Nelson Mandela's former bodyguard to give church talk

A former bodyguard of Nelson Mandela will deliver an inspirational speech to help raise funds for a church repair project.

Shortly after Mr Mandela was released from jail in 1990 following 27 years’ imprisonment, Mr Chris Lubbe joined his protection team.

Mr Lubbe was by his side for the historic 1994 elections which saw Mr Mandela become president, and for trips across the world to meet world leaders including US President Bill Clinton.

Stories of working with the South African leader, and the transition of the country from the Apartheid era to the “Rainbow nation” form Mr Lubbe’s talk.

He will appear at St Swithun’s Church, Long Bennington, at 7.30pm on Thursday, June 15. The event is being held for two reasons – the church is trying to reach out to the community by staging events it hopes will interest people, and because of a £250,000 build project.

The north wall of the church is falling outward through subsidence and there is application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund an investigation into what’s going on. The chancel roof also needs the lead replacing.

Mr Lubbe said he learnt many lessons during his eight years with Mr Mandela.

“I spent most of my life until I met Nelson Mandela working against Apartheid” said the 56-year-old, who now lives near Southampton having grown up near the South African city of Durban.

“The day Mandela was released from prison – February 11, 1990 – was the day that people of colour in South Africa began to live. Prior to that, we just existed. We could smell freedom.”

'An ability to forgive in the face of discrimination'

Once Mandela had met Mr Lubbe, who is 6ft 3ins tall, he offered him a job as a bodyguard.

The job involved meeting key world leaders during a time of great change in South Africa.

“He would take me along with him when he was negotiating with FW De Klerk,” said Mr Lubbe, referencing the last Apartheid-era leader of the country who helped to negotiate the transition to a non-racial democracy.

“I found myself meeting world leaders like Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. But I was never under the illusion of celebrity, for me the biggest part of my job was learning from my hero.

“I was more like a journalist because I was always writing things down.

“He had an incredible ability to forgive in the face of blatant discrimination.

“He was incarcerated for 27 years and barely got to see his friends and family. If that was me, I’d have been angry – but he wasn’t.

“That was why he was the leader that South Africa needed.”

Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for students. They are available by calling Mary Dring on 01400 281178, or by searching for Chris Lubbe at the event brite website.