and in keeping with the natural surroundings (inset 3).

Within the park are three camps — Main, Sinamatella, and Robins — all providing serviced accommodation,caravan and camping facilities (inset 2), and liquor licensed restaurants. From these camps networks of game- viewing roads connect with the central road system on which the visitor may travel through the park from camp tocamp (although cars towing caravans are not permitted to travel within the park).

 Main Camp is situated within a few kilometres of the Wankie National Park airport; Sinamatella is built on a  plateau commanding views of the surrounding plains (inset 1); and Robins is the most northerly camp in the park.

 For those who prefer to cater for themselves, there are three self- contained lodges at Nantwich, 11 km from Robins  Camp (main picture left).

 A new development in accommodation is the creation of bush camps where, far from the normal visitor's route,  facilities for single groups of up to 12 people are provided. From these camps visitors may explore the surrounding  area and game view on foot. The word "predator" usually brings to mind the lion (main picture right) which are present all over the park but are  more numerous in the northern area near Robins Camp. But the constant life-and-death struggle that is the way of the wild may be seen in many other ways if the visitor is perceptive and patient enough.

 Wankie has an extensive and widespread population of birds of prey —large and small — and an eagle swooping on to its kill (inset 4) illustrates the principle dramatically.

 The well-known skittish nature of the wildebeest is its natural protection against predators and the slightest disturbance sets them off on their characteristic loping gallop (inset 6).

 The visitor, intent on photography, would do well to remember that sudden movement is an alarm signal to wild animals and that any approach should be slow and gradual.

 Despite the constant struggle for survival, there are moments of peace, however, and the spiral-horned kudu
will drink at their regular waterhole within metres of dozing crocodiles (inset 5).

End
Material made available to ORAFs by Frankie Rumbold.

Extracted and recompiled for use n the Our Rhodesia Heritage Blog which is administered by Eddy Norris

Comments are always welcome, please mail them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com
 

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Sunday, 18 August 2013

EVELINE HIGH SCHOOL - 1961 HEADMISTRESS AND SCH00L PREFECTS


Back Row (left to right): BRENDA SOLOMON HILARY McKENZIE, VALERIE CUNLIFF JOAN BLOWERS. CHRISTINE JOHN SUSAN WHITEHEAD, DIANA CLIFF, MYRTLE STOWE.

Middle Row (left to right): CHRISTINA HELLMUTH, MERLE GOLDSCHMIDT, FRANCIS
PRETORIUS. NOLA SISSONS. IRENE STYLES MARGARET BUCKLEY, ANNE WINTER.

Front Row (left to right) : RHONA ROSENBERG LILIAN R0TH RUTH HITCHCOCK (Head Girl),
MISS W. M. POWELL (Headmistress) ANNE KIRKWO0D (Deputy Head Girl), HEATHER MILLAR,
MARY-ANN BROWN LEE WALKER

Photo by Robal Studios

End

Source. Annual of the Eveline High School 1961. Made available by Lewis Water (Intaf)

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Saturday, 17 August 2013

Alderman R.L. Phillips - Mayor Salisbury Rhodesia

By Glyn Hall

The advert for The Art Printing Works  from 1936. refers

Why it was of interest was because my Grandfather was the owner of it, having bought a controlling share in it in 1919! He was Robert Lawrence Phillips and was also the mayor of Salisbury in 1930/1931.
Alderman R.L. Phillips - Mayor Salisbury Rhodesia 1930.

I am attaching a couple of photographs of him - one in his mayoral garb and the other is on the steps of Salisburys Town House (1934) - he is on the left with my grandmother, middle is the Mayor, Reid Rowland and Prince George. Out of interest, my mother dug the 1st sod of the Town House when they built it. Also Phillips Ave which ran off 2nd Street was named after my grandfather and Lorna Avenue (in Mabelreign) after my mother. The photograph is the 'new' Art Printing Works is from 1934 with the decorations celebrating Prince Georges visit.
Art Printing Works circa 1934
     
HRH Prince George 1934     

Art Printing Works circa 1930
I have also included some articles from 1938 and the 1940's.

You previously ran some photos of my Dad, Jack Hall who was written up in the Pride of Eagles & was in the Southern Rhodesian Air Force at the beginning of the 39/45 war - interesting little story from the Rhodesia Herald about him shooting a lion while driving home! Imagine what would happen today?

The other rather tatty articles are from 1943 and 1948 about my grandfather.
  


Column which my mother got at a function in their honour on 14/09/1930. 

Rhodesia Herald Newspaper 1 Feb 1943.

 My great grandfather was Herbert Phillips and he was something to do with the Rudd Concession who went to see Lobengula in 1888 to see if the land that became "Rhodesia" was worth it. He started the Beatrice gold mine in Rhodesia in 1890 - from what records I have he was the "South African Inspector of Gold Mines".

Don't know if this is of interest to you but when I saw the Art Picture Works and it got me digging!


Alderman R. L. Phillips

Popular and Much Loved Public Man
By. ARGUS

IT is an indication of his character that Mr. R.. L. Phillips, J.P., is.so frequently spoken of as " dear old Bob." That  does not mean that he is not a fighter. He is. But he always directs his attacks towards policies not persons.

