the advent of spring, msasa trees sprouting in spring in ...€¦ · on the 11th of february, nobby...

The advent of spring, Msasa Trees sprouting in spring in Rhodesia in their all their glory, always a sight to behold and in this case also to bring back wonderful memories.

One of the great Garratt Locomotives of the type that did such sterling service in Rhodesia, now running on a private line out of Creighton in the Natal Midlands, during the Aloe Festival.

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Chairman & Outpost Editor

Trevor Wilson 031 716 8233 (h) [email protected]

082 324 9796

Secretary Des Howse 031 762 1010 (h) PO Box 804, Linkhills 3653 [email protected]

083 440 6740

Treasurer Ethne Ayrton-White 031 762 4753 (h) [email protected]

084 506 7393

Almoner Dave Anstey [email protected] 074 892 7498 Member Roy Gardener 031 765 4968(h)

[email protected]

072 478 2311

STATION MEMBERS IN CHARGE

Durban North Iain Laing [email protected] 031 464 2842 083 778 7765

Durban West Des Howse (See above)

Durban South Ed Bird [email protected] 031 903 2967 082 482 4702

South Coast Barry Woan [email protected] 039 312 2028 083 443 0533

Widows Co-ordinator

Laurette Hardie

[email protected] 031 566 1392 083 691 2564

Cover is sponsored by 8291 John W Arkley

Banking Details

Account Name : BSAP Regimental Association, Kwa Zulu Natal Branch

Bank : Nedbank Hillcrest Code 198765 Account No : 1338108638

Ref: Include your name, no and reason for payment eg – subs, dinner, donation, sponsorship, etc.

PLEASE try to avoid making cash or cheque deposits as these attract bank charges.

Committee Members of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Branch of the BSAP Regimental Association : 2016 - 2017

The advent of spring, Msasa Trees sprouting in spring in Rhodesia in their all their glory, always a sight to behold and in this case also to bring back wonderful memories.

One of the great Garratt Locomotives of the type that did such sterling service in Rhodesia, now running on a private line out of Creighton in the Natal Midlands, during the Aloe Festival.

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BSA POLICE MEMORABILIA

It’s time to clear out that old trunk/box that’s been sitting in the garage all this time, taking up space, gathering dust and never opened - turn it into cash!!!! I am willing to pay above a fair price for BSAP memorabilia, including uniforms, badges, buttons, Outposts, books, kit and equipment. 10% and more of all monies paid will be passed onto the Natal Branch of the BSAP Regimental Association as “commission.” Please contact: Barry Woan Cell: 083 443 0533 Email: [email protected]

Cover Photograph – The Victoria Falls with the symbolic African Elephant browsing near the edge of the falls on a rocky outcrop.

Outpost Sponsorship : Please sponsor your magazine to help us reduce costs, only R25,00 per page. Pages can also be sponsored in memory of a loved one/member. Your support will be much appreciated.

This page sponsored by 8761 Wil Cameron-Dow

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ITEM

Chairman’s \ Editor’s Comments

CONTENTS

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KwaZula-Natal Station Notes:

Natal South Coast Fishing Trip - September 2015

Durban West Braai - 8th November, 2015

8315 John Padbury’s Visit – January, 2016

Durban South Braai – 14th February, 2016

Jenny Brysons visit to Natal South Coast

8755 Alan Hadfields Visit to Durban - 7th March, 2016

Durban North Coffee Morning - 16th March, 2016

Durban West Braai - 17th April, 2016

KwaZulu Natal Association A.G.M.- 14th May, 2016

Natal South Coast Mid-Year Lunch – 28th May, 2016

Inchanga Inter-Branch Braai – 17th July, 2016

Natal Midlands Branch News.

8980 Duncan Paul’s 60th Birthday in the Artic

The Landrover Defender – Passing of an Icon : 5663 Peter Huson

The Experiences of a Metropolitan Police Cadet

Obituaries

Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund - Update

Natal Social Calendar : 2016

This page sponsored by 6283 Nobby Clark

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CHAIRMAN’S \ EDITOR’S COMMENTS

In retrospect, thank goodness we explored Turkey last year! The festive season has come and long gone and it is now time to apply my mind (what’s left of it!) to the magazine. Difficult to get started on this edition, but here we go again. My apologies for the delay. Smudge Smith had a resurgence of his cancer and has undergone radio theraphy which has gone well. The support that he has received from members and residents of the Inchanga Village has been fantastic and Colin and Linda Kerr have been absolutely incredible, for which Smudge

and his family as well as the Association, are extremely grateful. Smudge attended the Durban West braai on 17th April and was looking not only very well but was also full of his usual bounce, then he helped to arrange the Annual Inchanga Braai with the assistance of other members at Inchanga.It is suspected that Smudge was “director” of operations! On the 11th of February, Nobby Clarke, Des Howse and myself visited Smudge on the occasion of his 88th birthday with an addition to his “milk stout” supplies, he was again in good fettle. Johnny Carroll and Alan Bennett also arrived with eats and Johnny made the tea. (Now we know what skills he gained in the Staff Branch!) As usual there was a lot of chat and humour and a good morning was had by all. The following day I drove out to see Bill Crabtree at Howick with a specially printed birthday card from the Natal Branch and Members, on the occasion of his 99th birthday. He was also in great spirits and these were lifted even further on a surprise visit by his grand daughter Andrea from the UK and his grandson David from Dubai, as well as his daughter Beverley and Partner Dennis from Umhlanga. Again a really enjoyable morning and lunch was enjoyed, although I’ve never had carrott cake with milk stout before! It struck me that Bill had joined the Force before I was born and has a brilliant memory of his life and characters in the Force. He enjoyed a really great day and I look forward to getting together with him next year on his Centenary. Sadly Bill took a tumble a few weeks ago and ended up in hospital, but is now back on his estate in the Care unit and has been visited by Mike Williams, the Midlands Branch Chairman and Bill is progressing well. Peter Huson kindly sent me an article (all articles are much appreciated and make the Editor’s life a bit easier!) on the Landrover Defender and as a matter of interest the “2 000 000th Land Rover” went on show at the Bonhams stand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in June this year. After a round of charity appearances at various venues in the country (a bit like a film star!) it was auctioned at Bonhams in London during

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the evening of 16 December. As part of the auction a special Series Land Rover and Defender exhibition was held, showcasing the vehicle’s history and its journey to become a global automotive icon. The event culminated with the auction of no “2 000 000” and the hammer eventually fell after a telephone bid of £400 000 (an all time record price for a Land Rover) from an un-named bidder from Qatar.

I spent a few enjoyable days with Courtney Walton in February at Marina Beach down on the South Coast and enjoyed a great meal with Barry Woan, Sakkie Mackay, and Courtney in Ramsgate. Courtney has a large collection of various varieties of orchids and undertakes specific searches of the countryside to locate indigenous orchid species, photographs the plants in flower, plotting the locations for the Orchid Society . I was fortunate to accompany Courtney and another dedicated member of the local orchid Society Martin Rautenbach, who was a former Officer in the South African Police, and also has an extensive knowledge of orchids, on a successful search of indigenous forested areas along the Umtamvuna gorge. There have been a number of most enjoyable social events around KZN since I last reported, which goes to show that our stations are still doing a sterling job and managing to attract members in good numbers. I must say that it’s always great when I can get to these events to catch up with so many friends, wives/partners and to observe how strong the brotherhood has remained with the camaraderie going from strength to strength. I have endeavored to rouse some interest amongst members to join the committee, which again fell on deaf ears. (Doesn’t say much for my powers of persuasion!) Those chatted to personally are “going to be away a lot this next year”, “have too much on their plates”, “have too many other commitments”. As a result we have the same committee after the AGM, in spite of the fact that I had intended to step down this year, but felt that I couldn’t leave Des and the others in the lurch! Sadly some of our members/partners have passed on and our thoughts are with those who are grieving their loss. We trust that the Association can support these partners and that they feel that they are welcome to continue to be a part of our activities to which they are always welcome. A short while ago, Fred Mason went to the Claremont Post Office to get a vehicle licence, this being the closest PO to his business. On arrival he parked and walked to the PO carrying his portable oxygen machine which he needs on an ongoing basis. He didn’t see anything amiss in the area, but as he was about to enter the Post Office, three thugs ran at him and pushed him into the corner whilst trying to relieve him of his machine which Fred hung onto. One of his assailants then shouted “stab him, stab him” in Zulu, and the thug in front produced a flick knife and stabbed at Fred, who managed to ward off 7 knife thrusts with his hand. Thankfully he remembered his Depot training and “knee’d” his assailant




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forcibly in the groin, causing the attacker to stagger back and run for it, although he managed to grab Fred’s cell phone from his top pocket whilst Fred retained his oxygen machine!. Fortunately the stabbing did not cause any serious damage and the injuries have healed nicely Well done Fred, so glad that no really serious permanent damage resulted. Whilst writing this, I left for three weeks overseas holiday to visit family and friends including Alan and Pauline Lane and Micky and Norah York in the UK, with whom I had a great time, as always. I also visited France to join my cousin and his wife on their boat on the Nivernais Canal along the River Yonne. I now know why Africa is having a serious drought, as I had three weeks of almost continuous rain in Europe with the rivers in France in serious flood, which restricted our travels a bit. However the great hospitality, good food and excellent beverages made up for all the rain, although maneuvering the boat in the pouring rain was not pleasant, however I found the answer. As the “drinks steward”, I determined that a very generous tot of good French brandy added to the coffee, did wonders for the body temperature and of course the spirits! On my return to Paris to catch the Eurostar whilst travelling up the escalator to the Gate du Nord station, a dusky “gentleman” grabbed the handle of my suitcase and attempted to wrench it from me, but I hung on tight to the handle and at the top, he ran off, fortunately with nothing of mine! On the way back to SA, I managed to transit through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines (an excellent airline), two nights before the bombing at the airport. Luck still holding thank goodness! Sadly the list of those who have passed to higher service is lengthy and again includes a number of good friends. May they all rest in peace. Well I have waffled on too much as usual, so forgive me and read on. Our Annual Lunch is at the same venue on the 24th of September, 2016, which is rushing towards us and for which we need to get organized. See you there. Stay well and take care. ...............Trevor Wilson

This page sponsored by 8291 John W Arkley

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This page sponsored by 8291 John W Arkley 7

Humour Corner

At St. Peter's Catholic Church in Adelaide they have weekly husbands' marriage seminars. At the last session, the priest asked Giuseppe, who said he was approaching his 50th wedding anniversary, to take a few minutes and share some insight into how he had managed to stay married to the same woman all these years. Giuseppe replied to the assembled husbands, “Wella, I'va tried to treat her nice, spenda da money on her, but besta of all is, I tooka her to Italy for the 25th anniversary!” The priest responded, “Giuseppe, you are an amazing inspiration to all the husbands here! Please tell us what you are planning for your wife for your 50th anniversary?” Giuseppe proudly replied, "I gonna go back to Italy and picka her up.”

oooOOOooo The Lemon Picker

Sally Mullihan of Coral Springs, Florida decided to take one of the jobs that most Americans are not willing to do. Sally applied for a job in a Florida lemon grove and seemed to be far too qualified for the job. She had a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan and had worked as a social worker and a school teacher. The foreman frowned and said, "I have to ask you, have you had any actual experience in picking lemons?" Sally replied, "Well, as a matter of fact, I have. I've been divorced three times, owned 2 Chryslers and I voted twice for the current President.”

oooOOOooo

A lady goes to her priest one day and says to him, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots, but they only know to say one thing.” The priest asked, “What do they say?” She replied, “Hi, we're hookers do you want to have some fun?” “That's shocking!” said the priest.

Then he thought for a moment......”You know, I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots which I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we'll put them in the cage with Francis and Peter. My parrots can teach your parrots to pray and worship and your parrots are sure to stop saying that phrase in no time.”

“Thank you Father” the woman replied hoping this may very well be the solution to her problem. The next day the woman brought her females to the priest's house. As he ushered her in she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying. Impressed she walked over and placed her parrots in with them. After a few minutes the females cried out in unison, “Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?” There was stunned silence. Shocked, one male parrot looked over at the other male and said, “For heaven’s sake Frank put the beads away, our prayers have been finally answered!”

This page sponsored by 6253 Iain Laing



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KWAZULU-NATAL STATION NOTES

NATAL SOUTH COAST

Team Smelly Fingers: Umgazana Wild Coast : September, 2015

Our South Coast Stations official Fishing Team, Team Smelly Fingers, ventured down the Wild Coast in September 2015 to do a spot of Deep Sea, Rock and Lagoon fishing. We were extremely fortunate to have the use of a luxury Private Home situated on the Lagoon at Umgazana, a little village about 35 kms south of Port St Johns. The Home is owned by a local Margate doctor and great friend of the Association, Brian Hulley. Brian has lived all his life along the Coast and is well known for his knowledge of African custom, the language, history of the South and West Coast, fish and bird life. A most interesting gentleman! The Team of 8 left early on the Monday morning from the Woanery and after a trip of some three hours, mostly tarred but some gravel road we arrived at the lodge. What a breath-taking and beautiful site welcomed us. As with most of our trips we drank and ate like kings indulging in a good catch of fish, oysters, mussels and crab. An extremely good time was had by all with many stories of our interesting past been bandied around the fireplace in the evening. Attached below is the Team taken from the Patio of this beautiful home at Umgazana. Barry Woan

Left to right standing - Tony Clark (RAR) Courtney Walton, Barry Woan, Frank Moxham (Rhod Artillery) Keith Douche and Ed Bird Sitting - Sakkie Mckay (with Schumie) and John Alport (SADF)

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NATAL SOUTH COAST




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DURBAN WEST BRAAI : AUGUSTA : 8th November 2015

The “Gang” mostly looking happy!

Front Row – Linda Wilson, Eve Harris, Sheila and Bob Jones, Second Row – Marian and Dennis Wyatt, Pauline Gardner, Rose Mee, Lionel Baker, Ethne Ayrton White, Pat and Robin Johnson, Back Row – Nobby Clark, Lesley Harris, Des and Trish Howse, Tony and Wendy Udal, Roy Gardner, Malcolm Torrance, Fred Mason, Lionel Baker, Hilary and Brian Neale (guests) , Jacqui Short, Pete Harris and Trevor Wilson

On a day made for braai-ing, a smaller than usual number of members attended the

Durban West Station get-together at Augusta Estate clubhouse on Sunday 8 November. Whilst a number of apologies were received, the fact that the date had to be changed from 25 October, (as the gas equipment was being serviced), may have caused a problem. However, the old adage ‘quality rather than quantity’ was certainly true on that day that was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

John Carroll must be commended for travelling all the way from Pmb on his own to attend the braai and we were very pleased to see Jacqui Short, who faithfully attends all Branch function when not sailing around the world on cruise liners (as a ‘croupier’, not a passenger!).

Surprise attendees were PR Bob Jones (85) and his wife Sheila who were brought along by their daughter, Hilary and her husband Brian Neale. Bob and I go way back to days in the Transvaal Branch in the late 70’s and were near neighbours in Westville. Pete Harris, wife Lesley and mother-in law Eve (who served in the NRP at the same time I did) came all the way from the Shakaskraal area on the North Coast to be with us and Fred and Lindsay Mason made a very welcome appearance, having missed the last Durban West braai due to Fred’s ill-health.

Those attending, as per the attendance Register, were : 7221 Des & Trish Howse, 8558 Pete, Lesley & Eve Harris, 6283 Nobby Clark, 6519 John Carroll, PR Bob & Sheila Jones (Brian & Hilary Neale -Guests), 5948 Tony & Wendy Udal, Ethne Ayrton-White, 5661 Trevor & Linda Wilson, 5930 Roy & Pauline Gardener, 5788 Lionel Baker & Rose Mee, 8068 Dennis & Marian Wyatt, WP383 Jaqui Short, 5760 Malcolm Torrance, 5087 Robin & Pat Johnson, 5934 Fred & Lindsay Mason.

Des Howse


NATAL SOUTH COAST




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Trish and Des Howse, Tony and Wendy Udal

Pete Harris and Fred Mason with “different” head gear and the Hon Sec Des, who collects the takings in a bag from a Bank that preserved the value of the Rhodesian Dollar! (If you didn’t guess Pete was wearing his wife’s sun hat, at least we hope it was!)

8315 JOHN PADBURY’S VISIT TO S AFRICA : JANUARY 2016

Left to right: John Padbury, Fred Mason, Sakkie McKay, Barry Woan. Photograph taken by Dave Padbury.

In early January this year, Fred Mason in Hillcrest hosted John Padbury (ex CID/SB and now resident in the UK) his brother Dave, Sakkie McKay and I to afternoon tea and a chat.

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John is writing a book on his career in the BSAP and working with us on the “Blackboot” project, as John having spent a great deal of his time working alongside the Support Unit in the Rusape area, the timing was ideal for a chat and swopping of information. A great time was had by all, with great stories being told about some very special times. John, Peter Cutting, Dave Sloman, Ken Milne (Scout attachment) worked hard at the “captured Mujiba” concept which resulted in excellent results for the different Fire Force deployments, Selous Scouts and Support Unit actions which followed. Barry Woan

DURBAN SOUTH BRAAI : 14TH FEBRUARY, 2016

The braai, held at the normal venue, the Winklespruit Bowling Club, was attended by thirty one members and guests who, from all appearances, seemed to have had a very enjoyable day.

I would again like to thank Barry Woan and Tony Clark for running a successful raffle with prizes being donated by Barry, Tony, Sakkie Mackay and my wife Patsy – a big thank you to you all. I must thank Barry in particular for the donation of a really stunning wall clock which was created by Steve Worrall-Clair who cast all the BSAP badges of rank (from sergeant to commissioner) which he used to good effect. The lucky winner, John Gray, was over the moon with his good fortune. The raffle has become a real necessity (to cover expenses) as the bowling club committee now charges a R500 facility hire fee. Any donations in the way of raffle prizes would be greatly welcomed.

Dennis Wyatt, on behalf of the committee, made a short speech welcoming the members and their guests.

Those attending were – 7626 Don Robertson, 12626 Charlie and Hilda Adams, 6088 Gerry Bowker, his wife 202562 (F/R) Marie and son Jed, 9998 Gerald Coleman, 16911 Eric and Hester Johnson, 8157 Barry Woan, guest Tony Clark (RAR), guest Noelle Hill (RLI), 6019 Sakkie Mackay, 6233 Courtney Walton and guest Lorraine Fitzgerald, 9334 Jamie and Mo Macmillan, 6817 Keith Douche, 7129 May Messina, 8966 Dereck and Jackie Lowe, 7382 John Gray and partner June, 7106 Trevor and Cheryl Hughes, 8068 Denis Wyatt, 7026 Stretch Hughes, 7983 Alan Branfield, 5344 Mike Duncan and 7110 Ed Bird. Apologies were given by Trevor Wilson, Des Howse and Jock Knoetze.

Unfortunately in the absence of Trevor Wilson no photographs of the day were taken. [Note – must appoint a photographer.] The next braai is scheduled to take place during mid-August at the same venue and a date will be advised nearer to the time. In closing I would like to thank everyone who attended. Ed Bird

This page sponsored by 158 W.P.O Patricia Manning






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JENNY BRYSON : VISIT TO THE SOUTH COAST AND THE “WOANARY”

Standing left to right - Courtney Walton, Denise Owen, Sakkie McKay, Jenny Bryson, Brian and Jenny Hutchinson. Sitting- Barry Woan, Dave Owen, Stella Wilkinson (widow of Police Reservist Jerry Wilkinson) In early February Jenny Bryson came to stay a few days at the Woanery. What a pleasure that was with us spending hours with friends talking about her times with her beloved, the late Lionel Martin and her special, the late Brick Bryson, two men she dearly loved, and life in Rhodesia in general. We talked about their careers and in typical Police fashion the many Police Stations where they served. When Jenny and Lionel finally left Rhodesia, Lionel joined the Navy and served with the Marines in Cape Town and in Natal, as did many other former BSAP members including Paddy Baldwin, Louis Fourie, John Duguid and Doug Grierson to mention a few. On the other hand when Brick came to South Africa he joined the large Security Company, Fidelity Guards where he was to find many a former Rhodesian Policeman including Butch Fletcher, Peter Huson, Ray Stenner, Don Rowland, Hans Hoffman, Rick Wentzel, Bob Packer, Keith Alexander, Pat Adams, Vernon Roach, Rob Nimmo, John Constable, Mike Davis, Corrie Pretorius and myself, to name a few.

8755 ALAN HADFIELD’S VISIT TO DURBAN : 7th MARCH, 2016

During Alan's trip to SA from Australia, he was most grateful that he could touch base with a few of his friends/colleagues from the Force and met up with them at the Stokers Arms in Kloof, located at the old Railway Station. Those present were 6467 Garth (Butch) von Horsten, 5934 Fred Mason, 6187 John Haswell, 6253 Iain Laing, 8755 Alan Hadfield, 8980 Duncan (Porky) Paul and 7229 Des Howse.

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DURBAN NORTH COFFEE MORNING : WEDNESDAY 16th MARCH 2016

Back row - 8842 Jimmy Stewart , 8558 Peter Harris, 6253 Iain Laing, WP 158 Pat Manning, 5931 Alan Cunningham. Front row - Mark Adams, 10083 Norman McNarry and his wife Barbara. Not a good turnout, but nevertheless a very enjoyable gathering. 10083 Norman McNarry was in the force from 13.6.77 to 31.5.79, when he left and went back to the UK to join the British Army in which he served for 25 years. (I think we could not fully understand his accent!)

He was out here on holiday and, walking into the Europa, he saw this fine group of old men making a noise, who reminded him of servicemen. He and his wife came across to join us, resulting in a very good reunion. He is on my list as he does come over to this side of the world now and again. Hope that Norman and Barbara will join us again on their next visit. (I regret I have not sent it earlier, but I had no electricity at my office from 31st January to 4th April inclusive, and my phone and server were only resuscitated today. The worst part was no air-conditioner and coffee!) Iain Laing

Quipps

1. A man brings his best buddy home for dinner unannounced at 5:30p.m. His wife begins screaming at him and his friend just sits and listens in, "My hair & makeup are not done, the house is a mess, the dishes are not done, I'm still in my pyjamas and I can't be bothered with cooking tonight ! What the hell did you bring him home for?" The Husband answers,"Because he's thinking of getting married!"

2. Employee : Sir, You are like a lion in the office! What about at home ? Boss : I am a lion at home too, but there we have a lion tamer !





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DURBAN WEST STATION : AUGUSTA BRAAI ON 17 APRIL 2016

The “gang” at the Augusta Braai (see the attendance list for details)

Thirty nine members, spouses and guests gathered at our usual Augusta Country Estate venue on 17 April for the first Durban West Station function of the year. The cool, overcast weather was a blessing in view of the very hot weather we had been experiencing previously, but the ladies still insisted that umbrellas be put up. (What they would have done in the Zambesi Valley, heaven alone knows!)

The usual suspects were there (see attendance list below) and we were pleased to see Smudge Smith and Louise Ford, down from the wilds of Inchanga, as well as Alan & Flick Bennett and John Carroll faithful attendees from ‘Maritzburg’ (Nancy still away overseas). Terry Hemming with partner Olga Brooks made a welcome surprise appearance as we hadn’t seen them for some time.

Fred & Lindsay Mason (plus ‘Archie’, Fred’s portable oxygen machine) were accompanied by Fred’s brother Raymond (the likeness was remarkable) and his wife Yvonne.

A number of apologies had been received, including Jaqui Short, John & Chrissie Lees, Dave and Marion Wright and Pete & Elsa Gatland.

Once again, a very pleasant afternoon was spent amongst old comrades and friends, the old spirit of the Force being very much in evidence, with lots of laughter, a little “micky” taking, a bit of meat burning and no doubt some reminiscing. A really enjoyable occasion in keeping with the events, throughout KZN.


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Alan Bennett, Nobby Clark, Scotty Macaulay, Paul Shewell and Lindsay Mason supervising!

“Down memory lane” with Johnny Carroll and Malcolm Torrance

Those attending, as per the Attendance Register, were :

7221 Des & Trish Howse, 6283 Nobby Clark, 6519 John Carroll, 8242 Alan & Flik Bennett, 5948 Tony & Wendy Udal, Ethne Ayrton-White, 5661 Trevor & Linda Wilson, 5930 Roy & Pauline Gardener, 8068 Dennis & Marian Wyatt, 5760 Malcolm & Jean Torrance, 5087 Robin & Pat Johnson, 5934 Fred & Lindsay Mason, Raymond & Yvonne Mason (guests), 4254 Smudge Smith, WP71 Louise Ford, 5749 Paul & Heather Shewell, 5958 Dick Isemonger, 9169 Dave & Sharon Anstey, 6872 Dave & Maddy Lynn, 5802 Ken & Yvonne Wood, 5760 Scotty & Felicity Macauley, 7033 Derek Kerr, 7832 Terry Hemming & Olga Brooks

Des Howse

THE BSA POLICE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION OF KWAZULU-NATAL A G M on 14 May 2016

The new headgear of the “Woan Rangers”, Margate Station

Keith Douche, Ed Bird, Barry Woan, Iain Laing, Peter Dewe, Ken Joubert, Sakkie McKay, Courtney Walton and Colin Rutherford, with the South Coast Members sporting the new formal Stable Hats









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Once again the German Club (old Shamwari) hosted our AGM, held on Saturday 14 May 2016. A slight improvement on the numbers attending from last year 29 from 25, but still far too few, considering we have well over 200 members in our Association. However, only twenty one apologies were received as compared with 34 the previous year. The Chairman presented his Annual Report and indicated that stations have continued to hold regular, well supported social functions and that the finances were still healthy (as supported by our Auditor Robin Clark and the Financial Statement).

