The Cast List

Here follows a list of people mentioned in the correspondence.  It is intended that eventually each shall have an explanatory "mini biography".  If you have anything to add to these, please "CONTACT US".

FAMILY

Gervas's side:-

Gervas - Betty's husband; they met on board ship sailing back from Africa.  He was going on leave from his job in Northern Rhodesia, and was accompanying his parents, who had been on holiday in South Africa.  Betty was also with her parents and her sister, who had been touring Africa.  Gervas & Betty were married in England on 24th September, 1936.

Mummy - Gervas's mother Violet

Daddy - Gervas's father Gerard

Aunt Bridget / Aunt B. - Gervas's aunt-by-marriage, the widow of his father's eldest brother (Arthur, died in WW 1)

Evie - Aunt Bridget's daughter, Gervas's 1st cousin.

Ro - Rosemary, Gervas's first cousin, the daughter of his father's brother Ernest.

Ralph - Gervas's younger brother

Betty's side:-

Mum - Betty's mother  Olave

Dad - Betty's father Robert

Peter - Betty's elder brother

Heather - Betty's elder sister

COLLEAGUES i.e. Government staff

Cartmell-Robinson

Phibbs

Whatmore

OTHER EUROPEANS 

i.e. Mission staff, traders, pilots, etc.

Spencer - Ted Spencer, pilot.

Hugh Farmer - an Oxford friend of Gervas, living in England.  He eventually became Clerk to the House of Commons, the "top civil servant" there.

AFRICANS

The Mulena Mokwai

The Paramount Chief - the head of the Lozi tribe, that occupies Barotseland

The Moyo - the wife of the Paramount Chief

AFRICAN SERVANTS

Every European had several African servants, always men, though occasionally African women were also employed to look after children.  Betty never employed a woman.  These servants were always called "Boys".  

The Boys that Gervas & Betty had were recruited as late-teengagers by Gervas when he first arrived in Northern Rhodesia, where he was posted to the Bangweulu Swamp area, inhabited by the Bemba tribe, so the Boys were all Bemba.  This caused only VERY slight difficulties when Gervas was posted elsewhere in Northern Rhodesia.  These Boys remained faithful servants for 34 years, the entire time that Gervas was in the country.

None spoke English to start with, nor could read nor write, though they could usually recognise words on shopping or packing lists. 

They had separate housing provided in the curtilage, and catered for themselves, and they had their families wih them.

They were provided with meat and meal, and paid a wage at the "going rate".

Each had his own allotted tasks, but they all pitched in when necessary.  They also occasionally went out hunting / shooting as beaters, pickers-up, gun-bearer, etc.

Musonda - the first servant employed by Gervas

Peter Mulenga - the family's cook.  His son became a Major in the Zambian army, but was killed in a car crash.

Chishimba - "house boy" who looked after the bedrooms.  He was often "in trouble with the Law" (often drink-related), and Gervas felt that, had he not taken him on, Chishimba would have spent most of his life in prison.

Leo Nsakashalo - "house boy" who looked after the reception rooms

Shimeo - "house boy"

PETS

Ready - a red cocker spaniel, Gervas's pet while he was up at Oxford.

Rusty - a red cocker spaniel in Betty's childhood home.

HOUSES

Weston House, Albury, Surrey  - The home of Gervas's parents until 1935

Abbot's Wood, Hurtmore, Godalming, Surrey  -  The house bought by Gervas's parents in 1935

Pax Hill, Bentley, Hants - Betty's childhood home