SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
September 2009 editionChannel 4 recently presented a series entitled "On Tour with the Queen" which re-traced the route of Queen Elizabeth's tour of the British Empire/Commonwealth in 1953/54 following her Coronation. This series was presented by a West Indian gentleman with the exotic name of Kwame Kwei-Armah, and was initially viewed with something approaching suspicion and trepidation.
The outcome, however, was to prove a revelation which was not anticipated. Mr. Kwei-Armah clearly set out expecting to find antipathy towards Britain and condemnation of Britain's colonial past wherever he travelled re-tracing the Queen's footsteps of over fifty years earlier, but instead he constantly encountered comments and opinions which were the exact opposite.
Starting in Bermuda, still a British overseas territory of course, and where just a few years ago the electorate voted by more than two-to-one to remain a colony of the UK, the pro-British sentiment which Mr. Kwei-Armah found was perhaps not all that surprising, but in Jamaica - independent since 1962 - this was certainly not what he was expecting. Independence has clearly proved a failure for Jamaica; once a paradise island, it is now racked by politically-orientated gang warfare and lawlessness. On a radio talk-show where Mr. Kwei-Armah participated all the callers appeared to express disillusionment with today's Jamaica, with several openly calling for the country to be ruled by the UK once again. At a subsequent cocktail party attended by the island's great-and-good such opinions were even more surprisingly openly aired, with the idea of Jamaica resuming colonial status being seen as a desirable solution to the country's current problems. Mr. Kwei-Armah was visibly dumbfounded by what he heard.
It was much the same during the next steps in the journey. In Tonga (never a full British Colony but only a Protectorate, but where complete independence had been foisted upon an unwilling people by Harold Wilson's socialist government) it was clear that from King Tupou V downwards the majority of the population wished to re-strengthen the British link - and it was much the same in Fiji, which of course still retains the Union Flag as part of its national flag!
Only in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) were there no open expressions of a desire for a resumption of colonial status, but even here there was genuine praise expressed for many aspects of former British rule. In Uganda however - a country which suffered grotesquely through Britain's abdication of colonial responsibility under the tyrants Obote and Amin - it was again a case of longing for a return to civilised colonial rule.
Once the final stage of the tour was reached in the Mediterranean the story was obvious. In Malta - which still proudly bears the George Cross on its national flag - no explanation could be given as to why the country had become a republic, and the general impression was that it was only a matter of time (perhaps upon withdrawal from the EU?) before the Queen would once again be recognised as head of state. The final destination was undoubtedly the most appropriate of all - that most loyal of all British overseas territories, Gibraltar. Here the advantages of the British link were made most forcefully (most notably by Chief Minister Peter Caruana and by the Marques de Lendinez) from the standpoint of having been retained for the fifty or so years since the Queen's tour, so therefore carried even greater weight.
Mr. Kwei-Armah undoubtedly set out on this journey expecting to encounter criticism of Britain's colonial record wherever he went, and to report on a "success story" of post-colonial independence. The fact that he had the journalistic honesty to report what he actually found, rather than what he expected to find, is something which deserves the highest praise.
But what should these revelations show to us? Quite clearly the abdication by Britain governments (and those of the other great European colonial powers for that matter) of their duties and responsibilities in the Third World has not only had a detrimental effect upon their own people, but also upon the subject people of the lands where they ruled. Recent history, moreover, has shown that whenever Western military intervention has been undertaken to remove despotic and dangerous regimes in the Third World (such as in Sierra Leone, and against the Ba'athists in Iraq and the Talaban in Afghanistan) then Western forces have been welcomed with open arms by the bulk of the local populations. The ability for resumed British and European Imperial rule is therefore still there, as indeed is the popular desire. All that is missing is the vision to stay by today's generation of Western politicians.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC RHODES & FOUNDERS CELEBRATIONS
Unfortunately, as most readers will know, Mr. Mark Pilbeam of the RLI Regimental Association had to withdraw as guest speaker at the Springbok Club's Rhodes & Founders celebration meeting very much at the last minute because of ill-health (believed to be the dreaded Swine Flu!). This of course presented the organisation with a huge problem in obtaining a replacement guest speaker at very short notice, but happily Group Captain Peter Petter-Bowyer of the Rhodesian Air Force Association was prepared to step into the breach, and gave a most enthralling talk which proved an excellent follow-up to the highly informative speech which he gave to the organisation regarding the history and operational tactics of the RhAF three years previously. Inter alia, he explained why he believed that the Rhodesian military tactic of "Fireforce" could be used most effectively against the Talaban in today's War against Terror in Afghanistan. In spite of all the problems involved in informing supporters of the last minute change in guest speaker, this still proved to be a most pleasant and successful meeting, with a good turnout and a buffet spread of the highest quality. Our sincerest thanks are of course extended to Group Captain Peter Petter-Bowyer for being willing to give such an inspiring talk at such short notice in this way.
