PETERHOUSE NOSTALGIA

... MEMORIES ...

Sir Humphrey Gibbs

The Honourable Humphrey Vicary Gibbs was born on 22 November, 1902. He was the third son of the first Baron Hunsdon. His brothers, Lord Aldenham and Sir Geoffrey Gibbs, both became distinguished bankers in the City of London. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1928 he came out to Southern Rhodesia and bought a farm at Nyamandhlovu near Bulawayo. He very soon became active in farming administration and was largely instrumental in the early formation of the National Farmers Union He was also a pioneer of the Conservation movement In 1951 he was elected to Parliament though he never really became an enthusiastic politician.

His interest in independent schools was very soon established and he became a Director and Governor of Ruzawi Schools Limited. When Fred Snell came to Rhodesia with the intention of founding a public school, he found a willing and powerful supporter in the Hon Humphrey Gibbs The first meeting of the Governors of Peterhouse took place on 5 May, 1953. The Hon. Humphrey Gibbs was one of the six men appointed to the first Board of Governors of the new school. He remained a keen Governor until his death.

In 1959 he was appointed Governor of Southern Rhodesia and awarded the KCMG in 1960. Despite his heavy official duties, Sir Humphrey willingly accepted appointment as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Peterhouse in 1962. The Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Southern Rhodesia Government in 1965 placed Sir Humphrey in a highly complex position. He was intensely loyal to Rhodesia, but at the same time he was equally loyal to his appointment as the Queen's representative. Legality and honesty were not negotiable in this mind. He therefore refused to accept the UDI and declared that by its action, the Government had established itself as an illegal regime. At the same time he announced that he would remain in Government House as the representative of the Queen to whom he was bound by his oath of allegiance and as such was the only legal source of authority in the country. This action led to four years of harassment and petty afflictions, including the withdrawal of his salary, the cutting off of the telephone, the confiscation of the official motor cars, etc. Sir Humphrey and Lady Gibbs were virtually prisoners in Government House, they lived in a state of near siege. They were however sustained, during these years by many loyal friends, including a number of Governors and parents of Peterhouse who ensured that they were not left wanting. In 1969 the Smith Regime illegally proclaimed a Republic.

Sir Humphrey felt at last, that there was no further point in continuing to represent the Queen. He left Government House and returned to his farm.

When the Lancaster House Agreement came into force, Lord Soames (son-in-law of Sir Winston Churchill) was appointed as the last Colonial Governor to Rhodesia. He made it one of his first duties to pay his respects to his predecessor. During the ten years of Zimbabwean Independence Sir Humphrey gave a great deal of time and energy to the affairs of Peterhouse. Unfailingly, he and Dame Mollie were present at the school on all great occasions. He master-mined a fund raising campaign in Britain which will help the school for many years to come. As one of his sons said to me, only a month or two ago- "My father' s love for the school relates not only to his being Founding Governor of it, but also to his detestation of violence and destructiveness. He felt that Peterhouse was doing something constructive and worthwhile for young people and for the country." Sir Humphrey Gibbs died on 5 November, 1990 after a short illness. It was a great honour and privilege for Peterhouse to be involved in his funeral in Harare. Many boys represented the School, the Choir sang, the Rector took the Service and the Chaplain and ex-Chaplain were robed and in the Sanctuary. Perhaps, the most moving of all, six senior boys from the School acted as pall bearers.

In 1965 Sir Humphrey was made a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order (KCVO) which is the personal gift of the Queen. Lady Gibbs was appointed a Dame. When Sir Humphrey and Dame Mollie went to London in 1969 he was made a Privy Councillor and advanced to GCVO. He was thus honoured by the Sovereign he had served so well. He will always be honoured and remembered at Peterhouse.