Johnny Gumb’s Diary of His Return Visit to Mochudi in 2003

Abstract

In early 1965, Johnny Gumb, then aged 18, came on an interview with Naomi Mitchison in a national
newspaper in which she explained that she had been given an ancient printing press which she was having
shipped to Mochudi in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. She had earlier visited Mochudi for the installation
of Kgosi Linchwe II of Bakgala-ba-Kgafela. When Johnny met Naomi, she told him more about the press
and about Mochudi. She then put him in touch with Martin Ennals, General Secretary of the National
Council of Civil Liberties, who had been instrumental in setting up a Community Centre there which was
run by Sandy Grant. Ennals was able to pull strings so that Voluntary Service Overseas took Johnny on as
one of their volunteers.