Zambia World Wide

During my time in Zambia - 1963 to 1981, I had joined the Zambia Red Cross.  Initially a friend and I decided that it would be useful to have some first aid experience especially in regard to our children, in the event that they injured themselves.  My eldest son was totally unafraid of heights and was apt to climb to the highest of trees, so the idea of training made great sense.

During our years with the Red Cross we became more involved, undertaking instructing others including the police and the fire brigade.  We also organised attendance at road traffic accidents in conjunction with the fire brigade, attended many functions which included gymnkhana's, motor racing, horse racing etc.

We also worked with the government in respect of assisting at disaster level and fortunately none of any magnitude arose.  One event which required attendance was with the Zambia Army to venture forth to a village in the far north east of Zambia where unusually heavy rains had caused tremendous flooding.  There was an assessment to be made of any urgent requirements which may be necessary.

So from Lusaka Airport, we took off into the blue yonder accompanied by a Major and a couple of his subordidnates.  The helicopter - and don't ask me what type - had windows along the side akin those those for game viewing and we sat facing them when I would dearly have loved to face forward!  I don't think they were about to pander to a non-military member so I had to put up and ...

The Major was a lovely chap, Sandhurst trained and his English was impecable.  He had also, I found out, adopted the English sense of humour.

We eventually reached the remote area and the very able pilot put her down amid some scrub close to a village.  Our arrival caused enormous excitement as you may well imagine.  Not only that, many of the children had never seen a European woman before.  This was quite unreal for me in that after they became braver, they would come up to touch my arm and then scoot away.  When they realised I wasn't about to retaliate, the touching became a feel and then a stroke.  All of them emitting amazement in their local language.  I was also to find out that they didn't recognise the decimal currency and still utilised the old British Sterling.

A more weird event was to occur, one old African came creeping forward bowing all the while, muttering words I hadn't a clue about.  I asked the Major to translate and he, with great mirth, managed to tell me that this man and the other elderly people thought I was the Queen!  I was utterly stunned and managed to retort that I hoped it was Elizabeth and not Victoria ... which amused the Major even more.  It was really quite extraordinary especially given that this was the 70's.

Thereafter we were able to resume our assessment and found many abodes destroyed and the school half under water.

Our return flight still makes me shudder - the pilot - in his infinite wisdom decided we should do some game viewing and would zoom low over giraffe and elephant at such an angle I really thought I might fall out.  Fortunately I am here to tell the tale.  Aren't seat belts wonderful?!