Welcome to The History Society of Zimbabwe Website (Updated 2024)

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Fothergill Resort Building in Progress.June 2024 talk about Fothergill Island Resort History by Rob Fynn

Setting up Fothergill Island Resort June 2024 talk about Fothergill Island Resort History by Rob Fynn

June 2024 talk about Fothergill Island Resort History by Rob Fynn Setting up Fothergill Island Resort

June 2024 talk about Fothergill Island Resort History by Rob Fynn

Sands and Neen in the Fynns' First Fothergill Home. June 2024 talk about Fothergill Island Resort History by Rob Fynn

Members and Guest gather for Lunch

Anxiously awaiting Pizza

Pizza Oven

Gemma's Delicious Pizza

November 2023 talk by Dr J. Lawrence on the devastating cattle disease Rinderpest

Talk on the devastating Rinderpest by Dr J Lawrence

Doug McClymont talks about why explorers walked

Why did the Explorers walk?

The BSAP Story by Dave Young, June 2022

W G Brown and the Shangani Mission by Frances Hawkins, Feb 2023

Jeremy Lewis Talk

Talk by Jeremy Lewis

Manuel Antonio de Sousa ‘Gouveia’ 1885-1889 (Slide from The History of the Portuguese in Zimbabwe talk by Henrik Ellert)

The Portuguese come to the Kingdom of Monomotapa (Slide from The History of the Portuguese in Zimbabwe talk by Henrik Ellert)

Sofala – São Caetano (Slide from The History of the Portuguese in Zimbabwe talk by Henrik Ellert)

B.S. Leon (Slide from The History of Jewish People of Zimbabwe talk by Benny Leon)

Dr Ahrn Palley (Slide from The History of Jewish People of Zimbabwe talk by Benny Leon)

Welensky's 4000 days (Slide from The History of Jewish People of Zimbabwe talk by Benny Leon)

Albert Beit (Slide from The History of Jewish People of Zimbabwe talk by Benny Leon)

COLONEL DON GRAINGER'S SCOTS FATHER INVENTED THE BUFFER THAT WAS FITTED ONTO EARLY STEAM LOCOS, TENDERS, TRUCKS AND COACHES (Photo from Inez Grainger's HSZ talk "Don Grainger's Life")

FROM MARIE DE BRUIJN'S TALK "LIFE ON THE TREK"

MANDY RAMSDEN AT THE TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST (Photo from the HSZ talk "Climbing the Highest Mountain on each of the Seven Continents" by Mandy Ramsden).

HSZ TALK BY ROBIN TAYLOR IN HIS GARDEN (27 AUGUST 2017) "The History of Poultry Showing in Zimbabwe"

BEATRICE MINE NEW HEADGEAR THE HSZ VISIT TO BEATRICE MINE ON 9 OCTOBER 2017 (Photo by Charles Castelin)

BEATRICE MINE IN 1920 FROM A TALK BY JAMES AND JOHN SKINNER DURING THE HSZ VISIT TO THE MINE

THE BEEFEATER RESTAURANT IN HARARE (From the talk by Llew Hughes - A Trip Down Zimbabwe's Gourmet Lane")

DON GRAINGER GIVEN THE TASK OF FORMING THE RHODESIA AND NYASALAND CORPS OF SIGNALS (Photo from Inez Grainger's HSZ talk "Don Grainger's Life")

THE WORLD FAMOUS VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL (From the talk by Llew Hughes - A Trip Down Zimbabwe's Gourmet Lane")

POCKET'S GRILL IN STANLEY ROAD (ORIGINALLY SITUATED IN MANICA ROAD) - THE FIRST RESTAURANT IN SALISBURY (From the talk by Llew Hughes - A Trip Down Zimbabwe's Gourmet Lane")

JACK ROBINSON'S TALK - ZIMBABWEANS LOOKING DOWN ON AFRICA (FROM THE TOP OF KILIMANJARO)

COL. DON GRAINGER'S BOOK "DONT DIE IN THE BUNDU" (Photo from Inez Grainger's HSZ talk "Don Grainger's Life")

WWII - GENERAL MONTGOMERY INVITES DON GRAINGER TO BE A SIGNALS OFFICER AT HIS TACTICAL HEADQUARTERS FOR THE INVASION OF ITALY (Photo from Inez Grainger's HSZ talk "Don Grainger's Life")

GENERAL VON LETTOW VORBECK SURRENDERED AT MBALA (ABERCORN) ON 25TH NOVEMBER 1918 TO END THE FIRST WORLD WAR (FROM A TALK BY J. WATERS ENTITLED 'THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF F.C.SELOUS)

FREDERICK COURTENAY SELOUS - THE HUNTER (FROM A TALK BY J. WATERS ENTITLED 'THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF F.C.SELOUS)

F.C. SELOUS - A SCOUT FOR THE 1890 PIONEER COLUMN (FROM A TALK BY J. WATERS ENTITLED 'THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF F.C.SELOUS)

