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More ups than downs
An Autobiography By Jim Sinclair
James McLure Sinclair 22nd January, 1938 – 16th October ,2020
Jim Sinclair was born in Capetown where his mother had travelled from the family farm in Melsetter. He was the eldest of four children and was raised along with them on Albany farm. He attended Melsetter Junior school before completing his education at Bishops College in Capetown. He worked on a forestry estate before attending Gewbi Course 9 along with the likes of Richard Brooker, Richard Winkfield, Ant Swire Thompson and Robin Harbin. After that he worked for his father before spending a year working and touring overseas. He returned in 1961, when he went to work at Chibero College. He later moved to work for Tim Riley as a farm assistant in Norton and subsequently to Umboe where he managed a farm for 5 years. In 1965 he married Ann Everett who had recently been widowed and left with a young son David, and he moved to Seuri Source farm in Norton which had been in Anne’s family since 1933. There, son Doug and daughter Jeanie were born.
Jim had a brief and uneventful stint in politics as a candidate for the Rhodesia Party and later began his involvement in agricultural representation when he joined the Cattle Producers’ Association as the Salisbury and District Rep in 1976. In 1978 he became CPA Vice Chairman and Chair the following year. In 1980, with the appointment of then CFU President Dennis Norman, to the Cabinet as the Minister of Agriculture, CFU Vice President David Spain assumed the helm at CFU and Jim was elected CFU Vice President. He assumed the Union Leadership when David Spain was tragically killed in 1981. Jim served as CFU President until his term ended in 1983.
During his time as CFU President, he made it his mission to revive those farmers’ associations that had gone into decline or closed during the war. Whilst in office, he actually managed to visit every single farmers’ association at least once and several others twice
He served on several business boards, amongst them Blackwood Hodge, Casalee Tobacco and International Holdings eventually becoming the Chairman of Murray and Roberts,
Throughout his life Jim was a man who gave his all, in public service for the farming community at large and for his district, neighbours, farm employees and their people and most especially his family and friends. He was always happy to listen and share his counsel and insightful perspectives with the many who sought it. To the end he was anxious to see the resolution of the many challenges facing Zimbabwe and its agricultural sector. In conclusion I can only say go well Jim to a well-earned rest, your dedication to family and friends and country and your enduring integrity stand out and leave us the poorer for your passing.
James McLure Sinclair 22nd January, 1938 – 16th October ,2020
Jim Sinclair was born in Capetown where his mother had travelled from the family farm in Melsetter. He was the eldest of four children and was raised along with them on Albany farm. He attended Melsetter Junior school before completing his education at Bishops College in Capetown. He worked on a forestry estate before attending Gewbi Course 9 along with the likes of Richard Brooker, Richard Winkfield, Ant Swire Thompson and Robin Harbin. After that he worked for his father before spending a year working and touring overseas. He returned in 1961, when he went to work at Chibero College. He later moved to work for Tim Riley as a farm assistant in Norton and subsequently to Umboe where he managed a farm for 5 years. In 1965 he married Ann Everett who had recently been widowed and left with a young son David, and he moved to Seuri Source farm in Norton which had been in Anne’s family since 1933. There, son Doug and daughter Jeanie were born.
Jim had a brief and uneventful stint in politics as a candidate for the Rhodesia Party and later began his involvement in agricultural representation when he joined the Cattle Producers’ Association as the Salisbury and District Rep in 1976. In 1978 he became CPA Vice Chairman and Chair the following year. In 1980, with the appointment of then CFU President Dennis Norman, to the Cabinet as the Minister of Agriculture, CFU Vice President David Spain assumed the helm at CFU and Jim was elected CFU Vice President. He assumed the Union Leadership when David Spain was tragically killed in 1981. Jim served as CFU President until his term ended in 1983.
During his time as CFU President, he made it his mission to revive those farmers’ associations that had gone into decline or closed during the war. Whilst in office, he actually managed to visit every single farmers’ association at least once and several others twice
He served on several business boards, amongst them Blackwood Hodge, Casalee Tobacco and International Holdings eventually becoming the Chairman of Murray and Roberts,
Throughout his life Jim was a man who gave his all, in public service for the farming community at large and for his district, neighbours, farm employees and their people and most especially his family and friends. He was always happy to listen and share his counsel and insightful perspectives with the many who sought it. To the end he was anxious to see the resolution of the many challenges facing Zimbabwe and its agricultural sector. In conclusion I can only say go well Jim to a well-earned rest, your dedication to family and friends and country and your enduring integrity stand out and leave us the poorer for your passing.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2024
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