Picture exclusive: The tyrant and his bride...a 'liberal' Mugabe at his wedding in 1961

When Robert Mugabe married his first wife Sally in 1961, he was a 37-year-old liberal nationalist who wanted to make his country - then Southern Rhodesia - a model multiracial democracy.

The man who took this never before published photograph, retired airline manager Kevin Nolan, was a guest at the ceremony.

Love and politics: Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, pictured with his first wife Sally Hayfron on their wedding day in 1961

He said he found the groom 'such a well-educated, polite man'. And he added: 'I had no idea of the way he'd turn out.'

The photo was taken at a Catholic mission in the capital Salisbury, now Harare.

When civil war broke out following the decision of Rhodesia's white government to declare independence from Britain four years later, Mr Nolan and his wife Sheila gave the picture to their daughter in case her school was attacked by guerrillas.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace just before the recent, disputed election run-off

Mrs Nolan wrote on the envelope: 'If Africans are about to do you any harm show them this and tell them Mr Mugabe would be very angry if they hurt his friend's daughter.'

After Mugabe assumed power in 1980, Mr Nolan - who by then had moved to Dublin - sent him a copy of the picture and his best wishes.

The new prime minister's wife wrote back to thank him, and spoke of her husband's desire for peace.

Mrs Mugabe died in 1992 aged 60. Mr Nolan said: 'Maybe she was the moderating influence. All I can say is he's become a different man. It's a tragedy.'

Mugabe, 84, married his second wife Grace in a lavish ceremony in 1996.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is kissed by his wife Grace at his inauguration ceremony at State House in Harare, on Sunday, June 30