SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
July 2005 edition
From time to time in the past the SCN has been criticised for being over-optimistic about future world developments, particularly concerning the future of the European Union.
We have often stated that the very concept of the EU was illogical and untenable, and that eventually the entire structure was bound to implode. Even we, however, have been surprised by the speed with which this prediction now seems to be heading for fruition.
The recent referenda victories in both France and the Netherlands in opposition to the proposed European "constitution" were not only most encouraging results in themselves, but the sizes of the victory margins were so great that they can only be described as seismic. Although the French "No" vote may have been somewhat schizophrenic, that in the Netherlands was clearly a decisive Euro-sceptic statement. Notwithstanding the slight set-back when little Luxemburg voted in favour of the "constitution" (if Luxemburgers value their independence so lightly then their country should simply be absorbed into Belgium), it seems crystal clear that there would be similar - if not more decisive - Euro-sceptic votes in Britain, the Scandinavian countries and certain countries of eastern Europe, if the people there were given the chance to speak.
But an even more fundamental development has subsequently come about. Many in Italy - even within the Italian government - have been openly voicing the opinion that Italy should abandon the Euro and restore the Lira as their national currency. Now of course at the time of the introduction of the Euro most EU-fanatics (and even some Euro-sceptics who should have known better) were asserting that once introduced the Euro was "irreversible". In spite of the fact that Italian government hasn't so far taken steps leave the Euro-zone, the very fact that such a step is now being advocated at even the highest level has let the cat out of the bag; the Euro IS reversible.
It is not only the proposed European "constitution" and the Euro which seem to be heading for oblivion however. The whole EU-edifice is so artificial that it is like a stack of cards. Once it starts to experience one set-back then others will quickly follow, until the entire "European Project" comes tumbling down.
But what of the future. France and the Netherlands (as well as many other western European nations) enjoyed great and glorious colonial pasts, yet are now plagued by massive alienated immigrant populations from the "third world". Once freed from artificial EU entanglement all the great European powers will be able to look afresh to their former spheres of interest around the globe, and to re-assert their influence accordingly. Once such a state of affairs comes about then not only will their Empires of the past gradually be able to be restored, but they will also have places where their unhappy immigrant populations could easily be repatriated. In this regard it was interesting to note during a Springbok Club visit to Amsterdam in 1999 how there seemed to be a renewed interest among the Dutch people in their former Dutch East Indies colonies. The future looks bright, ......
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S JUNE ACTIVITY
In June the Springbok Club paid a visit to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London, where a special exhibition is being staged to mark the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot.
There was a good turnout for this event, and the exhibition itself proved to be most fascinating, being constructed in a very novel "who done it"-style police investigation format.
After the trip to the exhibition those taking part adjourned to a near-by hostelry, where they were joined by a number of other Springbok Club members for further convivial and fruitful discussions.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be making a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich in order to visit a special exhibition which they are staging to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in July. The details are as follows:-
Date: Saturday 30th July 2005
Assembly time: 12.45 hrs to 13.15 hrs
Assembly place: Outside the main entrance to the exhibition at the National Maritime Museum (this is situated between King William Walk, Romney Road and Park Row in Greenwich, London SE10, and is only 5 minutes walk from the Cutty Sark Station on the Docklands Light Railway.)
Admission charges to the special exhibition are £9.00 for adults, £6.00 for concessions and £4.00 for children, which of course should be paid directly to the museum on the day. If a party of a certain size can be organised then a 20% discount is available, so if you intend attending please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing: springbok@falklands.org. [N.B. Although the official title of this special exhibition is "Nelson & Napoleon" - we, for obvious reasons, prefer to call it the "Nelson & Trafalgar" exhibition!].
Towards the end of August the Springbok Club will be staging a special meeting to be addressed by a serving member of the British forces who has recently seen active service in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. More precise details will be given in next month's edition of the SCN.
In October the Springbok Club will be organising a delegation to visit Gibraltar in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is planned to stage a wreath-laying ceremony at the Trafalgar Cemetery during the day of Friday 21st October, to be followed by two events being organised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - a Trafalgar Day Dinner during the evening of Friday 21st October and a trip to Cape Trafalgar on Saturday 22nd October. Evidently hotel places on the Rock for this period and vacancies for the two events being staged by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust are filling up fast, so it is therefore suggested that all those who wish to join this visit should make arrangements as soon as possible. For more details please e-mail: springbok@falklands.org
In November the Springbok Club will be organising a party to visit Lewes for the annual Bonfire Festivities on November 5th - which this year, being the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, has even greater significance. Again for more details please e-mail: springbok@falklands.org
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SPRINGBOK CLUB BRANCH NEWS
The Kent Branch of the Springbok Club is planning to visit the "Sea Britain" Saxon Community Fair which is being staged by the Saxon Community Group in Herne Bay on Sunday 21st August in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The London Swinton Circle held a most interesting meeting last month which was addressed by Mr. Sammy Wilson MP, MLA, the newly-elected DUP MP for East Antrim. In spite of the last-minute notification of this meeting there was still a very good attendance, and Mr. Wilson certainly didn't disappoint, giving a most informative overview of the current situation in Ulster following the dramatic breakthroughs made by the DUP at the recent general election.
Details of the London Swinton Circle's next meeting are as follows:-
Date: Wednesday 27th July 2005
Time: 18.45 p.m. for 19.00 p.m.
Venue: The Clarence (the upstairs Parliament Room), 53 Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1
Guest Speaker: Mr. Adrian Hilton
Adrian Hilton was originally selected as official Conservative Party candidate for the Slough constituency during the recent general election, but was ordered to be de-selected by Michael Howard (aka Hecht) following a review of his book "The Principalities and Power of Europe" (which had actually been written several years previously) which appeared in "The Spectator" magazine.
The LSC will be holding their annual summer buffet in September whereat Mr. Simon Heffer, the renowned journalist, will be the guest of honour. Fuller details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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RECOMMENDED CIRCULATION LISTS
Two leading supporters of the Springbok Club have initiated excellent e-mail circulation lists which we believe other friends and supporters might be keen to join.
John Beattie, the Springbok Club's Canadian co-ordinator, produces a regular quarterly "Springbok Canada" cyber-newsletter, which can be requested by e-mailing John at: agentj@on.aibn.com
Nick Maine, the Springbok Club's former Australian co-ordinator, now produces his own "Information Service" circulation list of press releases and political reports, and this can be requested by e-mailing Nick at: nmaine@bigpond.net.au
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RHODESIAN BRAAIS AND REUNIONS
The Rhodesians Worldwide Assistance Fund's annual UK July Braai will be held from the 22nd to 24th July 2005. Charges are £2.50 per day per person (accompanied children under 16 free, pensioners £1 per day) - this includes campers, caravaners, day-trippers and those staying in B.& B. accommodation. For more information about B. & B. accommodation contact the Broadway Tourist Office at 01386-852937. £15 per night per camping site (one tent per site) £3 hook up, £3.75 per braai pack (the very best meat and plenty of it), £2.75 per boerewors pack (slightly spiced, delicious, approx 1lb). N.B.: Please bring your own salads, rolls, and cutlery. Send cheques, made out to "RWAF", to: Mary Sawyers, The Orchard, Penbidwal Lane, Pandy, Monmouthshire, NP7 8EA, UK. Facilities at the park include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a mini-market, excellent ablution blocks, and the town of Broadway is within walking distance. The camp site is flat and superbly laid out. The famous Castle Corner Beer Tent will provide Castle at £1.25 per beer, plus a wide range of wine, spirits and cool-drinks. There will be biltong and other goodies on sale, and sufficient braais and enough fuel for them laid on. Live band every night, raffles (please bring a prize), games, lots for kids to do, and best boerewors competition. All queries e-mail Mary at mary@sawyers4.fslife.co.uk or 'phone between 16.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs on 01873-890744.
A massive Worldwide Rhodesian Reunion will be held in Durban over the week of Sunday 6 November to Sunday 13 November 2005. For more information visit www.mjvn.co.za/benefit/benefit073.html or contact Peter Morris (Chairman of the RASA Durban Branch) on 031-7015025 or 082-5744719.
The annual rendezvous hosted by the Rhodesian Services Association in New Zealand will take place over the weekend of 11, 12 & 13 November 2005 in Tauranga. For further information please contact the secretary, Hugh Bomford, at hbomford@clear.net.nz
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NEW BRITAIN NEWS
New Britain staged a most successful celebration last month in order to commemorate Canada Day 2005. A procession took place from St. Paul's Cathedral to St. Catherine Cree Church in Leadenhall Street, led by the Canadian flag and including many standard-bearers from the Royal British Legion. At St. Catherine Cree Church a short service took place at which Canadian poems were read and a special choir sang. Afterwards a garden party was held in an adjacent garden, where strawberries and cream were enjoyed by all.
Arrangements for New Britain's annual Australia Day celebrations for next year are already well in place, and will be held on 28th January 2006.
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BONFIRE BEACONS
During Trafalgar Weekend, 21st/23rd October, a national chain of beacons is being planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The beacons will be lit on Friday 21 October, focusing on the National Beacon at HMS Victory at Portsmouth. We don't know at this stage how many beacons are being planned, but there will be a huge one at Firle in Sussex.
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! Runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! Have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.).
We are pleased to be able to announce that we now have stocks of the 2005 edition of the annual Ulster publication "The Twelfth", which is published by Glenwood Publications. Copies are available priced 50p each, though please add 25p for p.& p..
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is 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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"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip Du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p. & p.) in the UK from: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
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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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"OF RICE AND MEN", by Jimmy Walker
111 pages. Illustrated. With excellent cartoons by Fusilier Norman Lambert, produced whilst in captivity. Soft-back £5.00 (cover price £10.00)
An irreverent, left of centre, look at life as a POW by Jimmy Walker, who was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. Jimmy takes us through incarceration at the notorious Changi jail, forced labour on the railroad, and deportation to Japan, where the Japanese exploited the mining skills of the boys from Northumberland. Norman Lambert’s sketches are both amusing and frightening at the same time. Through the bitterness and resentment, and physical trauma of captivity shines the humour and the indomitable spirit of the British soldier. An enjoyable and educational read, with a surprise ending.
Prices include p+p. Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log on to www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient priceless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p&p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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EXOTIC HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY
John Hardcastle reminds us of exciting holiday opportunities which he can provide in the Philippines:-
I am from Rhodesia, educated at Chaplin, Gwelo. Left in 1984 for South Africa, and then in 1995 for the Philippines. I've lived in the small village of Coron for the past eight years, and bought a dive shop "Dive Calamines" several months ago. If you would be interested in having a holiday in this part of the world please contact me. The following is a sample list of price breakdowns:-
2 dive day US$ 45.00
3 dive day US$ 60.00
Equipment rental/day US$ 7.00
Nitrox tank US$ 7.00
Accommodation from US$ 4.50 to US$ 80.00
Average meal US$ 2.14
Beer/soft drinks US$ 0.45
Domestic flight US$ 46.00
Check our web-site for more details at: www.divecal.com
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L.P. OF SPEECH BY DR. VERWOERD FOR SALE
An L.P. of a speech by Dr. H.F. Verwoerd is for sale for only £15.00. This includes a super full-colour dust jacket showing only a large portrait of Dr. Verwoerd himself with no writing - so if you wish to obtain a good colour photo of Dr. Verwoerd this is your opportunity. If interested then please contact Alexander von Tutschek at: vontutschek@onetel.com
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
No.80: Mr. MICHIEL FALCK of Durban.
Michiel Falck was an administrative and organisational genius. Although originally from the Transvaal he lived most of his life in the Sherwood district of Durban, and held the position of Head Administrator at the University of Durban/Westville. He was a keen and dedicated member of the HNP, but his political activity didn't end there. He was the leading-light in the Sherwood Action Group (which successfully campaigned to keep the suburb of Sherwood White during the 1970s) and of the original White Rhino Club, and was also the de facto deputy editor of "S.A.Patriot". After he retired from the University of Durban/Westville he took on the position as the HNP's regional agent for southern Natal, but shortly after this defected to the Conservative Party of S.A. where he also held high rank - a move which alas caused great misgivings among many of his former colleagues. He was a man who couldn't suffer fools easily, and indeed had a very bad failing when it came to personal relationships - a fault which even he readily acknowledged! Alas nothing has been heard from him since 1990 so we therefore fear the worst, but even so would be very keen to learn what became of him.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
The Sanwild Wildlife Trust is a most praise-worthy organisation founded by Louise Joubert (originally from Namaqualand, and subsequently of Cape Town) which provides protection and sanctuary for injured, traumatised and orphaned wild animals in South Africa, and for their rehabilitation. Their excellent and very extensive web-site is well worth a visit, and can be accessed at: - www.sanwild.org
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
PAISLEY PATTERN
Sir,
Fantastic news of great importance to us all out of the British general election is the victory of Dr. Ian Paisley and his DUP Comrades.
The 'Old War Horse' is still shaking them up with his total dedication forever with British Union.
Whilst the world tumbles, Ian marches on.
God bless him and his DUP! A Divine inspiration to us all.
Yours etc,
John Beattie, Minden, Ontario, Canada.
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BUILDING COLLAPSE
Sir,
A prominent building firm in Cape Town is about to bite the dust as a result of Black 'verneukery'.
