Ferdie Extraordinary Man

Ferdie was carved from history and he made history, he came from Goan stock. He was fearlessness wrapped in empathy and intelligence and navigated shifting apartheid, class, customs and rules. He was born in Jinja, Uganda, went to school in Goa, returned to Uganda not knowing what his future will be. He did 21 years’ service with the British and Uganda Government as a Civil Servant, ending up as the Under Secretary in the President’s Office (President Obote and President Idi Amin). He took early retirement in 1972 and came to England, worked for Crown Agents, then did 23 years with Guinness (was Company Secretary- Guinness Overseas Limited and then promoted to Intellectual Property Manager, Guinness PLC. Ferdie supported his family and friends and had a good social circle, in, Uganda, Goa and the UK. He played for the Uganda National football team as goalkeeper and was also the Uganda National Darts Champions twice. The wellbeing of the Goan Association (UK) was important to him and he helped to produce a revised Constitution & Rules which was approved by the general body in 1988. Ferdie thought that connection and membership was about maintaining codes that Goans valued and he liked the fact he could exercise his legal brain, practice his oratory and refine his debating skills with friends. This 'memoir' records his social, work and personal spheres and shows this man was extraordinary.