By Design or By Default?

Regrettably a New Year should bring new beginnings but the same cannot be said for the long suffering folk in Zimbabwe. In fact they probably barely noticed the difference between Christmas and New Year with the ’same old’ daily grind for survival and search for food and forex. The despot’s inclination that “a hungry and sick nation is a compliant nation” certainly seems to be the case on the surface, engineered, one may add, through wholesale deprivation of food to the masses supporting the opposition and lack of sanitation to predominantly antagonistic quarters. Without knowing what underground or backstage movements may be taking place to oust the idiot, as migrant lay people we have for years observed the design of the destruction of a desperate country.

The word genocide is glibly muttered in the corridors of SADC affiliates but to what avail? Brothers in arms, we will standby and watch the liberators of colonial Africa place yet another log onto the burning fires of a downtrodden nation. Despite having won a victory in the Courts of Windhoek, SADC will standby and gleefully accept the one fingered salute it is receiving from an out of control maniac determined to defy all logic and the dearth of desperately needed drugs and food. Diddly squat is said or done to halt the man in his tracks and this raises the questions as to “Why?”

We know that the media thrive on sensational conspiracy theories and many of these abound. From old comrades in Herefordshire University knobbing each others girls, to the outrageous and unthinkable ’double agent’ for the apartheid Government of the day, the theories flow. Somewhere in there must be an element of truth hence the quiet diplomacy approach we have to date experienced. Why else would they rattle the sabres and blow the horn but there follows never an action to be born. Why too does the snivelling sycophant always seem to duck under the radar whenever a parallel incident of global impact hits the headlines, viz., invasion of Gaza, collapse of world economy, Tsunamis, etc, etc.

When will we stop saying that Zimbabwe is in its death throws, something we have been likened to do over the past few dragging years. With able and willing assistance from comrades in the shadows, Mugabe has run the gauntlet and not only survived but thrived in his and Grace’s personal capacities. Whilst the buffoon pariahs heading the armed services have done their bit to quell and quash pockets of resistance to their positions of power, Bob has enjoyed the hand of Grace and her retail therapy undertaken in Malaysia. Threatened with those awful words “The Hague”, Bob and The Gang would do well to take heed of reality and do the honourable thing (various thoughts conjured in various minds I am sure !).

For those poor Zimbabweans, too weak to raise a voice, let us send our prayers and thoughts as well as our support in seeking a way forward where once again the birds will sing, the Msasas will bloom, the smiling faces will beam and the foul will fall and fade into deserved fornicating faeces.

Some visiting guests at our November gathering at Timour Hall included 8318 David Cushworth from the USA, 7797 Eddie Gleeson who gives his current address as 17, Magnolia Cres, Rugby, Cape Town, and 6185 Eryl Worton.

Monday 1st December, 2008, we held our annual Christmas Party at Timour Hall, which again took the form of a ’spit braai’. The numbers attending were down from 106 the previous year to 83 . There was the usual splendid raffle with excellent prizes donated by our members. A good time was had by all —some more than others, as certain members were seen leaving in the wee hours (no names no Regimental Numbers). Those who attended included :-

7310 Ed Ions, Wendy Meyer, 5098 Dave Riley, 7139 Dave Rogers, 5689 Gilly Potter, Chris Thorne (NRP), 4691 Peter Lord, 5880 Stan McMillan, 7797 Eddie Gleeson, 6869 Pete Logue, 9329 Roy Hunt, 4991 Rex Craker, 5517 David Hogg, 328 Caroline Hogg, 7751 Alan Crook, 6893 Brian Oberholster, 7544 Dave (Fluff) Hawks, F/R 5408 Alex Atkinson, 4501 Vince Lovegrove, 6267 Geoff Holloway, 6920 Andy Bullmore, 5650 Dave Tippetts, 5795 Giff Reade, 5342 Peter Jackson, 4974 John Taylor, 6354 Derek Bothwell, 8302 Niall McKrill, 8302 Rob Maclean, 8173 Lockie Howie, 5860 Doug Grierson, 6780 Graham Jansen, 6639 Bob Bedingham, 8265 Stewart Woodcock, 6694 John Holmes, 8897 Carl Van Woerden, 6900 Martin Gee, 7364 Dusty Miller.

So soon after the festive season didn’t deter a good turn out of members at Timour Hall for the first of our Monday gatherings. Those present for a few drinks and snacks included :-

5483 Dave Blacker, 7139 Dave Rogers, 6893 Brian Oberholster, 7751 Alan Crook, 8151 Lawrie Mabin, 8895 Rod Eterman, 5796 Giff Reade, 6846 Jim Blain, 6494 Tony Rozemeyer, 6874 Neville Spurr, 5414 David Brown, 5810 Doug Grierson, 6222 Rob Trail, 7797 Eddie Gleeson & 5689 Gilly Potter. A welcome visitor from Ireland was 6507 Seamus Power.