The contract was for several million, but shortly after the tenders had been opened the successful tenderer (White) was told that he had to go into partnership with a second (Black) builder, as well as form an association with COSATU, the Black trade union body, as there were two hundred Blacks on his staff. The White builder began to have his doubts, but decided to sign the contract. In due course a certificate was prepared for two million Rand. This was awarded, not to the White builder but to the Black. The latter saw no necessity to notify his White colleague thereof, but paid the entire amount into his own bank account instead of that of the White builder, who had of course single-handedly financed the undertaking. But when the White builder advised the PWD that he now had no option but to go into liquidation, he was immediately told he could not do this without the consent of his "partner" and the Trades Union Congress! Such consent was not of course forthcoming. He has given the Public Works Department notice that he is now winding up his business. He was told that he could not do this either, but of course he has no alternative.
This is one of the inevitable results of Mr. Macmillan’s 'Winds of Change' speech. He cheerfully consigned South African Whites to wholesale victimisation in order to preserve his "democratic" image. A large amount of the blame must also be laid at the doors of those Whites who put the interests of the Blacks before that of their own White fellow countrymen.
Yours etc,
Richard Deane, Cape Town, South Africa.
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ALL BLACK BEHAVIOUR
Sir,
The recent disgraceful, unsporting and probably illegal behaviour of certain "New Zealand" players during the First Test against the British Lions was a disgrace and a blight on the sporting relations between the Dominions.
How can civilised and patriotic British people even watch New Zealand play rugby again without a full apology and suitable punishment being administered to the "players" concerned?
Yours etc,
Dermot Kendal, London, U.K.
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ROGUES GALLERY
Many readers may remember the name of a certain notorious Mark Cotterill. Cotterill made contact with our movement shortly after we were forced to relocate to the U.K. during the early 1990s - though it has never been certain how or why he originally made contact with us, as he doesn't appear to have any direct connections with Southern Africa whatsoever.
Prior to the merger between the White Rhino Club [mark II] and the Rhodesian Forum to form the Springbok Club, Cotterill invited the White Rhino Club to hold a weekend's activity in Devon (where he was then living) at a country inn which he assured us was run by a family who were supportive of our aims and objectives. The result of this weekend proved catastrophic however, for Cotterill turned up with a 'village-idiot' friend and promptly proceeded to sabotage and wreck the entire weekend - to such an extent that several genuine supporters who had travelled many miles to attend decided to leave early. Furthermore, it subsequently came to light that the proprietors of this Devon inn most certainly did not share our own neo-Imperialist ideals as we had been assured!
Shortly after this we learnt that Cotterill's flat in Torquay had been savaged twice, and that he himself had been badly beaten up - thus seeming to suggest that the man managed to collect enemies like other people collect postage stamps. Shortly after this, however, we heard that he had fled to the United States of America.
Over subsequent years we received several reports about him, and we learnt that he had connected himself to a succession of "weird and wonderful" organisations, until he evidently fell out with each of them in turn. A few years ago, however, we learnt that he had been deported from the United States because his immigration papers were invalid.
That we thought was the last that we would hear about this wretched creature - but a few weeks ago one of our supporters informed us that not only had he resurfaced in the U.K., but had furthermore become politically active once again, based at Blackburn in Lancashire. Evidently he originally tried to connect himself to the neo-fascist 'British' National Party, but then - inevitably - fell out with the leadership of this outfit. He then evidently inherited a large bequest upon the death of his mother (rumoured to be part-Chinese) and, with more money than sense, founded his own factional off-the-edge 'Little Englander' party called "England's First Party". Furthermore it seems that he has also launched his own publication called "Heritage & Destiny". Now of course "Heritage & Destiny" was the name of an excellent British patriotic magazine which we marketed through Patriotic Press in South Africa during the 1980s. We wonder therefore whether those behind the original "Heritage & Destiny" are aware that their name has been stolen?
Be this as it may, we would like to emphasise that the SCN has absolutely no connection whatsoever neither to this upstart “Heritage & Destiny”, nor to any other facet of Cotterill's little organisation. As Alice said in "Alice in Wonderland" - curiouser and curiouser ....
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OBITUARY
Sir Edward Heath
It is often said that if you can't say anything good about anyone upon their death then you should say nothing.
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Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!
See you again next month!
Sunday, 17 July 2005
Thursday, 16 June 2005
June 2005 Edition.
SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
June 2005 edition
This month sees the start of the British Lions rugby tour to New Zealand. Alas (following the regrettable decision to open up Ryder Cup places to continental golfers - a retrograde step which, with the current collapse of the EU, we trust will shortly be reversed) rugby is now the only sport where Britain - the whole of the British Isles - plays as one united team.
There is always something very special and ultra-patriotic about watching and supporting a united British side, something which can never be captured by supporting teams merely representing the component parts of the British Isles, or even just a Great Britain side. What makes the very concept of the British Lions rugby tours even more special, however, is that they only take place to the brother nations of the core Commonwealth - New Zealand, Australia, and - in the "good old days" at any rate - South Africa.
This present writer's first visit to Southern Africa was in order to follow Willie-John McBride's 1974 British Lions around the country. It was purely as a result of this tour that I first became aware of the fact that the peoples of both these two great countries were basically one and the same, and that wicked lies were being told about the true situations in both South Africa and the then Rhodesia - and as a result, in spite of the fact that I was by no means a "political animal" by nature, I started to become politically active, and emigrated to South Africa in order to express my solidarity more tangibly shortly thereafter. It is true to say, therefore, that without the 1974 British Lions rugby tour of South Africa there would have been no S.A.Patriot nor Patriotic Forum, and as a result today's Springbok Club would not exist.
Regretfully, though inevitably, "political correctness" seems to have crept into even this most patriotic of British institutions. The media routinely seem to refer to the side as "The British and Irish Lions": they are not, they are simply "The British Lions" (Ireland of course being just as much part of the British Isles as England, Scotland and Wales), and everyone should take every opportunity to rectify this mistake whenever possible. It has also been most disappointing to see supporters displaying the flags of the component parts of the British Isles at early tour matches (in some cases even weirdly the rebel tricolour of the Republic of Ireland, although of course the very concept of a united British team is anathema to doctrinaire republicans!). Needless to say only one flag should be used by supporters of the British Lions - the Union Flag!
In spite of these unfortunate concessions to "political correctness" the current British Lions tour still embodies everything which has been most inspiring about such tours in the past - the traditional badge and team strip (now worn in replica by so many of the supporters) as well as the very concept of players from all parts of Britain playing together in one united team. Let us hope that not only do British Lions tours continue and escalate in the future, but also that the idea of one united "British Lions" team spreads to other sports, so that no longer are only component parts of the British Isles able to complete at the highest international level.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS
In order to celebrate Empire Day 2005 the Springbok Club staged a special buffet evening at the famous Red Lion pub in Westminster - appropriately situated almost opposite the Foreign Office and former Colonial and Indian Office buildings. This meeting was addressed by Mr. Robert Shipley, the International Liaison Officer of the Springbok Club and an expert vexillologist, who gave an enthralling illustrated talk entitled "Flags of the Empire", bringing along dozens of the Imperial flags which he holds in his collection for all to see. Shortly prior to this meeting a supporter from South Africa e-mailed us a copy of the "Cape to Cairo" flag so that we could "test" Mr. Shipley to see if he knew what it represented. We are happy to be able to report that he knew exactly what it was immediately he saw it!
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club also held a special meeting to celebrate Empire Day in Enniskillen, which was addressed by the current Treasurer of the organisation who had flown over to Ulster specially for this occasion. There was a very high turnout for this event, and the talk proved to be a most inspiring and was highly appreciated by all. The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club is certainly to be congratulated upon its growth, and indeed it now seems to have established two structures, one east of the Bann and the other west of the Bann. Let us hope that their success will act as an inspiration to other established and embryo branches of the movement.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be making a trip to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London in order to visit a special exhibition which they are staging to mark the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in June. The details are as follows:-
Date : Saturday 25th June 2005
Assembly time : 12.30 hrs to 13.00 hrs
Assembly place : Outside the main entrance to the exhibition at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre (this is situated on Bankside SE1, 10 minutes walk away from London Bridge Station, and adjacent to the southern end of the Millennium Footbridge over the Thames).
It is anticipated that the trip round the exhibition should take about 2 to 3 hours, after which the party will adjourn to a nearby historic hostelry on the South Bank for refreshments and convivial discussions. [N.B. there will be a £9.00 charge to visit the exhibition (with a concession rate of £7.50), though a pre-booked discount rate is obtainable if 15 or more people can be guaranteed. If you are interested in attending then please e-mail us back with details as soon as possible.]
The Springbok Club will also be organising a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to see a special exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar later on during the summer. Further details about this visit will be given in future editions of the SCN.
Towards the end of August the Springbok Club will be staging a special meeting to be addressed by a serving member of the British forces who has recently seen active service in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. Again fuller details will be given in future editions of the SCN once arrangements have been finalised.
In October the Springbok Club will be organising a delegation to visit Gibraltar in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is planned to stage a wreath-laying ceremony at the Trafalgar Cemetery during the day of Friday 21st October, to be followed by two events being organised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - a Trafalgar Day Dinner during the evening of Friday 21st October and a trip to Cape Trafalgar on Saturday 22nd October. Evidently hotel places on the Rock for this period and vacancies for the two events being staged by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust are filling up fast, so it is therefore suggested that all those who wish to join this visit should make arrangements as soon as possible. For more details please e-mail : springbok@falklands.org
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The London Swinton Circle held a highly informative meeting last month which was addressed by Mr. Peter Pepper, a leading member of the Falkland Islands Association, and a former co-editor of the Falkland Islands Newsletter. Mr. Pepper gave a most fascinating and detailed account of the attempts by the Wilson Labour government to sell-out the Falkland Islands during the 1960s and 1970s, and how these plans had been thwarted. He also gave a thorough overview of the current situation in both the Falkland Islands and in Argentina, a country which he has close firsthand knowledge of.
After Mr. Pepper's talk the 2005 AGM of the London Swinton Circle took place, whereat the committee for the forthcoming year were elected. Inter alia it is interesting to note that Mr. Tony "Wallergate" Waller is now no longer the LSC Treasurer, although he remains - for the time being at least - as an ordinary committee member.
The LSC will be holding a meeting to be addressed by Mr. Adrian Hilton in July, and will be staging their annual summer buffet in September whereat Mr. Simon Heffer will be the guest of honour. Fuller details will be given in next month's SCN.
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THE HON. IAN DOUGLAS SMITH
Subsequent to our report about the current health condition of the Hon. Ian Douglas Smith which appeared in the April edition of the SCN, we have recently received the following update report from Ann Bishop in Cape Town :-
"Mr. Smith had a couple of bad falls due to the weakness in his legs, caused mostly because of the severe war wounds he received. During these falls, he unfortunately banged his head on the floor, which caused a blood clot between the brain and the skull. This has been removed totally, and in fact the scar has almost disappeared now.
"The charm, razor sharp wit and tongue are in full force again, and bearing in mind that he is almost 86 years of age, he is in remarkably good health. Unfortunately due to the relentless pursuit of the Press, we are keeping his location private.
"If you would like to send him a get well message, please do so through :-
agedaid@mweb.co.za "
We continue to extend our very best wishes to Mr. Smith for a full and speedy recovery.
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REPORT FROM THE ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
Despite all our efforts to prevent the Bumi elephants from being shot, we could not have predicted that the guardians of the wildlife, National Parks, would go in and shoot them.
We have just received a report that National Parks were instructed to shoot elephants in the Omay hunting area the day before "Independence Day" to provide meat for the celebrations. The elephants in the Omay are wild, unlike the Bumi elephants, which means it would have taken some time to track down and shoot them. The National Parks scouts were running out of time so they went to the Bumi foreshore to shoot four of the Bumi elephants which were much easier targets.
The first to be shot was a young cow and immediately, a long tusked female, the matriarch, charged and was also shot. The herd left but returned later to visit their fallen herd members, especially the matriarch as they had been left without a leader. Another cow was then shot at the end of the Bumi airstrip. We have not yet received details about the fourth elephant.
Normally, it is quite common to see up to 50 elephants on a game drive in Bumi and it is possible for a vehicle to get as close as 3 yards to them, but the day after the killings there was not a single elephant in sight. A guide climbed to the top of a high kopje and saw all the elephants heading for the Border River where they will fall prey to the professional hunters in the Omay.
It is a great shame and embarrassment for Zimbabwe that 2 foreign tourists witnessed the killings.
We received another report about elephants being shot to supply meat for the "Independence" celebrations. In Urungwe 5 elephants were seen close to a farming area, so the Urungwe Rural Council instructed a farmer to shoot them. He obliged and the meat was used for the "Independence" celebrations.
These are two cases we have heard about - we wonder how many more animals were killed in the name of Zimbabwean "Independence Day" that we haven't heard about?
For more details about the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force visit :- http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
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MESSAGE FROM PHILIP BENWELL OF THE AUSTRALIAN MONARCHIST LEAGUE
"With what little knowledge I have, it has been clear to me from the outset that convention requires the wife of the King to be Queen. I have always held that this is not a 'morganatic' marriage and that the UK Parliament would need to pass an 'Enabling Act' at the time of the Accession defining the style and title of the King's spouse because such matters are not within the prerogative of the Monarch but that of the people through the Parliament. Such legislation would not be required in Australia as it is only the Sovereign (and by implication the Heir Apparent) and not their spouses nor indeed any other member of the Royal Family, who have any involvement in our constitutional arrangements.
"However it appears that there is a great deal of mischief making over this matter as can be clearly seen from the statement of Mr. Paddy Harverson, Communications Secretary to The Prince of Wales that: "The implication ... that Mrs. Parker-Bowles would have to be called Queen unless there is legislation ... is not in accordance with the government's advice ..." which is in direct contradiction to the statement to the British Parliament by the Constitutional Affairs Minister, Christopher Leslie. It is therefore clear that it is the Blair Government which is at fault in obviously issuing one set of advice to Prince Charles and another to the Parliament!
