HOBBIES
What hobbies do you have, many of us enjoyed sport during our younger days then, as we grew older, we found other interests. Resumed stamp collecting perhaps, back to trains or bird spotting - all very commendable. However, in addition to oil painting, it was model making that captured those extra hours for Mike Harper. He started at school and continued whilst in the BSAP, took time out before resuming activity on retirement in 2012. His models have included Nelson's ships and smaller vessels such as the Golden Hind and Mary Rose plus modern warships - Cruisers and an Aircraft Carrier. Currently he has seven models on hand. Left is his model of the MV Ilala (see also Galleries - 'Police Days Extra').
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 NEW NYPOL GALLERY
It's been rewarding to obtain a collection of phographs taken by Doug Farmery during his service featuring his work, his postings and family life. His daughter, Vanessa, born in the country and leaving at the age of eight always had the urge to return. She did so in 2010, taking with her a supply of bras, a gesture greatly appreciated by those ladies in Malawi of limited means. Her pictures are of a more modern country than she knew during her childhood.
Click here to view
Origin - Vanessa Farmery, October 2020
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 John Savage (1936-2020) ~ RIP
It is sad to report the passing of John Savage in September after a short illness. He was 83 resident in London and owned his own specialised business in the motor trade. He joined the Nyasaland Police in June 1961 and continued service after Independence. His obituary appears in the Times newspaper of Monday, 30th November 2020.
Webmaster - September 2020
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 Norman Carswell
Brian Carswell has updated the previous Chit-Chat entry of 2017 with some added pictures of his father, Norman (left). Norman served in the Nyasaland Police from 1948 to December 1957 and the additions include a copy of his Nyasaland Driving Permit dated Jan 1949 and his Certificate of Service on leaving. Brian, now resident in Tasmania, has taken the time and trouble to fill in some details of his father's remarkable career which covered not only Nyasaland but previously the Merchant Navy, the Palestine Police and security services since.
Click here for more.
Origin: Brian Carswell - September 2020
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Post-Nyasaland - What did we all get up to?
Very few of us had reached retirement age when we left Nyasaland and something else was required to keep body and soul together. Some answers can be found in Then & Now but many are not. Based on what is available plus what I have learned (and believe to be accurate) is the table below. However, if you can add to it please feel free to email details to nyasa.police@gmail.com.
| Canada | Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Bob Simpson |
Hong Kong | Royal HK Police - Richard Smallshaw, George Hindhaugh,
Mike Harper, Mike Oldcorn, Clive Evans. |
| South Africa | South Africa Police - Trevor Gwyer, Courtenay Humphries, Mike Bowery.
Private Security – Brad Gillies, Eric Bult. |
| Papua New Guinea | Royal PNG Constabulary - Mike Garner, Ken Wilkinson, Pat Mahoney, Peter Hewitt, John Pritchard, Glyn Johns, Bernard (OB) Ward. |
| Bechuanaland | Bechuanaland Police - Christopher Bean, Robin Hardy. |
| Oman | Oman Police - David Searle, Derrick Tricker.
Security Service - Don Hargreaves |
| Cyprus | Sovereign Base Areas Police - Alan Binney. |
| Cayman Islands | Cayman Islands Police - Kevin McCann, Alan Binney, Derrick Tricker, John Bostock. |
| Australia | Australian Army - John Castles (who I met in New Guinea)
Barrister - John Pritchard. |
| Tuvalu | Tuvalu Police - Ian Cook. |
| UK Police | Met: Glyn Spurgeon, Mike Holmes, Ron Mountford, Mervyn Sault. Kent: Bob Carr. Durham: Norman Anderson. Shropshire: Mike Clift. Manchester City: Derek Unwin. |
| Northern Ireland | Barrister - Barry Malcolm. |
| Diplomatic Service | Barry Thorne. |
| Foreign Office | David Alston. |
| Ordination | Church of England - Rev Don Ruddle. |
| Miscellaneous | Others worked in various fields including the civil service, security vetting and commerce, etc, etc. |
| What an altogether interesting spread of activity indeed! |
Ken Wilkinson, July 2020
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"Then & Now" Revisited
When I took over as the Association manager John Clements, who has an entry in "Then & Now", was the first to contact me and he has kept in touch on occasions ever since. John, now (in 2020) aged 86, was born in Nyasaland and after National Service in the Kings African Rifles, served in the Nyasaland Police from 1959-1964. He gained wide experience having been stationed at Lilongwe, Ncheu, Dedza, Mzuzu, Karonga and Blantyre. Now a widower he has lived and worked in South Africa for many years and currently lives at Somerset West in Cape Province. Over the years he has had a variety of interests which included climbing and organising a mountain rescue team, sailing and being in Lifeboat crews for some 18 years. Bird watching and ringing as well as painting are among his hobbies. Although the current coronavirus lockdown is restricting his activity, he remains cheerful and is happy that his news is available to former colleagues and others and sends his best wishes to all who remember him.
