Meet Ballito’s own Indiana Jones, the author of Cowboys Don’t Fly

Ballito’s very own Indiana Jones has laid his life story down in black and white.

John Steed launched his new book Cowboys Don’t Fly at Zimbali Country Club last week, to much local interest.

Steed has lived a life of adventure in the African skies, filled with danger, excitement and more than a little laughter.

Of course, an interesting life does not make an easy book to write, as John said: “If you ever get the urge to write a book, pour yourself a strong whiskey and go sit quietly in a comfy chair and wait for the urge to pass.”

Born in India to an Indian Army Lieutenant Colonel and his Moscow-born wife, the family moved to Kenya when John was seven.

Following a colonial education in Nairobi, John learned to fly on Jet Provosts in the Royal Air Force. On leaving the RAF he returned to Africa but was soon back in the UK after summary and unjust deportation from Uganda.

After a brief spell as a trainee broker at Lloyd’s of London, he moved to what was then called Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1964.

He followed a varied career in insurance and television which was interrupted by the Zimbabwean independence war.

Conscripted into the Rhodesian forces by the British South Africa Police, John accumulated over 1000 hours of operational flying as a pilot with the Police Reserve Air Wing.

At the war’s end, through a series of coincidences, he founded a unique charter flying operation in support of the International Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres, United Nations and other major aid agencies during the Mozambique and Sudan civil wars. The fleet eventually comprised six de Havilland Buffalo aircraft flying out of Lokichokkio in northern Kenya.

John has logged over 3000 hours flying and also earned a Yachtmaster Offshore qualification after accumulating more than 15,000 sea miles on several voyages in the Indian Ocean.

Laced with entertaining first-hand anecdotes, the 274 page book will appeal to all who enjoy unusual exploits, and sells for R259.

It is distributed by Author Services and Distribution (Pty) Ltd, contact them at 082 821 5966 or email gtwratten@vodamail.co.za.

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