"However, what has become common-place amongst the populace is something entirely new for the Crown as this is the first time that a divorced Prince of Wales is marrying a divorced lady. That there are problems which must be resolved does not imply a constitutional crisis, only that there should be more understanding, particularly from the media."
Philip Benwell MBE, National Chairman, the Australian Monarchist League.
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RHODESIAN BRAAIS AND REUNIONS
The 6th annual Pig-on-a-Spit Roast Weekend will take place over the weekend of 24th/26th June 2005 at Emberton Park, Olney, Buckinghamshire, UK. Campers are welcome, or you can just attend the actual Pig Roast on Saturday 25th ready to eat early afternoon. There will be fun for all: a pub full of "Castles", boerewors to braai (or to take home), a bouncy castle, touch rugby, evening entertainment and lots more. For more information contact Lindsey at doddsjl@tiscali.co.uk or 'phone 01280-702680.
The Rhodesians Worldwide Assistance Fund's annual UK July Braai will be held from the 22nd to 24th July 2005. Charges are £2.50 per day per person (accompanied children under 16 free, pensioners £1 per day) - this includes campers, caravaners, day-trippers and those staying in B.& B. accommodation. For more information about B.& B. accommodation contact the Broadway Tourist Office at 01386-852937. £15 per night per camping site (one tent per site) £3 hook up, £3.75 per braai pack (the very best meat and plenty of it), £2.75 per boerewors pack (slightly spiced, delicious, approx 1lb). N.B.: Please bring your own salads, rolls, and cutlery. Send cheques, made out to "RWAF", to: Mary Sawyers, The Orchard, Penbidwal Lane, Pandy, Monmouthshire NP7 8EA, UK. Facilities at the park include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a mini-market, excellent ablution blocks, and the town of Broadway is within walking distance. The camp site is flat and superbly laid out. The famous Castle Corner Beer Tent will provide “Castles” at £1.25 per beer, plus a wide range of wine, spirits and cool-drinks. There will be biltong and other goodies on sale, and sufficient braais and enough fuel for them laid on. Live band every night, raffles (please bring a prize), games, lots for kids to do, and best boerewors competition. All queries e-mail Mary at mary@sawyers4.fslife.co.uk or 'phone between 16.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs on 01873-890744.
A massive Worldwide Rhodesian Reunion will be held in Durban over the weekend of Sunday 6th November to Sunday 13th November 2005. For more information visit www.mjvn.co.za/benefit/benefit073.html or contact Peter Morris (Chairman of the RASA Durban Branch) on 031-7015025 or 082-5744719.
The annual rendezvous hosted by the Rhodesian Services Association in New Zealand will take place over the weekend of 11, 12 & 13 November 2005 in Tauranga. For further information please contact the secretary, Hugh Bomford, at hbomford@clear.net.nz
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NEW BRITAIN'S CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS
In order to celebrate Canada Day 2005 the New Britain party will be staging a number of events :-
Friday 1st July (Canada Day itself): Assemble at 11.30 hrs at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, where a short march led by a Canadian flag to the Church of St.Alfege (where General James Wolfe is buried) will take place. A wreath will be laid on the grave of General Wolfe, the Canadian National Anthem will be sung, and there will be a short talk about General Wolfe's connection with Greenwich. Afterwards all are welcomed to have lunch at the nearby Weatherspoon's Gate House.
Friday 1st July (Canada Day itself): A Reception will be held in Birmingham at 19.00 hrs (full details to be advised).
Saturday 2nd July: Assemble outside St.Paul's Cathedral at 14.30 hrs, from where a march led by a Canadian flag supported by Standards of the Royal British Legion will take place to the Church of St.Katherine Cree in Leadenhall Street for a short service. There will be a special choir and trumpet to sound fanfares, and a message from the Lord Mayor of London will be read out. Everyone will also be able to sign a message of friendship and goodwill to the Prime Minister of Canada, and the afternoon will end with a garden party in the garden adjacent to the church.
For further information from New Britain either 'phone 0207-2472524 or e-mail :-newbritain@btinternet.com
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CAN YOU HELP? (1)
A few years ago we were asked by one of our subscribers whether we could help trace a Ms. Gil Werner, who was last known to be living in Sandton. We have recently been contacted by someone who evidently knows of Ms. Werner's current whereabouts - but unfortunately we no longer have details of who made the original request? If you were that person, or can help in any way, then please e-mail us at springbok@falklands.org
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CAN YOU HELP? (2)
A contact tells us that a search engine has recently returned an article on our "Latest News from South Africa" web-page that now appears to have been removed (we tend to remove articles from our web-site after about a year). It referred to the shooting of Detective Inspector Shaun Hutt, near Umkomaas, Natal, who was evidently someone known to this contact, and they are therefore very keen to learn of the original source of this article. If anyone can help in any way then please e-mail Deefyr@aol.com
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at :-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.).
Also now available are copies of an excellent 8-page magazine published by Glenwood Publications in Northern Ireland entitled "The 2004 Twelfth: Celebration - not Provocation" price 50p (please add 25p for p.& p.).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is 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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"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p.& p.) in the UK from: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
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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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"BETRAYAL IN HIGH PLACES" by James Mackay.
271 pages, some illustrations. Soft-back £5.00 including p.& p. (r.r.p. £10.00)
The compelling story of what really happened in a defeated Japan following the end of World War II. Merchant seaman James Mackay, whilst travelling in the east, started to hear stories of massacres and other atrocities committed by Japanese forces, not just against enemy troops, but against innocent civilian populations. His subsequent investigations revealed reluctance amongst Allied governments to discuss these incidents that seemed to amount almost to a cover-up. Why would the Allies want to overlook the crimes of a former enemy, especially when the leadership of another former enemy was being liquidated at Nuremburg? Using his own research, as well as material prepared by Australian Army war crimes investigator Capt. J.G. Goodwin, Mackay exposes the cover-up and names the guilty. Not only were the Japanese keen to sweep the past under the carpet, but the US government of the time also had its own reasons for preserving the political and industrial elite in Japan. A provocative book, which calls into question the morality of US policy towards Japan after WWII.
Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log onto www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient priceless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p.& p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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EXOTIC HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY
John Hardcastle reminds us of exciting holiday opportunities which he can provide in the Philippines :-
I am from Rhodesia, educated at Chaplin, Gwelo. Left in 1984 for South Africa, and then in 1995 for the Philippines. I've lived in the small village of Coron for the past eight years, and bought a dive shop Dive Calamianes four months ago. If you would be interested in having a holiday in this part of the world please contact me. The following is a sample list of price breakdowns :-
2 dive day US$ 45.00
3 dive day US$ 60.00
Equipment rental/day US$ 7.00
Nitrox tank US$ 7.00
Accommodation from US$ 4.50 to US$ 80.00
Average meal US$ 2.14
Beer/soft drinks US$ 0.45
Domestic flight US$ 46.00
Check our web-site for more details at : www.divecal.com
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RON CAMPBELL'S BOERWORS AND BILTONG
Ron Campbell's Boerwors & Biltong have been working on a new range of pork and mutton sausages soon to be launched. There will be one Pork, two Mutton and our own Smoked Russian Sausage. We have been very busy putting together and test-driving our Smoker, and are pleased to report that it's working pretty damn good. One of the Mutton Sausages will also be available in a Droewors (but very different flavour) version, and the other will be a Durban Mutton Curry Sausage. So more news about that soon.
Our Game Biltong is going great guns, with our Kudu Fillet being by far the most popular followed by the Impala. Many of you have asked where we get our game meat from, well we buy it frozen from an importer who brings it in from P.E.. Our Ostrich is local and comes from a farm here in Devon, and our Beef is also from a local abattoir here in Devon.
To place your order please 'phone 01803-380712 or 07957-509950, e-mail us at ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our Flame Lily Internet Shop at http://www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk to place your order on line.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.79 : Mr. Darryl Howard of Pinetown.
Darryl Howard was an active member of the Conservative Party's Student Branch at the University of Natal, Durban, during the late 1980s, when he was also very active with a number of other political organisations in the city, including the Durban Parliament and the Patriotic Forum. He was a man of high intellect, and after graduating from UND did his National Service as a clerk in the Army. He toured the UK and Europe during the early 1990s when he made friendly contact with the embryo Springbok Club, but unfortunately contact ceased shortly after his return to South Africa. He was last known to be living in the Ashley district of Pinetown, and is believed to have started work as a computer programmer for a company based in Amanzimtoti. Several of his old colleagues would be very keen to make contact with him again.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
At a time when the British forces are engaged in action around the world at the highest level for decades, it seems reprehensible in the extreme that the Blair government should still be planning to abolish some of the finest regiments in the British Army - particularly some of the most famous Scottish Regiments.
Happily a vibrant and determined Save the Scottish Regiments Campaign has been launched to oppose all these dangerous plans, which is fully deserving of support. Their fully-comprehensive web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.savethescottishregiments.co.uk/main.htm
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ROODT CAUSE
Sir,
South Africa is falling apart, slowly but surely. It is an inevitability, given the circumstances which govern the rest of the continent.
People say the economy is "booming" but you should read Dan Roodt's piece called "Adapt and Die". His e-mail address is dan@praag.org and I think you should print what he says. It's all desperately true, but of course there are the hordes of politically correct critics who have labelled him "right-wing" and who simply refuse to believe what their eyes and ears tell them. It's a sickness in this White society here - a desire to kill the messenger (see what they did to Phillip du Toit) and as far as I'm concerned, these liberals - Afrikaans liberals - are the most dangerous element in this society.
It is they who landed us where we are today, not the Blacks who could never have landed where they are without the help of liberalism throughout the world and particularly the Afrikaans liberal in our midst.
They are a poisonous cancer in this country. They will never admit they are wrong, and they savage anyone who is not politically correct. I've never seen anything like it.
Yours etc.,
G.O.K., Transvaal.
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EH .... ?
Sir,
Incidentally, I know you only mean well with "Alles van die beste", but I have to tell you that - as a generalisation - I'm not a fan of Afrikaners and their policy (past, hopefully) in schools and churches of teaching their kids that Blacks were a sub-human species placed on earth to serve the White master race.
Yours etc.,
Derek Partridge, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
[It is interesting to note that in spite of all the bizarre liberal paranoia contained in this message, the writer was quite happy to work as a television presenter for RTV during the days of UDI - and furthermore requested to speak on the right-wing Save Rhodesia Campaign platform in 1979 in both Durban and Pietermaritzburg, when he appeared alongside the John Birch Society author Gary Allen no less! How people change. Ed.]
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ROGUES GALLERY
In the March 2004 edition of the SCN, in an article actually on a completely different subject, we used a "throw-away remark" about an obscure organisation called the Conservative Democratic Alliance saying that it was "... neither Conservative nor Democratic ...". At the time we knew practically nothing about this outfit (as indeed is still the case), and only used this remark as a result of seeing it in the renowned anti-fascist magazine Searchlight (copies of which are shown to us regularly by a supporter who is evidently a staunch anti-fascist).
The reaction to this "throw-away remark" was bizarre in the extreme however, for we received an anonymous threatening e-mail from someone who claimed to be connected to this CDA. Needless to say, nothing ever resulted from this childish threat.
One of the few things which we did know about this CDA however (which we learnt from a press report) was that they planned to stand a candidate in the Dorset West Constituency against the popular and charismatic Conservative Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin - the reason of course why we stated that they could not be considered Conservative.
After the recent General Election we therefore checked the Dorset West result to see how the CDA's candidate had fared - only to find that in spite of all their bravado the CDA, eh, hadn't fielded a candidate there after all - and furthermore that Mr. Letwin was victorious with a healthily increased majority!
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Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!
See you again next month!
June 2005 edition
This month sees the start of the British Lions rugby tour to New Zealand. Alas (following the regrettable decision to open up Ryder Cup places to continental golfers - a retrograde step which, with the current collapse of the EU, we trust will shortly be reversed) rugby is now the only sport where Britain - the whole of the British Isles - plays as one united team.
There is always something very special and ultra-patriotic about watching and supporting a united British side, something which can never be captured by supporting teams merely representing the component parts of the British Isles, or even just a Great Britain side. What makes the very concept of the British Lions rugby tours even more special, however, is that they only take place to the brother nations of the core Commonwealth - New Zealand, Australia, and - in the "good old days" at any rate - South Africa.
This present writer's first visit to Southern Africa was in order to follow Willie-John McBride's 1974 British Lions around the country. It was purely as a result of this tour that I first became aware of the fact that the peoples of both these two great countries were basically one and the same, and that wicked lies were being told about the true situations in both South Africa and the then Rhodesia - and as a result, in spite of the fact that I was by no means a "political animal" by nature, I started to become politically active, and emigrated to South Africa in order to express my solidarity more tangibly shortly thereafter. It is true to say, therefore, that without the 1974 British Lions rugby tour of South Africa there would have been no S.A.Patriot nor Patriotic Forum, and as a result today's Springbok Club would not exist.
Regretfully, though inevitably, "political correctness" seems to have crept into even this most patriotic of British institutions. The media routinely seem to refer to the side as "The British and Irish Lions": they are not, they are simply "The British Lions" (Ireland of course being just as much part of the British Isles as England, Scotland and Wales), and everyone should take every opportunity to rectify this mistake whenever possible. It has also been most disappointing to see supporters displaying the flags of the component parts of the British Isles at early tour matches (in some cases even weirdly the rebel tricolour of the Republic of Ireland, although of course the very concept of a united British team is anathema to doctrinaire republicans!). Needless to say only one flag should be used by supporters of the British Lions - the Union Flag!
