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The Herald, March 20, 1979 

THE former manager of the A’Zambesi River Lodge, Mr Reg Draver (49), is lying in the Andrew Fleming Hospital totally paralysed after two strokes in October last year. 

Mr Draver, who was the manager at the A’Zambesi for almost five years, recovered slightly from his first stroke, but some days later suffered a second one, which left him unconscious for three weeks and totally paralysed.

His wife, Anne, who has moved to Salisbury from Victoria Falls with their four children, said yesterday that after consultation with top specialists in Johannesburg, it had been confirmed that Mr Draver would not recover from his paralysis. 

She said her husband was unable to move or speak, but was totally in control of his intellectual faculties. 

Born in England, Mr Draver came to Rhodesia at the age of 20 and served with the BSA Police for three years. 

He then worked for the Meikles group of hotels for 11 years until 1965, at which time he was assistant manager of Meikles Hotel in Salisbury.  

In 1966 Mr Draver spent a year managing the Skyline Hotel in Johannesburg, and from there moved to Swaziland, where he opened and managed Swazi Spa Hotel for two years. 

In 1968, he returned to Rhodesia and worked for a firm of management consultants for some years, during which time he travelled extensively in Africa and England. 

Mr Draver then joined the Goodwood Group of Hotels and was later transferred to Malawi, where he helped rebuild and then managed the Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre.

In 1972 he returned to Rhodesia and worked at the group’s head office until he was appointed manager of A’Zambesi River Lodge. 

LESSONS FOR TODAY

 A stroke, also known as a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. 

 Studies show that incidence of stroke increases significantly with age, however over 60 percent of strokes happen to people under the age of 70 and 16 percent happen to those under the age of 50. 

 According to the World Stroke Day, stroke has already reached epidemic proportions. Globally 1 in 4 adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. 12,2 million people worldwide will have their first stroke this year and 6,5 million will die as a result. Over 110 million people in the world have experienced stroke. 

 Some places in the story have changed names after independence, to reflect a new Zimbabwe. Andrew Fleming Hospitals is now Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. While Swaziland is now Eswatini.