Zambia World Wide

08 February 1954 - 12 December 1967

Shortly after his birth Ryegate was adopted into the Miller family. He was without a doubt a handsome young lad with short dirty blond hair, a pugilistic looking face and mischievous dark brown eyes. Upon joining the family Ryegate assumed the name Tony Miller.

Tony, was a welcome addition to the family, and was adored and admired by our neighbours on York Road, in the Woodlands area of Lusaka. He was always welcomed at the Woodpecker Inn when he accompanied my Grandfather Jim Mees, when Grandad went for his pint with the lads.

Many happy days were spent running around the neighbourhood with his good friend Bonzo Deacy a wild red haired fellow with unruly hair and a questionable background. Biddy Curtis an attractive young lady related to Tony would often join the boys as they raced through the Convent grounds. Their activities did not go unnoticed by the mother superior and on more than one occasion Tony was brought home by a member of the local constabulary and would receive a severe reprimand from Dad.

Tony was bottle-fed and loved slurping the dregs from a bottle of Castle. Etiquette was not a high point in his life and his eating habits were deplorable. He loved toast and would lick off the butter and then return the toast to Mum expecting her to put on more butter.

He always enjoyed the tea parties that my Grandmother, Nana Mees would host on the veranda of our house. The younger children enjoyed the piggyback rides that Tony would offer. Tony enjoyed the outdoors and at one tea party, he assumed his usual pose by lying on his back and soaking in the warm rays of the African sun...then to the horror of Nana as the ladies sipped their tea with pinkies extended and munched on little watercress sandwiches, a delightful little girl was observed shaking the large appendage at the base of Tony's stomach. The young girl giggled and Tony was obviously enjoying this new experience when Nana let out a blood curdling Scottish battle cry, several ladies dropped their teacups in horror and Tony, sensing trouble ran for sanctuary at the back of the house. Shame had been brought upon the Miller household by Tony's indiscretion.

In October 1964 Tony preceded the other members of the family by six months and headed to Edinburgh, Scotland, where we settled briefly before moving onto Ottawa, Canada.

Tony enjoyed his daily walks with Nana, and was never happier than when he would run and jump through the red and yellow fallen maple leaves of a Canadian Autumn. Tony suffered a brain tumour and had to be put down on 12 December 1967.

A dog is truly mans best friend and Tony was no exception.