News from former students
Course 23
Gwebi College of Agriculture, 1973 with Course 23 in Second year and Course 24 in First year:
Gwebi College of Agriculture, 1972, Rugby First XV:
ASHBY, Paul Neville of Gwelo.
ASHWORTH, Richard Brian of Salisbury.
BAKER, Peter Guy "Brush" of Salisbury.
BODDY, Frank of Tengwe.
CLOETE, Pieter Jacobus of Salisbury.
CLOUGH, Richard Miles Shaw of Livingstone, Zambia.
CORBETT, Barry Woodrow of Que Que.
COVENTRY, David Alan of Fort Victoria.
CROUCH, Paul Elliott of Mutoroshanga.
DANDO, George Lewis of Bulawayo.
DAVIES, Owen of Lupane.
DAVIES, William Paul Rankine of Luanshaya, Zambia. Known as Paul.
"After Gwebi Course 23, I moved to Zambia managing Derby Farm at Landless Corner. I got married in 1975 and then left for the UK in 1978 with two children and wife in tow.
"Still farming aged 70 in Kent.
"Would like to get in touch with anyone on that course in particular David Heathcote if anyone knows what’s happened to him".
de VILLIERS, Robert Charles of Salisbury.
GASH, Robert James of Umtali.
Rob was born in England in March 1950 and when aged eight years went with his parents to settle in Kenya where he was educated, firstly at Nyeri Primary School and then at the Duke of York secondary school. In his final year at the Duke of York he was deputy Head Boy.
Circumstances forced the family to leave Kenya, the family settling in Umtali, and in 1969 Rob then attended the Natal University to study geology. He asked (and received) permission to leave university to rather study farming – his real love.
He enrolled with Course 23 at the Gwebi College of Agriculture and received his diploma in 1973.
Called up to do his National Service for one year, Rob decided to rather sign on for three years with the BSAP, attesting as 9024 in July 1973. His philosophy was simple:
“I love this country, and if it is worth living in it is worth fighting for.”
He was posted to Bindura in the uniform branch and after a time doing ground coverage was transferred to the CID. Enjoying the life style Rob signed on again when his three years were up and he was promoted to Detective Section Officer in 1977.
He had married in June 1976.
Three weeks before his 29th birthday, on 15th February 1979, he and Detective Constable Choba travelled from Mount Darwin to the Chesa Purchase Area to investigate a possible sighting. On their return drive they were ambushed and Rob was killed instantly. Detective Constable Choba managed to escape the ambush and ran to seek assistance.
Left to mourn his passing were his parents, his wife, and his young son David Robert (born September 1977). He is buried in Umtali.
GRANTHAM, David Drysdale of Karoi.
HEATHCOTE, David Starr of Essexvale.
HERUD, Christopher Sigurd of Karoi.
HOLMAN, Nigel Robert of Odzi.
HUNT, David Gerald of Bulawayo.
KRAMBERGAR, Patrick Franc of Umvukwes.
MacDONALD, Peter Anthony Stuart of Raffingora.
MACKAY, Stuart Alexander of Mount Darwin.
McCUSTER, Trevor Douglas of Pretoria, South Africa.
NICHOLLS, Alan Duncan of Bulawayo.
NORTON, Michael Terence of Salisbury.
PAGE, Nigel Oliver of Salisbury.
PRIOR, Ivor John of Que Que.
REDMAN, Ian of Norton.
SMITH, Rowland Cecil Hartley of Belingwe.
STORE, Ian Stuart of Bulawayo.
TOPHAM, Arthur Stockwell of Sinoia.
VERSFIELD, John Sydney of Fort Rixon. 
"Syd" excelled at sport having represented both the first Rugby and Cricket teams at Milton High in Bulawayo.
Syd graduated with Course 23 at Gwebi College of Agriculture in 1973.
He had captained the first XV at Rugby in his Second Year and was awarded his colours.
He regularly represented the first XI at Cricket.
He married Kathy and they farmed in the Fort Rixon and Shangani areas.
For a while they were living at Qalisa Retirement Village in Bulawayo. Syd developed jaundice but passed away from organ failure within three weeks on 3rd May 2020.
WALES, Gavin Stuart of Salisbury.
WAY, Stephen Robert of Salisbury
WILKINS, Martin John of Salisbury.
WRENCH, Neil Roland of Norton.
Neil is from the Wrench farming family of Norton. Tragically he was hit in the head by a cricket ball when playing for Norton and did not recover.
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