20/10/2024
On Saturday 19th October 2024 The Springbok Club staged the annual "Raising of the Flag" ceremony, which this year took place at Fox Corner near Guildford in Surrey, the place where Frederick Courteney Selous lived most of his married life. After rendezvousing at the near-by Fox Inn the Springbok Club party assembled outside Selous's house where Sgt. Graham Gillmore (ex-Grenadier Guards, RLI and South African Pathfinders Company) acted as Parade Commander, supervising the raising of both the Union Flag (by Miss Sarah Mort) and the Rhodesian Flag (by Miss Hannah Mort), which was followed by a few words from the current Springbok Club chairman, Mr. Alan Harvey, about the legacy of Frederick Courteney Selous. Following this both the British and the Rhodesian National Anthems were sung, and then toasts in Sandeman's Port were raised to the King and Queen, the immortal memories of Frederick Courteney Selous and Peter Sladden, and to all those who fought and died for the Rhodesian cause. The Springbok Club party then returned to The Fox Inn where Mr. Gary Vincent gave the second part of his PowerPoint presentation about the life and career of Frederick Courteney Selous, and where - surprisingly - they met members of the Cardiff Arms Park Male Voice Choir who gave some splendid renditions of tradition Welsh hymns and arias at the bar, to round off a truly enjoyable and inspiring day! Pictured are Sgt. Graham Gillmore calling the assembly to order, the actual raising of the flags (Gary Vincent is pictured on the right), the colour party outside Selous's former house, and Springbok Club Chairman Alan Harvey thanking everyone for their participation.