Apart from the other usual business the main topic of discussion was the proposed new Regimental Association Constitution which the Central Committee wanted all Branches to adopt. The Natal standpoint is that we are an autonomous Association and all members present agreed that we would do away with the word ‘Branch’ and will, in future, be known as the BSAP Regimental Association, KwaZulu-Natal (eagle-eyed members will have noted the change in heading of these notes).

Other changes to the proposed Constitution were that widows, spouses and dependents of members would be entitled to become Associate members of the Association and that Special General Meetings could be called either by the Chairman or one-third of paid-up members. With these changes the new constitution was accepted. As (surprise, surprise) there were no volunteers to join the Committee, the existing Committee was unanimously re-elected, Trevor retracting his decision to stand down! The usual braai/social gathering followed the meeting and was enjoyed by all.

Those present at the AGM were :

7229 Des Howse, 5661 Trevor Wilson, 9169 Dave Anstey, 9131, Ken Joubert, 5749 Paul Shewell, 5480 Scotty Macauley, 5930 Roy & Pauline Gardener, 6233 Courtney Walton, 8157 Barry Woan, 7100 Ed Bird, 6817 Keith Douche, 6484 Mike Williams, 5666 Dave Wright, 5087 Robin Johnson, 6019 Sakkie Mackay, P/R Ethne White, 6030 Robin Clark, 5958 Dick Isemonger, 6283 Nobby Clark, 6781 Colin Rutherfoord, 7677 Peter Dewe, 8842 Jimmy Stewart, 6253 Iain Laing, 5842 Derek Starr, 6872 David Lynn, 6467 Garth von Horsten, 6187 John Haswell, 5934 Fred Mason.

Des Howse

NATAL SOUTH COAST MID YEAR LUNCH : 28 MAY 2016

South Coast Station hosted their mid-year luncheon at the Moth Shellhole Cinder City, Sea Park on the 28 May 2016. Beautiful weather greeted the 84 members and their guests to a sit down luncheon, once again fantastically prepared by the Moth contingent led by Brian and Jay. It was wonderful to see our usual local crowd aided by a hearty Durban contingent led by Des Howse, Fred Mason, Kevin Woods and Dick Isemonger. Also attending from PMB was Duncan and Doreen Paul, Rick Wentzel, Rob Parker and Hugh and Denise Temple (looking great after some serious operations) and a recent “find” former Inspector 5845 John Foulis from Pennington. From further afield we welcomed Colin Gillot from Cape Town, Ben Jovner former BSAP and Selous Scouts and his Scouts friend Chris Falkenburg from Groblersdaal, John Pirrett

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Des Howse



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from Johannesburg and Jill and F/R Eddie De Beer from the Flame Lily Society and Pete Dewe all the way from Kimberley. A great Raffle was held with fantastic prizes being donated as always by Doreen and Duncan Paul, Steve Worrall-Clare, Sandi McKenzie, May Messina, Keith Douche, John Gray, Tony Clark, Pete Dewe. Sincere apologies for any names omitted, all very much appreciated.

Allan & Gerda Cunningham &Fred Mason We also remembered the passing of all former members and friends and, in particular our Senior man, Police Reserve Recce Commander Digger Flavell, who would have turned 92 in June. There was also a gathering of former members who served at Mzilikazi Police Station and these included Des Howse, Stretch Hughes, Bob Packer, Rick Wentzel, Ben Jovner, Barry Woan, Colin Gillot, Mike Lambourne (as a Cadet), Dave Owen and Kevin Woods.

John Dolby, Sharon Pretorius and Barry Woan, Member i/c Station

Kim Packer, Glynn & Ann Gammage, Bob Packer and

Rick Wentzel (The Gamages were Guests, ex Byo)

This page sponsored by 23023 Peter Shattock in loving memory of Tina Shattock






Des Howse



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Jack Parker, Stretch Hughes and John Foulis

A serious looking Garth Von Horsten, his wife Hilary, with Barry Woan and Joy Davis

Those present were -8157 Barry Woan, RAR Tony Clark, 7249 Pete Allenby, 8426 Brian Hutchison, 5774 Dave Owen, Guest Lorraine Fitzgerald, 8674 Joy Davis (widow of Charlie), Guest Noelle Hill (widow of Lt Col Pat Hill), Ann Spanton (widow of PR Gerald), PR John Ratcliffe, 380998 C PR Bill Goussard, 8332 Chris Cummings, Army Allan Anderson, 68127 Keith Douche, 5934 Fred Mason, Army Fred Potgieter, 8212 Ali Barr, 8214 Bob Packer, Guests Glyn and Ann Gammage, 7129 May Messina widow of Andy, Dawn Broom widow of Dave, 7229 Des Howse, 7382 John Gray, PR Henry Arlow, 5251 John Dolby, Guest Sharon Pretorius, 5794 Jack Parker, 7522 Steve Worrell Clare, 5845 John Foulis, 7026 Stretch Hughes, 8194 Rick Wentzel, Army Chris Falkenburg, 20445 F/R Eddie De Beer (Flame Lily), 6467 Butch Von Horsten, Guest Wendy Johnson, 8432 Arthur McKenzie, 9131 Ken Joubert, 7167 Peter Long, Guests Tammy Davis and Vicky Jones, 7780 Mike Lambourn, 8464 Ben Jovner, 5843 Joy Walker widow of John, Guest Sue Walker, 8980 Duncan Paul, 5958 Dick Isemonger, 8175 Rob Parker, PR Richard Maxwell, PR Dalton Cornwall, 7959 Ray Hoggins, PR Angus Spence, 5708 Fred Brown, 6610 Jock Pirrett, 8594 Hugh Temple, 6785 Roger Brownlow, 8531 Kevin Woods, 8116 Colin Gillot, 7677 Peter Dewe, 8966 Derek Lowe, Guest Barbara McCrystal, 6233 Courtney Walton. Barry Woan

oooOOOooo

INCHANGA INTER BRANCH BRAAI : 17 JULY 2016

Despite the threat of inclement weather (it didn’t rain after all), thirty eight members, wives and guests attended the annual Inchanga Day where the usual spirt of bonhomie, which is always present at BSAP functions, prevailed.

Most of the usual suspects were present (see list of attendees below) but we missed Alan and Flik Bennett who were visiting their family in New Zealand. Flik usually provides the sadza and gravy, plus her peri-peri chicken livers, but we were fortunate to have the sadza and gravy provided by Inchanga Park resident Lorna Hyland, wife of P/R Mick Hyland, which went down a treat.

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A happy bunch of members from the Natal Midlands and Kwazulu-Natal Associations who attended the Annual Braai at Inchanga, a number of whom have been getting together for many years, initially for golf and bowls competitions, now it’s a more social occasion.

We were pleased to welcome recently-joined member, Dennis Moran and his partner Janice McKenzie while Derek Starr made a rare appearance at Inchanga. Peter and Gill Colepeper, who are shortly to take up permanent residence in Montagu, Western Cape, also graced us with their presence.

A number of apologies were made, including that of Fred Mason, who was unable to attend as a result of ill-health.

Our thanks go to Smudge Smith, Louise Ford and Charlie Andrews for preparing the venue which helped to make the day, which was greatly enjoyed by all present.

Dennis Moran, Gill Colepepper, Linda Wilson and Peter Gatland having a jolly time!





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Those who attended were (as per Attendance Register) :

7229 Des & Trish Howse, WP71 Louise Ford, 4254 Smudge Smith, P/R Mick & Lorna Hyland, 4717 Pat Knight, 6519 John & Nancy Carroll, 6484 Mike & Hazel Williams, 5890 Charlie Andrews, 5836 Peter & WP90 Gill Colepeper, 5826 Nigel Cuerden, 6759 John Miller, 5842 Derek Starr, 6717 Hugh & Gill Dixon, 5930 Roy & Pauline Gardener, 5848 Tony & Wendy Udal, 5661 Trevor & Linda Wilson, P/R Ethne White, 7302 Dennis Moran & Janice McKenzie, 6283 Nobby Clark, 5958 Dick Isemonger, 5760 Malcolm & Jean Torrance, 5802 Ken & Yvonne Wood, guests Billy & Julienne Smith (Smudge’s son) and their children Lilly, Ella and Liam.

Des Howse

Dick Isemonger, Nobby Clark and Mike Williams trying to remain incognito!

Tony Udal, Charlie Andrews (smoke gets in your eyes) and Dick Isemonger

This page sponsored by 8878 Alan Dewhurst

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Des Howse




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Janice McKenzie, Jean and Malcolm Torrance, Johhny Carroll and Yvonne Wood busy with the braai, supervised by Billy Smith and Ken Wood. (Great to see Ken with us again)

Derek Starr, Des and Trish Howse sampling the results of the braai!

oooOOOooo

BSAP ASSOCIATION : NATAL MIDLANDS : BRANCH NEWS : AUGUST 2016 This Branch continues to hold monthly get-togethers at the Lions Club situated in the WESSA grounds on the Karkloof Road on the last Friday of the month. Although poorly attended we are continuing to hold them and anyone visiting the area is welcome to join us. Suggest a prior phone call to one of the committee so we can advise members.

A Successful bring and braai was held at the Lions Club on Sunday 19th June which was well attended.



Des Howse




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A few of the Midlands Branch members attended the Inchanga Day “bring and braai” on the 17th July held in conjunction with and organised by the Natal Branch. Arrangements are well in hand for a performance by John EDMUNDS to be held in Howick on the 1st October this year. Once all details are finalised we will notify members of timings etc. Andrew Sternslow and his team are doing a great job in this regard. We are also busy trying to finalise our Annual Lunch and Annual Race days at Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg. Further particulars will be advised when available. Our most Senior Member Bill Crabtree recently had a fall and is being cared for in the Care Centre of the Amberglen Retirement Village. Mike his son indicates that his Dad is making good progress. Bill turns 100 in February 2017 and we think he is determined to outlive Bill Schollum in New Zealand and he is 102 !!!!

The 2016 Committee is: Chairman 6484 Mike Williams Secretary 8242 Alan Bennett Treasurer P/R Flik Bennett Members 5473 John Clack 8507 Mike Crabtree

Mike Williams

How 6253 Constable Laing almost obtained a Wife

In the early 1960s Gokwe, in the Zambezi Valley, was a Police station covering 9000 square miles of wild Africa down to the banks of Kariba - bigger than Wales! In those years any roads were either sandy tracks or elephant paths. There were no bridges over any of the rivers, some of which were quite large and wide. While I was stationed there, my Sergeant in charge was Clive Bulley (5008), with me being the only Constable. We had one Land Rover, which was used to attend reports or used by Clive to do check patrols. He was allergic to Tsetse flies and reluctant to go out otherwise. My patrols were on foot, up to two months at a time, with an African constable plus two or three bearers. I carried no firearm, and had to survive by my wits and whatever food I could carry or find when supplies had dwindled. The worst problem was water. In that part of the valley, the majority of the population was the Batonga Tribe, many of whom had never seen white people before. On one of my patrols I came across the kraal of Chief Negandi, about 50km South of the Lake. On arrival I saw he was suffering badly from “pinkeye”. His eyes were shut tight. I dug around in my pack and found a tube of the relevant "muti"

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Mike Williams



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which I applied to his eyes. I agreed to visit his people around the immediate area and return to his kraal that night so I could give him further treatment. I duly returned that evening, gave him another dose of the muti and spent the night out on the ground outside one of the huts. The Batonga only used water for drinking, it being so scarce, so the idea of being inside a pungent hut was not too attractive! The following morning I gave the Chief another treatment and, by mid-morning, his eyes were wide open, bright and shiny. He was so impressed by this white man's magic, it being far more effective than his personal n'ganga's, that he decided I justified a reward. Without further ado he called his young daughter forward, a girl of about 17-18 years or so, (scantily clad in her little mafore - like a mini sporran) and, in no uncertain terms, said he was giving her to me as a wife. The African constable with me (Thomas) could not contain himself and disappeared behind a hut to give vent to his laughter, leaving me to handle a very delicate situation. Refusing the offer was tantamount to the biggest insult I could pay to the Chief, which could have resulted in heaven-knows-what retaliation. In a panic I explained that, being in uniform (which was pretty tatty by that time), I was on duty and therefore not allowed to accept gifts of any description but, in recognition of the honour, I would take a picture of Princess Negandi so I could remember the occasion, a copy of which I would send to the Chief. After saying what a useless outfit I must belong to, Negandi accepted my solution, letting us part on good terms. I subsequently had a copy of the picture framed and sent to him. The original I kept to remind me of my lucky escape and to show my wife how lucky she is to have me, as I was almost taken! What I had to say to Constable Thomas cannot be recorded!

