The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Friday, September 1, 1967 — Mr John Phillip Deere (66), managing director of Meikles Store, Bulawayo goes on six months’ leave today pending his retirement after 48 years of service with the organisation.

His colleagues and staff gave him a farewell presentation yesterday — a grandfather clock. But Mr Deere is in no mood to sit back idly.

He plans to go farming. He owns a 3 000-acre farm at Headlands, Salisbury, but may acquire another in the Eastern Districts — or join his elder son, Mr Tom Deere, on his 6 000 acre farm in the Doma-Mangula area.

He is one of the few surviving Meikles’ men who knew “Baas Tom Meikle, founder of the organisation and one of Rhodesia’s great traders and merchants.

Mr Tom Meikle appointed Mr Deere a director of Meikles Umtali, in 1934.

In 1948 he was transferred to the Gwelo branch as managing director.

He has been managing director of the Bulawayo branch since October 1954.

Mr Deere is a past president of the Chambers of Commerce of Umtali and Gwelo, past vice president of ACCORN, past chairman of the Umtali Hillside Golf Club, the Gwelo Golf Club and Gwelo Pony Club.

He was chairman of the Gwelo Publicity Association from 1952 to 1954, and a Gwelo municipal councillor for two years.

He has been a Rotarian for 18 years and is interested in Rotary Youth Service.

He is a trustee of the Rhodesian Youth Hostels’ Association.

Mr Robert William Walsh succeeds Mr Deere as managing director of the Bulawayo branch.

He will hold his appointment in an acting capacity until Mr Deere retires on February 28.