HOUSE BUILT IN BULAWAYO FOR H. M. HOLE BY THE CHARTERED COMPANY (From the talk by Bob Armstrong " Hugh Marshall Hole and his Matabeleland Stamp Currency Cards of 1900")

STAMP CURRENCY CARD (From the talk by Bob Armstrong " Hugh Marshall Hole and his Matabeleland Stamp Currency Cards of 1900")

HUGH MARSHALL HOLE (1865 - 1941) SECRETARY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR - BULAWAYO (From the talk by Bob Armstrong " Hugh Marshall Hole and his Matabeleland Stamp Currency Cards of 1900")

SELOUS (FRONT SEATED) LEADER OF H TROOPS OF BULAWAYO FIELD FORCE, MATABELELAND (FROM A TALK BY J. WATERS ENTITLED 'THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF F.C.SELOUS)

RINDERPEST VIRUS - KILLED 90% OF CATTLE IN SOUTH AFRICA IN THE 1890'S FROM DR. GLYN VALE'S TALK "HUMANS AND TSETSE FLIES"

THE CHIMANIMANI OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL (From Dave Meikles talk "Zimbabwe Outward Bound")

THE JACOB'S LADDER - A CHIMANIMANI OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL ACTIVITY (From Dave Meikles talk "Zimbabwe Outward Bound")

A CORPORATE TRAINING COURSE AT OUTWARD BOUND, ZIMBABWE (From Dave Meikles talk "Zimbabwe Outward Bound")

FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE MAHENYE CAMPFIRE PROJECT RECEIVING AN AWARD (CLIVE STOCKHIL ON THE LEFT) (From the talk by Clive Stockil "History of the First Campfire Project in Zimbabwe")

JOHN PUZI, LEGENDARY POACHER/HUNTER (From the talk by Clive Stockil "History of the First Campfire Project in Zimbabwe")

Albert Giese – hunter, trader and adventurer. Informed by the people from the Hwange area of rocks that burn in 1894 and located them in 1895 (From the talk by Dr. Tony Martin "The History of Coal in Zimbabwe")

AN EIGHT SPAN DONKEY CART IN CHIMANIMANI DISTRICT (From Marie de Bruijn's talk "Transport Routes in Gazaland")

CROSSING THE SABI RIVER (From Marie de Bruijn's talk "Transport Routes in Gazaland")

THE GRAVE OF DERICK HOSTE (BROTHER OF "SKIPPER" HOSTE) AT HARTLEY HILL HEADSTONE ERECTED BY THE LOYAL WOMENS GUILD (Photo by Charles Castelin)

STONE WALLING AT FORT HILL (Photo by C. Castelin taken during the HSZ Outing to Hartley Hills on 28 May 2017)

MIKE TUCKER (IN BLUE CHECKED SHIRT) TALKS TO MEMBERS OF THE HSZ AT THE CHIMBO RIVER (THE END OF THE HUNTERS ROAD) (Photo by Charles Castelin at the HSZ Outing to Hartley Hills, 28 May 2017)

WWI BARBED WIRE TABLE DECORATION AT THE HSZ 2018 ANNUAL LUNCHEON BILL WOODMAN TALKS TO ROBIN TAYLOR (Photo - Benny Leon)

CAUGHT IN THE ACT - FRASER EDKINS AND LUCINA FACCIO AT TABLE 12 EATING THEIR PUDDING DURING JOHN McCARTHY'S TALK AT THE HSZ 2018 ANNUAL LUNCHEON (Photo - Benny Leon)

SOME OF THE 120 HSZ MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS AT THE HSZ 2018 ANNUAL LUNCHEON AT CRESTA LODGE, HARARE (Photo Benny Leon)

TIM TANSER, CHAIRMAN AND LUNCHEON ORGANISER (ADDRESSING THOSE ATTENDING THE LUNCHEON) (Photo Benny Leon)

W G Brown and the Shangani Mission by Frances Hawkins, Feb 2023

THE MAZOWE ROYAL MAIL COACH (Photo from Dr. Charles Waghorn's talk "A Veterinary History of this country - 1890s to the Present”)

RINDERPEST 1895-96 (Photo from Dr. Charles Waghorn's talk "A Veterinary History of this country - 1890s to the Present”)

ELLERTON -FRY PHOTO – “PIONEER” WAGONS CROSSING A DRIFT IN 1890 (Photo from Dr. Charles Waghorn's talk "A Veterinary History of this country - 1890s to the Present”)

Robin Taylor's talk on Trains

Robin Taylor First Train from Umtali to Salisbury

HSZ Outing to Lilfordia School in September 2023

The Rhodesian Ridgeback- Zimbabwe’s Lion Dogs talk by Dr Charles Waghorn and Mr Ant Fynn in August and Oct. 2022

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The Aims and Objects of the Society

The Society exists to promote historical studies and to encourage research. It also aims to unite all who wish to foster a wider appreciation and knowledge of the History of Zimbabwe and neighbouring territories.

