JIM & GEOFF CATCH UP IN

SOUTH AFRICA


Geoff Dimmock and Jim Saunders (seated) met up in (Umhlanga Rocks) Durban recently, while Geoff and Wendy were on a trip in November (2014) from Canada to South Africa to visit family and friends.














While in Durban, they linked-up with Jim and Wendy Saunders - both couples were married in Lusaka.

Pic (left to right) Wendy & Geoff and Wendy and Jim - on the patio at Umhlanga Rocks Hotel Nov 2014.













Jim and Wendy left Zambia in (early 1964 ??) and headed for South Africa, where they started their own ‘sampling’ company – distributing material and samples for major companies like Unilever. They live in Westville, and have a married daughter Candice and 2 grandchildren.

Geoff left Charterex to join Blackwood Hodge in 1963, married Wendy in (place - date??) and after managing the Lusaka office for a couple of years, moved to Kitwe. In (??) they left Zambia with the company via UK to Canada, where they settled (and have been ever since). Their daughter Brigeen and son Greg (both married) were also born in Zambia, and between them have (?? Children.)

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JIM SAUNDERS WRITES:
SOME MEMORIES FROM CHARTEREX

I recall member the following from more than 50 years ago:
Walking into a dry river bed and encountering a pride of lions basking on the bank- I had to gently persuade my workers to slowly amble away when they were keen on legging it!
Sitting and reading in my mess when I heard a loud thud – which was a long black mamba that had  come through an open window and proceeded to slither slowly across my legs resting on the table, and then worked its way out of the window on the other side - “dumbstruck!”
Our long-drop toilet – without a door - situated in a hill, and the best sitting view of a gorge on the Zambezi River!
Entering a dense bamboo ticket to discover that we were surrounded by a large herd of elephants – with dry bamboo underfoot they never made a sound whereas we very noisily beat it out of there!

 Our wedding ceremony was held at Peter Freeman’s house – and conducted by the District Commissioner. The reception was held at the Flying Club, and when we went to pay for everything we were told that the Chief Geologist had paid the lot – what wonderful people!
Our Best Man was Neville Huxham who played the same role when we were married in South Africa two weeks later, with parent and relatives.
 In our camp in Feira, where we had a resident hippo in a very small pool, Neville came very painfully into contact with “buffalo bean” – and also had his expensive Parker pen stolen by his pet vervet monkey – Alifons2. (The pen was chewed into pieces, and the pet was also very nearly shot out of the tree in mid-chew by an angry Neville.)
 We were the forward party that went into Angola. On one safari in Kazombo (Gazombe), we gave the Portuguese army guys a slap-up party - which resulted in many hang-overs the next day. As a result we were very friendly with them, and together built many bridges in the area.
 The one party in Lusaka that I remember very well was for Ned’s birthday – when he was given a very special present by someone we knew as “The Body”!  She had forgotten to buy him a present, and he emerged from the bedroom with the biggest smile “The Mission” has ever seen!
 I’m sure many of the guys will also remember the incident at The Mission when ‘Cement-head’ fell and cracked the floor!
 Those were the days, my friends …..
 NOTE: Jim and Wendy are living happily in Westville in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Both are keen swimmers, and have been awarded their KZN Provincial colours – in the Seniors League. In fact, in early 2014 Jim was awarded Provincial Honours for his swimming achievements!  Way to go!!!!
Contact: +27 (0) 3112662031
Email (via daughter Candice Livingstone:  Candice@fleuriot.co.za

   S t r a n g e  A n i m a l s
                                 by
            Geoffrey  Dimmock
                      2015-07-14

In my early twenties I went up to Northern Rhodesia, now called Zambia, to work for a geological exploration company called Chartered Exploration.  The short form name was Charterex.  My title was Geology Assistant.  The company had prospecting rights on 120,000 square miles of African bush and air photos and maps of the whole territory. 

We were a team of 55 assistants and geologists assigned to explore this vast area.  Each of us had a Land Rover pick-up loaded with tent, fridge, and camping and prospecting equipment.  Most of the places we worked were off road.  We just had to drive through the wild bush country using our air photos and compasses.

At the camp of my first assignment it was really wild bush country with a lot of wild animals.  We could hear them snorting and growling around at night.  One morning when I woke up the cook came to me and said:  “Bwana, look there has been a big lion pass through here in the night”.

“How do you know?” I asked.  Then he showed me the huge footprints of this strange animal that had passed only a few feet away from my tent.

That scare was enough for me.  On my next trip into town I went straight to the local gun shop and bought my first rifle.  It was a 300 Magnum, a very powerful piece of equipment.  The bullet would emerge from the barrel at 2,800 feet per second.  This was enough to stop a lion.  I then applied for and got a hunting license which gave me permission to shoot 8 animals.  I did not plan to shoot any animals.  I just felt I needed protection.

A few months later I was working on my own in a totally different area with 10 local African workers.  We had been living on canned meat for weeks and the thought of using my gun to obtain fresh meat was very tempting.  I was driving the Land Rover over a flat grass covered area with almost no trees when the man sitting next to me shouted: “Buga, bwana!  Huku!  Nyama!  iHartebeesti!

Look!  Over there!  Meat!  Hartebeest!” 


It was mid-day and the heat haze made the view shimmer but I was able to make out this wonderful prize of meat just standing there looking right at us about 150 paces away. 

I gently stopped the truck, and grabbing my rifle I slid out of the door on the other side, away from the animal.  I lay down behind a fallen log, which I used to steady my aim. The mere thought of a obtaining real fresh meat made me almost quiver.  I took very careful aim, and squeezed the trigger. 

Through the shimmering heat haze I saw the 300-pound hartebeest drop.  Two of my African workers joined me as we ran to the animal.  We did not seem to be getting closer and the animal was becoming bigger and bigger as we drew near.  Eventually we arrived about 300 metres from the truck and knew at once it was not a hartebeest.  It was an Eland.  A beautiful animal heavily protected under the Royal Game act.  I was heart broken and tears were running down my face.  This animal was protected by the Queen.

Fortunately my bullet had pierced its heart and it must have died instantly.  Now we had to get rid of the evidence before we went to jail, and at the same time enjoy some fresh meat.  This animal weighed over half a ton.  I had 4 African workers with me.  I asked the leader: “Sampson, can we lift this big animal into the back of the Land Rover?”  He grinned at me: “Bwana, if you help we can do it.”

I brought the truck up really close, dropped the tail gate.  We positioned ourselves around it and with one great heave we got half into the truck and then slid in the rest.

Back at camp the men dug a big pit while others skinned and carved the whole carcass.  I took some tenderloin into my fridge, and the workers took the rest.  The hide, head, and unwanted bits were all placed in the pit and buried.  They then built a smoky fire on top of the pit area, built a green stick rack over the top, and placed freshly harvested green leaves over the fire to create a thick smoke.  Then they laid their meat on top and smoked it to preserve it.  In the meantime other fresh meat was being cooked and in short order they had a huge banquet. 

Eventually I felt so hungry I overcame my sense of guilt and had a magnificent dinner with this delicious meat.   This was the first and last time I have ever eaten that strange animal, the African Eland.


Jim & his team (apologies for quality -

of pic not apppearances!)

PROSPECTING IN NORTHERN RHODESIA/ZAMBIA




















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