50th Anniversary Squads 3 & 4 of 1959

Mike Abbotts & Nigel Seaward

UK Branch

Squads 3 & 4 of the BSAP joined in March 1959 and their 50th anniversary will be in 2009. While I have left this somewhat late I would like to know how we are all doing and invite members of our two squads to drop a line for inclusion in the next UK Outpost (Issue 71) due out in May 2009.

There are only four of us as members of the UK Branch, the cast, in order of appearance is 5975 Mike Abbotts, 5996 Nigel Seaward, 5986 Keith Clarke and 5992 Tony Smith.

Eight of our number have died over the years, some quite early —they are: 5972 John Tyrell who died in Banket in 1975; 5982 Peter Durston, who died in Salisbury, sadly I don’t have the date to hand; 5983 John McManmon who died in Bulawayo in 2004; 5984 Rusty Latham who died at Eshowe, SA in 2004; 5985 Mick Norton who died in the Free State in SA in 1998; 5989 Peter Siegers who died in Salisbury, Rhodesia in 1963 (a particularly sad death); 5994 ’Jacko’ Wilson, a very nice guy who died in 1960, and finally (so far!)\5995 Spanner Spence, who died in East London, SA in 2003.

Those remaining, in “foreign parts”, are: 5971 Steve Heyworth, 5973 Ian McKend, 5974 Dave Hall, 5977 Roger Lebish, 5978 Brian Thom, 5979 Brian Stewart-Williams, 5980 Geoff Gwilt, 5981 Phil Halkier, 5987 Les Leonard, 5988 Pete Evans, 5990 Dirk Botha, 5991 Don Joss and 5993 Tony Andersson.

It would be great to hear how we are all doing and I ask for contact from or about those listed above. I will pursue the fistful in the UK.

Please contact me —my contact details are at the beginning of the Outpost.

Mike Abbotts, Editor UK Outpost

Bulawayo That Was
A poem by Dean Stevenson

The black and white portrait stares up from the page
Those twenty six faces, a coming of age.
Our last year of school, future uncertain
A final chapter, drawing the curtain.
I can still name them, each to their own
But where they are now, god alone knows.

Thirty years on, and still they stare
In their school uniforms, blissfully unaware
That how their future would end a long way from here,
On the four corners of our earthly sphere.
From Vancouver to Sydney, London to cape
Who would have thought we’d abandon our state.

The political theatrics determined our path
“a thousand years!” Don’t make me laugh!
Sold down the river our parents decided
Half the nation and families divided.
I still dream of sunsets, Matopos was cool
Hillside dams and borrow street pool.
Kine 300 and milk shakes at fritz,
Friar tucks ribs and Andy’s slap chips.

Riding our bikes down beryl’s hill,
On our old choppers, sure of a spill.
Super Kools and Bengal juice on a Friday night
Watching the stock cars, eyes wide with delight!
Haddon’s and Gordon’s, for pies and a coke,
The bicycle sheds for a Madison smoke
Centenary park and Eskimo hut.

Now sadly these places are all but shut.
The street signs are rusted, the grass verges dust
A trip to the old school is still a must.
The frames are still there, the swings are gone
The old school pool is as dry as a bone.
Our sports fields now barren and hardly a blade,
Please lord, don’t let my memories fade.

As I hold my child’s hand and stories recount,
The tears in my eyes begin to mount.
For I too stood here with my fathers hand
But then it was a different land.
And as we gaze over the dull grey walls,
I thought I heard the distant calls
Of laughter and voices,
Our childhood lost, in a Bulawayo that was.
Dean Stevenson (December 2004)

Wow - powerful poem. Thanks for sending. One of my doctoral students (who was a head teacher in the Gweru area) has just been back to Zimbabwe to collect her research data - she found all the schools closed, hundreds of children wandering the streets in their uniforms; the schools reopened for a few days to allow children to sit examinations - the teachers were paid 1 million Z$ to invigilate (about 80000 buys a Coke). The rest of the time the teachers are trying to find other ways to get money -selling sweets on the street for example. My student was once a Mugabe supporter - imprisoned under Ian Smith, given farms by Mugabe - but farms so far from her tribal area that she was regarded as a foreign landlord so not popular in the new area and never farmed them. she told me that they always rigged the elections to get Mugabe in and the reason why he didn’t win last time was that fewer and fewer have continued rigging elections for him. The Minister for Education is some village headman who is uncontactable. Now the cholera news too. My student said she obviously was not a fan of Ian Smith but greatly admired his bravery - on Independence Day he was signing copies of his autobiography in Harare. I bet there are a lot in Zim who would want him back now! I wonder how many old girls are struggling on in Zim? On those cheerful notes, a happy Christmas to all.

