Abercorn types camping at Mpulungu. Jim Kitchen on the left, Ronald Smith on the right. Anyone know the others?
Patricia Ogilvy a nursing sister from Southern Rhodesia who married Ronald Smith a long established Abercorn Settler. Ronald was an early rancher on the Saisi and had been a transport officer during WWI. He and his bother Lionel with Jim Kitchen started the transport company Smith and Kitchen that became Thatcher Hobson and later CARS. Ronald and Patricia ran the Crested Crane Hotel at Mpika before farming in Mazabuka.
An Abercorn wedding in the late 1930s. Ronald Smith with Bride. Patricia Smith née Ogilvy a nusring sister from Southern Rhodesia. Rum Mum [Ma Simpson]is on the right. Rum Mum was the widow of the well-known character Charlie Simpson, a Glaswegian fitter and mechanic who has started his African career running steamers on Lake Nyasa and Lake Mweru and was then in charge of the large Traction Engine that powered the famous Rubber Factory on the Chambezi near the present bridge.
Smith and Kitchens fleet of transport lorries that service Abercorn's needs in the inter-war period.
Old Abercorn Golf Club in the 1930s. This was opposite the junction with the Mpulungu and Kasama Roads near the present ZAF base.
The Old Golf Club, Abercorn. This was on what is now the site of the ZAF base.Lionel or Ronald Smith on the left.
The Abercorn Co-Operative Building opposite the CARS depot at the entrance to Abercorn just West of the Mbulu Stream
The newly built coffee factory for the Abercorn Co-Operative Society
This building was opposite the old bus station at the entrance to the town.
Ballymain Estate Coffee Label. that was designed by Ian Friers, brother of Rowel Friers the Belfast Artist. The design was based on the Northern Rhodesian stamps. Courtesy Denis Mayne.
J. H. Venning's home Chisungu House off the Mpulungu Road. David Mclean Clarke [ son in law] on left Venning on right with pith helmet. Fountain rising up in the middle. The water pressure came from the source of the spring high up on the escarpment behind the house.
Jack Venning enjoys his Snooker table at Chisungu, his house on the Mpulungu Road with the most amazing view over Lake Tanganyika.
Picnic on the shores of Crocodile Island Lake Tanganyika in the 1930s.[The beach literally crawled with crocodiles then.That is why they are all still in the boats] Note the tie! Photo: Norah Venning.
Early settler transport. Motor cycles and side cars were easier to man handle over bad stretches of road. Hugh Venning with his wife Beatrice nee Shakelton and their son "Munty".
An Royal Air Force proving flight arrives at Abercorn Areodrome in 1934