Oh shit!

This page sponsored by 5842 Derek Starr



Mike Williams



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Olde English Postcards

oooOOOooo Irish Corner…….

Murphy, a furniture dealer from Dublin, decided to expand the line of furniture in his store, so he decided to go to Paris to see what he could find. After arriving in Paris, he visited with some manufacturers and selected a line that he thought would sell well back home. To celebrate the new acquisition, he decided to visit a small bistro and have a glass of wine.

As he sat enjoying his wine, he noticed that the small place was quite crowded, and that the other chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house. Before long, a very beautiful young Parisian girl came to his table, asked him something in French (which Murphy could not understand), so he motioned to the vacant chair and invited her to sit down.

He tried to speak to her in English, but she did not speak his language. After a couple of minutes of trying to communicate with her, he took a napkin and drew a picture of a wine glass and showed it to her. She nodded, so he ordered a glass of wine for her.

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After sitting together at the table for a while, he took another napkin, and drew a picture of a plate with food on it, and she nodded. They left the bistro and found a quiet cafe that featured a small group playing romantic music.

They ordered dinner, after which he took another napkin and drew a picture of a couple dancing. She nodded, and they got up to dance. They danced until the cafe closed and the band was packing up.

Back at their table, the young lady took a napkin and drew a picture of a four-poster bed.

To this day, Murphy has no idea how she figured out he was in the furniture business!

oooOOOooo

ONE OF CONDOMS MANY USES

Jane and Arlene are outside their nursing home, having a drink and a smoke, when it starts to rain. Jane pulls out a condom, cuts off the end, puts it over her cigarette, and continues smoking. Arlene: What in the hell is that? Jane: A condom. This way my cigarette doesn't get wet. Arlene: Where did you get it? Jane: You can get them at any pharmacy. The next day, Arlene hobbles into the local pharmacy and announces to the pharmacist that she wants a box of condoms. The pharmacist, obviously embarrassed, looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but very delicately asks what size, texture, and brand of condom she prefers. “Doesn't matter sonny, as long as it fits a Camel”. The pharmacist fainted!

They also kept rifle barrels etc dry! Ed







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8980 DUNCAN PAUL : CELEBRATING 60 IN THE ARTIC : April 2015

Born and bred in Durban, at 17 Paul went in search of adventure, which he found by joining the police force in then Rhodesia where he was decorated for gallantry during operations. On returning to South Africa, he became involved in conservation in Zululand, worked as a professional hunter and travelled the continent for business, “so I’ve seen the best and worst of Africa over the past 40 years”, he says. At the age of 38, Paul went into business for himself.

Duncan with the SA flag at the North Pole

Paul’s first foray into a life of adventure was climbing Kilimanjaro, which he’s done three times — he’s also climbed the 6 400-metre Meru Peak in the Himalayas. He’s skied to the South Pole and he and his wife trekked through the remote rain forest in the Congo, looking for lowland gorillas. He’s paddled in the Arctic north along the edge of the ice pack looking for polar bears and around Kodiak Island off Alaska in search of brown bears.

He paddled 700 km along Kariba and down the Zambezi with a group of friends, he participated in a 740 km, non-stop canoe race in the Yukon, which took two-and-a-half days to complete and last year, he and a partner took part in the Yukon 1 000, which is 1 600 km of unsupported canoeing, starting in Canada and finishing halfway across Alaska.

About his continuous quest for adventure, Paul says: “I like the preparation for these expeditions. You have to train hard and get really healthy and fit. You have to get your mind-set right and set your goal; it’s a process. Once you get to these remote places, you feel like a needle in a haystack, you get rid of all the clutter in your head, your soul starts feeling good and your spirit feels free. The harder and tougher it is, mentally and physically, the more it enhances that sense of freedom.”

His latest epic adventure was undertaken to celebrate his 60th birthday with a dog-sledding trip to the North Pole. “The two poles could not be more different from each other. The South Pole is a land mass at 3000 metres above sea level, so the cold is unrelenting. We had two days of -50 degree Celsius temperatures.”

By contrast, Paul says the North Pole is at sea level and consists of frozen pack ice that is constantly moving and breaking up. “It’s freezing,

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but the coldest we got was -40, with average temperatures of between -15 and -20 - a bit like a tropical island compared to the South Pole.”

Their epic trip took place in April, starting from the town of Longyearbyen. Located in the high Norwegian Arctic, Longyearbyen is the most northern human settlement on Earth. Paul says it’s a university town where anything to do with the Polar Regions is studied. “It’s law in Longyearbyen that no one can lock their doors, so that if you get chased by a polar bear, you are able to escape by running into the closest house,” Paul says

From Longyearbyen, the travellers boarded a Russian jet for a two-and-a-half-hour journey over the ice pack to the Barneo Ice Camp, a unique Russian-operated drift station on the frozen Arctic Ocean near the North Pole. The Russians are only able to be there for a maximum of a month during the year while the ice is frozen so that they can build an air strip. “They pick a piece of ice that’s flat and big enough, and then they parachute in with a bulldozer, which is left to sink to the bottom of the ocean when they leave,” Paul says. “Anyone who wants to go to the North Pole has to go through this Russian station.”

From Barneo, Paul, his three companions, two American guides, two sleds and two teams of six huskies boarded a helicopter to be dropped off 190 km from the North Pole.

“We were told to be trained and mentally prepared to travel up to 400 km because of negative drift,” Paul says. Due to the fact that the Arctic is made up of ice, it’s constantly moving with the ocean currents. Negative drift is when the ice moves away from the North Pole, while positive Duncan with the Dog Team and other Members en route to the Pole

drift is the opposite. “We ended up doing 260 km instead of 190 km because of negative drift,” he says. “We also couldn’t travel in a straight line because of all the broken ice and the weight of the dog sleds, so we had to zigzag our way along.”

At one stage they made no progress for two-and-a-half days because of leads, which are when the ice cracks open, exposing the ocean below. “In fact,” he says, “we were going backwards. We still had 160 km to go — we thought we would never get there.”

Each travelling team is about 15 metres long from the front dog to the back of the sled, which weighs up to 200 kg. “It’s a massive, dead weight, which we had to control ourselves; it’s a hugely physical task and completely exhausting.”









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The guides would ski ahead of the front sled, looking out for leads and to pick out the safest route. Paul says the biggest danger they faced was falling through thin ice or getting trapped in a massive ice field, where huge chunks of ice move, crumble and crush together. One night, Paul says, they heard a crack and a rumble. “When we went to investigate, we discovered that a lead had opened up about 139 paces from where were sleeping. We could have been on top of it.”

About the huskies, he says: “The dogs were fantastic. They love to work; they live for it. They would watch the front skiers with absolute focus and as soon as the guides put their skis on, the dogs would start jumping and pulling and barking.”

One of the golden rules, Paul says, is that someone has to have a hand on the sled and a foot on the brake at all times when stationary, otherwise “the dogs will just go without you, which could obviously have disastrous consequences”. “They are potent. We would go for two hours and let the dogs rest for 40 minutes. As we stopped, the dogs immediately curled up and fell asleep. When we were ready to go, we would shout the command ‘hike’, and they would spring up from a dead sleep and be ready to go. There is no greater feeling than when you are in tough conditions and the dogs are working well and listening to your commands; it’s a complete team effort.”

The dogs and sled during a snow storm

A serious challenge presented itself while the teams were loading the dogs onto the helicopter and about to leave. “We discovered that one of the females was on heat. It was a mission, a nightmare actually, because we had to contend with massive dog fights between the males every day.” Although this added an unwelcome difficulty to an already challenging journey, Paul was sent pictures of the six puppies that were conceived on the ice pack. “I’ve been given naming

rights,” he says, proudly. “I’ve given them all Zulu names — the first African team that will one day take on the journey to the North Pole.”

On the last day of their journey, the teams hit a lead when they were a mere 20 km from the pole. “That night it was -40 with winds of 80 to 90 km/h. Although the weather conditions were so bad we couldn’t set off the next day, we had only 16 km to go because of positive drift,” Paul says.

As soon as the weather cleared, they set off. “We started at 5 pm. We thought we would be at the pole by 11 pm [remember it’s 24-hour daylight]. At 5.30 the next morning, we were still going. We ran out of food, we were hitting leads and having to navigate broken ice in white-out conditions.”

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At that stage, they were half-a-kilometre from the pole and had been going for 12,5 hours. “The next minute, there was a massive dog fight. We had to wait 40 minutes, during which we went back half-a-kilometre.”

After three weeks on the ice and a final 13-hour overnight journey in extreme conditions, eventually, at 6 am, they reached 90 degrees north. “We took some photographs with our various flags. Ten minutes later we had already moved 40 metres, so were no longer on the North Pole.”

Due to the bad weather conditions, the teams had to camp there for 30 hours before they could be collected by helicopter. “By the time we left we had drifted 20 kilometres from the North Pole,” Paul says.

Although Paul has taken three months off, he’s already looking towards his next adventure. “Climbing Everest is out — I’m too old now,” he says regretfully, “but I’m quite keen to take on the Mongolian 1 000 km horse race.”

With acknowledgement to The Witness 2015-08-20 - Linda Longhurst

Ed: Paul, you certainly enjoy your adventures – again well done on your acheivements. oooOOOooo

Shoe Shine in Kusadasi Turkey – What a shine and the box was an antique of note, inherited from his

Father. Could have been very useful in Depot 59 years ago!

oooOOOooo

Nineteen Irishmen went to the Cinema, the lady in the Ticket Office asks “Why so many of you?”

Mick replied, “The film said 18 or over”










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WHY OTHER TEACHERS DRINK!

The following questions were set in last year’s examination These are genuine answers (from 16 year olds)............and they WILL breed!

Q. Name the four seasons? A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Q. Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink? A. Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists. Q. How is dew formed? A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire. Q. What causes the tides in the oceans? A. The tides are a fight between the earth and the moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins the fight. Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on? A. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed. Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections? A. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election. Q. What are steroids ? A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs (shoot yourself now , there is little hope!) Q. What happens to your body as you age? A. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental. Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery (so true) Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes? A. Premature death. Q. What is artificial insemination? A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow. Q. How can you delay milk turning sour? A. Keep it in the cow (Simple, but brilliant) Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorised (e.g. The abdomen)? A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A, E, I,O,U. Q. What is the fibula? A. A small lie Q. What does 'varicose' mean? A. Nearby! Q. What is the most common form of birth control? A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium! Q. Give the meaning of the term 'Caesarean section'? A. The caesarean section is a district in Rome Q. What is a seizure? A. A Roman Emperor. (Julius Seizure, I came, I saw, I had a fit) Q. What is a terminal illness? A. When you are sick at the airport. (Irrefutable) Q. What does the word 'benign' mean? A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight (brilliant)


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THE LANDROVER “DEFENDER” : THE PASSING OF AN ICON - 5663 PETER HUSON

Two years ago Land Rover announced that the end of 2015 would see the finish of the Defender production after a continuous run of 67 years which started with the Series l Land Rover in 1948. Over this period a total of 2 000 000 Series 1, 2, 3 and Defender models have been built worldwide.

During 2015 the 2 000 000th Land Rover is being assembled at the Land Rover Solihull plant by a team of celebrities. This very distinctive one-off is to be auctioned at a special event at Bonhams, London on 16 December 2015, and the money raised will go to Land Rover supported charities.

It occurred to your editor that an article very briefly covering the beginnings of the Land Rover and touching on those models that we used in the British South Africa Police up to 1980 might be appropriate. Our usage stopped at the Series 3, so here we go!

The story begins in 1947 when the design for the first Land Rover was thought up by Maurice Wilks the Chief Designer for the Rover Car Company and it was said to be inspired by a war surplus Jeep that he had on his property in Wales.

Be that as it may the first Land Rover prototype was built on a Jeep chassis and axles and as the steering wheel was put in the middle, apparently to cater for both right and left hand drive countries, it was known as “Centre Steer”.

Land Rover Prototype Land Rover – Tilt Test to 45º “Centre Steer” Rover Company photographs

Development of the Land Rover progressed quite quickly thereafter for at that

time all the Rover Car Company had to offer were pre-war luxury car designs that no one wanted or could afford.

