In 1943 there appeared in the Mombasa Times a column which, with the exception of Sir Arthur Bryant's ‘Our Note Book’ in the Illustrated London News, became probably the longest-running feature of its kind by. a single writer in African, Imperial or global journalism. The author, Edward Rodwell, was born at Sittingbourne, Kent, on 28.7.1907, and educated at Herne Bay, where he showed an aptitude for imaginative composition and edited the school magazine. In 1921 he was indentured for five years to a jobbing printer and, having mastered his craft, was promoted to manager of the firm in 1928. In this capacity, he gained some experience of writing, editing and publishing. After completing a course at the London School of Journalism, he applied for a post with the East African Standard group, which appointed him Managing Director of the daily newspaper, the Mombasa Times.