Angela Thody, SGHS 1957-60

From left to Right: Probationer Bryan Litton; D/Sergeant Mike Edden, later Assistant Commissioner; D/Sergeant Bob Burrell, later Senior Assistant Commissioner; D/Sergeant Mike O'Meara, who late became an advocate in the High Court; D/Inspector Peter Allum, who became Commissioner of Police; and D/Sergeant Roy Welsh

Dear John and Gilly

We have just completed a safari around the Cape, from Gansbaai via Montagu, Cape Town, Simonstown to Yzerfontein. At Yzerfontein we stayed for the 2nd time at the Harbour View B&S, an establishment by which all other B&B’s should be rated.
I met up with 2 ex-members in this area and thought you might appreciate updates for your newsletters.
Andrew Wood, left Yzerforntain 3 years ago and now runs an Oyster Culture centre at Saldanha. His contact is 0828977567.
Andrew Bellamy (10369) son of Robert (Ralph) Bellamy (3528) who passed away in 2003.
Andrew with Daughter Charmaine (well qualified chef) since July 2007 own and run the MEEUROTS Restaurant at Yzerfontein. I visited this restaurant 2 years ago and was very unimpressed. However the Bellamy’s have turned the place around; the decor vastly improved; the Menu inspired and the food of very high quality; the young serving staff left nothing to be desired; the wine list was well chosen with many from local vineyards; prices were reasonable. And how about this - ”an ex-copper - a good host to all his customers”; I forgot to ask him if he was ever mess caterer at any of his stations!
Should anyone be interested we also stayed at Montague Vines in Montague, a small wine farm (producing a great Chenin Blanc at very reasonable prices) with a few B&S Guest Rooms. Owned and run by Richard Ilett, not an ex-member but a super place to visit.
Also managed to trace 5722 Peter Coolbear formally of the West Cape but now living in Barbeton home phone 0137122264, Cell 0832790828, email: petercoolbear@eject.co.za 4682 Peter Lord (uniform branch Bulawayo) retired in Simonstown on a plot with fantastic views of the sea; he even has an old canon on the lawn.

All for now, regards

Tony Down Rhino Leisure & Safari
Email in SA: rhino@imaginet.co.za
Phone: +27466245728; Cell Phone: +27823651216 or +27737199254
P O Box 2764 Port Alfred 6170
SKYPE name: ”syndofawad”
Email in Kenya: awad@rhinoleisure.com
(Arthur, Andy and Peter are, of cause, members of the western cape Branch. Ed)

You might like to visit the website of the Eastern Cape Regimental Association Branch. It is nicely done and deserves support. There is a guest book which you can sign. It can be viewed at http://www.bsapec.gq.nu . There are photo albums with lots of original pics.

Cheers
Howard Neill
6749 - 7104 - 8330

(We are so impressed with Eastern Cape Website we are considering starting up one of our own. Ed)

To the committee

Many thanks, once again for organizing the Dinner. Was super to see old faces, some are really getting old too!!! But an grand evening, many thanks.
Niall Mckrill

Dear George

Willie Weilopalski is not and never has been a member of our Branch. It seems he recently came here for medical treatment for a triple bi-pass, and was so ill he had to be admitted to ICU, where he still was when I received your first e-mail - that’s why I didn’t reply at that time. I am happy to say he has now left hospital and has returned to his present residence at 36B Faure Street, Swellendam 6740. We have his mobile as 083 326-3563. We far as we are aware Willie is living with his ex wife ”Chippy” with whom he has reunited. Willie’s eldest son recently graduated as a pilot in the Fleet Airarm of the RN. I believe he is now well enough to ’receive calls’ so ’give him a bell’.

Regards
Gilly Potter

Hi Lawrie,

John Penberthy (6208), who has retired to Knysna, was hospitalized last week after feeling really unwell, suffering headaches and feeling very tired over a period of time.
The outcome of the investigations was that he was diagnosed with very high blood pressure and that he had probably suffered a series of minor strokes.
His stay in hospital (George) has been successful and with medication they have been able to reduce the BP but obviously he is going to have to take it easy for a while and will need to get used to taking medication.
For those who remember John, and would like to contact him, his email is tadpole@rsaweb.co.za
Cheers,
Rob