A post war problem Rover faced was the rationing of raw materials, with a severe shortage of steel. Accordingly the body panels were constructed from war surplus





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aluminium alloy while the gear box, axles and differentials came from the Rover P3. These were mounted on a welded box section ladder chassis and powered by a 1,6 litre 4 cylinder side-valve engine producing around 50 bhp (37 kW). Two of the prototype 80-inch wheelbase Land Rovers were exhibited at the Amsterdam Motor Show and were greeted with enthusiasm, particularly by the motoring press.

These vehicles had permanent four wheel drive with a transfer gear box enabling low or high ratio gears to be selected. The release of the front wheels from four wheel drive was via a free wheel mechanism which was operated by using a ring-pull control situated in the wheel well. In 1950, it was decided to have the four wheel drive engage automatically when the low gear range was selected. This was performed with a simple dog clutch mechanism that would be used on all later Series Land Rovers.

The vehicle was only offered as an 80" model, without doors, but these optional

extras were soon to become standard equipment. The windscreen was glass and the door window panels were Perspex.

As early as 1949 the first Series 80 inch Land Rovers were exported to the Union of South Africa where they sold so well that by mid 1950, Car Distributors Assembly (Pty) Ltd were assembling Land Rover CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits in Port Elizabeth where the first vehicle rolled off the assembly line in August of that year. By 1974 Land Rover assembly was carried out at the Elsies’ River/ Blackheath plant which later became the largest Land Rover assembly line outside of the U.K.

First mention of the Land Rover in “The Outpost” came in November 1949 where

under Bulawayo Station Notes the scribe “Saddlebags” noted “Cars to the left of them – trucks to the right of them. A whole crop of new vehicles has broken out in the district. Two or three of the Outstations and Bulawayo Urban have been issued with Land Rovers”. The following month in Station Notes “Dop” of Penhalonga wrote “ However in October a Land Rover was posted here and this has assisted considerably in keeping crime down. Remarkable how popular the Penhalonga details became when the new toy arrived.”

The earliest photograph of a Force Landrover that I have seen is this one from 4853 Fred Punter, taken in August 1953, showing a Mzilikazi vehicle LL3903 (prefixed by SRG in triangular form) driven by 4840 Mike Purslow with his African Constable seated next to him.

This is an early Series 1 which also had a steel tubing and canvas canopy which gave some weather protection. Fred Punter notes that it was rarely used.

This page sponsored by 6393 Chris Wilkinson

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LL3903 – an early Series 1 model Series 1 “Truck Cab” model on rural patrol

He goes on to say, “When I went to Kezi in 1954 we had a long wheelbase Land Rover, with a separate cab and with a metal cover at the back with steel mesh sides and pull down canvas side covers. Regret no photo.” This was in all probability a variation of the Series 1 “Truck Cab” model which was first introduced in 1952 with the transfer gear box together with the now familiar yellow and red controls for four wheel drive, and high/low ratio selection.

1955 saw the introduction of the first 5 door model. The 107 inch long wheelbase Station Wagon had seating for up to 10 people. The new Station Wagons were built with simple metal panels and bolt-together construction and were fitted with a ‘Safari Roof’ which consisted of a second roof skin fitted on top of the vehicle. This was to keep the interior cool in hot weather and reduce condensation in the cold. Vents fitted in the roof allowed added ventilation to the interior.

1958 Front and rear views of 107 inch 5 door Series 1 Station Wagon

In 1957 a more powerful 2 litre engine was introduced with the then standard Rover inlet over exhaust valve arrangement, i.e. the inlet valve was an overhead valve and the exhaust was a side valve. This valve arrangement together with piston and cylinder head design made for an engine that could operate on low octane fuels without the risk of pre-ignition or detonation. This gave trouble free running on low octane petrol as used by CMED.











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In 1958 a new model, called the Series 2 with an increased engine capacity of two and a quarter litres and synchro-mesh on third and fourth gears was introduced with wheelbase options of 88 and 109 inches. The bodywork was more rounded and small skirts were added to the lower coachwork to complete the effect. Station wagons were fitted with a fibreglass roof, with either 3 or 5 doors.

1960 - H.M. The Queen Mother, the BSA Police Honorary Commissioner, reviewing the Force in a

special bodied Series 2 Land Rover

Series 2 Emergency Fleet LWB Station Wagon with roof hatches

Series 2 - 88 inch SWB Station Wagon

Late Model Series 2 - 109 inch Station Wagon on rural patrol (Photo 8142 Rob McCrea)

This page sponsored by 6785 Roger Brownlow

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By 1968 headlamps had been moved from the grille area to the wings and in 1971

the Series 2 was replaced by the Series 3 which, due to cash flow problems at the

time, was a continuation of the Series 2 design, rather than a radical new vehicle.

Driving School dual control Series 2

However the Series 3 did have a completely new gearbox which boasted synchromesh on all four forward gears, modified gear ratios and a smoother operating clutch. A heavy duty rear axle was fitted to all 109 inch models and importantly the electrical system was updated and the dynamo was replaced by an alternator. There were cosmetic changes to the interior and the radiator grille.

There was a choice of either the 2.25 litre 4 cylinder engine or the 2.6 litre 6 cylinder engine and the Force had both in their fleet some of the vehicles being donated by pro-Rhodesia organisations in South Africa.

Series 3 Open Back 4 cylinder model bogged down – Belingwe 1972 (Photo 8142 Rob McCrea)









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Series 3 Open Back 6 cylinder model fording a river

The POL Fleet

Matabeleland Province POL Land Rover and trailer (Photo Author)

These Land Rovers appeared around the end of the 1960s and were a direct gift from South Africa to the British South Africa Police. Due to the fact that they were very second hand vehicles made to South African Defence Force specifications, (including individually opening windscreens, weapon clips, jerry can carriers and so forth), CMED declined to take them on to their books and they were owned and maintained by the Force. They formed part of Provincial Emergency Fleets, servicing and minor repairs were carried out by our Transport Supervisors and anything more serious was put out to the trade on requisition. As the war progressed some were fitted with mine protection and others were converted to Rhino MAP vehicles.


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The POL Fleet




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THE MINE PROTECTED LAND ROVER

Work on developing this was carried out by Superintendent Don Hollingworth’s team in 1973 to 1974. The initial input from the manufacturers in England had been disheartening and was that Land Rovers could not be effectively protected against landmine detonations, and this opinion was also held by Dr. Vernon Joynt and others at the Applied Chemistry Unit in Pretoria. Notwithstanding this and after numerous tests and modifications on Land Rovers the team came up with a way to

protect the driver’s cab of a longwheel base (LWB) open backed Land Rover from the effects of a landmine detonation. All Station Wagons and short wheel base Land Rovers could not be so protected. To give protection from a front wheel blast angled metal boxes were welded to the chassis to deflect the explosion away from the wheel and across the engine compartment. Effect of a land mine on an unprotected Land Rover

The floor of the cab, foot-well and the engine firewall were protected by a prefabricated one piece mild steel lining 6mm thick.

For protection from a rear wheel blast, 8mm deflector plates were welded to the chassis in front of the rear wheels. To enable the blast to dissipate without damaging the cab, or its occupants, the distance between these plates and the rear of the cab could be no less than 59cm. Because of this requirement only the 109” (LWB) open back Land Rover could be properly mine protected and the 88” short wheel base (S.W.B.) Land Rover which did not provide enough distance between the rear wheel and the cab could not.

Late Series 2 Mine Protected Land Rover at Hard Square



The POL Fleet




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Heavy duty conveyor belting was added to the rear of the cab as a shrapnel trap and over-the-shoulder seat belts fitted for the driver and passenger. The protection was finished by the addition of a roll-over cage of 32mm water pipe to protect the cab’s occupants should the vehicle flip after a detonation. The extra weight of the mine protection required modifications to the suspension and the front springs for the Forward Control Land Rover were utilised in place of the standard springs.

The Central Mechanical Equipment Department (C.M.E.D.) became very proficient in salvaging and refurbishing Land Rovers that had detonated land mines. I recall that they had a workshop in Salisbury that specialised in making “new” vehicles from the front and back halves of Land Rovers that had suffered rear wheel and front wheel detonations and getting them back on the road in a surprisingly short time. They did an excellent job and I drove a number of these “rebuilt” vehicles and none of them showed any signs of having been cannibalised from wrecks.

4 September 1974 – This mine protected Land Rover LL 1127 carrying Fred Punter, Eric Saul and David Mitchell detonated a landmine in the Kandeya. The only serious injury was Fred Punter who suffered badly fractured bones in his left foot.

THE RHINO (OR MOON BUGGY) To enable the Police to carry out normal duties in rural areas during the early part

of the terrorist war there had been a pressing need to develop mine resistant vehicles with the capacity to carry a driver and up to four passengers. Don Hollingworth and his team working with research data from Dr. Vernon Joynt of the Applied Chemistry Unit (A.C.U.) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (C.S.I.R.) Pretoria and engineers from Morewear Engineering in Salisbury arrived at the Rhino’s basic concept at the end of 1972 and eventually the vehicle went into production by Morewear Engineering in mid 1973 and in tandem with the development of the Mine Protected Landrover

The end result was a vehicle that had a capsule with a 90º ’V’ keel made from 10mm mild steel, 8mm mild steel to shoulder line and 3mm mild steel thereafter. This also gave the occupants a certain amount of protection against small-arms fire in an ambush situation. The capsule was secured to a Land Rover chassis/engine unit by the use of shear bolts, designed to release the capsule in the event of the vehicle rolling after a landmine detonation.


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Rhino – in this case a converted POL vehicle – POL143 (Photo 8142 Rob McCrea)

In the early models some of these gave trouble by shearing under the stress of bush bashing resulting in the capsule swaying all over the place and a very worried crew! Modifications to cure this were introduced in production and also retro-fitted to existing models.

The four men in the rear of the driver sat facing one another alternately and knee to knee as space was at a premium.

There were three roll bars which carried an overhead canvas canopy which gave minimal protection from the elements, but all too often this became an early casualty. The only protection to the engine was a canvas engine cover that also often got lost resulting in the engine suffering from exposure to dust and the weather. The seats, fitted with over-the-shoulder seat belts, were metal and covered in carpeting to reduce compression injuries in the event of a landmine detonation and this gave a ride which led to the vehicle being nick-named by an anonymous wit the “Rhino-sore-arse”.

THE KUDU

At the end of 1976 two members of Morewear Engineering’s management team Ted Owen and William Jeffrey produced a design for a proposed mine resistant ambush protected body that could be fitted to the Land Rover chassis engine unit and also to other light 4 X 4 units. At that time the Army were not interested in the concept and Morewear then approached the Director C.M.E.D. Peter Dawson, with it. He saw the advantages of the design and offered it to the Police.

An early production Kudu - Photo Author –

- The body was of an unusual configuration

viewed from the front, the sides coming up from an 85º ‘V’ shaped keel and it was then sharply angled in and out in two zigzags in the sides








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which was intended to deflect armour piercing bullets. This silhouette was carried on to the rear doors. The keel was to be of 10 mm mild steel and the sides were initially of 8 mm mild steel. The windscreen and other glazing were of 40 mm laminated ballistic glass. The vehicle was to carry a driver and five passengers with over the shoulder seatbelts.

On advice from Don Hollingworth our ballistic tests were made from 30 to 50 metres as in his experience the A.K. round took some ten to twenty metres to stabilise in flight and stop yawing. The tests showed that at 50 metres even the 10 mm mild steel was easily penetrated by the 7,62mm X 39 armour piercing rounds and at the closer range some of the same calibre ball rounds made serious dents in it.

Armour plate was not made in Rhodesia and even if we could get the foreign currency to import it from South Africa the cost would have been prohibitive. Morewear suggested an alternative in a type of surface hardened mild steel called Bennox which was readily available in Rhodesia where it was used on dumper truck load beds and road grader blades.

Dr Vernon Joynt in Pretoria advised that in the absence of armour plate we should try fitting “tumble screens” to the outside of the vehicle. These would disturb the bullets’ ballistic path so that they would not strike nose first.

A favourable combination of 6 mm Bennox plate with a tumble screen of 16 gauge mild steel shaped like Venetian blinds with an optimum stand-off distance of some 120 mm was found to be effective. The final capsule had a keel of 10 mm mild steel, with angled sides of 6 mm Bennox and tumble screens. The front which was hidden was tapered almost like a bird’s beak to deflect front wheel detonations. Two heavy roll over bars were an integral part of the capsule with a ‘kick-off’ metal canopy. The engine compartment was not protected and was covered from the elements with light metal sheeting.