In spite of these unfortunate concessions to "political correctness" the current British Lions tour still embodies everything which has been most inspiring about such tours in the past - the traditional badge and team strip (now worn in replica by so many of the supporters) as well as the very concept of players from all parts of Britain playing together in one united team. Let us hope that not only do British Lions tours continue and escalate in the future, but also that the idea of one united "British Lions" team spreads to other sports, so that no longer are only component parts of the British Isles able to complete at the highest international level.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS
In order to celebrate Empire Day 2005 the Springbok Club staged a special buffet evening at the famous Red Lion pub in Westminster - appropriately situated almost opposite the Foreign Office and former Colonial and Indian Office buildings. This meeting was addressed by Mr. Robert Shipley, the International Liaison Officer of the Springbok Club and an expert vexillologist, who gave an enthralling illustrated talk entitled "Flags of the Empire", bringing along dozens of the Imperial flags which he holds in his collection for all to see. Shortly prior to this meeting a supporter from South Africa e-mailed us a copy of the "Cape to Cairo" flag so that we could "test" Mr. Shipley to see if he knew what it represented. We are happy to be able to report that he knew exactly what it was immediately he saw it!
The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club also held a special meeting to celebrate Empire Day in Enniskillen, which was addressed by the current Treasurer of the organisation who had flown over to Ulster specially for this occasion. There was a very high turnout for this event, and the talk proved to be a most inspiring and was highly appreciated by all. The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club is certainly to be congratulated upon its growth, and indeed it now seems to have established two structures, one east of the Bann and the other west of the Bann. Let us hope that their success will act as an inspiration to other established and embryo branches of the movement.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be making a trip to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London in order to visit a special exhibition which they are staging to mark the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in June. The details are as follows:-
Date : Saturday 25th June 2005
Assembly time : 12.30 hrs to 13.00 hrs
Assembly place : Outside the main entrance to the exhibition at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre (this is situated on Bankside SE1, 10 minutes walk away from London Bridge Station, and adjacent to the southern end of the Millennium Footbridge over the Thames).
It is anticipated that the trip round the exhibition should take about 2 to 3 hours, after which the party will adjourn to a nearby historic hostelry on the South Bank for refreshments and convivial discussions. [N.B. there will be a £9.00 charge to visit the exhibition (with a concession rate of £7.50), though a pre-booked discount rate is obtainable if 15 or more people can be guaranteed. If you are interested in attending then please e-mail us back with details as soon as possible.]
The Springbok Club will also be organising a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to see a special exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar later on during the summer. Further details about this visit will be given in future editions of the SCN.
Towards the end of August the Springbok Club will be staging a special meeting to be addressed by a serving member of the British forces who has recently seen active service in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. Again fuller details will be given in future editions of the SCN once arrangements have been finalised.
In October the Springbok Club will be organising a delegation to visit Gibraltar in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is planned to stage a wreath-laying ceremony at the Trafalgar Cemetery during the day of Friday 21st October, to be followed by two events being organised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - a Trafalgar Day Dinner during the evening of Friday 21st October and a trip to Cape Trafalgar on Saturday 22nd October. Evidently hotel places on the Rock for this period and vacancies for the two events being staged by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust are filling up fast, so it is therefore suggested that all those who wish to join this visit should make arrangements as soon as possible. For more details please e-mail : springbok@falklands.org
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE NEWS
The London Swinton Circle held a highly informative meeting last month which was addressed by Mr. Peter Pepper, a leading member of the Falkland Islands Association, and a former co-editor of the Falkland Islands Newsletter. Mr. Pepper gave a most fascinating and detailed account of the attempts by the Wilson Labour government to sell-out the Falkland Islands during the 1960s and 1970s, and how these plans had been thwarted. He also gave a thorough overview of the current situation in both the Falkland Islands and in Argentina, a country which he has close firsthand knowledge of.
After Mr. Pepper's talk the 2005 AGM of the London Swinton Circle took place, whereat the committee for the forthcoming year were elected. Inter alia it is interesting to note that Mr. Tony "Wallergate" Waller is now no longer the LSC Treasurer, although he remains - for the time being at least - as an ordinary committee member.
The LSC will be holding a meeting to be addressed by Mr. Adrian Hilton in July, and will be staging their annual summer buffet in September whereat Mr. Simon Heffer will be the guest of honour. Fuller details will be given in next month's SCN.
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THE HON. IAN DOUGLAS SMITH
Subsequent to our report about the current health condition of the Hon. Ian Douglas Smith which appeared in the April edition of the SCN, we have recently received the following update report from Ann Bishop in Cape Town :-
"Mr. Smith had a couple of bad falls due to the weakness in his legs, caused mostly because of the severe war wounds he received. During these falls, he unfortunately banged his head on the floor, which caused a blood clot between the brain and the skull. This has been removed totally, and in fact the scar has almost disappeared now.
"The charm, razor sharp wit and tongue are in full force again, and bearing in mind that he is almost 86 years of age, he is in remarkably good health. Unfortunately due to the relentless pursuit of the Press, we are keeping his location private.
"If you would like to send him a get well message, please do so through :-
agedaid@mweb.co.za "
We continue to extend our very best wishes to Mr. Smith for a full and speedy recovery.
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REPORT FROM THE ZIMBABWE CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
Despite all our efforts to prevent the Bumi elephants from being shot, we could not have predicted that the guardians of the wildlife, National Parks, would go in and shoot them.
We have just received a report that National Parks were instructed to shoot elephants in the Omay hunting area the day before "Independence Day" to provide meat for the celebrations. The elephants in the Omay are wild, unlike the Bumi elephants, which means it would have taken some time to track down and shoot them. The National Parks scouts were running out of time so they went to the Bumi foreshore to shoot four of the Bumi elephants which were much easier targets.
The first to be shot was a young cow and immediately, a long tusked female, the matriarch, charged and was also shot. The herd left but returned later to visit their fallen herd members, especially the matriarch as they had been left without a leader. Another cow was then shot at the end of the Bumi airstrip. We have not yet received details about the fourth elephant.
Normally, it is quite common to see up to 50 elephants on a game drive in Bumi and it is possible for a vehicle to get as close as 3 yards to them, but the day after the killings there was not a single elephant in sight. A guide climbed to the top of a high kopje and saw all the elephants heading for the Border River where they will fall prey to the professional hunters in the Omay.
It is a great shame and embarrassment for Zimbabwe that 2 foreign tourists witnessed the killings.
We received another report about elephants being shot to supply meat for the "Independence" celebrations. In Urungwe 5 elephants were seen close to a farming area, so the Urungwe Rural Council instructed a farmer to shoot them. He obliged and the meat was used for the "Independence" celebrations.
These are two cases we have heard about - we wonder how many more animals were killed in the name of Zimbabwean "Independence Day" that we haven't heard about?
For more details about the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force visit :- http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
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MESSAGE FROM PHILIP BENWELL OF THE AUSTRALIAN MONARCHIST LEAGUE
"With what little knowledge I have, it has been clear to me from the outset that convention requires the wife of the King to be Queen. I have always held that this is not a 'morganatic' marriage and that the UK Parliament would need to pass an 'Enabling Act' at the time of the Accession defining the style and title of the King's spouse because such matters are not within the prerogative of the Monarch but that of the people through the Parliament. Such legislation would not be required in Australia as it is only the Sovereign (and by implication the Heir Apparent) and not their spouses nor indeed any other member of the Royal Family, who have any involvement in our constitutional arrangements.
"However it appears that there is a great deal of mischief making over this matter as can be clearly seen from the statement of Mr. Paddy Harverson, Communications Secretary to The Prince of Wales that: "The implication ... that Mrs. Parker-Bowles would have to be called Queen unless there is legislation ... is not in accordance with the government's advice ..." which is in direct contradiction to the statement to the British Parliament by the Constitutional Affairs Minister, Christopher Leslie. It is therefore clear that it is the Blair Government which is at fault in obviously issuing one set of advice to Prince Charles and another to the Parliament!
"However, what has become common-place amongst the populace is something entirely new for the Crown as this is the first time that a divorced Prince of Wales is marrying a divorced lady. That there are problems which must be resolved does not imply a constitutional crisis, only that there should be more understanding, particularly from the media."
Philip Benwell MBE, National Chairman, the Australian Monarchist League.
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RHODESIAN BRAAIS AND REUNIONS
The 6th annual Pig-on-a-Spit Roast Weekend will take place over the weekend of 24th/26th June 2005 at Emberton Park, Olney, Buckinghamshire, UK. Campers are welcome, or you can just attend the actual Pig Roast on Saturday 25th ready to eat early afternoon. There will be fun for all: a pub full of "Castles", boerewors to braai (or to take home), a bouncy castle, touch rugby, evening entertainment and lots more. For more information contact Lindsey at doddsjl@tiscali.co.uk or 'phone 01280-702680.
The Rhodesians Worldwide Assistance Fund's annual UK July Braai will be held from the 22nd to 24th July 2005. Charges are £2.50 per day per person (accompanied children under 16 free, pensioners £1 per day) - this includes campers, caravaners, day-trippers and those staying in B.& B. accommodation. For more information about B.& B. accommodation contact the Broadway Tourist Office at 01386-852937. £15 per night per camping site (one tent per site) £3 hook up, £3.75 per braai pack (the very best meat and plenty of it), £2.75 per boerewors pack (slightly spiced, delicious, approx 1lb). N.B.: Please bring your own salads, rolls, and cutlery. Send cheques, made out to "RWAF", to: Mary Sawyers, The Orchard, Penbidwal Lane, Pandy, Monmouthshire NP7 8EA, UK. Facilities at the park include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a mini-market, excellent ablution blocks, and the town of Broadway is within walking distance. The camp site is flat and superbly laid out. The famous Castle Corner Beer Tent will provide “Castles” at £1.25 per beer, plus a wide range of wine, spirits and cool-drinks. There will be biltong and other goodies on sale, and sufficient braais and enough fuel for them laid on. Live band every night, raffles (please bring a prize), games, lots for kids to do, and best boerewors competition. All queries e-mail Mary at mary@sawyers4.fslife.co.uk or 'phone between 16.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs on 01873-890744.
A massive Worldwide Rhodesian Reunion will be held in Durban over the weekend of Sunday 6th November to Sunday 13th November 2005. For more information visit www.mjvn.co.za/benefit/benefit073.html or contact Peter Morris (Chairman of the RASA Durban Branch) on 031-7015025 or 082-5744719.
The annual rendezvous hosted by the Rhodesian Services Association in New Zealand will take place over the weekend of 11, 12 & 13 November 2005 in Tauranga. For further information please contact the secretary, Hugh Bomford, at hbomford@clear.net.nz
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NEW BRITAIN'S CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS
In order to celebrate Canada Day 2005 the New Britain party will be staging a number of events :-
Friday 1st July (Canada Day itself): Assemble at 11.30 hrs at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, where a short march led by a Canadian flag to the Church of St.Alfege (where General James Wolfe is buried) will take place. A wreath will be laid on the grave of General Wolfe, the Canadian National Anthem will be sung, and there will be a short talk about General Wolfe's connection with Greenwich. Afterwards all are welcomed to have lunch at the nearby Weatherspoon's Gate House.
Friday 1st July (Canada Day itself): A Reception will be held in Birmingham at 19.00 hrs (full details to be advised).
Saturday 2nd July: Assemble outside St.Paul's Cathedral at 14.30 hrs, from where a march led by a Canadian flag supported by Standards of the Royal British Legion will take place to the Church of St.Katherine Cree in Leadenhall Street for a short service. There will be a special choir and trumpet to sound fanfares, and a message from the Lord Mayor of London will be read out. Everyone will also be able to sign a message of friendship and goodwill to the Prime Minister of Canada, and the afternoon will end with a garden party in the garden adjacent to the church.
For further information from New Britain either 'phone 0207-2472524 or e-mail :-newbritain@btinternet.com
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CAN YOU HELP? (1)
A few years ago we were asked by one of our subscribers whether we could help trace a Ms. Gil Werner, who was last known to be living in Sandton. We have recently been contacted by someone who evidently knows of Ms. Werner's current whereabouts - but unfortunately we no longer have details of who made the original request? If you were that person, or can help in any way, then please e-mail us at springbok@falklands.org
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CAN YOU HELP? (2)
A contact tells us that a search engine has recently returned an article on our "Latest News from South Africa" web-page that now appears to have been removed (we tend to remove articles from our web-site after about a year). It referred to the shooting of Detective Inspector Shaun Hutt, near Umkomaas, Natal, who was evidently someone known to this contact, and they are therefore very keen to learn of the original source of this article. If anyone can help in any way then please e-mail Deefyr@aol.com
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at :-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.).
Also now available are copies of an excellent 8-page magazine published by Glenwood Publications in Northern Ireland entitled "The 2004 Twelfth: Celebration - not Provocation" price 50p (please add 25p for p.& p.).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is 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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"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p.& p.) in the UK from: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
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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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"BETRAYAL IN HIGH PLACES" by James Mackay.
271 pages, some illustrations. Soft-back £5.00 including p.& p. (r.r.p. £10.00)
The compelling story of what really happened in a defeated Japan following the end of World War II. Merchant seaman James Mackay, whilst travelling in the east, started to hear stories of massacres and other atrocities committed by Japanese forces, not just against enemy troops, but against innocent civilian populations. His subsequent investigations revealed reluctance amongst Allied governments to discuss these incidents that seemed to amount almost to a cover-up. Why would the Allies want to overlook the crimes of a former enemy, especially when the leadership of another former enemy was being liquidated at Nuremburg? Using his own research, as well as material prepared by Australian Army war crimes investigator Capt. J.G. Goodwin, Mackay exposes the cover-up and names the guilty. Not only were the Japanese keen to sweep the past under the carpet, but the US government of the time also had its own reasons for preserving the political and industrial elite in Japan. A provocative book, which calls into question the morality of US policy towards Japan after WWII.
Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log onto www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient priceless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p.& p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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EXOTIC HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY
John Hardcastle reminds us of exciting holiday opportunities which he can provide in the Philippines :-
I am from Rhodesia, educated at Chaplin, Gwelo. Left in 1984 for South Africa, and then in 1995 for the Philippines. I've lived in the small village of Coron for the past eight years, and bought a dive shop Dive Calamianes four months ago. If you would be interested in having a holiday in this part of the world please contact me. The following is a sample list of price breakdowns :-
2 dive day US$ 45.00
3 dive day US$ 60.00
Equipment rental/day US$ 7.00
Nitrox tank US$ 7.00
Accommodation from US$ 4.50 to US$ 80.00
Average meal US$ 2.14
Beer/soft drinks US$ 0.45
Domestic flight US$ 46.00
Check our web-site for more details at : www.divecal.com
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RON CAMPBELL'S BOERWORS AND BILTONG
Ron Campbell's Boerwors & Biltong have been working on a new range of pork and mutton sausages soon to be launched. There will be one Pork, two Mutton and our own Smoked Russian Sausage. We have been very busy putting together and test-driving our Smoker, and are pleased to report that it's working pretty damn good. One of the Mutton Sausages will also be available in a Droewors (but very different flavour) version, and the other will be a Durban Mutton Curry Sausage. So more news about that soon.
Our Game Biltong is going great guns, with our Kudu Fillet being by far the most popular followed by the Impala. Many of you have asked where we get our game meat from, well we buy it frozen from an importer who brings it in from P.E.. Our Ostrich is local and comes from a farm here in Devon, and our Beef is also from a local abattoir here in Devon.
To place your order please 'phone 01803-380712 or 07957-509950, e-mail us at ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our Flame Lily Internet Shop at http://www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk to place your order on line.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.79 : Mr. Darryl Howard of Pinetown.
Darryl Howard was an active member of the Conservative Party's Student Branch at the University of Natal, Durban, during the late 1980s, when he was also very active with a number of other political organisations in the city, including the Durban Parliament and the Patriotic Forum. He was a man of high intellect, and after graduating from UND did his National Service as a clerk in the Army. He toured the UK and Europe during the early 1990s when he made friendly contact with the embryo Springbok Club, but unfortunately contact ceased shortly after his return to South Africa. He was last known to be living in the Ashley district of Pinetown, and is believed to have started work as a computer programmer for a company based in Amanzimtoti. Several of his old colleagues would be very keen to make contact with him again.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
At a time when the British forces are engaged in action around the world at the highest level for decades, it seems reprehensible in the extreme that the Blair government should still be planning to abolish some of the finest regiments in the British Army - particularly some of the most famous Scottish Regiments.
Happily a vibrant and determined Save the Scottish Regiments Campaign has been launched to oppose all these dangerous plans, which is fully deserving of support. Their fully-comprehensive web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.savethescottishregiments.co.uk/main.htm
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ROODT CAUSE
Sir,
South Africa is falling apart, slowly but surely. It is an inevitability, given the circumstances which govern the rest of the continent.
People say the economy is "booming" but you should read Dan Roodt's piece called "Adapt and Die". His e-mail address is dan@praag.org and I think you should print what he says. It's all desperately true, but of course there are the hordes of politically correct critics who have labelled him "right-wing" and who simply refuse to believe what their eyes and ears tell them. It's a sickness in this White society here - a desire to kill the messenger (see what they did to Phillip du Toit) and as far as I'm concerned, these liberals - Afrikaans liberals - are the most dangerous element in this society.
It is they who landed us where we are today, not the Blacks who could never have landed where they are without the help of liberalism throughout the world and particularly the Afrikaans liberal in our midst.
They are a poisonous cancer in this country. They will never admit they are wrong, and they savage anyone who is not politically correct. I've never seen anything like it.
Yours etc.,
G.O.K., Transvaal.
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EH .... ?
Sir,
Incidentally, I know you only mean well with "Alles van die beste", but I have to tell you that - as a generalisation - I'm not a fan of Afrikaners and their policy (past, hopefully) in schools and churches of teaching their kids that Blacks were a sub-human species placed on earth to serve the White master race.
Yours etc.,
Derek Partridge, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.
[It is interesting to note that in spite of all the bizarre liberal paranoia contained in this message, the writer was quite happy to work as a television presenter for RTV during the days of UDI - and furthermore requested to speak on the right-wing Save Rhodesia Campaign platform in 1979 in both Durban and Pietermaritzburg, when he appeared alongside the John Birch Society author Gary Allen no less! How people change. Ed.]
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ROGUES GALLERY
In the March 2004 edition of the SCN, in an article actually on a completely different subject, we used a "throw-away remark" about an obscure organisation called the Conservative Democratic Alliance saying that it was "... neither Conservative nor Democratic ...". At the time we knew practically nothing about this outfit (as indeed is still the case), and only used this remark as a result of seeing it in the renowned anti-fascist magazine Searchlight (copies of which are shown to us regularly by a supporter who is evidently a staunch anti-fascist).
The reaction to this "throw-away remark" was bizarre in the extreme however, for we received an anonymous threatening e-mail from someone who claimed to be connected to this CDA. Needless to say, nothing ever resulted from this childish threat.
One of the few things which we did know about this CDA however (which we learnt from a press report) was that they planned to stand a candidate in the Dorset West Constituency against the popular and charismatic Conservative Shadow Chancellor Oliver Letwin - the reason of course why we stated that they could not be considered Conservative.
After the recent General Election we therefore checked the Dorset West result to see how the CDA's candidate had fared - only to find that in spite of all their bravado the CDA, eh, hadn't fielded a candidate there after all - and furthermore that Mr. Letwin was victorious with a healthily increased majority!
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Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!
See you again next month!
Thursday, 19 May 2005
Special Intermediary Edition - May 2005.
SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
Special Intermediary Edition
We are most pleased to be able to announce that details concerning the Springbok Club's Empire Day celebrations 2005 have now been finalised.
The main speaker will be Mr. Robert Shipley, who will be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Flags of the Empire". Robert Shipley is the International Liaison Officer of the Springbok Club, and is an expert vexillologist who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of flag designs from now only the British Empire and Commonwealth, but also from around he world. He is also a keen student of Empire history, and in his talk he will be putting the various flag designs on display into their historical perspective. He will be bringing with him a wide arrray of the phenomenal collection of international flags which he possesses, with a particular emphasis on those relating to southern Africa.
Once again arrangements for this meeting are as follows :-
Date : Tuesday 24th May 2005
Time : Assemble 18.30 hrs onwards - main activities to commence at approximately 19.15 hrs.
Venue : The RED LION (the upstairs Function Room), 48 Parliament Street, Westminster, London SW1 (one block away from the Houses of Parliament - nearest underground station: Westminster).
A succulent array of buffet-snacks will be provided at this function, and admission charges will be £4.00 for Life, Honorary and Full Members of the Springbok Club, £6.50 per head for Associate Members, and £9.00 for non-members. Although payment may be made on the night, it would help us to gauge numbers if those intending to attend could e-mail us in advance with confirmation.
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The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club will also be staging a function to celebrate Empire Day 2005, the details of which are as follows :-
Date : Saturday 28th May 2005
Time : 11.30 hrs onwards.
Venue : The Ely Centre, 60 Forthill Street, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
The guest speaker will be a prominent member of the Springbok Club's Executive Committee, whose talk will focus not only upon the Springbok Club's history and progress, but also upon the close links which have been established with other patriotic and unionist organisations. For more details please e-mail: nispringbokclub@hotmail.com
Special Intermediary Edition
We are most pleased to be able to announce that details concerning the Springbok Club's Empire Day celebrations 2005 have now been finalised.
The main speaker will be Mr. Robert Shipley, who will be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Flags of the Empire". Robert Shipley is the International Liaison Officer of the Springbok Club, and is an expert vexillologist who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of flag designs from now only the British Empire and Commonwealth, but also from around he world. He is also a keen student of Empire history, and in his talk he will be putting the various flag designs on display into their historical perspective. He will be bringing with him a wide arrray of the phenomenal collection of international flags which he possesses, with a particular emphasis on those relating to southern Africa.
Once again arrangements for this meeting are as follows :-
Date : Tuesday 24th May 2005
Time : Assemble 18.30 hrs onwards - main activities to commence at approximately 19.15 hrs.
Venue : The RED LION (the upstairs Function Room), 48 Parliament Street, Westminster, London SW1 (one block away from the Houses of Parliament - nearest underground station: Westminster).
A succulent array of buffet-snacks will be provided at this function, and admission charges will be £4.00 for Life, Honorary and Full Members of the Springbok Club, £6.50 per head for Associate Members, and £9.00 for non-members. Although payment may be made on the night, it would help us to gauge numbers if those intending to attend could e-mail us in advance with confirmation.
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The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club will also be staging a function to celebrate Empire Day 2005, the details of which are as follows :-
Date : Saturday 28th May 2005
Time : 11.30 hrs onwards.
Venue : The Ely Centre, 60 Forthill Street, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
The guest speaker will be a prominent member of the Springbok Club's Executive Committee, whose talk will focus not only upon the Springbok Club's history and progress, but also upon the close links which have been established with other patriotic and unionist organisations. For more details please e-mail: nispringbokclub@hotmail.com
Saturday, 7 May 2005
May 2005 Edition.
SPRINGBOK CYBER NEWSLETTER
May 2005 edition
The instincts of the SCN are of course naturally conservative. Under normal circumstances we would therefore unquestionably be recommending support for the Conservative Party at the forthcoming British general election. But this will be a general election like none other.
As far as the outside world is concerned the forthcoming general election will be a referendum upon the Blair government's support for the War against Terrorism in Iraq, and nothing else. If New Labour were to be defeated then alas the British people will be viewed with the same odium as the Spanish people by the rest of the civilised world. It is therefore essential for this reason - and this reason alone - that Tony Blair be returned to office. Those of us living in the UK realise that Blair and New Labour have been a disaster as far as more domestic matters are concerned however, so their re-election with a strong mandate would therefore be equally unacceptable. The ideal outcome, therefore, would seem to be a New Labour victory with such a small majority that they won't be able to enact any more of their retrograde policies.
The problem with such an ideal, of course, is that it will be impossible for the individual voter to induce such an outcome. Our advice therefore must be for everyone to exercise their vote on an individual constituency-by-constituency basis, and to vote for the candidate rather than for the party.
In those constituencies where there is a realistic chance that UKIP could conceivably mount a challenge then they of course should be supported - but alas this seems to be the case in only a very few constituencies, almost exclusively in Wessex and Cornwall.
In most cases, however, the Conservative candidate will still be the person most worthy of support - unless, of course, that candidate was an pacifist appeaser who failed to support their own country during the War against Terrorism in Iraq (such as the rabidly pro-EU Kenneth Clarke and others of his ilk), or who are otherwise unacceptable.
The most overwhelming task, however, must be to ensure that the advance of the obnoxious anti-war Liberal Democrat Party is checked as much as possible. They can be sure to gain support from the bulk of the immigrant Muslim population and the extreme "off the edge" left, so therefore are bound to make considerable worrying gains and thus to advance their anti-British and anti-Western agenda. Wherever New Labour and the repulsive Liberal Democrats are challenging for first place then the New Labour candidate should always be supported, no matter who that candidate may be.
In two constituencies in particular, however, it is even more important that New Labour is triumphant - namely in Bethnal Green & Bow and in Sedgefield. In Bethnal Green & Bow the sitting New Labour candidate Oona King is facing a fierce Islamic-backed challenge from that unspeakable piece of filth George Galloway, and in Sedgefield Tony Blair is being opposed by a certain Reg Keys, whose son died fighting in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. For Mr. Keys to oppose the noble cause which his son fought and died for in this way must surely be tantamount to spitting on his son's grave. If either Galloway or Keys is elected then it will be a vile stain upon the reputation of the British nation which may take decades to eradicate.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S TRIP TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE & COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM
A party of Springbok Club members and supporters made a visit to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol last month, and we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of the museum for their great help and friendship in making this such an enjoyable trip. The following report on this visit has been written by Springbok Club Treasurer Allan Robertson :-
The BE&CM was opened in October 2002 by the Princess Royal, although originally conceived back in 1986. The length of time it has taken from conception to fruition is a measure of just how much "political correctness" pervades in Britain today.
The raising of the millions of pounds needed to convert part of the old crumbling Temple Meads railway station and to create the museum itself is certainly one of the great achievements of recent times. Some of the money wasted on the "Millennium Dome" at Greenwich could have been diverted to this project. At least this project recognises the achievements of our island race in the past 500 years. Given the times that we live in, how many concessions to "political correctness" has the museum had to make?
The display relating to "Zimbabwe" is the most disappointing section. The display is really far too even-handed for credibility. Mugabe and his crimes are well known, even people on the political left ridicule and assail him regularly. There can be no justification for such an even-handed treatment of this murderer's regime. If apartheid is denounced as "racist" - as in one of the displays - then what are Mugabe's crimes? This section needs radical amendment.
Another irritation was the references to Ireland in a museum about the Empire and Commonwealth. The whole island of Ireland was, and Northern Ireland still is, an integral part of the United Kingdom. It is not a colony, despite certain Northern Ireland Office attempts to treat it as such! Harold McCusker (MP for Upper Bann 1974-90) declared in 1987 that Ulster was not the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Nevertheless, we welcomed a section on "Those struggling to stay British" which dealt with Hong Kong, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.