We know of course that many supporters were even so very disappointed not to be able to hear Mark Pilbeam's planned talk about his military experiences in the RLI and the work of the RLI Regimental Association. We are therefore most happy to be able to report that it is anticipated that Mr. Pilbeam will now be guest speaker at the Springbok Club's UDI Day celebrations in November instead.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB AUTUMN BRAAI
The Springbok Club will be holding their Autumn Braai during the afternoon of Saturday 26th September 2009 at a venue owned by a supporter in the Walthamstow area of east London. Alas, as the size of this venue is somewhat small, there will have to be a restriction on the numbers attending, so if you are interested in participating in this event the please 'phone: 07711188430 as soon as possible.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC EVENTS
In October the London Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC will be staging a special event. More details will be given in next month's SCN.
In November the Springbok Club will be staging their annual UDI Day buffet, at which it is anticipated that Mr. Mark Pilbeam of the RLI Regimental Association will be guest of honour.
In December the Springbok Club/ELC will be holding their annual Day of the Vow commemorations, at which a prominent British politician will be guest of honour.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB/ELC BRANCH NEWS
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC was successfully re-constituted with a meeting held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast last month. The Branch plans to hold further such gatherings in the days ahead, with full details to be given in future editions of the SCN.
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club/ELC is planning to hold an informal get-together during the next few months, and again full details will be announced in a future edition of the SCN.
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SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The Swinton Circle will be holding a meeting in central London to be addressed by a leading member of UKIP during the final week of September. All current members and supporters of the Swinton Circle will be notified directly as soon as arrangements have been finalised, but if anyone else is interested in attending this event then please 'phone: 07711188430 in order to receive the precise details.
The Swinton Circle will also be staging a "double-header" meeting in central London on Thursday 15th October at which there will be two guest speakers, a prominent official from a leading Euro-sceptic organisation and a visiting Pro-Monarchy activist from Australia. Fuller details will of course be given in next month's SCN.
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THE IFAW's "TAILS FOR WHALES" PROJECT
Earlier this year IFAW launched an exciting new project, 'Tails for Whales', in order to raise awareness of the many threats to whales and to encourage whale protection. They have now launched a new web-site, www.tailsforwhales.org, where they aim to collect as many photos as possible of people from all walks of life - members of the public, actors, musicians, politicians and TV personalities - all making a 'whale tail' hands symbol. At the Westminster launch in January more than 70 MPs attended and posed for whale tail photos to give their backing to the project.
There is still time for you to add your photo - the more that are collected in the run-up to the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) the greater public support can be show for whales.
Please take part in 'Tails for Whales' by adding your photo to the growing collection online, and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same. Using a high resolution image of your whale tail pose (JPEG format, minimum 1024x768px), go to www.tailsforwhales.org/members/new and follow the instructions on the page.
Please forward this information to family and friends asking them to take part too. Keep checking www.tailsforwhales.org in the coming weeks for more photos, features and competitions, as well as information on the plight of whales and how you can help them.
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LATEST FALKLANDS NEWS
We recently received the following interesting report from a pro-Falkland Islands circulation list :-
"There were a couple of minor Falklands stories in the Argentine press last week. On Thursday there was a small report in Clarin [an Argentine newspaper] following up on the earlier news that Britain had also claimed an extension of seabed sovereignty around the Falklands and other British islands in the South Atlantic. Clarin said that because of the dispute the United Nations would now freeze any consideration of these competing claims until such times as there were agreement between the two parties. This just confirmed what everyone knew was going to happen."