Ken Wilkinson, June 2020
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 Brian Burgess at the Helm
Brian Burgess throughout the many facets of his life and a distinguished career in the Nyasaland Police transported many people to many places by many means - by land, sea and air. He built and sailed his own boats on Lake Malawi and he went on to take his pilots licence eventually operating his own air transport company. Among those who travelled with him as passengers were princes and paupers but in 1966 and pictured below it was Malawi's top man, President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who was his passenger aboard the power boat at the formal opening of the Kamuzu Dam near Lilongwe.
Further: British Pathe were on hand to record the occasion - please Click here to view this video and BB in all his glory!
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 JUST THE JOB
How many of us, when we left Nyasland following independence, found work that measured up to the life we were used to. Most found suitable work, totally acceptable and sometimes enjoyable but it was Ray Punter who surely found "Just the Job". New Zealand and the trout fishing there was a major attraction and it was at Rotorua that he found employment in the management of this fish and then, shortly afterwards, to be taken on the staff at Rainbow Springs Nature Park. His fishing activities are recorded elswhere on this website but there is much more to Rainbow Springs among which is the conservation efforts underway there of New Zealand's national emblem - the Kiwi.
Click here to read about it and Ray's involvement there.
Webmaster - May 2020
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 MAKE DO AND MEND
At the age of 95 Mary Brill has a great memory of years gone by and of a different world to what we live in nowadays. Here she recalls her time in Nyasaland where, like the local Nyasa people, there was a need to 'make do and mend'. She also speaks of the varied diet of the locals, including flying ants and kungu flies.
Click here to read her story
Click here for a video showing the collection of the Lake Nyasa kungu fly.
Origin - Mary Brill, May 2020
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Clement Matacheta
Amazing how so many different things bring back the memories of our time in Nyasaland! It was Christie's Auction House that brought back some fond memoriesof Clement Matacheta. It was his medals up for sale as set out below that came to notice and they realised a reasonable return. It is recorded that he was born in 1913 and joined the Nyasaland Police in March 1949.
Webmaster, April 2020
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The NPA Reunions
Starting in 2006, a total of 14 Reunions have taken place to date. The Reunions were started by Christopher Bean and Les Renno. Initially, for six years, taking place at the Hilton Hotel, Coventry, with the 2011 reunion at Tamworth prior to the Arboretum ceremony. After being let down on our booking by the Hilton, an excellent
new venue was found at the Holiday Inn, Coventry, in 2013 where we have been extremely well looked after ever since. Our Reunion has always been one of the highlights of the year. We have many happy memories of these events and very much missed colleagues no longer with us or unable to attend. The Galleries on our website are a valuable visual reminder of each of these occasions. I took over as Organiser from Christopher Bean starting with the 2018 Reunion. With the cancellation this year I hope that when post Pandemic times return we will be in a position to arrange another Reunion at that time.
Ken Wilkinson, April 2020
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 Like it or Lump it!
In 1958, after some four years in the BSAP Mike Harper joined the Nyasaland Police. After a gentle introduction at Zomba and Fort Manning he was dispatched to the far north where he was the first OC at Fort Hill, Chitipa as it is now called. To say it was like chalk and cheese after the comforts and organisation of the BSAP is to put it mildly. However. Mike was up for it and put together a well established police post in that remote but important border area of Nyasaland.
Click here to read his account of his time there.
Origin - Mike Harper, March 2020
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 Salad Days' & The Zomba Theatre Club
Who would have thought it? Coppers treading the boards - however in May and June 1964 serving members of the Nyasaland Police played their part in the production of 'Salad Days' in both Zomba and Blantyre. The producer was Nora, wife of Dougie Lomax, then 2ic Special Branch, who may have had some influence on David Nash, Glyn Spurgeon and David Corrall appearing on stage and engaging the help of other members behind the scenes. Described as musical entertainment "Salad Days" generally relates to those days of inexperienced youth.
Click here for a copy of the programme.
Click to view the 2018 'Salad Days' trailer.
Origin - Glyn Spurgeon, March 2020
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 'Nyalugwe' - Magazine of the Nyasaland Police
After "Our Man" Ken's appeal for copies of 'Nyalugwe', the Nyasland Police Magazine, Mick Thacker has come up trumps providing a copy of Volume 1 No 1 dated September 1957 - only 62 years old! What about following publications, were there any and, if so, does anyone possess any copies.
This copy is reproduced in full, accessible from the "Items of Interest" page - click here to view.
Origin - Webmaster, February 2020
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 Mick Thacker & Muffin
Was it Mick's service in the Royal Horse Guards that led to his taking on a belaboured packhorse which was on its last legs to keep him company in Mwanza? Surely the most unusual activity undertaken by any member of the Nyasaland Police at any time, anywhere. However, it was a remarkable achievement that Mick was able to get this clearly intellgent but cussed animal back to good health and that eventually, with skill and a lot of patience, he was able to ride it.
