THE changes in a former British colony are vividly portrayed by two contrasting stories in the Gazette, 50 years ago and 25 years ago this week.

The earlier story tells of the visit by Viscount Malvern to Malvern College, his old school.

The viscount, formerly Sir Godfrey Huggins, had been awarded his title that year and had been prime minister of Rhodesia since 1933.

His speech to the college was an unashamed paean to colonialism, and he hoped many of the boys might go out to Africa where "there was still a tremendous amount of work to be done".

"What frightened him was that young people in this country seemed to have 'gone damp'," reported the paper.

"In his day, British people did not go round apologising that they had colonies.

"He believed that his part of the world would owe allegiance to the Queen for ever."

Things were very different 25 years later. The viscount had died in 1971, the second viscount in 1978, and the latter's widow, Lady Malvern, was trapped in what was now Zimbabwe.

The government there would not allow her to transfer here money out if she emigrated to Britain, and she was faced with the prospect of poverty.

A friend said: "She's a very British lady and proud of her background and she feels that Zimbabwe is no longer the place where she wants to live.

"She feels nervous about the situation there and the likely outbursts of violence."