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RHODESIAN LIGHT INFANTRY DVD
The Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association in the UK (part of the world-wide RLI Regimental Association) has recently had a series of films on a single DVD created which tell the story of the Rhodesian Bush War, as seen through the eyes of the men who fought in it. This is a new set of films which are not in anyway related to those that have been around for a number of years, and the proceeds are to be used to maintain our Troopie statue, smuggled out of Zimbabwe, as well as the creation and maintenance of an RLI museum.
For more details about how to order this DVD please contact Mark Pilbeam at: mark.pilbeam@dsl.pipex.com
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CAN YOU HELP?
We have recently received the following request for information :-
"Hello! My name is Dennis Zeman!
"I'm looking for Daniel John McAuliffe. He is from Rhodesia. Can you help me in this deal?
"Thank you very much!"
If anyone can help Dennis Zeman in this quest to trace his former colleague please contact him direct at : zeman@clean.kz
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ZIMBABWE DEBATES
The next Zimbabwe Debate to be staged by Mr. Albert Weidemann, the prominent Zimbabwe human rights activist, will take place in Yorkshire in October, and will be followed by a private lunch with about 40 guests (dress code: collar and tie). For more details please contact Albert directly at : ajweidemann@googlemail.com
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SOUND WORDS FROM "FREDDIE" FLINTOFF
A supporter from Australia has recently sent us the following most interesting and encouraging report of remarks made by England Cricketer Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff :-
"England cricket star Andrew Flintoff has landed himself in trouble again after he launched a bizarre [?] anti-immigration tirade.
"The all-rounder told GQ magazine that Britain's immigration policies had failed.
"He added: 'I have no problems with a multicultural society, I think that is to the benefit of the country. But you have to be careful what levels you take it to.
"'It annoys me when I 'phone a hotel receptionist in my own country and they don't understand what I am saying because they don't speak English.
"'I think that's wrong, it's nothing to do with being politically correct or incorrect, it's just not right.'
"Flintoff, 31, a father of Holly, four, and sons Corey, three, and one-year-old Rocky, said: 'I see Manchester on a Friday night and I would be horrified seeing my daughter going to the bars.
"'There are places I wouldn't go to now. You see these reports of stabbings, bottlings, shootings, and you think, "What is happening to this country?"
"'I think rap music has a lot to do with it. It makes it sound cool not to conform, and to be violent. That's why I think sport plays such an important role. Cricket kept me away from trouble.'
"He called for sport to be brought back as a compulsory subject for kids at school, adding: 'It tackles everything from child obesity to drug abuse and binge drinking. A lot of kids don't get the chance to play sport.
"'Our reputation abroad is getting worse, we are seen as a violent country now.'
"Asked what he would tackle if he was prime minister, Flintoff replied: 'There's knife crime, gun crime, homelessness, the financial crisis. So many things need fixing.
"'But when you go to somewhere like India you realise we're not in that bad a shape. We have a tendency in Britain to talk ourselves down.
"'I wouldn't want to be American, but you have to admire the way they talk themselves up as a people, athletes and as a country. Our glass is always half empty.'"
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MAKE YOUR OWN BILTONG AT THE FRACTION OF THE COST ....
Biltongmakers.Com has, for the last 10 years, put a smile on many a South African face. No longer do they have to pay exorbitant prices for biltong that in most cases is not even to their liking!
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Please visit www.biltongmakers.com and see all they have available.
You will never be without some REAL South African Biltong again!
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club/ELC now retails Union Flag lapel badges and key-rings, price £2.00 each (plus 20% p&p).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
Copies of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile (editions 30 to 36) are still available price R5.00 or 50p each, as well as batches of 50 copies (including copies of the original S.A.Patriot) price R80.00 or £8.00 (plus 20% for p&p.)
Payments should be made to "Patriotic Press" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
[We really want to be able to produce the next edition of S.A.Patriot-in-Exile, No.37, as soon as possible, but in order to do this we need to clear our existing stock of back-issues first. Supporters can help us in two ways in this regard, either by making donations which will enable us to distribute more copies, and/or by providing address details of people who might be interesting in receiving copies.]
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson
A novel which tells the story of the profound impact that an innocent youthful love affair has on the lives of two young lovers. The plot moves from a cult and a maximum security prison in the US to the savannah grasslands of Mozambique and Zimbabwe - this makes for adventure, suspense and melodrama. Packed with conflict and sexual tension, anyone who loves romance, passion and excitement should enjoy reading this story.
