“What a pity times are not what they used to be. Children no longer obey their parents and everyone wants to write a book.”

(Literal translation of message inscribed on the oldest piece of papyrus preserved by the State Museum  in Instanbul)

John Lentell

2nd May, 1969

“Cow and Gate Milk Food for Infants and Invalids, a Complete Baby Food. As supplied to His Majesty’s War Office and Other Government Departments.”

(Label on Milk Food tin)

John Lentell

30th April, 1969

Someone should write an ‘Anatomy of Rhodesia’ and in the process try to trace its source of political and economical power.

John Lentell

15th April, 1969

(Rejected by Rhodesia Herald newspaper)

I think the Rhodesian Front might lose a vote or two if it came clean with the electorate about the extent to which we are involving ourselves with South Africa and the extent to which we will ultimately lose our identity to South Africa; economically, politically and in a hundred other frightening ways.

John Lentell

11th April, 1969

I think the Rhodesian Front might lose a vote or two if it came clean with the electorate about the likelihood of an economic ‘long-haul’!

John Lentell

10th April, 1969

In the best of times there is a gap between the intelligence information that a Prime Minister and his cabinet deal with daily and the public’s grasp of events as reported by the media but, in Rhodesdia, this gap has, in my view, become too wide.

John Lentell

9th April, 1969

(Submitted to the Rhodesia Herald by JL but rejected for publication, i.e. censored)

I believe it is called ‘Journalistic Licence’ when a  newspaper does what the Sunday Herald did to the M’kudu story on Sunday last (see also yesterday’s Rhodesia Herald) – slipping in to headlines and text inflammatory words like “Mau Mau” which excite interest. I think it stinks and, significantly, I am reminded of the infamous Rhodesian Front black/white ‘school legs’ advertisement of November (1962?). If I were Mr. M’kudu I would protest most vigorously.

John Lentell

25th March, 1969

I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it!!! That one on Friday about women. I just thought it was amusing and it was written something like 250 years ago! Here’s one about men to even the score:

“Men,” mused Miss Meekina, “men are just like eggs – they’re fresh, rotten and hard boiled.”

John Lentell

22nd March, 1969

In the Report of the Constitutional Commission 1968 appeared the following:

“We therefore recommend that the new constitution should contain a brief, factual preamble and,  by a majority of four to one, that it should include an acknowledgement of the authority and guidance of Almighty God.” (Para 603)

One Commissioner thought that some would regard a reference to God in the Constitution as being out of place.

This is very interesting and it is perhaps astonishing that so little attention was focussed upon the questions arising. I believe in some sort of higher authority but I would not be so bold as to say that Almighty God is an indisputable fact!

John Lentell

18th March, 1969

A restaurant owner with plenty of advertising ideas and little money for advertising purchased the largest fish bowl he could find, filled it with water and put it in his window, with a sign reading:

“This bowl is filled with invisible Paraguayan goldfish.”

It required two policemen to keep the pavements in front of the window cleared.

John Lentell

17th March, 1969

Extract from ‘NEWSFRONT’ – 10th January, 1964:

Q. What would be the main repercussion, apart from belt-tightening, if we declared our independence?

A. I don’t think there will be any belt-tightening, when we are independent – the days of belt-tightening will be over. That’s for sure. As far as the City of London is concerned, it might be a three days wonder. For that reason I think that a Friday afternoon would be a good time. By Monday morning all the excitement (if any) would be over.

John Lentell

13th March, 1969

What breed of man, at this critical hour, could lead us out of crisis and conflict to harmony and greatness? Unhesitatingly I take as an example Lord (‘Boom’) Trenchard. Born 1873, died 1956 and buried aright in Westminster Abbey.

“A giant among men, physically and morally, a legendary leader, with an uncanny gift for picking men, he was that almost unique combination, the man of vision and the man of decision.”

“A giant in his own right, he kept faith with his high and lonely destiny.”

He has for long been my hero.

John Lentell

4th March, 1969

The ‘man in the street’ might be forgiven his complacency. How can he be expected to wake up to the facts of life when the sort of facts upon which he thrives, or otherwise, are not revealed. But that the intelligent ones in higher echelons are taking this constitutional higgledy-piggledy lying down is beyond my comprehension. As Isaiah said – “Shudder, you complacent ones”.

John Lentell

2nd March, 1969

Reckoning – not rumour – suggests to me a development, soon, other than a ‘six of one – half a dozen of the other’ referendum. Further talks with Britain? A snap election precipitated by division in the RF? Or both?

Why else, when we are politically and constitutionally at sixes and sevens, are the good men (even in their private capacities) doing nothing? Why has no one from cabinet or Caucus stepped forward and joined the Conservative Association? The facts – as so far revealed – simply do not add up.

John Lentell

27th February, 1969

The hugger-muggering goes on. We are becoming a nation of gobemouches and that is, ironically, a characteristic more British than Rhodesian!

John Lentell

26th February, 1969

Why are people in Highlands playing Bingo with their house numbers? Don’t you need a licence for that? Where does all the money go?

John Lentell

25th February, 1969

What we would like individually to see no longer matters. We desperately need a plan to restore confidence, a plan to stop the outflow of ‘brains, brawn and brass’ (not adequately compensated by the inflow!).

John Lentell

23rd February, 1969

These are the days of challenge and opportunity for men patent of goodwill, men of calibre, men of courage and patient fortitude. There is challenge and opportunity in abundance for such men to come forward and truly build a nation wherein all men can dwell and know freedom and happiness without parallel on this continent. We have all had a bellyful of extremism and we ought to be spewing it from our mouths.

John Lentell

21st February, 1969

That this is a time of trouble and trial no sane person can deny; but it is at this very point when men reach the end of their tether that they might find in common a hunger to build anew?

John Lentell

20th February, 1969

If among us at this time of crisis, conflict and challenge we have men with noble hearts and virtuous thoughts they are not conspicuous nor, apparently, in the vanguard. If there are such men and if they truly desire to serve, or even to be great, they will never again in Rhodesia see opportunity such as this. From my humble standpoint I beg of someone to take the lead.

John Lentell

15th February, 1969