The Muthaiga Country Club Magazine January - March 2021 by Shelleys the Printers Ltd

January – March 2021

The M u tha i g a Country Club M agazi n e

Th e M uth aig a C oun tr y C l ub M ag az in e

Front Cover Photo Chemususu Dam at Dawn (see Pages 14 & 15)

March – May 2021

C ont e n ts page 1

Letter from the Chairman

page 2

Membership Matters

page 3

Balloting Report & Finance Report

page 4

Staff News

page 5

Wines & Messing

page 6

Events

page 9

Muthaiga Sports Round-Up

page 12

Members’ Achievements

page 16

Members’ Honours & Competition

page 17

Bird Quiz

page 18

A Century Later… Remembering the UnRemembered

page 20

Opera & Ballet

page 21

Library Book Reviews

page 22

Hatches & Matches

page 24

Christmas Draw Prize Winners’ List

page 26 Obituaries

The Muthaiga Country Club Magazine is published by MCC for Members

6 7 10 16 22

Editor: Yoyo Volak Magazine Production: Matthew Rudd, Mercy Wanyeri, Diana Waithaka, Eunice Mulwa, Yvonne Magambo, Erastus Kamau Contributors: Jarat Chopra, Julia Lawrence, Peter Usher, Edita Camm, Tom Lawrence Design & Layout by Shelleys the Printers. Printed by Graphite Lounge. Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

24 www.mcc.co.ke

From the Chairman A warm welcome to this, the latest edition of the Club magazine, put together by Yoyo Volak and her team. We are delighted to have it back in printed form. Mother Earth continues to spin, but in a rather curious way, doesn’t she? The ongoing pandemic continues to wreak havoc, particularly for those experiencing their winter months, and it has left in its wake restrictions to our liberty and economic wellbeing. However, despite the massive impact it has had on our economy, we continue to hold our collective breaths in Kenya. Covid infections and deaths are there, but not in the same proportions as elsewhere, and we hope that we will all benefit from vaccinations in the near future. At the Club I think we have struck the right balance - we are treating the threat of the virus with the greatest of respect but without abject fear – and, thanks to the wonderful support of you, the Members, we are keeping our head very much above the water. I was at the Club recently on a Friday night and it was a hive of socially-distanced activity – the sound of a Classical music quartet counterpoised with the rhythmic beat from Young Members night. That’s how it should be! I sense we all feel that a visit to the Club is an enjoyable and safe experience, and for that we thank the Club management and staff. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine. It has been slightly repositioned. Given that the Secretary issues his regular newsletters, the magazine will now concentrate more on what you the Members are doing. So, this is an opportunity for you to tell us all about you, perhaps about your family too, your experiences - in the Club or elsewhere - and for us to bid farewell to departed Members. Please let Yoyo know if you would like to contribute an article, her e-mail address is: yoyovolak@gmail.com So, in this issue we take a look at one of the most Covid-safe occupational pursuits – Fly fishing – and how the post-lockdown surge in popularity of this singular sport during the summer months in UK and Europe, has helped one small business in Kenya. And, if you are angling to try a new hobby, or casting about for new fishing waters, read about the recently established Chemususu Fly Fishers Organisation, set up by Club Members and passionate Fly fishermen, Tony and Colin Church and the late Tommy Fyastad. A century after the Great War in which over 45,000 African soldiers and porters lost their lives, MCC Member Tom Lawrence enlightens us on why the “Forgotten War” should be remembered. Kenya will hold its own annual Remembrance Day for the Fallen of the Forgotten War on 25 November, the day the armistice was signed in East Africa in 1918. Please do have a look through our Forthcoming Events Diary on Page 7. We have a wonderful range of cultural, musical, and sporting events lined up, as well as courses for young Members, fine dining, live cooking and a fascinating talk on snakes – love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s worth knowing about ‘em! And finally, to all the lucky winners of the Christmas Draw, those who have not already done so, please kindly collect your prizes before the end of April, otherwise they will be donated to this year’s Draw. Sit back and enjoy it! My best wishes to you and your families

Philip Coulson, MCC Chairman www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

membership matters

IMPRESSIONS OF AMBOSELI “There is nothing more important than to excite enthusiasm.” Picasso ‘Impressions of Amboseli’ is a charming little book, written by Cynthia Moss and beautifully illustrated with original paintings by Sophie Walbeoffe, which hopes to enthuse the reader’s spirit and encourage support for the Amboseli Trust for Elelphants (ATE) founded by Cynthia in 2000, to ensure the longterm conservation and welfare of African elephants. The book includes notes from Sophie’s diary as she paints her illustrations and a delightful account of Cynthia’s 47 years studying the magnificent elephants of Amboseli, its history, landscapes and people. ‘Impressions of Amboseli’ costs Ksh 3,000/- and can be purchased from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. All proceeds go towards ATE.