Trisha Jackson was born and grew up in Rhodesia. She immigrated to the USA with her husband and three children in 1990. She and her husband live in a unique, rural community in the Tonto National Forest in the eastern mountains of Arizona.
Copies of "Way Out of Line" can be ordered from Amazon.com.
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"GOVERNMENT BY DECEPTION" by Jan Lamprecht
Details the disasters of Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and illustrates the similarities between Mugabe's rule and that of Mandela/Mbeki in South Africa. It can be ordered on-line at: www.AfricanCrisis.org
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion
A devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"THE RAPE OF ZIMBABWE" by Ricky Wilson - which tells it like it was (and is)!
Rhodesia was once a prosperous and thriving country, and the story of the author's enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit in that land, followed by his desperate escape from the country when, as Zimbabwe, it became ruled by a tyrant, imparts a realistic perspective of the present desperate plight of many exiles from a country that was once a paradise and the breadbasket for so much of Africa.
You can order this book via http://www.diadembooks.com/zimbabwe.htm
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Glenn MacAskill and Michael Bowery of Crest Publishing have written three books each. Glenn MacAskill is ex-BSAP Special Branch and still working (as Mugabe has denied him any pension) and Michael Bowery is ex-South African Special Forces. Due to the difficulties confronting White writers in the "new" South Africa they launched Crest Publishing to self-publish their own books, and have been doing this since October 2006. Michael Bowery is author of: "Canham's Run", "The Sligo Piper" and "Kill the President", whilst Glenn MacAskill is author of: "King's Gold", "Crime Lords" and "Of Royal Blood". Special discounts to ex-servicemen, Rhodies and Springboks!
For more information, or to make an order, please contact Crest Publishing at: P.O.Box, 97910, Petervale, Transvaal, 2151, South Africa, e-mail: crestbooks@mweb.co.za, or visit the Crest Publishing web-site at: www.crestpublishing.co.za
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"THE SAINTS" - DVD versions of the book about the history of the RLI
Now available from Msasa Enterprises. Contact: msasasa@iafrica.com or UK tel.: 07732 685400.
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For Sale - a number of books and publications dealing with Southern Africa. Send stamped addressed envelope to: Mr. Mark Taha, 93 Venner Road, Sydenham, London SE26 5HU, U.K. [Warning - many not of Springbok Club's persuasion!]
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.130 : Mr. STEVE ELFFERS of Durban Collegians.
Steve Elffers was the Assistant Manager of Durban Collegians Club for many years throughout the 1970s, '80s and '90s. A friendly, hospitable and efficient administrator, he was much liked and respected by members of all the various sections of the Club. Although offered the position of Manager of the Club on many occasions, he always declined, saying that he far preferred the security of being 2-i-c rather than having to endure all the inevitable "snipping" which the head-man always had to endure! As befitted an administrator of a leading sports club such as Durban Collegians he was a sports fanatic, being able to talk knowledgably on practically every sporting event taking place - be it at local, national or international level. We know that he was still involved with the Club as late as the early 2000s (when by all accounts it was suffering badly as a result of the "new" South Africa), but wonder whether anyone could tell us where Steve is now?
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
The "Afrikaner Broadcasting Corporation" provides a most fascinating on-line news service. On their expertly presented site they carry a trilogy of video presentations telling the history of the South African nation under the title of "Ons Vir Jou Suid-Afrika / At Thy Will South Africa" which contain the following episodes :-
Episode One: Founding of a Nation
Episode Two: A Republic is born
Episode Three: Total Onslaught
The "Afrikaner Broadcasting Corporation" home-page can be accessed at :-
http://AfrikanerBroadcasting.blogspot.com
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ANDERSCUM
Sir,
I note reference in last month's SCN to the fact that Mr. Ian Anderson had been Deputy Chairman of the National Front. Following further research I have discovered that he took over the actual Chairmanship of the National Front in January 1985. He succeeded Mr. Andrew Brons who resigned for personal reasons.
Yours etc.,
Dave Williams, Buckinghamshire, U.K.
