La-Rochelle-Visitors-1954-1970-E
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Copyright © Nina Bauer and Heather White 2021 The right of Nina Bauer and Heather White to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded, or transmitted, in any form by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-6450843-0-6: PDF copy ISBN 978-0-6450843-1-3: Print copy Cover Art Work by Margie Grobelaar, used with permission Cover Design by Brian Maunze Malakai Enquiries to National Trust of Zimbabwe: [email protected] http://ntoz.org/ www.facebook.com/pages/National-Trust-of-Zimbabwe FOREWORD THE NATIONAL TRUST OF ZIMBABWE “Heritage is precious: treasure it” This very important historical document was officially published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Trust of Zimbabwe (the Trust) in 2020 and in memory of Mr. Darrel Plowes (4 April 1925–19 October 2016). The Trust has achieved so much to be proud of in its 60 years, including a remarkable and beautiful property portfolio, a range of activities and campaigns, cultural heritage and environmental education programmes, cataloging scientific information and publishing educational and historical material. Our Mission Statement is as follows: ‘To be the custodians of those properties and sites of cultural heritage and natural beauty which we hold in trust and to maintain and manage them for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of Zimbabwe and our friends now, and as a legacy for future generations’. Looking ahead, the Trust pledges to continue being just as dynamic and relevant as ever. Our challenge is to connect even more people to our priceless historical sites, to their timeless natural wild areas and beauty, built structures and local communities. An Executive Council and Regional Committees, who are all voluntary workers, manage 7 properties in Zimbabwe, across the following three provinces. Manicaland • Fort Gomo • La Rochelle Country House and Spa • Murahwa’s Hill • Rhodes Nyanga Historical Museum • World’s View Matabeleland • Mabukuwene Midlands • Sebakwe Poort (gorge) Please visit our website for detailed information on each of the sites: www.http://ntoz.org The Trust is a proud member of the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) established in 2007 to promote the conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of all nations for the benefit of the people of the world. The Trust is one of the founding members of the INTO Africa Group established in 2015 to bring together a vibrant network of African Heritage Organisations that share ideas and resources, develop a continent-wide voice, promote and influence on African cultural heritage matters. The Trust would like to acknowledge the passionate voluntary work undertaken by Mrs. Nina Bauer and Ms. Heather White over a period of 7 dedicated years. Together they have published a fascinating and most important historical research document. The Trust is extremely grateful for all their hard work and time and for choosing the Trust to be the financial beneficiary of the publication of their work. We do hope that you enjoy reading all about the people who signed the lounge windows at La Rochelle, the former home of Sir Stephen and Lady Virginia Courtauld who bequeathed their house and estate to the Trust in 1972. The printing of the two booklets, detailing the signatures on the three different window panels, to be kept at La Rochelle, was made possible with the valuable assistance of ‘Professor R. S. Roberts and the Zimbabwe Research and Development Trust’ for which the Trust is hugely appreciative. The National Trust of Zimbabwe Executive Council [email protected] www.facebook.com/pages/National- Trust-of-Zimbabwe The La Rochelle Signature Project Although there have been many people involved in this research project, there have been three key people behind it: Darrel Plowes, Nina Bauer and Heather White. Darrel Plowes became involved with the National Trust during the 1960- 1970 period when concern was centred around Murahwa's Hill. In 2006 the National Trust Zimbabwe invited Darrel and Nina Bauer, along with several other Mutare people, to attend a meeting with Harare National Trust representatives in regard to setting up a National Trust Committee in Mutare for the express purpose of handling La Rochelle affairs and in addition those of Murahwa's Hill. Darrel played the role in an advisory capacity while Nina attended to secretarial and treasury matters. Darrel expressed his desire for the Courtaulds’ visitors' signatures to be recorded and identified, and this process finally got underway when Heather White became involved in 2013. As a long term friend of Courtaulds, this was particularly important to Darrel. Darrel shared this interest with Nina, and with growing commitments and increasing age, Nina took on much of the local research. Sadly, Darrel passed away in October 2016 and so was not able to see the completion of the project. Nina writes “I was born in this country and have lived all of my 80 years here. A little more of my history may help you to understand why the La Rochelle story interests me. Brought up on a tobacco farm, I was sent to boarding school at the age of six. In 1947 I started at the Salisbury Convent, from where after three years I was moved to the Umtali Convent in 1950. Five years later, I returned to the Salisbury Convent for three years and then worked in the city for 12 years. I have spent the past 15 years in semi retirement in Mutare. “The Courtaulds arrived in the Mutare district in September 1950 and settled down in the Imbeza Valley. I heard my friends’ parents talking about these seemingly important people landing themselves here, and they wondered why and what they were going to do. It didn’t take long before the Courtaulds set themselves up at La Rochelle, living in temporary Copyright Nina Bauer and Heather White 2021 Inquiries to National Trust of Zimbabwe: [email protected] 1 moderate accommodation. In 1954 they moved into their grand establishment. In 1955 the Courtauld Theatre in Umtali opened, a generous contribution to this town. On 3rd October 1957 the Queen’s Hall was opened by Sir Roy Welensky. This was another generous gift to Umtali. And more generosity went on around the country. “The Courtaulds’ visitors to La Rochelle were asked to sign their names with a diamond stylus on, first the large window at the far end of the lounge, and later when this one was becoming over crowded, one of the glass panels in the screen dividing the lounge from the verandah was used for signatures. This panel has since been moved on to a wall for safety. The first signatures were done in 1954, and the last in 1970, as Sir Stephen passed away in 1967 and Lady Courtauld left the country in 1970.” Heather writes “People are often surprised that an Australian became involved in a project researching signatures at a Zimbabwean National Trust rural property - and sometimes I am still surprised too! “I first visited La Rochelle in October 2013 when I was living in Zimbabwe, while my husband was on an Australian government posting. I had read of the gardens and thought we would enjoy a trip with my visiting mother. Although the orchid houses were dilapidated, there were some beautiful blooms and a keen staff member, and we were impressed by the paths through the trees with the weathered Braille signs. Inside the house we saw the window panels with various signatures etched in the glass. One of the first I noticed was that of Herbert Chitepo and that gave me an inkling this was something special, but there was no list of the names and descriptions. I had recognised enough to pique my interest, but we continued on. “Then, in less than a week after our return to Harare, our Australian Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus had put me in touch with the Zimbabwean National Trust and I had a meeting arranged with local Mutare ZNT member Darrel Plowes to begin recording and documenting the signatories. This was in October 2013, and little did I know that I was embarking on a project that would last the next 7 years, and be so fascinating. “I met with Darrel and we drew up a grid for what we termed Panel 1, the first window in the main sitting room. Darrel told me intriguing stories as we went along and once I returned home and began doing some Internet searching, I began to fully realise the importance of this project and the extraordinary diversity of the visitors. “I continued corresponding with Darrel and was introduced to Nina. Meanwhile a list of names from the Copyright Nina Bauer and Heather White 2021 Inquiries to National Trust of Zimbabwe: [email protected] 2 1970s surfaced and we were able to clarify some of the names, although by definition, it seems, signatures are notoriously difficult to read, perhaps particularly when done with a diamond stylus! “At the start of 2015, it was time for me to return to Australia. ‘La Rochelle’ became well recognised as an activity that occupied much/most (?) of my spare time! Despite some gaps, and the very sad passing of Darrel, Nina continued her research and I continued mine. With 620 visitors on Panel 1, 271 on Panel 2 and 7 on Panel 3, we have been trying to trace 898 people. Some days we have had multiple emails/WhatsApp messages, and the distance across the seas has been compressed.