The Floods

From Great North Road

In Kasama during the early 1950s news from the outside world was heard over the crackle of battery operated blue saucepan radios. The nearest phones were on the Copperbelt and the instantanious communications of satellites was only a dream.

Saucepan Radio.

I remember listening with excitement that Edmund Hillary and Tensing had conquered Mount Everest.

A pall of sadness gripped the town when news arrived that King George VI had died, followed several months later by the jubillation at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll.

When news reached Kasama in the early months of 1953 that there had been devastating floods in England the community rallied together and raised funds for the relief effort.

It was decided to hold a variety show at the Kasama Club. Besides being the social hub of the community, the club had the largest hall ( the ballroom) and more importantly the only stage between Lusaka and Nairobi.

After a couple of weeks preparation the artistes were prepared to share their talents with the multitudes. There was much excitement as the ballroom filled.

The children were seated on the floor near the front drinking their Oris orange drinks and crunching the homemade crisps that Bob Sorbie supplied. The parents and other adults sat further back drinking their cold Castle Lagers or G and Ts. Mum and Dad's preference was the taste of single malt Scotch, they said it helped in the fight against malaria.

A hush fell over the audience as the lights dimmed, the curtain rose and the band struck up with a rollicking tune. Tommy Miller my dad played the piano dressed in a khaki great coat and a tin helmet from the Second World war. The helmets were still standard kit for the police riot squad.

There were comedians, dancers and singers. Margaret Miller my Mum who had sung professional in Scotland using her stage name of Margret Mees was a cowd pleaser as she sang numerous popular ballads of the day.

The highlight of the evening was an abbreviated version of Swan Lake. Among the swans was. Bill White and Johnny Green Kasama's heart throb as well as Dad and other bald headed, hairy chested, pot bellied male dancers who cavourted around the stage to the delight of the audience.

At the conclusion of the evening, the Provincial Commissioner looking like a maitre d' dressed in his tuxedo with silk lapels thanked the crowd for their sterling effort to help the cause,

The entertainers assembled one last time on stage to take a bow and relish in the well earned applause, made a couple of encores, then stood stoically at attention, Dad removed his tin helmet and they sang with passion God Save our Queen accompanied by the appreciative audience.

As we all ventured home under the African moon listening to the singing of the crickets we all felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that we had in our own small way helped others less fortunate

Contributed by Ken Miller.

August 2007