[The Mr. Andrew Brons referred to here is undoubtedly the same Andrew Brons who earlier this year was elected an MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber for the even more extreme British National Party (BNP). Anderson, of course, was one of the five unwelcome attendees who turned up uninvited at the Swinton Circle meeting of 22nd July 2008 which precipitated the crisis in the organisation. Three of the other undesirables involved were known members of the BNP whose names and addresses appeared on the leaked membership list of that organisation. Suddenly everything starts to fit. - Ed.]
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ROGUES GALLERY
We have recently been alerted to a most interesting item which appeared in the latest (September's) edition of the anti-fascist magazine "Searchlight". Being a patriotic rather than a political movement we are not usually interested in the affairs of off-the-edge extremist organisations, even when they are reported by publications which are opposed to them and which seek to expose them. The reason why we were interested in this particular article, however, was that it mentioned an individual who has been involved in an inexplicable hate-campaign against our movement in the past, and who has caused us a considerable amount of problems. The Searchlight item reads as follows :-
"Griffin [the leader of the neo-fascist so-called 'British National Party'] was joined by his fellow MEP Andrew Brons for a question time session. Also on the panel were Jonathan Bowden, a popular speaker now back in the BNP after resigning in 2007, Mark Collett, the party’s head of publicity, and Peter Strudwick.
"Strudwick is a more recent arrival in the BNP, after a long career in the Conservative Party and more particularly the senior echelons of the far-right [sic] Monday Club. Strudwick, a law lecturer, and Griffin’s father 'remember each other from Tory politics in North London back in the 1960s', Griffin wrote last year.
"After all those hints, it was not difficult for Searchlight to identify Strudwick as Sam Swerling, who was briefly a Westminster Tory councillor. That Swerling had joined the BNP was no secret, so why the new identity? What is he ashamed of?"
Sam Swerling was of course previously a leading member of the now defunct so-called 'Conservative Democratic Alliance', an obscure outfit which for no apparent reason vowed to "smash" both the Springbok Club and the Swinton Circle on their web-forum a few years ago. Swerling furthermore was one of the five uninvited and unwelcome interlopers whose attendance at the Swinton Circle meeting of 22nd July 2008 led to the crisis in that organisation. It was actually Swerling who caused the threatening scene when they were asked to leave. It was not only Swerling's known and admitted membership of the neo-fascist BNP which caused him to be barred from attending Swinton Circle meetings however, but more particularly because of his antagonistic and aggressive questioning of patriotic guest speakers of the organisation (even attacking fellow members of the audience whose questions he disagreed with - such as a notorious case in mid-2007 when he took issue with Mr. Dennis Delderfield because of his support for the monarchy). Swerling furthermore was one of the two co-organisers of an obscene dinner held "in honour" of the memory of the Spanish fascist dictator General Franco in 1999, has openly expressed opposition to the West's War against Islamic Terror, and has even sung the praises of the Italian fascist clown Mussolini! Holding such anti-British sentiments such as these we wonder why Swerling would ever want to be associated with a patriotic organisation like the Swinton Circle in the first place - unless it was for no good!
The magazine Searchlight certainly makes a good point when they ask "Why the new identity? What is he ashamed of?", but one thing is for sure, and that is that Swerling's emergence as a leading member of the BNP says as much about the obnoxious nature of that organisation as it says about him! We will certainly keep an eye open for the name "Peter Strudwick" in the future therefore, and will avoid it like the plague - and advise everyone else to do likewise!
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OBITUARY
CHRIS WEPENER
It was with great sadness and disbelief that we recently learnt of the death of Chris Wepener at the tragically early age of 57. Gwelo-born Chris Wepener came from Afrikaner stock, but was always a proud Rhodesian. He served with distinction in the Rhodesian Air Force where he rose to the rank of Senior NCO, and was highly regarded as an expert technician. Like so many of his generation he had a mischievous streak, but was always kind-hearted and generous. Following the fall of Rhodesia he moved to the UK where he settled on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. He became very active with the Rhodesian Air Force Association, and was also involved with the Kent branches of both Rhodesians Worldwide and the Springbok Club - indeed he was due to give a talk to the Kent Branch of the Springbok Club about his RhAF experiences later this year. He was also a loyal member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes and a keen golfer. Our sincerest sympathies are extended to Chris's widow Sally and to his children on their tragic loss.
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See you again next month!
