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Book Launch by Local author John Steed "COWBOYS DON'T FLY"

Book Launch by Local author John Steed "COWBOYS DON'T FLY"

Date: 2018-10-26

Local author, John Steed recently launched his memoires in Zimbali. The story takes the reader from his birthplace, India, through to boyhood in Kenya , service with the Kenya Regiment , and then onto the RAF where he was a trainee jet pilot.

John Steed is the son of an Indian Army Colonel, was born in India and moved to Kenya with family at the age of seven.

Following a colonial education, he learned to fly with the Royal Air Force in the UK and returned to Africa after summary deportation from Uganda followed by a spell as a broker with Lloyd's of London.

Moving to Rhodesia in 1964, Steed had a varied career in insurance, television and ultimately aviation, having accumulated over 1000 hours of wartime bush flying with the Police Reserve Air Wing.

Through a series of coincidences, Steed founded a unique charter flying operation in support of the International Red Cross, MSF, United Nations and other major aid agencies during the Mozambique and Sudan civil wars.

The author has more than 3000 hours flying experience as well as a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification supported by more than 15,000 sea miles accumulated on lengthy voyages in the Indian Ocean. The latter combined with unique experiences in the African bush will be the subject of another memoir.

The book is a colourful journey through war stricken Africa and the uncertainty created through UDI and the ultimate transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe takes the reader through unique experiences in the African business and aviation worlds with anecdotes about active service as a pilot in the Rhodesia Police Reserve Air Wing, including first hand descriptions and anecdotes about bush flying in war conditions.

With the advent of peace in Zimbabwe, a series of coincidences resulted in the chance foundation from scratch of a unique aircraft operation using a mixture of civilian and military aircraft to support several major aid agencies during wars in Mozambique and then ultimately the Sudan.

The book ends with a description of the historic translocation by air of a black rhino from South Africa to Malawi.

The title may seem a little out of place for a book about Africa but the mildly derogatory expression "Kenya Cowboy" is the origin for it.

Now living in Zimbali, John is married to Iona, formerly air Rhodesia air crew and has one son, daughter-in-law and three grand-daughters resident in Australia.