Ian Smith, the former Prime Minister of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979, had relatives in High Harrington who he visited from time to time in his youth.

The family would stay at the house of Police Sergeant Twentyman who lived on Main Road, further up from the Galloping Horse.

The photo on the left shows the young Ian Smith standing in the centre at the back and Sgt.Twentyman seated on the right.

Ian Smith is best known for his unilateral declaration of independence of Rhodesia from Britain on the 11th November 1965.

This picture show Ian Smith as a pilot during the second world war. He joined the Royal Rhodesian Air Force and was seconded to the RAF.

He later suffered burns and other injuries to his face when his plane crashed in 1943.

His injuries required plastic surgery and left his face partially paralyzed.

Click on this link for a history of Ian Smith