Getting a Land Rover chassis engine unit to build the prototype on, knowing that it was to be shot at and blown up by the Police and Army was almost impossible as the wrecked ones were in too bad a shape to be useful and units in running order were too valuable to waste (according to the authorities). In the event common sense prevailed and at the end of March 1977 the prototype passed its ballistic tests and also landmine wheel detonations which were carried out by the Police Armaments Branch and Army Engineers.

For the hull to withstand a landmine blast the rear doors had to be kept shut and secured, and this information was stencilled on the inside of the doors. It is a tragic fact that in the first fatal landmine incident involving the Kudu the user department (not the B.S.A. Police) had welded hooks and eye bolts to the doors and body so that the vehicle could be driven with the doors open to give better ventilation.

A demonstration was arranged at a quarry near Salisbury of one of the first production models as comments had been passed that the vehicle looked unstable and would easily roll. Representatives from the services, various mine warfare committees, Ministry of Defence, C.M.E.D. and so forth attended. The dignitaries were invited to ride in the vehicle as a full crew while it tackled various gradients and rough terrain and showed no tendency to roll. Thereafter those that wished tried

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their hand at ‘bundu bashing’ in the vehicle. The demonstration was a great success and thereafter no more was heard of stability problems.

Despite what was said in the first paragraph of this article sources close to Land Rover have revealed that “the company intends to continue the Defender lineage” but no further details are yet available – so we must “Watch this space” ?

(Unless otherwise stated photographs are from the B.S.A. Police Gallery http://www.bsap.org/bsapgallery/main.php it is well worth a visit.)

Note ed - A Sky News report indicated that the last Landrover Defender (No 2 000 000) was

produced at Solihull in the West Midlands on 29th January, 2016, after 68 years of production. The closure was due to an “old production line”, labour costs, and inability to meet international safety standards, the current model was discontinued.

On the future of the Series Land Rovers and the Defender, John Edwards the Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, commented “Of course Defender has a future and will live on in its own right, but the original Series Land Rovers and Defenders will also continue to thrive through our Jaguar Land Rover Heritage Division”. So this seems to be a promise to continue to support vehicles up to seventy years old and gives a hint of an all new Defender family appearing in 2018.

__________ A Leaf from The Private Diary of a Patrolling Trooper : May 1946 Outpost

6.00 a.m. Leave camp riding horse “Umteen” to carry out one-day patrol. This horse has just arrived from another station with bad reputation. (Will take more than bad reputation to break my spirit!) 8.08 a.m. Arrive at farm. Tie horse securely to tree. 8.30 a.m. Leave farm on foot to look for horse. 9.00 a.m. Find horse: mount. Horse bucks; remount. 9.10 a.m. Continued patrol 10.30 a.m. Arrive at farm. Tell cook-boy to hold horse, but to “boss up” as horse is a little fresh and some-times kicks playfully. 12.30 p.m. Find horse. 1.30 p.m. Arrive back at farm. Cook-boy now re-covered consciousness. 2.00 p.m. Continue patrol. 2.30 p.m. Arrive at another farm. Tell cook-boy, house-boy and fowl-boy to hold horse, but to boss up as horse is a little fresh and sometimes kicks “playfully”. 3.30 p.m. Cook-boy, house-boy and fowl-boy return to farm having found horse. 3.35 p.m. Continue patrol. 4.0 p.m.: Arrive at farm; slacken girth, borrow a dozen reims and securely tie horse to tree. 4.15 p.m. Say “good-bye” to farmer. Might just as well have said “good-bye” to horse. Farmer not tremendously overjoyed to learn that his reims have disappeared with horse. 6.0 p.m. Very embarrassing arriving at camp on foot, having left the same morning on horse, and to be told by a nice smiling corporal that the horse arrived an hour ago. NEXT DAY 6.0 a.m. Sixpence knocks timidly at the door of my hut and asks in a hushed, “bedside” sort of voice, where my saddle is? 6.10 a.m. Tell Sixpence to go to farm four miles out and look for saddle! Sixpence leaves, not happy! 9.00 a.m. Check Police Kit on repayment list for cost of saddle universal. 9.05 a.m. Complete application to become Government Motor Cycle Rider!










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Home urgently needed

Best Quote of any Era

"The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced,

The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled,

The assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance."

- Cicero , 55 BC

So, evidently we've learned “sweet bugger all” over the past 2,071 years!


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- Cicero , 55 BC



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EXPERIENCES OF A METROPOLITAN POLICE CADET.

My career in the Police was not determined by a well thought out strategy, but rather the sense of panic occasioned by an edict from above, my father was good at these. At an age where I thought I knew everything and he knew he knew everything, I was advised, whilst contemplating a move to undertake A levels, that I should get out and find myself a job and that an interview had been arranged at the local

bank. Catastrophie! I had a vague notion that I would enjoy an “outdoor type of job”, the oil industry crossed my mind. Telephone technician was out, as this would end up “hanging out” at the top of a pole. As I cast around frantically, a friend mentioned that he had been successful with an interview at Scotland Yard as a Police Cadet. I obtained the number, got an interview at the Yard with a panel, answered some questions, (rather more down to earth than those subsequently on some promotion boards in the BSAP) stood stark naked on two white footprints marked on the floor in front of two doctors, coughed and got the job. What a relief! When I indicated to Father that I didn’t need my appointment with the bank as I had a job as a Police Cadet – there was a gasp of horror – the news went down like a lead balloon, but at least I didn’t get a clip around the ear! On reflection not a financially advantageous decision, but what the heck, I enjoyed every minute of my Police career and wouldn’t have changed a thing.

On 2nd January 1955, I duly presented myself at Hendon and joined a Cadet intake for a month’s training, amongst numerous squads of trainee Constables.

The initial glitch came when undertaking the first PE session in the gym, with a very large muscular Sergeant Instructor who was the English “Catch as Catch Can” Heavy Weight wrestling champion. I was called forth and instructed to “‘it me”. Obviously some trepidation on my part was observed and the Sergeant said “I told you to ‘it me, not fart about”. We can’t let you wimps out on the streets unless you’ve got some back bone!”

I thought that the result was likely to be calamitous and it was. After taking a swipe, I found myself flying through the air and hit the wall bars half way up and slithered to the ground. However, my torture was not over, I was called back and told to “bloody well ‘it’ me again, proper like, with a bit of bloody effort”. As I suspected, same result, but I hit the wall bars higher up this time! Fortunately for me he then picked on another member of the squad.

Typing skills were also on the menu. “We’ll teach you to touch type competently in a month”. Two Senior Sergeant Instructors for this, complete with old long round hard ebony rulers, no leather covered canes here. Remington typewriters were order of the day, complete with covers over the key boards, and a large keyboard on the wall at the front of







- Cicero , 55 BC



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the class. Typing commenced to the music of – “pop goes the weasel”, with the odd “zip ding carriage return”, the music speeded up from lesson to lesson. If one took a peek at the keys, a sharp crash across the knuckles with said ebony rods, soon got you moving again (after sitting briefly on your bruised knuckles), with the instruction “type boy type”!

One evening in the bathroom, a baritone voice sung forth loudly from one of the bath cubicles. Two trainee constables took a fire bucket, filled it with cold water (bear in mind it was mid-winter) and sloshed it over the partition. The singing stopped abruptly, the door was wrenched open and there stood the fuming Duty Sergeant with murder in his eyes, in his soaking wet shirt, dressing just after having had a bath. Not a happy bunny and two very uncomfortable trainee Constables! Fortunately they owned up and I was off the hook.

After Hendon, I was posted to Lewisham Police Station, South London, where I became the Superintendent’s Clerk’s right hand skivvy. My office was the snooker room – a huge plus. I did the important duties like making the tea, recording the mail, sticking on the stamps, updating wanted persons and gazettes, all scintillating vital stuff! The Supt however determined that to gain experience, I should report one day each week to different units, when I was excused the twice daily school crossings, with my large white lollipop “Stop Children Crossing” and rubberised white coat, two sizes too big, come rain or shine.

First I duly reported as instructed to the Senior Dog Handler, who informed me that I would be the “dog bait” for the day. Off we went to a large recreation ground called “One Tree Hill”, a large protuberance with sure enough, one large tree and a public toilet at the very top. “Right” says he, “I want you to lay a trail, don’t go straight up, go around the hill and work your way up, then lock yourself in the toilet! You’ve got five minutes start”. “What about protection” says I, “don’t be a bloody pansy” says he, “you don’t need bloody padding, the dog won’t kill you”! Off I went like a greyhound out of the starting gate, with the thought of a large malevolent Alsatian, taking chunks out of my buttocks. I’m sure he let the damn dog go early, ‘cos it wasn’t far behind. When I got to the toilet I found the damn door locked. However there was the tree, with a pile of wooden palings at the bottom. I’ve never shot up a tree so damn quick in all my life. When I got to where I thought I was safe as far up as I could go, near the top, the damn dog came straight up the palings and then the tree and bit into my boot, and there I hung with an Alsatian hanging from my foot. The handler looked in no hurry, so I shouted “Get this bloody dog off” to which he replied, “don’t shout, you’ll upset my dog”.


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The handler then decided that we would go to a large yard off the Lewisham High Street in which large steel containers were stacked. “Right off you go, you’ve got five minutes, lay a trail, there are doors on these containers, so shut yourself in so the dog won’t get yer”. Off I went like a steeple chaser around the yard a bit, ran to a container, only to find that these were only stacked there because they were all damaged. With the dog close behind, I managed to get a door open, only to find that these were warped and unable to close fully. Not quite enough to let the whole dog in, but enough to get his head in to snarl, snap and growl, while I tried to hang onto the door to keep it closed whilst avoiding the snapping jaws, a bit like “tap dancing” to a very fast tune. Eventually the handler arrived called the dog off and we returned to the station for tea, so far two nil to me, thinks I. Wrong. The dog was told to lie under the bench in the charge room, but it took it’s revenge. On walking back through the room a bit later, it shot out and grabbed a mouthful of leg! (2 – 1)

The following week I reported to Patrol cars, on the morning shift. The young driver and observer drove off to Lewisham High Street with me in the back feeling important, suddenly turning into an alley, where I was restrained, debagged and instructed to run the length of the High Street in my shirt tails, behind the car, with my nether garment being flown from the window. The urge to regain my trousers overcame my embarrassment of running through the laughing commuters on the way to work. Subsequently having negotiated my induction, the crew proved quite amiable and friendly, even tried to line me up with the young sexy assistant in the Turners Chocolate shop in the High Street, sending me in a couple of times to chat her up and get two shillings worth of chocolate toffees. No luck there – my “chatting up” skills were sadly lacking!

During the tea break in the Station canteen, there sat the Shift Inspector, a bit of a miserable bugger, finishing his breakfast and reading his newspaper. As one of the Constables walked out, he flicked his lighter as he passed and lit the bottom of the “Daily Express”. Old misery carried on reading until the flames had got a good hold, when he leapt to his feet, knocked over the table, sent plates, his cup of coffee and utensils flying and had his “fire” put out by another Constable, who proceeded to spray him with the fire extinguisher. No one in the Canteen claimed to have seen what had transpired, but it was suggested that he must have left his fag burning and it set fire to the paper. Never a dull moment and it certainly didn’t pay to become too unpopular!

On a salary of three pounds three shillings a week I decided to venture into the world of capitalist business. I bought a box of biscuits, counted them and worked out if I charged two pence a biscuit, I could make a shilling a box and offered them to the Supt, his secretary, the Chief Clerk, his assistant and visitors. This worked well for about six months,






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until one morning, I was grabbed by one of my protruding ears and dragged off to the general office.

The Chief Clerk who had obviously been working out what I was up to, pointed an accusing finger and said “I know you’ve been making a profit out of us and that don’t wash. You’ll provide free biscuits for all of us for two months”! Down the drain went my profit, (which I had already spent). The end of my venture into big business, stick to police work thinks I !

Another duty was to relieve the station telephone receptionist at lunch time, at a large busy board with dozens of wires which had to be plugged into the extension to transfer calls, then unravelling the spaghetti when the lights went out. Lots of calls from the public and Police boxes, with the odd 999 calls, to put through to the Yard. Not too many complaints, but one clop around the “earhole” from the Chief Clerk for putting an emergency call from a local prostitute through to him, because she hadn’t been paid, admittedly at the behest of the elderly Sergeant at the front desk!

My next posting to East Dulwich went a bit better, but my responsibilities hadn’t improved a lot, the usual school crossings, annotations etc. Inspector Josey, a pleasant fatherly type, called me into his office one morning and posed the question “What you going to do with your life lad?” Wasn’t quite sure where he was going with this. He continued – “you need to get out and see something of the world boy, otherwise you’re going to “stick some local bird up the spout” and you’ll be stuck ‘ere for the rest of your bleedin life! Go to Bermuda, go to Hong Kong or even Rhodesia, join the Police, in fact I know a bloke at Rhodesia House and I’ll get you the papers” which he proceeded to do. I hung on to these and took them with me to my next posting. (Never found out if he received a recruiting fee!)