In the long course of his public life he has has many opponents but not enemies. If " Bob " Phillip fought a cause  this antagonists knew that he believes in it but his strong blows were directed towards what he was convinced were  the weak points in the arguments of the other side not towards the individual supporting the other view.

He gave 22 years' service on the Town Council, including a period as Mayor, and It was Inevitable that he should be  selected among the first to be honoured with the title of alder- man. His farewell to the Council in 1941 was made  the occasion for a special meeting at which other tributes were  were paid to various aspects of  the life and character, and a presentation was made to him Mr.. O. P. Wheeler the then Mayor, said Mr. Phillips had achieved a record In Municipal service as a councillor.

Several ex-Mayors spoke and Mr. Reid Rowland said Mr. Phillips had been an outstanding member. Mr. J. E. Stone spoke of 'the strong position Mr. Phillips held in the estimation of the public.


APPRECIATION

The Hon. J. H. Smit, a former Town Councillor and then Minister of Finance, expressed his appreciation of the. influence "R.L." exercised. He had done a great deal to make Council meetings pleasant and had always urged the  adoption of the reasonable attitude .

"Mr. Phillips is a fine man who has done line work and assisted greatly in the development of the town," sad Mr. J.  Elsworth, whilst Mr. L,. B. Fereday believed there was no man more loved by the people of Salisbury who had placed  him higher in the polls than any other Councillor.

Mr. N. A. Phillip referred to his personal debt for the encouragement Mr. Phillips had given him and to the work he had done in the building up of a tradition of integrity and disinterested public service.


GREAT HORSEMAN

Col. D. McDonald added anecdotes of the time when "Bob" was a great horseman and, as the newest councillor, Mr. A. N. Gibb proposed the health of the guest who, he said, wan leaving the Council with a great record.

In his reply Alderman Phillips revealed a phase of his character when he said the tributes paid reminded him of when he was a small boy, and his mother told someone he was good. She did not know half of what he had done  when she was not there.

In summarising his policy for the Council, he said they must get good men, pay them well and keep them. "Bob"  Phillips was born in Nottingham in September, 1869, and finished his education at the Nottingham University. He  was intensely Interested in mining and travelled far in India, Germany, U.S.A. and South Africa.

He was interested in coal and gold mining, in commercial work, and even served a period as a cowboy and,  traditionally, sold newspapers in the streets of Denver.

He arrived in Umtali in 1897 and took up mining work which carried him to a considerable number of properties, such as the Alliance, Asp, Lily, Speculator, Amazon, Left Bower, Joker, Kimberley Reef and Kingsley. He worked as a distributor and also as manager, finishing mining as manager for the Indarama G.M. Co.'s Butter- fly Mine and  Cecil claim, Hartley district.

He then turned his attention to commerce. In 1919 he bought an interest in the Art Printing Works and during his  period as manager the business grew from employing- five white employees to fifty-five.

USED AEROPLANE


He was the first Rhodesian Mayor to use an aeroplane officially, travelling with Mr. R. L. Pollett, Town Clerk, to  Bulawayo to attend the unveilling ceremony of the statue in memory of Sir Charles Coghlan. Mr. Pollett sent the  gold chain by train as air service was not regarded as reliable in those days.


BTW: Robert Phillips was my Granddad not my Dad!)

He was also the first Mayor to use the Beam Station on an occasion when he sent greetings to the Mayor of  Salisbury, Eng- land, receiving a reply in less than an hour.

His daughter, Miss Lorna Phillips, dug the first sod of the present Town House.

His life has covered many activities, in all of which he showed energy and enthusiasm. In his early days in coal  mining he was dissatisfied and studied mining generally, obtaining honours which qualified him for important  posts in Rhodesia.

MASTER BUILDER


When he first arrived at Umtali, mining opportunities were few, but rather than be idle he sank most of the wells in  the present Umtali, and even became a master builder to the extent of putting up wood and iron shanties. In the  following year, on the advice of the late Mr. E. A. Begbie, he came to Salisbury.

He was . always a hard worker, and his final successes were undoubtedly due to his industry and enthusiasm,  which drove him to work a dozen hours a day and sometimes even sixteen. But through it all he maintained a level  head, believed in the power of sweet reasonableness and gave freely of his time and' money for the social  advancement of the citizens.

Source: The Sunday Mail dated 28/11/1948

The End


Another story:-
I am not sure if it is mentioned in those articles but in the 1890s he had finished a building some way out of Umtali  and was returning to the town on a bicycle along a path through Christmas Pass when he was confronted by a large  lion. He wasn't armed but fancied himself as a singer (he was the male solo in the local choir) so he started  singing a hymn at the top of his voice and evidently the lion bolted into the bush in fright!

Just another note of history - my mother was instrumental in the planting of the palm trees which went down the centre of Kingsway - I think they changed the name of Kingsway to something else but the palms endure. I seem to recall it was Samora Machel?

The autograph book started in the mid 1800 goes all the way through to the end of Rhodesia and the last signatures are Ian and Janet Smith and Clifford and ; Armenell duPont.

-------

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