The Quiet Rhodesian is the story of Gerald Clarke, born in Gwelo in 1909 and raised in small towns by an Irish pioneer-settler father, who arrived in Bulawayo by ox-wagon in early 1897 and became the magistrate in Gwelo, Enkeldoorn, Gatooma, Umtali, Fort Victoria, Salisbury and elsewhere.

After St George’s College (Bulawayo, 1920–26), he spent 17 years in the Treasury, and five years in the 5th Southern Rhodesia Armoured Brigade and 6th South African Armoured Division engaged in Rhodesia, Kenya, Abyssinia, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Italy during World War II, 1940–45.

He was under-secretary in Sir Godfrey Huggins’ cabinet office, 1950–52, then during 1953–70, the cabinet secretary and secretary to four prime ministers: Garfield Todd, Sir Edgar Whitehead, Winston Field, and Ian Smith, while also involved in the Central Intelligence Organisation, 1963–70.

An insider to secret and public constitutional negotiations between Rhodesia and Britain, 1950–70, and in shaping the UDI, Gerald Clarke was blacklisted by London, despite having twice honours bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II. After 43 years in public service, the Rhodesian government awarded him its highest honours. He retired to Inyanga in 1971 and died in Salisbury in 1981.