I was particularly enthused by the many interesting artefacts of Empire in the museum ranging from Empire produce such as spices, postage stamps, pith helmets, weaponry, British Empire Games programmes, and particularly coloured produce tins and boxes produced by companies to promote the concept of Empire to the British public during the first half of the 20th century.
Though the exhibition argued that the concept of Empire had been weakened by the events of World War One, again I wonder if this is "official history" creeping in. Using the museum's own graphs, it looks as if recruitment to the colours increased from the Empire during WWII as compared to WWI. Recruitment from India and Canada was up and recruitment from South Africa and the Antipodes remained at the same level. The fact that Canadian identity was forged at Vimy Ridge and at the Somme does not mean that ties with Canada were automatically weakened. They were only weakened deliberately by the Pearson and Trudeau governments of the 1960's. We were reminded that the Newfoundland Regiment suffered 91% (679 men killed) casualties in 40 minutes at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 - please see www.militaria-net.co.uk/newfoundland_park.htm
One thing which has not been mentioned at all this year is that it is the 75th anniversary of Amy Johnson's brave and indeed historic flight to Darwin, Australia, from London in 1930. The BE&CM should celebrate this with a small exhibition. Amy Johnson and her many backers were devoted to the concept of Empire and did not accept establishment defeatism that the Empire was finished. Amy subsequently flew to Cape Town in 1932, flying down the hazardous west coast of Africa which was completely controlled by France, Portugal and Britain at the time, the east coast of Africa being almost entirely British. Amy Johnson's achievement, that of her husband Jim Mollison and other flyers of the time, was to bind the Empire closer together - so at the beginning of World War Two it seems to me to be hardly surprising that more flocked to the colours than ever before. It was only the treachery of politicians that ended the British Empire.
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JOINT MEETING ADDRESSED BY PHILIP BENWELL
At the end of last month the Springbok Club joined forces with the London Swinton Circle to stage a meeting addressed by Mr. Philip Benwell MBE, the Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League. In his extremely well-received speech, which was followed by a most fruitful question-and-answer session, Mr. Benwell emphasised how Australia and all the other Commonwealth realms were also effected by constitutional changes in the UK, and how it was essential therefore that the UK disentangled itself from the EU and forged closer economic and cultural links with its natural and traditional partners in the core Commonwealth. Prior to the start of his talk, which was held in a historic central London church, a brief moment's silence was observed for Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson, the great former Premier of Queensland (and incidentally a good friend of Rhodesia and South Africa), who had sadly died a few days earlier.
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OTHER SPRINGBOK CLUB ACTIVITIES
Early last month a group of leading members of the Springbok Club were invited to attend the monthly "Sundowners" gathering held by the BSAP Regimental Association in London. This proved to be a most enjoyable event, and several old friendships were re-established as a result, most notably with Mr. Peter Phillips, the Chairman of the UK Branch of the BSAP Regimental Association, who of course was Guest of Honour at last year's annual UDI Day Dinner staged by the Springbok Club. Several very good new contacts were also made, and it is hoped that liaison between the two organisations will increase in the days ahead.
Subsequent to this meeting a delegation of leading Springbok Club officials met with Mr. Larry Pratt, the Director of the Gun Owners of America Association, who was visiting London at the time. Again this proved to be a most interesting and encouraging gathering, and although the two organisations may not see exactly eye-to-eye on all matters concerning gun-ownership (it must be remembered that the "rugged frontiersman" traditional in America makes circumstances far different from those elsewhere), what we have in common would seem to be far more important. Again therefore it is anticipated that the two organisations will co-operate increasingly closely in the future.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be staging a buffet to celebrate Empire Day on Tuesday 24th May in central London, at which a special Guest of Honour will be present. The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club will also be staging a special meeting to celebrate Empire Day in Enniskillen on Saturday 28th May at which a leading official of the Springbok Club will be the guest speaker. Fuller details will be given in a special edition of the SCN which will be circulated in about a week's time.
Towards the end of August the Springbok Club will be staging a meeting to be addressed by a serving member of the British forces who has recently seen active service in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. Further details about this meeting will be given in future editions of the SCN once details have been finalised.
In October the Springbok Club will be organising a delegation to visit Gibraltar in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is planned to stage a wreath-laying ceremony at the Trafalgar Cemetery during the day of Friday 21st October, to be followed by two events being organised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - a Trafalgar Day Dinner during the evening of Friday 21st October and a trip to Cape Trafalgar on Saturday 22nd October. Evidently hotel places on the Rock for this period and vacancies for the two events being staged by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust are filling up fast, so it is therefore suggested that all those who wish to join this visit should make arrangements as soon as possible. For more details please e-mail : springbok@falklands.org
The various south-east branches of the Springbok Club are planning braais and other events during the summer, as well as a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to see a special exhibition marking the 20th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and a visit to various venues in London where exhibitions are being staged to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. Again more details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH NEWS & OFFER
Nigel Owens, the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club, has recently written to tell everyone about the following interesting contact which he has made and an offer which he can provide :-
"A friend of mine, Cecil Andrews, runs a ministry called 'Take Heed Ministries'. Recently he hosted a highly successful series of meetings across Northern Ireland entitled 'The Holy War against South Africa'. This included a massive mid-week rally at Dr. Paisley's church in Belfast - the Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church.
"Attendances ran into the hundreds and the speaker was Shaun Willcock, President of 'Bible Based Ministries' in Johannesburg. He spoke very well indeed - plainly and powerfully exposing the truth about the situations that exist throughout the entire continent of Africa.
"I attended his meeting in Ballymoney Free Presbyterian Church, where the attendance reached over 100. Some days after the meeting I was able to obtain an audio copy of his message, and believe that it would provide a brilliant 'first time introduction' to the truth about what is really happening across southern Africa.
"I would like to circulate copies of this tape far and wide, so if anyone would like to obtain a copy please either e-mail : nispringbokclub@hotmail.com or write to : P.O.Box 35, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, BT53 7YE, U.K.
"p.s. Shaun Willcock has written a very good book entitled 'Holy War against South Africa'. It costs £9.99 and is obtainable from Cromwell Publishers (www.CromwellPublishers.co.uk)."
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE MEETING
The details of the next London Swinton Circle meeting are as follows :-
Date : Wednesday 18th May 2005
Time : 18.45 hrs for 19.00 hrs.
Venue : The Clarence (The Parliament Room), 53 Whitehall, London SW1
Guest Speaker : Mr. Peter Pepper.
Peter Pepper is the Chairman of the Falkland Islands Association, and co-editor of their excellent "Falkland Islands Newsletter". In his talk he will be illustrating the close similarities between the struggles of both Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to remain British, and how the tactics and approaches being adopted can be mutually beneficial. He will also cast light on the activities of a sinister Argentinian lobby group which is operating in London.
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ANTI-TERRORISM NEWS
We've recently received the following most encouraging insight from a colleague from Northern Ireland :-
"You may recall that President Bush telephoned Dr. Ian Paisley some weeks ago to discuss the need to 'move the peace process along'.
"Dr. Paisley is reported to have pointed out that the President would not welcome terrorists into his government, and that he, Paisley, could not do that either.
"I suspect the truth hit home.
"Shortly after that telephone conversation between Bush and Paisley, both Mr. Blair and Mr. Ahearn declared their new positions that Sinn Fein could not be part of a 'power sharing' government, until they actually shut down the IRA military wing. I thought that was indeed an interesting new development.
"On March 5, Conor Cruise O'Brien, writing in the Irish Independent, said:
"'Under President Bush, after his triumphant re-election, the power of the United States is being felt, most notably in the Middle East, but also in Ireland. And, fortunately for the rest of us, that power, as never in the recent past, has been applied without reservation against terrorists. Terrorists are not finished; it is hard to contend with suicide bombers. But I think the terrorists are at last beginning to be isolated.'
"The whole article can be read at http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=44&si=1353773&issue_id=12181 (although you may need to register with the newspaper to have access.)"
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"OPERATION NYAMA"
For the duration of 2004, "Operation Nyama" took place in Hwange (Wankie) National Park. For those who don't know, the English translation of "Nyama" is "Meat". The purpose of this operation was allegedly to provide meat for people, and it is claimed that a quota was issued authorizing a large number of animals to be shot for "Operation Nyama". If the aim was genuinely only to feed the people it is very strange that most of the elephant bulls that were - and still are - being shot have 60 to 70 pound tusks and are in their prime. Older bulls with broken tusks are not being targeted.
There have been several complaints from tourists. "Operation Nyama" was supposed to end on the 31st December 2004, but a report was received just 3 weeks ago from a group of horrified and disgusted American tourists who said that they saw a National Parks truck which had broken down inside Hwange (Wankie) National Park which was fully loaded with dead impala and buffalo. An attempt had been made to conceal the dead animals with branches and leaves, but the Americans could easily see what was in the truck. They were extremely upset and said they were going to report it to their government upon their return to America.
There have been other reports of tourists cutting their visits to Hwange (Wankie) National Park short because they had witnessed animals being slaughtered by National Parks staff in the prime game viewing areas. These tourists said that they intended going to the press and their local Congressman once they returned home.
One of the camp managers in Hwange (Wankie) has threatened to remove his diesel engines from the park because there is little point in spending millions of dollars on fuel to pump water to attract the game just so it can be shot for meat.
Most of the game viewing in Hwange (Wankie) takes place around the Main Camp area, but tourists are saying there is practically no game left there. Some of the animals have been slaughtered, and the others do not go there any more for fear of being shot. The tourists made scathing remarks about the shocking state of the roads and asked what their National Parks entry fees were being used for. There is also very little water being pumped into the pans.
The Zimbabwean government spends millions of dollars promoting tourism on the one hand, yet on the other hand National Parks staff seem to be making a good job of destroying what is left of the tourism industry. One of the wardens of Main Camp has apparently been arrested for stealing eighteen of the National Parks diesel pumps, most of which were donated by conservation organizations, then selling them to the "new farmers" who are all now hunting in the areas adjoining the park.
It has been reported from Amsterdam that the Dutch customs police have seized a shipment of African elephant body parts, including 22 feet, eight tusks, eight ears, three tails, a skull, and an entire hide. The cargo, originating in Zimbabwe and bound for Germany, was halted at Schipol Airport without proper licences. The body parts were intended for buyers in Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic, and as yet no arrests have been made. At least the dealers have lost their money because the cargo has been confiscated and will most likely be destroyed.
Everybody hoped that when National Parks became an "authority", as opposed to a government department, the wildlife would once again enjoy the protection it had before the onset of the so-called land reform programme, but the irresponsibility of the new National Parks Authority is beyond belief. It has now reached the point where the wildlife is probably safer outside the National Park areas than within it, because the people who have been entrusted with safeguarding this precious commodity are the very same people who are destroying it. The Zimbabwean Government should be held accountable for this destruction of national heritage.
For more information visit the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force web-site at :-
http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
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LETTER FROM PHILIP BENWELL TO WILLIAM HAGUE
Philip Benwell, the National Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League who addressed a joint Springbok Club/London Swinton Circle meeting last month, has recently sent the following Open Letter to William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party, regarding his support for a Bill intended to amend the Act of Settlement :-
Dear Mr. Hague,
I understand that you are soon to be the chief guest at a Ball at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. You would be aware, of course, of Nelson's most famous words: "England expects every man will do his duty."
The 'England' Nelson spoke of was not the physical characteristics of the British Isles, but the Crown, which means the system of Constitutional Monarchy essentially based on the Bill of Rights and its amending legislation, the Act of Settlement.
This Bill and this Act are responsible for the modern democracy of the British peoples and to tamper with any clause therein, in particular with the Protestant Succession, will surely lead to a destabilising of the Crown not just of the United Kingdom, but also of us in the Realms.
Nelson, when referring to his medals, had proudly proclaimed "In honour I have gained them and in honour I will die with them!" Surely an example to all men and women, and particularly those, such as yourself, of high office in the Land. It is therefore most surprising to note your support of the Bill proposed by Edward Leigh MP to amend the Act of Settlement to destroy the Protestant Succession which has for three hundred years maintained the independence both of the Commonwealth Crown and of the Queen in the British Parliament from any external influence.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Benwell MBE
National Chairman, Australian Monarchist League
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.).
Also now available are copies of an excellent 8-page magazine published by Glenwood Publications in Northern Ireland entitled "The 2004 Twelfth: Celebration - not Provocation" price 50p (please add 25p for p.& p.).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is 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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"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p.& p.) in the UK from: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
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"OF RICE AND MEN", by Jimmy Walker
111 pages. Illustrated. With excellent cartoons by Fusilier Norman Lambert, produced whilst in captivity. Soft-back £5.00 (cover price £10.00)
An irreverent, left of centre, look at life as a POW by Jimmy Walker, who was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. Jimmy takes us through incarceration at the notorious Changi jail, forced labour on the railroad, and deportation to Japan, where the Japanese exploited the mining skills of the boys from Northumberland. Norman Lambert’s sketches are both amusing and frightening at the same time. Through the bitterness and resentment, and physical trauma of captivity shines the humour and the indomitable spirit of the British soldier. An enjoyable and educational read, with a surprise ending.
Prices include p+p. Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log on to www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient priceless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p&p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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RON CAMPBELL'S BOERWORS AND BILTONG
Here's a special offer not to be missed, as this offer is only available while stocks last and is strictly on a first come first serve basis, so jump in quick.
Spend only £20.00 with us, and we will send you 10 delicious Impala Gourmet Sausages absolutely FREE!!