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP AE T MM AT T R ST E R S With the winding down of a communications committee, this page is devoted to being more of an opinion page, where prevailing moods and sentiments of Members on current Club Rat-Eaten Records issues, expressed in comments and mails, are echoed. As always, we want to know what’s on your mind, and will always welcome your feedback. An interesting record! Maybe something for

g down of a communications committee, this page is devoted to being more the Guiness Book of Records! I have contributed to the monthly age, where prevailing moods and sentiments of Members on current Club Sweepstake since its the to lastknow century. Not once d in comments and mails, are echoed. Asintroduction always, we in want what’s on have I won a single bob! Maybe rats have eaten my tickets.UA will always welcome your feedback. Has Our Magazine Gone AWOL?

Pinks at When is the next issue of the Club Magazine coming out? I haven’t seen one for months, and I miss it! TM R E C E N T LY, A D EC I SI ON WAS M A D E TO O … O F F E R B R E AK FAST ONLY AT P IN KS…

Breakfast at Pinks only is a mistake. Do away with the chafing dishes and cook to order as it used to be. TP

nks

Appalled by people’s behaviour at Pinks, and disappointed to have to have breakfast there… I am an overseas Member and come to the Club for the Club, not to come to an average hotel. FP

C ISION WAS M ADE TO O While I agree with the economic reasons for having only oneAT venue PIN for breakfast, I do not agree with … ST O NLY KS… the argument that economy alone justifies dispensing with breakfast in the old restaurant in a child-free environment. RS

nly is a mistake. Do away with waiters, tables not laid, multiple trips required, nd cookNo no to logicorder to layout, as foodit in used chafing dishes cold, table not cleared as food finished, coffee disgusting.AB

s behaviour at Pinks, and e to have breakfast there… I am and come to the Club for the o an average hotel. FP www.mcc.co.ke

2 Muthaiga Country Club he economic reasons for having

M O R E GE N E R A L LY

The Pen is Mightier than Dingbats I was very dismayed not to see the last two issues of the MCC Magazine published in hard copy, and nobody I know even saw the electronic version, as it was drowned out by, what felt like, thousands of weekly newsletters from the Club Secretary. The Magazine had reached a standard that made it an important

Your German sausage has not seen Germany means of communicating Club news, and as a member of and the saurecraut [sic] was not cooked. It the Reciprocal Clubs Committee, the printed version of the tasted ok as I was very hungry. PE

Magazine had become an important means of reinforcing existing and helping to secure new ones. Given both of these sentiments, and the volume of electronic traffic at present, I really wonder whether there is value in the effort put into the Magazine if it remains electronic. JC

Why is it that there are never any ice-creams arrangements in the fridge? Also, never any low-fat milk. RH Not the place it used to be. WR

There are only three things wrong with Pinks: 1. Service. 2. Service. 3. Service. DN

[Ed: Delighted that you are able to read this now in printed form.

MORE G ENERALLY We had to suspend the production of the printed version of the

magazine due to COVID to avoid transmission through handling. All Members have received an e-version, but we all know this Your German sausage has not seenwill Germany BU T IT WA SN ’ T A L L B AD… is not the most popular format, and few Members read it. We are and the saurecraut [sic]confident was notthat cooked. all the It necessary procedures to limit transmission of Thank you to the team for a wonderful Red tasted ok as I was very hungry. PE the virus are in place now and by popular demand, our first issue Room dinner… It made for a special evening and a great meal. DB of 2021 comes to you, here, in paper. I hope you enjoy it.]

Why is it that there are never 3any ice-creams in2021 the fridge? Also, never any low-fat milk. RH January – March April– June 2017 Muthaiga Country Club

www.mcc.co.ke

balloting committee On behalf of the Balloting Committee I would like to thank Matthew Rudd (our recently retired Chairman) for his exemplary leadership over the last seven years.

longer wait for candidates than the norm. In order to ‘catch up’ on the back-log we will be hosting an additional physical interview meeting for the next few months. Thank you for your continued patience.

Hooray! Finally, after ten excruciatingly long months we held our first physical interviews with prospective candidates in January.

A polite nudge to any proposer or seconder whose candidate is still on probation, to remind them to return their completed ‘pink candidates’ booklet within three months of their orientation, bearing in mind that their booklet requires endorsement of six Club Members’ signatures (who are neither relatives or business associates of the candidate.)

It was hosted outdoors on the Chairman’s Lawn and, as expected, to the Club’s highest standards in terms of safety and social distancing. Having to observe social distancing we had to restrict the numbers , which meant unfortunately, we were unable to accommodate any proposer or seconder, but we look forward to initiating this again once we are out of the woods.

Thank you and looking forward to meeting many of you in person in the next few months. Best wishes,

Kudos to the Club team for an excellent set up and the most delicious canapés! Due to the pandemic there has been a

Kush Bhardwaj Chairman Balloting Committee

finance

Dear Members I hope you are all adapting well to the new ways of life. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your continued support, by using the Club and paying your subscriptions on time. So far, your support has helped the Club weather the financial shock, resulting from the pandemic, and I am happy to report that Club is slowly coming back to a semblance of normality. As at end of February 2021, year to date usage revenue had reached 54% of last year. Costs have been managed very well and the Club’s cash position is stable. The Club has now resumed full operations, but usage will take some time to get back to pre-Covid levels. We must therefore continue to manage costs very prudently. Seventy-seven of our former staff opted to take advantage of the Voluntary Exit programme that the Club offered, and we have now recalled the majority of the balance. We plan to recall all the staff needed to run the operations in the medium term, by April 2021. We continue appealing to all Members, now more than ever, to please come back and use your Club and to pay your Club bills promptly. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy! Daniel Ndonye Chairman Finance & Strategy Committee www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

staff news Since the beginning of the new world of Covid-19 and the closure of Club for several months last year, MCC has been run by a skeleton crew. Here we pay tribute the members of Staff who have excelled themselves in their efforts to maintain the unrivaled standards of the Club, while taking on more duties and responsibilities with less support and manpower.

