description
Object description
British civilian language teacher in Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1936-1939; worked for Ministry of Information in Nigeria,1940-1944 and as language teacher with Colonial Service in British Guyana, Kenya and Rhodesia, 1946-1977
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of period in GB, 1906-1936: story of Anglo-French family background and education with French religious order; obtained degree and taught at Brothers College Southsea; reason for leaving religious order, 1936; story of applying for post as language teacher in Prague. Aspects of period in Prague, Czechoslovakia and London, GB, 1936-1939: problem of communication with pupils; attitude to rise of Hitler; returned to GB and joined Army at Chelsea Barracks; taught at Acton Grammar School; description of duties with searchlight battery in London; demobilized after Munich Agreement and returned to Prague, 1938; description of Prague; weather and recreational activities; problem of anti-British sentiment in Prague following Munich Agreement; story of helping Jewish medical student emigrate to GB; description of Germans entering Prague and seeing Hitler in car, 3/1938; story of helping Jewish family escape to GB and smuggling out money in cake of soap; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939. Aspects of period in GB, 1939-1940: story of enlisting with Army and work in Oxford breaking German codes; discharged from Army because of duodenal ulcer; story of volunteering to work for Ministry of Information in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Aspects of period in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 1940-10/1944: role in intelligence gathering; used BMW motorbike as transport; amusing story of being bitten by ant; description of climate and terrain.
REEL 2 Continues: story about deaths of mother, father and younger brother, 1943; opinion of living conditions and lifestyle; problem of bribery and corruption; returned to GB, 10/1944; story of joining Colonial Service; description of voyage aboard SS Vasco from Liverpool to British Guyana, 2/1946. Aspects of period with Colonial Service in Georgetown, British Guyana, 2/1946-1952: story about electric eel; opinion of city and lifestyle; joined by wife, 6/1946; wages and standard of living; domestic arrangements; opinion of food and drinking water; story of riding bicycle into canal when drunk; proximity of Devil's Island; social life in European community; returned to GB on leave, 1949; problem of storm in Azores; admitted to hospital; description of voyage aboard Empress of Australia to Trinidad.
REEL 3 Continues: flew back to Georgetown; work as French oral examiner at Queen's College and reading news on radio; story of trip to bauxite mine; problem of illness; story of being transferred to Kenya, 1952; sailed to Mombasa aboard RMS Dunnottar Castle. Aspects of period as teacher at Prince of Wales School, Nairobi, Kenya, 1952-1964: problem of threat from Mau Mau; description of security measures at school; story of taking part in Operation Anvil with police, 4/1954; carried a gun at all times; story of two pupils being cut into pieces by Mau Mau; women wore whistles round neck in case of attack; story of leave in Mombasa and South Africa.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as teacher at Peterhouse School, Marondera, Rhodesia, 1964-1977: description of school and activities; reason for leaving Kenya; story of car being stoned on road; political situation; description of anti-terrorist exercise in school; recreational activities and family life; problem of food poisoning; story about baby hippo; description of visits to ancient ruins and trip to Malawi.
REEL 5 Continues: various memories of holidays in Africa; reflections on period of colonial service and reason for returning to GB on retirement; attitude to leaving Rhodesia; further comments on work as French teacher at Peterhouse School; story of return to GB, 1-2/1977; attitude to importance of children learning French.