Impala Gourmet Sausage is produced for us by our game meat suppliers here in the UK, who have a proven track record for fine quality products. We are considering adding them to our new range of sausages which will be available soon, and thought you may like to try some before they go on sale. But as we say this offer is limited, so please place your orders fast.
To place your order please 'phone 01803-380712 or 07957-509950, e-mail us at ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our "Flame Lily" Internet Shop at http://www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk to place your order on line.
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EXOTIC HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY
John Hardcastle reminds us of exciting holiday opportunities which he can provide in the Philippines :-
I am from Rhodesia, educated at Chaplin, Gwelo. Left in 1984 for South Africa, and then in 1995 for the Philippines. I've lived in the small village of Coron for the past eight years, and bought a dive shop "Dive Calamianes" four months ago. If you would be interested in having a holiday in this part of the world please contact me. The following is a sample list of price breakdowns :-
2 dive day US$ 45.00
3 dive day US$ 60.00
Equipment rental/day US$ 7.00
Nitrox tank US$ 7.00
Accommodation from US$ 4.50 to US$ 80.00
Average meal US$ 2.14
Beer/soft drinks US$ 0.45
Domestic flight US$ 46.00
Check our web-site for more details at : www.divecal.com
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.78 : Mr. Alistair Eddington of Lalapanzi.
Alistair Eddington was a truly remarkable man. He was still farming at Lalapanzi in the middle of Rhodesia when he was well into his 80s, when he acted as host to visiting members of the Save Rhodesia Campaign when they held a meeting at Gwelo during the build-up to the "Vote NO" campaign in 1978. After the fall of Rhodesia the following year he moved south to Scottburgh in Natal where he took on a position as caretaker for a large block of flats. It is of course very doubtful whether he is still alive today (he would now be well over 100!), but even so we would be very keen to learn more about his most adventurous life, and whether any of his close friends and relatives are still around.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
AFRITRUST is a non-profit trust which helps several animal welfare projects in southern Africa that conserve wildlife and the natural environment. Their most enlightening web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.afritrust.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WHITE SLAVES
Sir,
This is vulgar Africa - the land of barbaric cannibals, ironically with the most liberal constitution in the world.
I hate this place with a passion. The worse thing I have noticed lately is that Whites who get employed by Whites are grossly taken advantage of. The reason is that work is unavailable and you have no-one to complain to, so you just have to go along with the abuse.
Yours etc.,
J.B.R., Durbanville, Cape Town.
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SHE LOVES THEM ...
Sir,
Thank you very very much for such a positive article on Prince Charles at last. I agree with everything you say and wish this could be published here in the UK.
Yours etc.,
Shawreen van Aarde, Brighton, Sussex.
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... HE LOVES THEM NOT ...
Sir,
I didn't agree with your leader article in the March SCN. There would be few in Orange or Protestant circles who would agree with your sanguine view of how things will turn out. Only a return to the old time religion can save the Royal House in my view.
Yours etc.,
Allan Robertson, Deptford, London.
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... HE LOVES THEM
Sir,
Good commentary re Prince Charles and Camilla. I've always liked the Prince. He's a sharp man of good character and has done a great job at a nearly impossible task (being the focus of attention in this gaga crazy world).
Yours etc.,
Rob Busey, U.S.A.
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Finally, if you would prefer to be deleted from our SCN circulation list then simply e-mail us with the word "unsubscribe". Alternatively, if you liked this SCN and think more of your friends would like to receive copies then please let us know their e-mail addresses!
See you again next month!
May 2005 edition
The instincts of the SCN are of course naturally conservative. Under normal circumstances we would therefore unquestionably be recommending support for the Conservative Party at the forthcoming British general election. But this will be a general election like none other.
As far as the outside world is concerned the forthcoming general election will be a referendum upon the Blair government's support for the War against Terrorism in Iraq, and nothing else. If New Labour were to be defeated then alas the British people will be viewed with the same odium as the Spanish people by the rest of the civilised world. It is therefore essential for this reason - and this reason alone - that Tony Blair be returned to office. Those of us living in the UK realise that Blair and New Labour have been a disaster as far as more domestic matters are concerned however, so their re-election with a strong mandate would therefore be equally unacceptable. The ideal outcome, therefore, would seem to be a New Labour victory with such a small majority that they won't be able to enact any more of their retrograde policies.
The problem with such an ideal, of course, is that it will be impossible for the individual voter to induce such an outcome. Our advice therefore must be for everyone to exercise their vote on an individual constituency-by-constituency basis, and to vote for the candidate rather than for the party.
In those constituencies where there is a realistic chance that UKIP could conceivably mount a challenge then they of course should be supported - but alas this seems to be the case in only a very few constituencies, almost exclusively in Wessex and Cornwall.
In most cases, however, the Conservative candidate will still be the person most worthy of support - unless, of course, that candidate was an pacifist appeaser who failed to support their own country during the War against Terrorism in Iraq (such as the rabidly pro-EU Kenneth Clarke and others of his ilk), or who are otherwise unacceptable.
The most overwhelming task, however, must be to ensure that the advance of the obnoxious anti-war Liberal Democrat Party is checked as much as possible. They can be sure to gain support from the bulk of the immigrant Muslim population and the extreme "off the edge" left, so therefore are bound to make considerable worrying gains and thus to advance their anti-British and anti-Western agenda. Wherever New Labour and the repulsive Liberal Democrats are challenging for first place then the New Labour candidate should always be supported, no matter who that candidate may be.
In two constituencies in particular, however, it is even more important that New Labour is triumphant - namely in Bethnal Green & Bow and in Sedgefield. In Bethnal Green & Bow the sitting New Labour candidate Oona King is facing a fierce Islamic-backed challenge from that unspeakable piece of filth George Galloway, and in Sedgefield Tony Blair is being opposed by a certain Reg Keys, whose son died fighting in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. For Mr. Keys to oppose the noble cause which his son fought and died for in this way must surely be tantamount to spitting on his son's grave. If either Galloway or Keys is elected then it will be a vile stain upon the reputation of the British nation which may take decades to eradicate.
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SPRINGBOK CLUB'S TRIP TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE & COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM
A party of Springbok Club members and supporters made a visit to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol last month, and we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of the museum for their great help and friendship in making this such an enjoyable trip. The following report on this visit has been written by Springbok Club Treasurer Allan Robertson :-
The BE&CM was opened in October 2002 by the Princess Royal, although originally conceived back in 1986. The length of time it has taken from conception to fruition is a measure of just how much "political correctness" pervades in Britain today.
The raising of the millions of pounds needed to convert part of the old crumbling Temple Meads railway station and to create the museum itself is certainly one of the great achievements of recent times. Some of the money wasted on the "Millennium Dome" at Greenwich could have been diverted to this project. At least this project recognises the achievements of our island race in the past 500 years. Given the times that we live in, how many concessions to "political correctness" has the museum had to make?
The display relating to "Zimbabwe" is the most disappointing section. The display is really far too even-handed for credibility. Mugabe and his crimes are well known, even people on the political left ridicule and assail him regularly. There can be no justification for such an even-handed treatment of this murderer's regime. If apartheid is denounced as "racist" - as in one of the displays - then what are Mugabe's crimes? This section needs radical amendment.
Another irritation was the references to Ireland in a museum about the Empire and Commonwealth. The whole island of Ireland was, and Northern Ireland still is, an integral part of the United Kingdom. It is not a colony, despite certain Northern Ireland Office attempts to treat it as such! Harold McCusker (MP for Upper Bann 1974-90) declared in 1987 that Ulster was not the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Nevertheless, we welcomed a section on "Those struggling to stay British" which dealt with Hong Kong, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.
I was particularly enthused by the many interesting artefacts of Empire in the museum ranging from Empire produce such as spices, postage stamps, pith helmets, weaponry, British Empire Games programmes, and particularly coloured produce tins and boxes produced by companies to promote the concept of Empire to the British public during the first half of the 20th century.
Though the exhibition argued that the concept of Empire had been weakened by the events of World War One, again I wonder if this is "official history" creeping in. Using the museum's own graphs, it looks as if recruitment to the colours increased from the Empire during WWII as compared to WWI. Recruitment from India and Canada was up and recruitment from South Africa and the Antipodes remained at the same level. The fact that Canadian identity was forged at Vimy Ridge and at the Somme does not mean that ties with Canada were automatically weakened. They were only weakened deliberately by the Pearson and Trudeau governments of the 1960's. We were reminded that the Newfoundland Regiment suffered 91% (679 men killed) casualties in 40 minutes at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 - please see www.militaria-net.co.uk/newfoundland_park.htm
One thing which has not been mentioned at all this year is that it is the 75th anniversary of Amy Johnson's brave and indeed historic flight to Darwin, Australia, from London in 1930. The BE&CM should celebrate this with a small exhibition. Amy Johnson and her many backers were devoted to the concept of Empire and did not accept establishment defeatism that the Empire was finished. Amy subsequently flew to Cape Town in 1932, flying down the hazardous west coast of Africa which was completely controlled by France, Portugal and Britain at the time, the east coast of Africa being almost entirely British. Amy Johnson's achievement, that of her husband Jim Mollison and other flyers of the time, was to bind the Empire closer together - so at the beginning of World War Two it seems to me to be hardly surprising that more flocked to the colours than ever before. It was only the treachery of politicians that ended the British Empire.
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JOINT MEETING ADDRESSED BY PHILIP BENWELL
At the end of last month the Springbok Club joined forces with the London Swinton Circle to stage a meeting addressed by Mr. Philip Benwell MBE, the Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League. In his extremely well-received speech, which was followed by a most fruitful question-and-answer session, Mr. Benwell emphasised how Australia and all the other Commonwealth realms were also effected by constitutional changes in the UK, and how it was essential therefore that the UK disentangled itself from the EU and forged closer economic and cultural links with its natural and traditional partners in the core Commonwealth. Prior to the start of his talk, which was held in a historic central London church, a brief moment's silence was observed for Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson, the great former Premier of Queensland (and incidentally a good friend of Rhodesia and South Africa), who had sadly died a few days earlier.
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OTHER SPRINGBOK CLUB ACTIVITIES
Early last month a group of leading members of the Springbok Club were invited to attend the monthly "Sundowners" gathering held by the BSAP Regimental Association in London. This proved to be a most enjoyable event, and several old friendships were re-established as a result, most notably with Mr. Peter Phillips, the Chairman of the UK Branch of the BSAP Regimental Association, who of course was Guest of Honour at last year's annual UDI Day Dinner staged by the Springbok Club. Several very good new contacts were also made, and it is hoped that liaison between the two organisations will increase in the days ahead.
Subsequent to this meeting a delegation of leading Springbok Club officials met with Mr. Larry Pratt, the Director of the Gun Owners of America Association, who was visiting London at the time. Again this proved to be a most interesting and encouraging gathering, and although the two organisations may not see exactly eye-to-eye on all matters concerning gun-ownership (it must be remembered that the "rugged frontiersman" traditional in America makes circumstances far different from those elsewhere), what we have in common would seem to be far more important. Again therefore it is anticipated that the two organisations will co-operate increasingly closely in the future.
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FUTURE SPRINGBOK CLUB EVENTS
The Springbok Club will be staging a buffet to celebrate Empire Day on Tuesday 24th May in central London, at which a special Guest of Honour will be present. The Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club will also be staging a special meeting to celebrate Empire Day in Enniskillen on Saturday 28th May at which a leading official of the Springbok Club will be the guest speaker. Fuller details will be given in a special edition of the SCN which will be circulated in about a week's time.
Towards the end of August the Springbok Club will be staging a meeting to be addressed by a serving member of the British forces who has recently seen active service in the War against Terrorism in Iraq. Further details about this meeting will be given in future editions of the SCN once details have been finalised.
In October the Springbok Club will be organising a delegation to visit Gibraltar in order to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. It is planned to stage a wreath-laying ceremony at the Trafalgar Cemetery during the day of Friday 21st October, to be followed by two events being organised by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust - a Trafalgar Day Dinner during the evening of Friday 21st October and a trip to Cape Trafalgar on Saturday 22nd October. Evidently hotel places on the Rock for this period and vacancies for the two events being staged by the Gibraltar Heritage Trust are filling up fast, so it is therefore suggested that all those who wish to join this visit should make arrangements as soon as possible. For more details please e-mail : springbok@falklands.org
The various south-east branches of the Springbok Club are planning braais and other events during the summer, as well as a trip to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to see a special exhibition marking the 20th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and a visit to various venues in London where exhibitions are being staged to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. Again more details will be given in future editions of the SCN.
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NORTHERN IRELAND BRANCH NEWS & OFFER
Nigel Owens, the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Springbok Club, has recently written to tell everyone about the following interesting contact which he has made and an offer which he can provide :-
"A friend of mine, Cecil Andrews, runs a ministry called 'Take Heed Ministries'. Recently he hosted a highly successful series of meetings across Northern Ireland entitled 'The Holy War against South Africa'. This included a massive mid-week rally at Dr. Paisley's church in Belfast - the Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church.
"Attendances ran into the hundreds and the speaker was Shaun Willcock, President of 'Bible Based Ministries' in Johannesburg. He spoke very well indeed - plainly and powerfully exposing the truth about the situations that exist throughout the entire continent of Africa.
"I attended his meeting in Ballymoney Free Presbyterian Church, where the attendance reached over 100. Some days after the meeting I was able to obtain an audio copy of his message, and believe that it would provide a brilliant 'first time introduction' to the truth about what is really happening across southern Africa.
"I would like to circulate copies of this tape far and wide, so if anyone would like to obtain a copy please either e-mail : nispringbokclub@hotmail.com or write to : P.O.Box 35, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, BT53 7YE, U.K.
