EAST AFRICAN MEMORIES 2

from Janet Davis

 Janet's collection of black and white photographs recalling memories of the three week voyage from London to Mombasa via Suez in the RHODESIA CASTLE and her stay in Kenya which included safaris to Uganda and around Lake Victoria by Lake Steamer
Gibralta 1950s Gibraltar 1950s
Leaving Tilbury or London's King George V Dock, the first port of call was Gibraltar where both the British Army and Royal Navy would then have been much in evidence - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
RHODESIA CASTLE Stomboli RHODESIA CASTLE
Passing Stromboli (above) and one of the many competitions that were held on board (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
RHODESIA CASTLE Port Said Gilly Gilly Man RHODESIA CASTLE
Arriving Port Said where the Gilly Gilly Man would come on board and perform tricks often involving pound notes which would be made to disappear and miraculously reappear while.  A favourite at Port Said was the visit to Simon Atrz department store close by where the ships secured - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
RHODESIA CASTLE RHODESIA CASTLE
Crossing the line when King Neptune came aboard and participants received their certificates line the one below - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Back in these days, fifty or so years ago, crossing the line as it was usually termed, was something of a novelty and still is celebrated on cruise ships and many naval vessels today.  Even flying boats would make abrupt short climbs and dives between Port Bell and Kisumu as the Captain announced they had just crossed the equator.

The Proclamation reads: 

Whereas by our Royal Condescension,We have this day permitted Our Trusty and Beloved . . .

. . . to enter our Domain and the aforesaid has been duly initiated with all form and ceremony into the solemn mysteries of the

Ancient Order of the Deep

We do by these presents proclaim to all whom it may concern that the aforesaid has become one of our loyal subjects.

And should the aforesaid fall overboard, all Sharks, Dolphins, Whales and Mermaids, and other denizens  of the deep are to treat with due respect

Our Most Distinguished Subject

And we further direct all Landlubbers and Mariners who have not crossed our Domain,

to treat the aforesaid with the respect due to One of Us

 

It is signed by Neptune himself and the ship's captain

 
RHODESIA CASTLE Mombasa Salsibury Swimming Pool Nairobi
Union Castle liner RHODESIA CASTLE alongside Kilindini, Mombasa (left).  There were three ships in this class - the other two being the KENYA CASTLE and the BRAEMAR CASTLE.  There was no class segregation on these ships and, regardless of category of cabin all passengers had access to all public rooms and to all decks.  Salisbury Swimming in Nairobi (right) -  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Nairobi 1950s National Theatre Nairobi 1950s
Celebratory Arch welcoming the Queen Mother to Nairobi in 1959 (left).  National Theatre, Nairobi (right)  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Delamere Statue Nairobi 1950s Nairobi War Memorial 1950s
Lord Delamere on Delamere Avenue (above) and the War Memorial (right) also on Delamere (now Kenyatta) Avenue  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
British Army School Nairobi 1950s British Army School Nairobi 1950s
A Cameronian soldier helps pupils aboard an army lorry which will take them to the British Army's school in Nairobi.  Only the little girl seems to be enjoying herself at an army open day in Nairobi - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon

British Army School Nairobi 1950s
Where are they now?  Class of 59?  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
British Army Show Nairobi 1950s British Army Show Nairobi 1950s
Army public relations at an open day in Nairobi with a soldier of the Kings African Rifles demonstrating mortars (left) while the Cameronians explain the workings of a gun (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
British Army Show Nairobi 1950s British Army Show Nairobi 1950s
Land Rover rides (left) and heavy machine gun (right) - but the little boy's attention has clearly be attracted by something else -  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
British Army Show Nairobi 1950s British Army Show Nairobi 1950s
Army hardware including a scout car and Royal Engineers heavy lift equipment in the background (left) and KAR on the lawn in front of Government House (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Kenya Agricultural Show Nairobi 1950s Royal Show Nairobi 1950s
Mitchell Park Show Nairobi 1950s The Royal Agricultural Show  (above) was held every year at Mitchell Park on the outskirts of Nairobi near Kibera - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon

Some of the exhibits were in fact brought by train to Kibera which was the first station out of Nairobi on the mainline to Kampala and Kisumu.

Pupils at Duke of York were given Saturday morning off lessons and allowed to attend the show - provided they were prepared to walk from the school along Ngong Road to the Park - and walk back again!
Kenya Policeman in 1950s uniform of brown helmet, blue jersey with white lanyard, khaki shorts and blue putties (left) heads for the police Land Rover hidden behind the less famous sign post which was a copy of the very famous original at Nairobi Eastleigh.  Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens DC7B with a BOAC Britannia on the apron (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Embakasi Nairobi 1950s Wilson Aerodrome Nairobi 1950s
Nairobi Embakasi (left) as passengers walk out to a DC3 and a Canadair (East African Airways' name for their ex-BOAC Argonauts) is towed onto the apron .  Wilson Aerodrome, formerly Nairobi West (right).  The name was changed in honour of Mrs Florence Wilson OBE for her services to aviation in Kenya - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda

Government Road, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon

Pearl Assurance Building Nairobi 1950s
Pearl Assurance House, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon

Kenya Cinema Government Road Nairobi 1950s
Government Road and the recently opened Kenya Cinema which at the time would have made most British cinemas look rather basic. Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
All Saints Cathedral Nairobi 1950s Parliament Buildings Nairobi 1950s
Classic Nairobi - All Saints Cathedral (above) and Parliament Building (right) Government Road, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon

New Stanley Hotel Nairobi 1950s
New Stanley Hotel, Nairobi - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Nairobi Races 1950s Nairobi Races 1950s
Nairobi Races - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Eldoret Kenya 1950s Eldoret Kenya 1950s
Eldoret, often referred to as "Sixty Four", especially by Afrikaners.  Pupils in Standards 6 and 7 at Hill School were taken down to the town for a one hour shopping expedition when fifty cents bought a "nice pork pie out of Duncan's".  PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Kapinguria Kenya 1950s Kapinguria Kenya 1950s
On safari - Kapinguria, north east of Kitale which in turn is about 50 miles north of Eldoret - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Bugisu Uganda 1950s Uganda Angling Club 1950s
On safari - mountain roads and angling clubs - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Ripon Falls Hotel Jinja Uganda 1950s Hindu Temple Jinja Uganda 1950s
Jinja Uganda.  Ripon Falls Hotel (left) and the pink and red Hindu temple (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Lake Victoria Hotel Entebbe 1950s Entebbe Uganda 1950s
Entebbe Uganda.  Lake Victoria Hotel (above) and field gun overlooking the Lake gardens. PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon
Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s
Lake steamer USOGA - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda
Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s
Passengers embarking the lake steamer USOGA at what looks like Port Bell - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda
Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s
Leaving Port Bell (left).  Enjoying a coke while a ship's officer relaxes with a magazine - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda
Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s Lake Steamer Usoga 1950s
 

  Scenes at Mwanza - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda

 

East African Memories - Janet Davis Collection 1

 

 

East Africa