South Tyneside Branch - November 2014 Meeting

[Pat Pierpoint]

South Tyneside Branch Meeting
Wednesday 19th November 2014 at 7.30 pm
Topic: "Chirupula Stephenson - Tyneside's African Legend"
Guest Speaker: Dr. John Heckles.

[geoff]

Further to Pat's post, Chirapula Stephenson was a Tynesider who became one of the founding fathers of Northern Rhodesia (now called "Zimbabwe"), where he began as a government official who almost "went native".  His real name was John Edward Stephenson, born about 1874.  "Chirapula" is a native word meaning "smiter" and refers to an occasion when he had some men whipped.  His life was remarkable in many ways, not least because of his two native wives.  This therefore promises to be a fascinating, although "different" evening.

     Members and guests will still be able to discuss their own researches, on Tyneside, in Rhodesia and elsewhere and benefit from hints, tips and the latest news of the society etc as usual.

     For this meeting you will be in the capable hands of Gerry Langley.

                            Geoff Nicholson