"p.s. Shaun Willcock has written a very good book entitled 'Holy War against South Africa'. It costs £9.99 and is obtainable from Cromwell Publishers (www.CromwellPublishers.co.uk)."
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LONDON SWINTON CIRCLE MEETING
The details of the next London Swinton Circle meeting are as follows :-
Date : Wednesday 18th May 2005
Time : 18.45 hrs for 19.00 hrs.
Venue : The Clarence (The Parliament Room), 53 Whitehall, London SW1
Guest Speaker : Mr. Peter Pepper.
Peter Pepper is the Chairman of the Falkland Islands Association, and co-editor of their excellent "Falkland Islands Newsletter". In his talk he will be illustrating the close similarities between the struggles of both Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to remain British, and how the tactics and approaches being adopted can be mutually beneficial. He will also cast light on the activities of a sinister Argentinian lobby group which is operating in London.
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ANTI-TERRORISM NEWS
We've recently received the following most encouraging insight from a colleague from Northern Ireland :-
"You may recall that President Bush telephoned Dr. Ian Paisley some weeks ago to discuss the need to 'move the peace process along'.
"Dr. Paisley is reported to have pointed out that the President would not welcome terrorists into his government, and that he, Paisley, could not do that either.
"I suspect the truth hit home.
"Shortly after that telephone conversation between Bush and Paisley, both Mr. Blair and Mr. Ahearn declared their new positions that Sinn Fein could not be part of a 'power sharing' government, until they actually shut down the IRA military wing. I thought that was indeed an interesting new development.
"On March 5, Conor Cruise O'Brien, writing in the Irish Independent, said:
"'Under President Bush, after his triumphant re-election, the power of the United States is being felt, most notably in the Middle East, but also in Ireland. And, fortunately for the rest of us, that power, as never in the recent past, has been applied without reservation against terrorists. Terrorists are not finished; it is hard to contend with suicide bombers. But I think the terrorists are at last beginning to be isolated.'
"The whole article can be read at http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=44&si=1353773&issue_id=12181 (although you may need to register with the newspaper to have access.)"
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"OPERATION NYAMA"
For the duration of 2004, "Operation Nyama" took place in Hwange (Wankie) National Park. For those who don't know, the English translation of "Nyama" is "Meat". The purpose of this operation was allegedly to provide meat for people, and it is claimed that a quota was issued authorizing a large number of animals to be shot for "Operation Nyama". If the aim was genuinely only to feed the people it is very strange that most of the elephant bulls that were - and still are - being shot have 60 to 70 pound tusks and are in their prime. Older bulls with broken tusks are not being targeted.
There have been several complaints from tourists. "Operation Nyama" was supposed to end on the 31st December 2004, but a report was received just 3 weeks ago from a group of horrified and disgusted American tourists who said that they saw a National Parks truck which had broken down inside Hwange (Wankie) National Park which was fully loaded with dead impala and buffalo. An attempt had been made to conceal the dead animals with branches and leaves, but the Americans could easily see what was in the truck. They were extremely upset and said they were going to report it to their government upon their return to America.
There have been other reports of tourists cutting their visits to Hwange (Wankie) National Park short because they had witnessed animals being slaughtered by National Parks staff in the prime game viewing areas. These tourists said that they intended going to the press and their local Congressman once they returned home.
One of the camp managers in Hwange (Wankie) has threatened to remove his diesel engines from the park because there is little point in spending millions of dollars on fuel to pump water to attract the game just so it can be shot for meat.
Most of the game viewing in Hwange (Wankie) takes place around the Main Camp area, but tourists are saying there is practically no game left there. Some of the animals have been slaughtered, and the others do not go there any more for fear of being shot. The tourists made scathing remarks about the shocking state of the roads and asked what their National Parks entry fees were being used for. There is also very little water being pumped into the pans.
The Zimbabwean government spends millions of dollars promoting tourism on the one hand, yet on the other hand National Parks staff seem to be making a good job of destroying what is left of the tourism industry. One of the wardens of Main Camp has apparently been arrested for stealing eighteen of the National Parks diesel pumps, most of which were donated by conservation organizations, then selling them to the "new farmers" who are all now hunting in the areas adjoining the park.
It has been reported from Amsterdam that the Dutch customs police have seized a shipment of African elephant body parts, including 22 feet, eight tusks, eight ears, three tails, a skull, and an entire hide. The cargo, originating in Zimbabwe and bound for Germany, was halted at Schipol Airport without proper licences. The body parts were intended for buyers in Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic, and as yet no arrests have been made. At least the dealers have lost their money because the cargo has been confiscated and will most likely be destroyed.
Everybody hoped that when National Parks became an "authority", as opposed to a government department, the wildlife would once again enjoy the protection it had before the onset of the so-called land reform programme, but the irresponsibility of the new National Parks Authority is beyond belief. It has now reached the point where the wildlife is probably safer outside the National Park areas than within it, because the people who have been entrusted with safeguarding this precious commodity are the very same people who are destroying it. The Zimbabwean Government should be held accountable for this destruction of national heritage.
For more information visit the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force web-site at :-
http://www.zctf.mweb.co.zw
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LETTER FROM PHILIP BENWELL TO WILLIAM HAGUE
Philip Benwell, the National Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League who addressed a joint Springbok Club/London Swinton Circle meeting last month, has recently sent the following Open Letter to William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party, regarding his support for a Bill intended to amend the Act of Settlement :-
Dear Mr. Hague,
I understand that you are soon to be the chief guest at a Ball at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. You would be aware, of course, of Nelson's most famous words: "England expects every man will do his duty."
The 'England' Nelson spoke of was not the physical characteristics of the British Isles, but the Crown, which means the system of Constitutional Monarchy essentially based on the Bill of Rights and its amending legislation, the Act of Settlement.
This Bill and this Act are responsible for the modern democracy of the British peoples and to tamper with any clause therein, in particular with the Protestant Succession, will surely lead to a destabilising of the Crown not just of the United Kingdom, but also of us in the Realms.
Nelson, when referring to his medals, had proudly proclaimed "In honour I have gained them and in honour I will die with them!" Surely an example to all men and women, and particularly those, such as yourself, of high office in the Land. It is therefore most surprising to note your support of the Bill proposed by Edward Leigh MP to amend the Act of Settlement to destroy the Protestant Succession which has for three hundred years maintained the independence both of the Commonwealth Crown and of the Queen in the British Parliament from any external influence.
Yours sincerely,
Philip Benwell MBE
National Chairman, Australian Monarchist League
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HOME BILTONG MAKERS
Biltongmakers.Com! runs a monthly competition which is free for anyone to enter. There are some great prizes to be won each month. Some of the prizes during the last couple of months have included a Skottel Braai, Biltongmakers, Barbecue Utensil sets and Potjies!
To enter please go to: www.biltongmakers.com and follow the competition link!
Biltongmakers.Com! have created a special order page just for readers of the SCN at:-
http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong09_sc_orderplacing.html
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FLAGS etc.
The Springbok Club is now retailing full-sized real South African and Rhodesian flags. They are priced £6.00 each for Full Members of the Springbok Club, £8.00 each for Associate Members and £10.00 each for non-members (please add £1.00 for p.& p.).
Also now available are copies of an excellent 8-page magazine published by Glenwood Publications in Northern Ireland entitled "The 2004 Twelfth: Celebration - not Provocation" price 50p (please add 25p for p.& p.).
Payments should be made to "The Springbok Club" and sent to: BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX, UK.
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BOOK OFFERS
"WAY OUT OF LINE" by Trisha Jackson is 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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"THE GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN LAND SCANDAL" by Dr. Philip du Toit is a vital piece of work. South Africa can do without many things, but it cannot survive without its farmers. Thirty-five thousand commercial farmers feed 45 million people. Read what has happened to many productive farms which have already been handed over under the government's restitution and redistribution programmes.
It is available priced R150.00 in South Africa from: Jack Loggenberg, TLU/TAU, P.O.Box 91251, Silverton, Pretoria, 0127, Transvaal, South Africa (payments to "TLU/TAU"), or priced £9.95 (+ 15% p.& p.) in the UK from: The Springbok Club, BCM SAPAT, London WC1N 3XX (payments to "The Springbok Club").
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"OF RICE AND MEN", by Jimmy Walker
111 pages. Illustrated. With excellent cartoons by Fusilier Norman Lambert, produced whilst in captivity. Soft-back £5.00 (cover price £10.00)
An irreverent, left of centre, look at life as a POW by Jimmy Walker, who was captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in 1942. Jimmy takes us through incarceration at the notorious Changi jail, forced labour on the railroad, and deportation to Japan, where the Japanese exploited the mining skills of the boys from Northumberland. Norman Lambert’s sketches are both amusing and frightening at the same time. Through the bitterness and resentment, and physical trauma of captivity shines the humour and the indomitable spirit of the British soldier. An enjoyable and educational read, with a surprise ending.
Prices include p+p. Payment can be made by credit or debit card. To order on line, log on to www.paypal.com and enter postmaster@gcartwright.demon.co.uk as payment destination.
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"THE BLIGHT OF BLAIRISM" by Francis Bennion is a devastating indictment of the "new" Labour administration. For more details about the book visit: www.francisbennion.com
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"KING'S GOLD" by Glenn Macaskill, a former member of the Rhodesian BSA Police, is an adventure novel set in Zimbabwe and South Africa in 1983 and 2000, involving espionage against Mugabe's regime and the exciting quest to unravel the secret of an ancient priceless relic. Considerable historical research makes the work informative and entertaining and current sales show interest by all Southern Africans. Sells at £9.95 plus registered p&p. Contact Glenn at mjmac@mweb.co.za or order on-line at: www.geocities.com/goldking992000/index.html
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BILTONG SALES IN THE UK
Biltong Brother produces top quality, handcrafted biltong. 100% British beef is used, no artificial flavourings or preservatives.
There are 5 types, Traditional, Garlic, Pepper, Hot & Spicy and Ostrich.
To order, just click on: www.biltong-brother.co.uk
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RON CAMPBELL'S BOERWORS AND BILTONG
Here's a special offer not to be missed, as this offer is only available while stocks last and is strictly on a first come first serve basis, so jump in quick.
Spend only £20.00 with us, and we will send you 10 delicious Impala Gourmet Sausages absolutely FREE!!
Impala Gourmet Sausage is produced for us by our game meat suppliers here in the UK, who have a proven track record for fine quality products. We are considering adding them to our new range of sausages which will be available soon, and thought you may like to try some before they go on sale. But as we say this offer is limited, so please place your orders fast.
To place your order please 'phone 01803-380712 or 07957-509950, e-mail us at ron@biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk, or visit our "Flame Lily" Internet Shop at http://www.biltong-boereforafrica.co.uk to place your order on line.
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EXOTIC HOLIDAY OPPORTUNITY
John Hardcastle reminds us of exciting holiday opportunities which he can provide in the Philippines :-
I am from Rhodesia, educated at Chaplin, Gwelo. Left in 1984 for South Africa, and then in 1995 for the Philippines. I've lived in the small village of Coron for the past eight years, and bought a dive shop "Dive Calamianes" four months ago. If you would be interested in having a holiday in this part of the world please contact me. The following is a sample list of price breakdowns :-
2 dive day US$ 45.00
3 dive day US$ 60.00
Equipment rental/day US$ 7.00
Nitrox tank US$ 7.00
Accommodation from US$ 4.50 to US$ 80.00
Average meal US$ 2.14
Beer/soft drinks US$ 0.45
Domestic flight US$ 46.00
Check our web-site for more details at : www.divecal.com
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW ?
No.78 : Mr. Alistair Eddington of Lalapanzi.
Alistair Eddington was a truly remarkable man. He was still farming at Lalapanzi in the middle of Rhodesia when he was well into his 80s, when he acted as host to visiting members of the Save Rhodesia Campaign when they held a meeting at Gwelo during the build-up to the "Vote NO" campaign in 1978. After the fall of Rhodesia the following year he moved south to Scottburgh in Natal where he took on a position as caretaker for a large block of flats. It is of course very doubtful whether he is still alive today (he would now be well over 100!), but even so we would be very keen to learn more about his most adventurous life, and whether any of his close friends and relatives are still around.
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RECOMMENDED WEB-SITE OF THE MONTH
AFRITRUST is a non-profit trust which helps several animal welfare projects in southern Africa that conserve wildlife and the natural environment. Their most enlightening web-site can be accessed at :-
http://www.afritrust.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WHITE SLAVES
Sir,
This is vulgar Africa - the land of barbaric cannibals, ironically with the most liberal constitution in the world.
I hate this place with a passion. The worse thing I have noticed lately is that Whites who get employed by Whites are grossly taken advantage of. The reason is that work is unavailable and you have no-one to complain to, so you just have to go along with the abuse.
Yours etc.,
J.B.R., Durbanville, Cape Town.
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SHE LOVES THEM ...
Sir,
Thank you very very much for such a positive article on Prince Charles at last. I agree with everything you say and wish this could be published here in the UK.
Yours etc.,
Shawreen van Aarde, Brighton, Sussex.
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... HE LOVES THEM NOT ...
Sir,
I didn't agree with your leader article in the March SCN. There would be few in Orange or Protestant circles who would agree with your sanguine view of how things will turn out. Only a return to the old time religion can save the Royal House in my view.
Yours etc.,
Allan Robertson, Deptford, London.
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... HE LOVES THEM
Sir,
Good commentary re Prince Charles and Camilla. I've always liked the Prince. He's a sharp man of good character and has done a great job at a nearly impossible task (being the focus of attention in this gaga crazy world).
Yours etc.,
Rob Busey, U.S.A.
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