14th February, 2012 Tuesday
My Dear Jeremy,
It was Friday 26th June, 1964 when the Prime Minister, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, visited the College. I suppose this was part of his triumphal tour after the election. There had been much preparation during the month with the Police checking the security and the students practicing a 'welcome' song. I even bought a new dress as befits the wife of the Princiipal of a college. It was a pale blue dress with a jacket which I thought was very smart. Only threw it out when I left Hilltop.
The procession arrived on time and there was tumultuous cheering. Imagine my surprise, as the Prime Minister stepped out of the car, to notice that he had white 'stuff' on his head and in his hair. It was mealie meal, the staple diet of the people, with which he had been anointed before he reached our campus. I had never seen this before or even heard that it was a sign of respect from his supporters.
The college hosted a big tea party for about 50 people. These were the important people of Mufulira like the Mine Manager, Church people, Hospital people and the Boma people, the District Commisioner and the Provincial Commissioner and Education Officials. Dad introduced everyone to the Prime Minister. Lunch was served in the staff room upstairs. I sat beside Dr. Kaunda. I do not recall what we spoke about but it was not easy looking at man with mealie meal in his hair and holding an intelligent conversation. He was very polite and it all went off very well.
The Dr in Kenneth Kaunda's title was not an academic one - it was an honorary one awarded by one of the English universities.
Jan Kelly, the American teacher, went back to America and the Deputy Principal, Alport Phiri, left to become an under secretary in the Government. This was all somewhat disruptive. Dad was also having problems with the staff and students fighting and getting drunk and UNIP interfering whenever he disciplined the students. Jill remembers this, I suggest she adds her own comments. One of the lecturers, Vernon Bailey would either protest about conditions or turn up late for lectures or not turn up at all. I never like Vernon Bailey he seemed to expect special concessions because he was also a Quaker like Dad. He had a very nice wife. There were quite a few Quakers on the Copperbelt and we used to meet in each other's houses. I think this was the time I started to cool off but it was in Grahamstown that I finally withdrew.
One evening we attended a Left Bank Paris Party at the Mine Club as guests of the Farwells. We dressed up in character. There is a photograph somewhere. It was all good fun and we enjoyed ourselves. The Farwells had adopted two boys and they were friends with Tim. Jean had been a nurse during the war in the Far East. We stayed in contact with them and visited when we came to England.Philip was called up as a member of the team which worked on the transition of Southern Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. Sadly neither of them are still with us.
Dad formed a small choir of male students and called them The Golden Bells. Celia remembers and there was a tape somewhere perhaps I will find it one day.
Wish I could remember more of that time. It was tough on Dad and sometimes you would wake him early in the mornings and be taken for a walk as light relief. However he always had absolute support and encouragement from Head Office and David Barker the Chief Inspector.
Must go now as Tom is coming to have dinner with me tonight. I wonder how many grandsons are spending Valentines Day with their Grandmothers.....
Love you,
Mum