However, in its colonial days life was idyllic for many.

Bulawayo-born Lorna Kluk (nee Chitrin), who moved to Manchester four years ago, grew up well away from the turmoil of wartime Europe and was able to enjoy a privileged childhood in what was then Rhodesia.

Born in 1930, Lorna said: "Life could not have been better."

She was educated at the Dominican Convent School, which arranged special religious studies for Jewish girls.

As Rhodesia was a crown colony, the pupils received a British education and sat the British matriculation exams. There was a cheder but Lorna was tutored at home.

After her marriage to Harold Kluk, the couple moved into a large house with a manicured garden complete with cook, houseboy, gardener and maid.

Pharmacist Harold had his own chemist shop. Lorna recalled: "The weather was good and we had the theatre and films - we still had the colonial way of life.

"The houseboy served dinner with a sash across his chest and wore a white jacket and gloves."

Children finished school at 1pm and because of the climate, much of the socialising took place on the verandah. But the Second World War cast a shadow over those living in Africa. Lorna's relatives fought in the British/Rhodesian Regiment.

Electricity and food were rationed in Rhodesia during the war and the family gave refuge to German Jewish girl Irene.Lorna's Russian father Harry Chitrin arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, at the turn of the 20th century.

He came as a 17-year-old and arranged for his parents, grandparents and nine siblings to join him. Harry ran the supply shop at a gold mine 60 miles outside Bulawayo.

Two of Lorna's cousins remain in Bulawayo, one of whom runs the original family shop.

But she said: "I don't know where he gets his stock from. The Johannesburg Jewish community is sending supplies to people in the Savyan Lodge retirement home."

There are only 100, mainly elderly, Jews left in Bulawayo.

The family left in 1976, moving to Johannesburg with daughter Heidi and sons Bruce and Richard. Johannesburg was regarded as a dangerous place, so Lorna never wore jewellery or carried money.

But she was mugged in Harold's chemist shop 19 years ago.

Lorna said: "Harold had a gun held at his head and I had a knife at my stomach."

When she moved to Manchester, Lorna joined her daughter Heidi and son-in-law Mark Greenstein and their three children.

Heidi teaches special needs at King David High School. Lorna's son Richard is in London and Bruce is in Australia, both with their families.

Bulawayo families living in Manchester include Rita and Alex Chadowitz and Dr David Cohen, a Salford GP.