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 | ||||
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 | |||||
Passing Stromboli (above) and one of the many competitions that were held on board (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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 | |||||
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
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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 | |||||
Celebratory Arch welcoming the Queen Mother to Nairobi in 1959 (left). National Theatre, Nairobi (right) PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
Lord Delamere on Delamere Avenue (above) and the War Memorial (right) also on Delamere (now Kenyatta) Avenue PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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 | |||||
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Where are they now? Class of 59? PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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 | |||||
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 | |||||
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 | |||||
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! |
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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 | |||||
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 | |||||
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Government Road, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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Pearl Assurance House, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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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 | |||||
Classic Nairobi - All Saints Cathedral (above) and Parliament Building (right) Government Road, Nairobi late 1959-60 - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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New Stanley Hotel, Nairobi - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
Nairobi Races - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
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 | |||||
On safari - Kapinguria, north east of Kitale which in turn is about 50 miles north of Eldoret - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
On safari - mountain roads and angling clubs - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
Jinja Uganda. Ripon Falls Hotel (left) and the pink and red Hindu temple (right) - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
Entebbe Uganda. Lake Victoria Hotel (above) and field gun overlooking the Lake gardens. PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda Dixon | |||||
Lake steamer USOGA - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda | |||||
Passengers embarking the lake steamer USOGA at what looks like Port Bell - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda | |||||
Leaving Port Bell (left). Enjoying a coke while a ship's officer relaxes with a magazine - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda | |||||
Scenes at Mwanza - PHOTOs the late Jim and Hilda
East African Memories - Janet Davis Collection 1
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