The Incurable Optimists: Chris and Dan Sandford of Ethiopia.

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En 1^er rabat de jaquette

This is an extraordinary biography of an Englishman and his wife, Dan and Chris Sandford, who spent more than fifty years in Ethiopia.

Dan served in the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War and then took Chris to Ethiopia. There he followed several pursuits, eventually becoming a farmer and founding Mulu Farm, while Chris helped him on the farm, and brought up and taught a family of six. They formed a lasting friendship with the man who was to become Emperor Haile Selassie.

Forced to leave Ethiopia at the time of the Italian invasion, they returned there during the Second World War — Dan as leader of Mission 101 and then as adviser to the Emperor. Chris founded The English School, where children of all nationalities and creeds met and learnt in harmony, and still do. Even in retirement they continued to serve the land they loved by spearheading Community projects. Mulu Farm became a place where all, young and old, VIP and nonentity, could go and return refreshed.

This is a story of challenges met with courage and optimism — a tale where material wealth counted for nothing beside the treasures of family, friends and fun. It is a biography of two people who loved Ethiopia and its Emperor, and also an informative account of the history of Ethiopia.

En 2^e rabat de jaquette

Eleanor Casbon

The author was born in Ethiopia in 1922. She was educated there under the PNEU system until she was thirteen and then came to England for her secondary education at Wycombe Abbey School, Buckinghamshire. After that she trained to be a teacher at the Incorporated Froebel Educational Institute.

Her career includes teaching at South Hampstead High School for Girls, a private school in Leatherhead and at The English School (now The Sandford English Community School) in Ethiopia. This latter school was founded by her mother, Chris Sandford, and later taken over by her husband, Leslie Casbon. Afterwards Eleanor helped Leslie found The British International School, Cairo, in which she also taught.

Eleanor has travelled extensively in Ethiopia itself and neighbouring countries, and also to the USA, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. She still regularly travels abroad from her home in Devon.