For the full story click here.
Origin - Mick Thacker, February 2020
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Paddy Adair on parade at Kota
Sir Glyn Smallwood Jones GCMG MBE was Chief Secretary Nyasaland prior to succeeding Sir Robert Armitage as Governor in April 1961. In his capacity as Acting Governor he paid a formal visit to Kota Kota in Oct 1960. Paddy was stationed there at the time and it fell to him to provide the Guard of Honour. Suffice to say he was well up to it, as was his men, and they are to be commended on their immaculate turnout and their high standard of drill.
For the Pathe News film of this event Click here
For more details Click here
Ken Wikinson, February 2020
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Origin - Donald Hargreaves, February 2020 |
Commendations for a joint CID/SB operation - Donald Hargreaves
1961 was a year plagued with political disorder which included a series of arson incidents in a remote part of Karonga district. Essentially these were criminal actions whether political or otherwise. Serious disruption was the inevitable result and firm action was required. So, Donald Hargreaves, the District SBO, was deployed with Insp Chirwa leading the SB team together with Brian Graves leading the CID team to the area where they were camped for some 10 days in the bush and under the stars. Fortunately they had their cooks and a good supply of beer but this did not distract from an extensive investigation leading to the identification and apprehension of the culprits. The difficult nature and result of this investigation was recognised by a formal commendation from the Commisioner J. V. Mullins. Sadly Inspector Chirwa, an excellent officer, was later to lose his wife, she was murdered by the mob when Chipembere, the rebel ex-Minister, led the armed attack on Fort Johnson in his abortive coup attempt in February 1965.
To read the Donald Hargreaves copy of the Commisioner's commendation click here.
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~~ ALL AT SEA ~~
 Alison McLennan in 1964
Fred Tomkins at the end of his tour with the Police in Nyasaland did what so many of us did - we took advantage of the passage paid free cruise home by way of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company. His daughter Alison (McLennan) records their family trip with fond memories. Her Mum, it seems, didn't enjoy it but Dad, Alison and brother Greg surely did. Among the memories of their time in Africa Alison still has a packet of sand from a lakeshore beach and copies of Union Castle posters. Further it was back to Wales for the family's pet baboon, "Chippy" (see the Alison McLennan Collection).
For Alison's report click here
Click here to view a promotional video of the Transvaal Castle.
Origin - Alison McLennan, February 2020
.......................... Mary Brill in 1956
It was by sea in 1956, and also by the Unon Castle line, that Reg and Mary Brill, together with their young family, returned to Nyasaland after UK leave. Unlike Alison's Mum, Mary thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
To read Mary's description of that voyage Click here.
Origin - Mary Brill, February 2020
 Ken Wilkinson in 1962
Returning from leave Ken opted for "BI" (the British India Steamship Navigation Company) and for the longer trip from London to Beira, or the "East Coast Route" as it was known. For good reason too, he travelled First Class - needless to say, he enjoyed it.
To read all about it Click here.
Origin - Ken Wilkinson, February 2020
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 Cyril Marlow MBE, PPM
Cyril Marlow who served in the Nyasaland Police from 1960 to 1975 passed away in 2001. The Society of Malawi records his obituary as put together by David Stuart-Mogg, editor and publisher in the UK of The Society of Malawi Journal (Historical and Scientific). Edited only to reflect the Nypol interest, it is comprehensive, interesting and informative click here for more.
Origin - David Stuart-Mogg, February 2020
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 Cosmo meets Mary
Where was the entertainment in Nyasaland in the 1950s? There was a cinema in Blantyre, clubs in Zomba, Blantyre, Limbe, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Fort Johnston but very little elsewhere. Radio was basically limited to popular music on LM and unreliable, intermittent short-wave reception of the BBC World Service. So, in the outstations, ex-pats sought each other's company as best they could and dinner parties, with or without parlour games, were often the meeting places. However there was a 'pecking order', with the OC Police, the DC and his ADC, an Agric or fisheries officer maybe being on almost common ground. At least a level above was the PC, the Provincial Commissioner, so it was that in 1959, Reg and Mary Brill were stationed in Karonga when the PC, Cosmo Haskard, visited the area and they took it upon themselves to invite him and his wife to dinner. An invitation that was accepted. So with some considerable effort, a lot of thought, a little worry and some panic Mary went about making the necessary arrangements, deciding on the menu and preparation - Karonga was hardly the place to find things Tesco style readily available! Fortunately, it went well greatly to the relief of them both. Cosmo Haskard died in at the age of 100 in 2017 after a disguished career which included Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1964 to 1970.
For Mary's details of their meal that evening click here For Cosmo's distinguished career including details of his time in Nyasaland Click here
Origin - Mary Brill, January 2020
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