Rhodesian (Zimbabwean) Prime Minister, Ian Smith, declared independence when Pestell was only four months into his role as Secretary Comptroller at Government House. Both the Governor, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, and Pestell were involved in the negotiations on HMS Tiger in 1966 and HMS Fearless in 1968. The Governor resigned in Jun 1969, when it became clear that Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) would declare itself a republic. The material in this collection relates almost entirely to the period between 1965 and 1969, including a typescript diary and papers as Secretary and Comptroller to the Governor of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 1965-1969, with later introductory material, press cuttings, and photographs, etc.
Dates
- Creation: 1963-1994
Extent
0.25 linear metres (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
- English
Preferred Citation
Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 2208/1, folder 1, fol. 1].
Full range of shelfmarks:
MSS. Afr. s. 2208/1-4
Collection ID (for staff)
CMD ID 3684
Abstract
Archive of Sir John Pestell.
Biographical / Historical
Sir John Richard Pestell (b. 1916) was educated at Portsmouth Northern Secondary School and worked for the British South African Police in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 1939-1965. He served as Major in the Cyrenaica Defence Force, 1944-1949; was Secretary and Comptroller to the Governor of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), 1965-1969 and Adjudicator of Immigration Appeals, Harmondsworth, 1970-1988. He was made Knight Commander of the Victorian Order in 1969. In 1951, he married Betty Parish, with whom he had three daughters.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the library by Sir Pestell on 29 Mar 1995.
- Title
- Catalogue of the archive of Sir John Pestell
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Original Catalogue by Amanda Hill; Collection Level Description by Paul Davidson.
- Date
- 1996; EAD version 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Second edition.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk