independence; the campaign, for only two seats, was intense. At public meetings, Welensky was heckled by opponents to ironic cries of 'Communist', 'traitor', and 'coward'. Sharing a television platform with Smith on 3 September, Welensky talked of the economic and political dangers of a UDI, but nonetheless wished Smith luck when he departed for independence talks in London. Welensky had much more antipathy for the British Government than his RF opponents, and was disgusted at their treatment of the Rhodesians during constitutional talks: On 1 October Welensky was soundly defeated by his RF opponent, with 633 votes to Dupont's 1079. In December he resigned the leadership of his party. When the RF declared unilateral independence on 11 November 1965, Welensky was upset at the constitutional break with Britain. He believed that Rhodesia was entitled to her independence, and disagreed with the British government's demand for 'no independence before majority rule', but was opposed to illegal action. Later life and death Welensky continued living in Rhodesia until Robert Mugabe gained power and the country became Zimbabwe in 1980. While in London in 1971, and by then a widower, Welensky met Miriam Valerie Scott. The couple were married, and had two daughters. They relocated to Blandford Forum, Dorset, in 1981, where he died on 5 December 1991. Honours Notes References External links Speech by Sir Roy Welensky given to the Institute of International Affairs in 1962 Roy Welensky Papers (MS 1558). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library. |- |- |- |- 1907 births 1991 deaths Afrikaner people Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland people Heavyweight boxers Knights Bachelor Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Members of the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia Members of the Rhodesia and Nyasaland Federal Assembly Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom People from Harare Prime Ministers of Rhodesia Rhodesian anti-communists Rhodesian male boxers Sportspeople from Harare Train drivers United Federal Party politicians White Rhodesian people Zimbabwean emigrants to the United Kingdom Zimbabwean exiles Zimbabwean people of Dutch descent Zimbabwean people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Zimbabwean people of Polish descent Zimbabwean people of Portuguese descent Zimbabwean trade unionists Jewish Zimbabwean history Defence Ministers of Zimbabwe