As my transfer from East Dulwich neared, I was told that I was going to the Police Dog training school at Hayes in Kent. I had been forewarned about this establishment by a mate. A serious sense of alarm and dread descended and I made a quick appointment with the Superintendent. Standing to attention “Sir, I did not join the Met Police to muck out and groom dogs or to be used as dog bait”. Fortunately my plea was heeded and I avoided a fate almost worse than death, plus a large bunch of malevolent Alsatians to muck out and get bitten by. (However, when a Constable on Salisbury Enquiry Section, I tried this same evasive tactic, it didn’t work. When Tom Egleton, my Member in Charge, told me that I was being posted to the mortuary, I again stood to attention “Sir” I said, “I didn’t join the BSA Police to be a mortuary attendant”! He replied rather tartly, “I don’t give a bloody toss why you joined the Force, if you haven’t cleared your desk and arrived at the Mortuary in half an hour, I’ll charge you and throw you in the cells”. “In that case Sir”, says I, l’ll be a mortuary attendant” and then spent a very informative year with Dr Ross, the Govt Pathologist, and

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various G.M.O’s including Dr Parirenyatwa, at the Salisbury Hospital Mortuary, but again that’s another story!)

There were three things that persuaded me eventually to consider joining the BSA Police. The first was whilst cycling to work on an icy winter morning, on entering the main road, my cycle and I parted company on the ice and I slid across the road on my bum towards a No 57 double decker bus, with the driver straining at the brakes. He stopped just short of me, after a bit of skidding and sliding, opened his window and shouted down at me, “if you want to catch the f…ing bus, wait at the bloody bus stop like everyone else. Now piss off”! This I did very smartly after retrieving my cap and bicycle, with a very wet backside and very red face, seen on my way by the now convulsed passengers.

The second was dating a smart young “strawberry blonde” college student from a very larney estate, who didn’t seem to be worried about my lollipop pole, when seeing her across the road to college. She announced after we had been out a few times, that her father had been appointed as the Surveyor General in Rhodesia. Hell I thought, at least I’ll know someone when I get there, so I put my papers in (although later in Salisbury, I realised that her parents obviously didn’t approve of a lowly police cadet/constable for their daughter and managed to block any efforts to contact her. Never did manage to see her!).

Thirdly, I didn’t wish to stick some local lass “up the spout” and languish in the UK for the remainder of my sojourn on earth, whilst I could be away in the sunshine seeing something of the world and decided that Rhodesia was just the place to start.

My papers went in, an interview at Rhodesia House with Inspector Andrews and a Harley Street medical later, I was offered a job at 48 pounds a month all found. However I was told to take with me, a tennis racquet and a dinner suit. When I enquired why a dinner suit, I was told that young Police Officers got invited to “Government House” to partner young ladies at functions! I could only afford the racquet and, along with 15 other recruits, sailed off with £19 in my pocket on the Arundel Castle arriving in Cape town 14 days later. Following three days and nights on the trains, I started a career in the best Police Force in the world, which I thoroughly loved and where I spent nearly 25 years. Never did get an invite to Govt House! - Lugs.

KwaZulu-Natal Branch : New Members since November 2015

No new members have joined the branch since the last Edition.

This page sponsored by 8129 Colin Crage






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OBITUARIES

8188 Pieter Johan Andries Brits notification has just been received that Pieter died on 2 October 1999 near Belfast, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Pieter served from 12 February 1969 to 11 February 1972 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer. 6820 Richard John Morris notification has just been received that Richard died, aged 68 years, on 14 October 2011 in Orange Free State, South Africa. Richard served from 13 December 1962 to 31 July 1966 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer. 6259 Peter Frederick Davis notification has just been received that Peter died on 13 December 2013 in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. Peter served from 9 January 1961 to 21 October 1964 leaving with the rank of Constable. 5012 Malcolm Vernon Heugh died, aged 67 years, in December 2013 in Douglas, Isle of Man, England. Malcolm served from 8 March 1953 to 7 March 1956 leaving with the rank of Constable. WP 132 Yvonne Carmen Gale (nee Snook) died on 23 April 2015 in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. Yvonne served from 18 October 1967 to May 1969 leaving with the rank of Woman Patrol Officer. C957/10203 Nigel Derek Stanyon died on 30 October 2015 in Alexandra Headland, Queensland, Australia. Nigel served from 8 November 1977 to 12 May 1980 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer.

4757 Ronald (Ron) Pilbrough died, aged 82 years, on 4 November 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Ron was born in Preston, England and after school worked as a shipping clerk, until he joined the Force on 2 July 1951 and after depot was posted to Bulawayo where he served for 16 years. Ron moved to PGHQ for a year before he was commissioned in 1968 and became Border Control Officer Mashonaland. His next transfer was to Officer Commanding Wankie and in 1976 Ron became Assistant

Commissioner, Manicaland Province until his retirement on 31 July 1977. A keen sportsman, he played soccer, hockey, snooker and basketball for Bulawayo police and was chairman of the Rhodesian Basketball Association from 1968 to 1973. He was also a leading figure and Vice-President of the Rhodesian Branch of the International Police Association. Ron and family emigrated to New Zealand. Ron was part of the inaugural members who set up the New Zealand Branch of the BSA Police Regimental Association around 1976 and remained a member of the committee until his passing. He continued his IPA activities as an International Committee member representing New Zealand. 5667 Stanley Barrymore (Barry) Toms died, aged 81 years, on 9 November 2015 in Hillcrest, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Barry served from 17 March 1957 to 17 March 1968 leaving on gratuity with the rank of Section Officer.

4572 Charles Maurice (Joe) Mercer, died, aged 88 years, on 9 November 2015 in Kendal, Cumbria, England. Joe served from 2 March 1950 to 3 March 1956 leaving with the rank of Constable. This page sponsored by 6393 Chris Wilkinson

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OBITUARIES





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10225 Phillip (Phil) Stevenson died, aged 56 years, on 17 November 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Phil served from 29 November 1997 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police where he served until 31 December 1980 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer. 3801 Philip Whitbread Atkinson died, aged 96 years, on 27 November 2015 in South Africa. Phillip served from 23 April 1939 to 29 January 1947 leaving with the rank of Sergeant. 8105 Peter Nigel (Pete) Cutting died, aged 67 years, on 2 December 2015 in Andover, Buckinghamshire, England. Pete served from 14 October 1968 to 3 May 1980 leaving with the rank of Detective Section Officer. 8118 Robert Charles (Rob) Tubbs died, aged 65 years, on 6 December 2015 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Rob served from 24 October 1968 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police where he served until 31 August 1981 leaving with the rank of Detective Inspector. 5040 Frederick John Stuart (Fred) Walton died, aged 81 years, on 6 December 2015 in California, USA. Fred served from 12 April 1953 to 11 April 1956 leaving with the rank of Constable. 6499/7792 Derrick Edge died on 11 December 2015 in Herberton, Queensland, Australia. Derrick served initially from 9 October 1961 to 31 May 1966 and again from 31 July 1967 to 31 October 1970 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer. 5835 Robin Adrian (Rob) Anderson died, aged 75 years, on 17 December 2015 in East London, South Africa. Rob served from 2 June 1968 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 15 December 1981 retiring from that Force with the rank of Chief Superintendent. 5466 Philip Leonard Mills died on 29 December 2015 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Philip served from 15 April 1956 to 16 July 1969 leaving on gratuity with the rank of Detective Inspector.

4468 Frank Phillip Maguire PMM died aged 91 years, on 11 January 2016 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England. Frank served in the Pioneers, an invaluable support section of the Force, from 26 September 1949 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 31 January 1986, completing 36 years of service, retiring with the rank of Chief Inspector.

5324 Donald Munro died, aged 81 years, on 12 January 2106 in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. Donald served from 5 February 1955 to 31 July 1960 leaving with the rank of Constable. 110971 Timothy Joseph (Tim) Hall died on 18 January 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. Tim served from 27 August 1979 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 27 November 1980. WP 245 Karen Anne Royston died on 19 January 2016 in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. Karen served from 4 March 1974 to 14 September 1977.

OBITUARIES





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7061 Peter Saunders died on 22 February 2016 at Frimley Park Hospital, Aldershot, Hampshire, England. Peter served from 13 February 1964 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 19 December 1980 leaving that Force with the rank of Inspector. WP 99 Lynette Sheena Napier (nee McLean) died on 22 February 2016 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Lynette served from 2 March 1964 to 2 March 1969 leaving with the rank of Woman Patrol Officer. 7371 Michael John Gale died on 23 February 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa. Michael served from 7 July 1965 to 28 February 1969 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer.

9791 Peter Edwin Alexander Trigg died on 29 February 2016 in Rhodes, Greece. Peter served with both Cardiff City Police and South Wales Police before joining the BSA Police on 4 November 1976. He served in the Support Unit and also as a Drill Instructor in Morris Depot before leaving on 31 December 1978 with the rank of Patrol Officer. Peter joined the Rhodesia Light Infantry where he served with distinction in 3 Commando.

8969 Kevin Russell Sudbury died on 3 March 2016 in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. Kevin served from 27 March 1973 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 31 January 1983 leaving that Force with the rank of Inspector.

3335Z Police Reserve Section Leader Robert Hugh 'Digger' Flavell died on March 9 at Scottburgh, Natal from complications following a fractured thigh. He served in the BSA Police Reserve from 1953 to 1980. He was born in Stawell, Victoria, Australia on 9 June 1924. He served in the Australian Army in WWII from 5 March 1942 (signing on at the age of 17 years nine months) until 1 October 1946, when he came to Rhodesia and in 1947 in answer to a newspaper ad, he joined the Rhodesia Regiment as a Territorial Instructor Sergeant and was

subsequently promoted to Company Sergeant Major. In 1953 he also joined the Police Reserve. For a time he was a member of both the Army and the P/Reserve but eventually when ordered to make a choice, he chose the Police Reserve. In 1956 he was called up, due to a threatened railway strike at Lochinvar and due to his experience with armoured vehicles in the Army he joined the fledgling Reconnaissance Unit as a driver. He stayed with the unit until it was stood down after Zimbabwean Independence and was their last commander having taken over from David Leslie in 1972. His medals and decorations were the Zimbabwe Independence Medal, Rhodesia Meritorious Service Medal, Rhodesia General Service Medal, Police Reserve Long Service Medal, Defence Medal, 39/45 War Medal, Australia Service Medal and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. His last three O.C’s P/R Sby Prov, Jack Parker, Trevor Wilson and Courtney Walton were present at the funeral service, together with many members of the Association and the Moths.

6442/7369 James Hugh (Tacky) Bannerman died, aged 74 years, on 23 March 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe. James served in the Royal Navy before attesting into the Force on 31 July 1961 where he served until 30 September 1964. He re-attested on 1 July 1965 and served until 6 December 1971 leaving with the rank of Constable. James served mainly in Manicaland Province and after leaving the Force, entered Government Service as a young farmer’s club advisor and later the Department of Conservation. He also took time out to earn a History degree at the University of Zimbabwe.

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6751 Jonathan Gerard (Swazi) Woodburne died, aged 73 years, on 7 April 2016 in Gariep, Free State, South Africa. Jonathan served from 27 September 1962 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 8 August 1982 retiring from that Force with the rank of Inspector. After leaving the Force moved to South Africa where he became involved in security at several mines.

9332 Gerald (Yorkie) Griffiths died on 9 April 2016 in St Georges Hospital, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Gerald served from 1 October 1974 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 31 October 1982 leaving that Force with the rank of Inspector (T). Gerald served at the Police Reserve Office in Gwelo and will be remembered by all Police Reservists from Midlands Province where he ran pre-deployment training.

