Richard Posnett's first post in the Colonial Service was in Uganda. These were times of rapid change for the British Empire in Africa with independence for Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia; the tragedy of the Belgian Congo, and the uprising of Hutus against Tutsis in Rwanda. The baptism by fire in Uganda was followed by an appointment as a member of the UK delegation at the UN, and then as Commissioner in Anguilla at the time of the attempted independence from St Kitts. After further service as Governor during the British-Honduras dispute, followed by Ocean Island, possibly the most stimulating assignment was the author’s return to Uganda after the fall of Idi Amin following his disastrous war with Tanzania.