African travel by train, 1950s style - snakes everywhere - early days at Kitwe
Wednesday 16th September, 2009
Dear Jeremy,
So north we went. We boarded the train in East London where the sadness of saying goodbye was tempered by the excitement of the new life awaiting us. We had a delay at Noupoort which brought back memories to Michael of the many train journeys he made to Mafeking from Grahamstown when at Kingswood College. Onwards we went through Bloemfontein and Kimberley and through Botswana. It was a long trip. We did not have enough money to pay for meals on the train so took it in turns to go to the dining saloon where we shared out meals with Christopher and Jill. I am sure we also had some padkos (food for the journey) supplied by "Darling", this was Christopher's name for my mother (which she had first called him), and everyone then began to call her "Darling" too!.
I think we spent a day in Bulawayo as I remember visiting Gerry and Val in their flat and Gerry telling us how every time Val threatened to leave him he packed her suitcase for her but she never went.
Then over the bridge at Victoria Falls which was very exciting and into Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). My lasting impression of Lusaka station was that it was like one of those stations in a Wild West film. We steamed into Ndola station and we must have looked very travel worn but I just can’t remember how many days it took us. We were met by David Barker, the Principal of the college, and Hilda Pardoe one of the lecturers. My memory is of climbing down from the train on to a very low platform. I do not remember the trip to Kitwe where we were welcomed by Nancy Barker who had recently given birth to twins, Catherine and Frances.
Kitwe Teacher Training College had recently opened and as our house was still in the process of being built, we were given a house on the Methodist Mission Station nearby. The furniture was basic but adequate. I am left with the impression that every time I looked out of a window or went outside I saw a snake. This is probably an exaggeration as I must have felt very nervous with the bush growing so close to the house. The trees were very tall and I wondered how one would be able to climb them if chased by a wild animal. Fortunately I never had to find out. Another thing about the trees I noticed in the Springtime was that the new leaves when they appeared were red not a soft pale green.
Another David, who was the Education Officer for the area, told us our luggage was waiting at the station for us to collect. He realised that we could not afford to pay for transport so he advanced us a sum from his funds. We were very grateful.
Christopher was registered at Prince Charles School in Kitwe where John and Jane Barker and Susan Buckmaster were at school. They had to be taken to school and collected each day so, of course, we needed a car to share the runs. We were given a loan by the government and bought a Sahara beige coloured Vauxhall Velox which we called Sarah.
The Training College was on the outskirts of Kitwe bordering on the Mindola Mine Compound where the miners and their families lived. Nearby was a Second Class Trading Area where I did some of my shopping.
Michael was immediately embroiled in the daily life of the college. At six o’clock each morning he was out with the students doing maintenance work on the college grounds, usually slashing the grass. After breakfast the teaching day started.
George Buckmaster was the Vice-Principal. He had been in the British Navy as a ‘schoolie’ (teacher). His boat had been sunk and he had been rescued after being in the water for some time. He and Muriel had one daughter, Susan, who was a year older than Christopher.
We were called to have X-rays taken at the Mine Silicosis hospital. Imagine our shock when Michael was recalled as they found a shadow on his upper chest. Imagine our anxiety if we were to be sent back to South Africa and what if Michael had TB. We had no money, no job and two children - the thought panicked us. Fortunately further examination and Michael’s explanation of his sickness in POW camp in Italy showed that it was not his lung but in his shoulder muscle. The relief was great and we were able to smile again.
Lots of love, Mum