4770 Hugh Clement Phillips PMM died, aged 85 years, on 15 April 2016 in the Royal Gloucester Hospital, Gloucester, England. Hugh, who was an Honorary Life Vice President of the Regimental Association and a member of the UK Branch of the Association, was born in Bristol and did his National Service in the Army before attesting into the BSA Police on 13 August 1951. Early in his career, Hugh decided to

transfer to the force’s Staff Branch where he remained for the rest of his nearly 30 year service. Hugh served mostly in Police General Headquarters in Salisbury. He quickly gained promotion and on being commissioned held the positions of Staff Officer (Administration) and Staff Officer (Personnel). He later became Senior Staff Officer (Quartermaster) where he was responsible for the Pioneer, Ordnance, Armament and Printer Sections of the Force. Hugh retired from the Force on 12 July 1980 with the rank of Assistant Commissioner. Throughout his service and in retirement, Hugh had been an active and prominent member of the Regimental Association. He regularly contributed articles to the force magazine The Outpost and, for 18 years, was the Secretary of the Central Branch of the Association. In this capacity he wrote the first Central Branch Newsletter in 1963, writing no less than another 79 newsletters which in those days included notes on all the Regimental Association Branches throughout the world. It was during this time that Hugh painstakingly researched the Force’s history from 1940 to 1980 and wrote Volume Three of ‘The History of the British South Africa Police’, the first two volumes which covered the years 1889 to 1939 having been written by Peter Gibbs. This book, with the addition of numerous photographs, was later re-printed into the book we now know as ‘Blue and Old Gold’. Hugh was a member of The Penguin Club – membership being only granted to those who braved the elements and swam at the Police Club pool throughout the year, mostly in the lunch hour after a strenuous run or game of quoits. He was keen on amateur dramatics and was associated with the Salisbury Dramatic Society; he also enjoyed singing and was a member of several male voice choirs including the Caledonian Male Voice Choir. After he left the Force, Hugh became General Manager of a major electrical wholesaler in Harare and spent many years with a firm of attorneys before returning to England in 2002.

5320 Leslie Robert (Bob) Baxter died, aged 82 years, on 20 April 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Bob served from 6 February 1955 to 5 February 1958 leaving with the rank of Constable.








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5322 Stuart Arthur Rodda died, aged 79 years, on 20 April 2016 in Costa Del Sol, Spain. Stuart, served from 6 February 1955 to 5 February 1958 leaving with the rank of Constable. 8592 Malcolm John (Mac) Callaway died, aged 63 years, on 23 April 2016 in Durban, South Africa. Mac served from 31 January 1971 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 30 April 1981 leaving that Force with the rank of Detective Inspector. After Depot was initially posted to Victoria Province and then Bulawayo and after a short time at Hillside was posted to

Support Unit for 2 years. Later he transferred to CID Bulawayo and thereafter SB spending time at Wankie and Biet Bridge.

4831 Peter Robert Stiff died, aged 84 years, on 27 April 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Peter served from 31 December 1951 to 2 January 1972 retiring on pension with the rank of Superintendent. After leaving the Force, Peter went into partnership in a security business but with the fall of Rhodesia in 1980 he sold his share in the business and moved to South Africa. The author of eleven books, Peter

specialised in contemporary warfare and politics in the southern African sub-continent. He wrote extensively on the bush war in the former Rhodesia, on the collapse of Portuguese power in Angola and Moçambique, the ongoing conflict in Angola and the Namibian bush war and much else as well. His books include Cry Zimbabwe, The Covert War, The Silent War and Warfare by Other Means. 7319 Anthony Hugh Barnish (Tony) Glover died on 6 May 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tony attested on 13 April 1965 and after leaving Depot served at Bindura, Centenary, Mtoko, Wedza and Karoi before leaving the Force on 12 April 1975 on gratuity with the rank of Section Officer.

8265 Stewart Charles Woodcock died, aged 65 years, on 11 May 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa. Stewart served from 24 June 1969 to 26 April 1974 leaving with the rank of Patrol Officer. 4209 Julian Francis Hassard Burkitt died, aged 90 years, on 16 May 2016 at his home near Stradbally, County Waterford, Ireland. Julian served in the Royal Navy before attesting into the BSA Police on 28 September 1947. He served in the District Branch until 5 May 1949 leaving with the rank of Trooper. Returning to Ireland, Julian took over the management of a private estate in Donegal now known as Glenveagh

National Park. 5608 David Bruce (Dave) de Burgh-Thomas died, aged 81 years, on 27 May 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Dave served with the Royal Air Force Regiment before attesting into the BSA Police on 6 January 1957. During his service, Dave served at Beatrice, Bindura, Mrewa, Mangula and Sipoliloto in Mashonaland Province, Odzi in Manicaland Province and then went to Matableland where he was i/c Border Control at Wankie.

Promotion to Superintendent saw him move to PGHQ in Salisbury where he became Staff Officer (Operations). Dave was O. C. Sby Rural District when he retired from the force on 1 July 1980

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with the rank of Chief Superintendent. After leaving the force Dave went into the Security business, running the operation of Fawcetts Security for many years. 9592 Richard Hugh MacKillican died on 27 May 2016 in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Richard served from 7 April 1974 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 11 April 1982 leaving that Force with the rank of Section Officer (T). 9532 Paul Baird died tragically in an accident on 10 June 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Paul served from 6 January 1976 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 31 December 1980 leaving that Force with the rank of Section Officer. 10339 Michael Edward Radloff died on 16 June 2016 in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Michael served from 5 January 1978 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 2 May 1983 leaving that Force with the rank of S/Inspector.

5788/6422 Lionel Roland Baker died on 20 June 2016 in Hillcrest Hospital, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Lionel served initially from 9 December 1957 to 8 December 1960 and then from 28 June 1961 to 31 October 1972 leaving with the rank of Section Officer. In Depot, Lionel served in the Mounted Unit and won the BSA Company trophy in 1958 for the Best Trained Police Horse. After Depot, Lionel served at Hillside, Bulawayo with a number of well know characters, including Roy Gardner, Ted Painting and many others. During his second period of service Lionel

served in the Bulawayo Charge Office, Prosecutors Office, Q Rep and was a member of PATU. After leaving the Force he worked for Schweppes as the Plant Manager, then moved to Tongaat/Hulletts where he worked for 23 years. Lionel had an abiding interest in military history and militaria and was a dedicated fisherman.

6097 Edward James Frank (Ted) Painting died on 30 June 2016 at his home in Salt Rock. KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Ted, who was a member of the Natal Branch of the Association, served from 30 November 1959 to 31 July 1980 when he transferred to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Force where he served until 23 July 1981, retiring from that Force with the rank of Chief Superintendent. Ted was posted to Bulawayo on leaving Depot and served at Hillside with Lionel Baker amongst other

well known characters. He was subsequently posted to Gwelo after joining CID in 1962. In 1969 he moved to the Finger print Bureau at CID HQ, then to Bindura in 71, where he argued with a landmine. His next posting was to Bulawayo, then in 1979 he was transferred to Umtali. After leaving the Force he moved to Durban as a Loss Adjuster, then to Johannesburg and back to Durban, where he established his own business. Ted later suffered a number of serious health setbacks, spending some years in a wheel chair. His memorial service was attended by his family and friends including members from the Natal Branch. 5082 Dennis Kenneth Beach died on 6 July 2016 in Katikati, New Zealand. Dennis served from 9 August 1953 to 8 August 1956 leaving with the rank of Constable. 4960 Gerald Walter (Gerry) Gibson died, aged 81 years, on 15 July 2016 in Somerset, England. Gerry served from 10 August 1952 to 30 November 1975 retiring with the rank of Detective Chief Inspector.








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4028 Charles Terence (Terry) Thorpe died, aged 90 years, on 23 July 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Terry was a one of a group of 46 recruits who arrived from the UK via the east coast, on the SS Alcantara, after World War Two, and served from 28 April 1946 to 14 May 1976, retiring after 30 years of service, with the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner as Officer Commanding

Salisbury Province. Terry was offered the post of Deputy Commissioner by Peter Sherren, but felt unable to serve under the next Commissioner, about to be appointed, so opted for retirement. He served in Umtali, Salisbury including Traffic, Matabeleland Province, then returned to Salisbury Province. He was the Police Officer in Charge and a member of the JOC during the successful Lupani Operations in 1966 when a group of armed terrorists entered Rhodesia from Zambia. He was highly regarded by members of the other Forces who operated with him. Terry was always the epitome of an Officer and a Gentleman and was highly respected by his fellow Police Officers. Terry became a member of the Transvaal Branch of the Association when he moved to Johannesburg in 1976. Terry’s son 9431 Simon Charles also served in the Force .

ZIMBABWE PENSIONERS SUPPORT FUND

[Editor. The ongoing work of the Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund is an extremely vital and worthwhile project which deserves our publicity and support.) Update on Progress : 25.07.16 Dear Friends and Supporters of the Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund, Each time we commence our trips to Zim to support the Old Age Pensioner in Care Homes and others we are faced with new restrictions/obstructions. We received news on Thursday afternoon that our permits for the Tinned Fruit and Veg are only valid for a month and not the usual 3 months. So we were running around like a mad people until late Thursday night when we finally finished loading the truck. Hannes left Malelane just after 7am Friday morning to try and hopefully still get the stock through the border on the current permits. Due to “tradition” we were met at the border with another issue on the Zimbabwe side. Hannes has once again had to leave the truck at the border in order to go up to Harare. They now want a Veritas Compliance Certificate which is not needed as we supply Humanitarian Aid (Goods not for Re-sale) as per the Zims regulations and the Veritas Office Certificate here in SA. We now needed a letter from the Secretary of Trade and Commerce in Harare indicating that we are exempt. Hannes was stuck at BB from about 10am on Saturday. He finally left BB at 8.30 pm last night with our clearing agent who took him to Bulawayo where he will once again be using a friend's car to get to Harare and hopefully get this new curve ball sorted. They arrived in Bulawayo just after 1am and Hannes is now currently on his way to Harare. Seriously we are exhausted and all we are trying to do is help the Zimbabwe Pensioners that we support to help them make ends meet. Our next scheduled food parcel delivery trip will take place in about the middle of August, all going according to plan. (Heck I can still crack a joke ) We are trying to get a bit of extra stock up to Zim as things at this stage just seem to be going from bad to worse. Unfortunately we don’t think things there are going to improve for a long while and for most of our “Golden Oldies” we are the only additional support they have. Your help is invaluable to us and we at the ZPSF would never be able to sustain our regular supply of relief parcels if it were not for donations such as yours. You, our Donors ensure we can keep our wheels turning, you are all truly amazing and keep us motivated. Your continued donations are a very important life line to supply them with vital food parcels and other necessities, reminding them that they are

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continuously in our thoughts and that we all still care. Our deepest and sincere thanks to you for helping us support our Zim Pensioners during these very difficult times. [You can contact Linda Schultz, at [email protected] or the Zim Pen Support Fund Website www.zpsf.co.za or by email from [email protected] (or phone 00 27 013 7900934). The fund also has a UK account and a Paypal facility on the zpsf web site. If you make a donation please give your name as reference and advise Linda via e mail or phone (as above).]

Banking Details for Donations: First National Bank Account Name: Zimbabwe Pensioner Support Fund Account No. 62239042906 Branch Code 250655

NPO No 096733 : Section 18A PBO 930031642

KWAZULU-NATAL SOCIAL CALENDAR FOR 2016

21 Aug Sun Braai Durban South Winklespruit Bowls Club 11.00 14 Sept Wed Coffee Morning Durban North Europa La Lucia 11.00 24 Sept Sat Annual Lunch Natal Branch Le Domaine Restaurant 12.00 for 13.00 23 Oct Sun Braai Durban West Augusta Club 11.00 09 Nov Wed Coffee Morning Durban North Europa La Lucia 11.00 26 Nov Sat Lunch South Coast MOTH Shellhole 11.00 If in any doubt regarding a scheduled event we suggest you telephone the following contacts before commencing your journey: Durban South Ed Bird 031 903 2967 or 082 482 4702; Natal South Coast Barry Woan 039 312 2028 or 0834430533; Durban West (Hillcrest) and Natal Branch Des Howse 031 762 1010 or 083 440 6740; Durban North Iain Laing 031 500 4628 or 083 778 7765. Members are requested to please support the functions arranged by the Members i/c Stations and their teams, for the enjoyment of members.

oooOOOooo

Another chuckle

A farmer drove to a neighbour’s farmhouse and knocked on the door. A boy of 9 opened it. “Is your Mum or Dad home?” asks the farmer. “No they went to town” says the boy. “How about your brother Howard, is he here?” “No he went with”. The farmer stood shifting from one foot to the other. The boy said “I know where the tools are if you want to borrow one or I can give Dad a message” says the boy. Well said the farmer looking uncomfortable, “I really want to talk to your Dad about your brother Howard getting my daughter Suzy pregnant”. The boy thought for a minute and said, “Well I know me Dad charges R1000 for the bull and R500 for the boar, but I don’t know how much he charges for Howard”





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Golly this posing for tourists is hard work!

Jameson Avenue and Charter House after rain.

Victoria Falls Road and Rail Bridge across the Zambezi located on the instructions of Cecil Rhodes where it would be washed by the spray from the falls, with the wind in the right direction.

the advent of spring, msasa trees sprouting in spring in ...€¦ · on the 11th of february, nobby...

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