Description
Object description
British National Serviceman served with Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1952-1954; worked as businessman and Methodist pastor in South Africa, 1961-1969; served as MP and government minister in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, 1969-1982
Content description
REEL 1: Background in GB, 1933-1952: family life in Tooting and Chingford; death of mother and period in Barnado's Home; education; memories of life in wartime London; employment; called up for National Service, 1/May/1952; father's military service during First World War; attitude to being called up. Aspects of period as National Serviceman with Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1952-1954: issued with uniform and kit; story of saying prayers in barracks; description of basic training at Tower of London; social background of other recruits; amusing story of inspection; posted to tented camp in Canterbury; training at PT school; weapons training; story of throwing grenade; training exercises; attitude to army life and discipline; relations with other recruits; story of father's cap badge; posted to Korea, 9/1952; embarkation leave; posting cancelled on dockside and returned to Tower of London; story of incident with gun in armoury; duties in mess; attitude to not being posted overseas; description of duties with Lieutenant-General Hollingsworth, Assistant Chaplain General of Army, Hounslow.
REEL 2 Continues: story of using Kitchener's Boer War HQ as chapel; attended Billy Graham's Haringey Crusade; story of conducting religious service for recruits; in army reserve on Salisbury Plain; discharged from army and returned to civilian employment, 1954. Aspects of period as businessman and Methodist pastor in South Africa and Rhodesia, 1961-1969: description of voyage; conducted services aboard ship; opinion of Rhodesian passengers; duties as Methodist pastor in Johannesburg townships; illness; left church; business activities in Bulawayo and role as Director Tribal Trust Land Development Corporation, 1968-1969.
REEL 3 Continues: story of standing as candidate in Bulawayo; attitude to UDI, 1965; took Rhodesian citizenship; effect of sanctions and war on business interests; security for government minsters; loyalty of black soldiers. Aspects of period as MP and government minister in Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, 1969-1981: elected as MP for Bulawayo North, 1969; proportion of black voters and members of parliament in Rhodesia; led prayers in parliament; story of Ian Smith requesting prayer.
REEL 4 Continues: organisation of Rhodesian parliament and number of black MPs; appointed Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, 1971; description of role as Minister of Education; story of Queen Mother; financial constraints; question of blacks entering Civil Service; class structure and population demographics; attitude to role of Jewish community; description of role as Minister of Mines.
REEL 5 Continues: description of role as Minster of Local Government and Housing; opinion of Bishop Abel Muzorewa; problem of violence and intimidation during elections; reaction to Robert Mugabe taking power and creation of one-party state in Zimbabwe; arrest and murder of friends and colleagues; story of leaving Zimbabwe after to threats to life and return to GB; meeting with Margaret Thatcher.