A Brief History of the Society

From 1949 to 1952 two civil servants, Harry Archie Cripwell of the then Native Department and Brendon William Lloyd of the then Native Education Department found that they shared an interest in books on Rhodesian.

Latest News & Events

Dakota No 6813

06/05/2021

The 60th Anniversary of the Damming of Kariba

23/11/2018

Dear Members, An opportunity has arisen, at rather short notice, for us to hear a talk entitled “The 60thAnniversary of the Damming of Kariba – with some notes on challenges, current events, and the future.” The talk will be delivered by Jono Waters on Sunday 25thNovember 2018 at 11.00 am at St Georges College Beit…

History Society of Zimbabwe Presentations and Outings 2003 to 2018

29/10/2018

The History Society of Zimbabwe, and the Rhodesiana Society before it, have provided their members and their guests with a series of talks, film shows and outings of a diverse nature and on varied topics such as “The Anglo-Zulu War” to “Some Birds and Birding Characters of the past”. Herewith below is a list of…

HSZ National Committee, 2024/2025

2024 HSZ National Committee standing cropped

Left to Right: John McCarthy; Tim Tanser; Fraser Edkins (Editor of Heritage); Charles Waghorn (Mashonaland Chairman); Harald Solberg (IT member); Marco Faccio (Treasurer); Robin Taylor; Robin Bottomley (Mashonaland Chairman); Professor Ray Roberts; Kevin Atkinson

HSZ National Committee, 2023/2024

Left to Right: Charles Castelin (Chairman); Robin Taylor; Fraser Edkins (Editor of Heritage); Tim Tanser; Robin Bottomley (Mashonaland Chairman); Professor Ray Roberts; Kevin Atkinson; John McCarthy.

Absent: Marco Faccio (Treasurer); Charles Waghorn.

HSZ Mashonaland Branch Committee, 2023/2024

Left to Right: Marco Faccio (Treasurer); Charles Waghorn; Robin Taylor; Prof. Ray Roberts; Glyn Vale; Harald Solberg (IT and Webmaster); Doug McClymont; Charles Castelin (Membership and Communications); Robin Bottomley (Chairman); Kevin Atkinson (former National Chairman)

HSZ National Committee, 2022/2023

L to R : Robin Taylor, John McCarthy, Kevin Atkinson (Chair), Tim Tanser, Fraser Edkins (Editor), Marian McClymont (Hon Treasurer and Secretary), Doug McClymont ( Mash Branch Chair), Charles Castelin . Absent:Ray Roberts.

Left to Right: Robin Taylor, John McCarthy, Kevin Atkinson (Chair), Tim Tanser, Fraser Edkins (Editor), Marian McClymont (Hon Treasurer and Secretary), Doug McClymont ( Mash Branch Chair), Charles Castelin .

Absent: Ray Roberts.

HSZ Mashonaland Branch Committee, 2022/2023

Left to Right: Charles Castelin; (Membership and Communications); Robin Bottomley; Stan Fynes-Clinton; John Tayler; Doug McClymont; (Chairman) Marco Faccio; Kevin Atkinson (National Chairman)

Absent: Robin Taylor, Glyn Vale and Anne Campbell

HSZ National Executive Committee, 2020/2021

Kevin Atkinson
(Chairman)
Fraser Edkins
(Heritage Magazine Editor)
Marian McClymont
(Treasurer)
Charles Castelin
(Communication)
Robin Taylor
(Mashonaland Branch Representative)
John McCarthy
(Member)
Ray Roberts
(Member)
Tim Tanser
(Member)

HSZ Mashonaland Branch Committee, 2020/2021

Robin Taylor
(Chairman)
Stan Fynes-Clinton
(Treasurer)
Charles Castelin
(Membership & Communications)
Meg Cumming
Marco Faccio
Ben Kaschula
John McCarthy
Doug McClymont
Kevin Atkinson (National Chairman)
John Tayler

Julia Russell
(Minutes Secretary)

Missing from photo John McCarthy, Julia Russell, Marco Faccio

From Left Stan Fynes-Clinton, John Tayler, Kevin Atkinson, Robin Taylor (Chairman), Charles Castelin, Meg Cumming, Doug McClymont.

History Society of Zimbabwe - Mashonaland Branch Committee 2017 / 2018

Back Row: John Tayler, Robin Taylor, Bob Challiss, Stan Fynes-Clinton (Honorary Treasurer) and Ben Kaschula

Front Row: (Left to Right): Julia Russell (Minute Secretary), Charles Castelin (Chairman), Ray Roberts and Fiona Atkinson.

Missing: Meg Cumming, Glyn Vale, Jim Holland and John McCarthy.

History Society of Zimbabwe - National Executive Committee 2018 / 2019

History Society of Zimbabwe Executive Committee

Back Row: (Left to Right): Charles Castelin, Fraser Edkins (Heritage Editor), Robin Taylor, John McCarthy.

Front Row: (Left to Right): Kevin Atkinson (Deputy Chairman), Tim Tanser (Chairman), Ray Roberts.