IBEST Employees of the year 2020

January - Habrilon Musholeke (Bowling Green) & Betty Nyokabi (F&B Service) February - Sospeter Ndirangu (Housekeeping)

August - Joseph Makio (Security), Moses Macharia (F&B Service)

October - Vincent Kitonyi & Shadrack Yegon (both F&B Service)

September - James Ochieng (Kitchen) & Peter Gachanja (Kitchen)

November - Mark Mutua (F&B Service) & Stephen Mbuthia (Housekeeping) December - Gideon Kihara & Sammy Musyoka (both F&B Service)

IBEST Employees of the Month for January 2021

Genius Idea Award – January 2021

From left - Peter Kahuria (Stores Department) is now doing the work of Receiving Clerk, Issuing Clerk, Storekeeper and the Staff Quarters Caretaker. He also relieves at the Water Plant Section and Cellar & Purchasing office. Winnie Waweru (F&B Pinks Bar) has been multi-tasking as a Hostess at big Club events. She also helps out on the Events desk, and as Bar Lady during events and at Pinks.

Mercy Wanyeri won the Genius Idea Award for her idea of introducing a transition fee for 7-17 years to Full (18-29) years. A resolution for this was passed in the 2020 AGM.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

www.mcc.co.ke

wines & mes sing

Modern Tasting Menus The Wines & Messing Committee has been working together with Chef Macharia and his team to dramatically overhaul the menu for the Main Dining Room to create a list of options that will appeal to all Members, by both recognising the traditions that make the Club so special, but also by adapting to modern, international tastes. All the old favourites are still there, but using his experience and knowledge gained from our numerous Visiting Chefs, MCC Executive Chef Joseph Macharia has created some exciting modern dishes focusing on the wonderful local, seasonal produce that we have in Kenya.

Muthaiga Bakery and Homemade Delicacies Brain child of our Pastry Chef James Mwangi, our newly introduced Muthaiga Bakery at PINKS offers a selection of delicious, healthy, homemade breads, buns, brioches, baguettes and delightful pastries, freshly baked on site every day, and available for Members to order and take away.

To purchase, order with your waiter or call: +254-207229242

Members are warmly invited to sample our monthly Club Dining Room Modern Tasting Menus. For Ksh 2,900/-, Members can watch live as Chef Macharia prepares a 4-Course menu, which they can then sample and enjoy. Each month the Tasting Menu will reflect the changing of the seasons. Chef Macharia is pictured here in the Club Dining Room during his Live Cooking demonstration on how to prepare Dagaa Crusted Lake Victoria Tilapia, with Parmesan Ugali and indigenous assorted greens. This was part of the seasonal 4-course menu, which Members who attended the live demonstration, were able to sample afterwards. Chef Macharia will be giving another demonstration in March (date tbc) sampling new and different seasonal flavours and local produce. Please come and enjoy our Modern Tasting Menus.

Wines & Messing Bulletin Board Sports Facilities

Opening hours of all our Sports facilities have been extended. The Gym, Swimming Pool, Tennis & Squash courts are now open from 6am - 8pm daily.

Serengeti Avenue

The Members’ Gate at Serengeti Avenue is now fully operational.

Newspapers

We have not been able to provide newspapers and magazines in the public areas as they can’t be sanitised, however we can now order your daily newspaper or weekly magazine and keep it for you at Reception.

Telephones Lines

A new telephone line has been added and Members can now reach the Club on two switchboard numbers. The existing Telkom line +254 (0)20 722 9000 and now this additional Safaricom line +254 (0)1111 90000.

www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

events

IMPROMPTU

Pictured from left - Bennaars Ongidi, Edita Camm, David Ralak, Kevin Munyi and Samson Maiko. MCC hosted a wonderful live concert put together by the talented violinist David Ralak and friends to celebrate the easing of lock-down last year. This was an OPERAtion Classics fundraising event and a gloriously spirited performance as it was the musicians’ first live concert after the long lockdown in Kenya and the first live show to be held at the Club after its re-opening.

Mini Chefs in the Making

Budding mini Master Chefs are pictured here enjoying a hands-on Cookery Class with MCC Pastry Chef Vincent Ombete. These classes will be held every two months and the children will have the opportunity to try out their culinary skills with a range of simple recipes, under the expert guidance of the MCC chefs. In the first session mini Members were taught how to bake a delicious Carrot Cake. Classes are for children between 4 and 12 years old and the next class will be held in March (date to be confirmed). For information or to reserve a place contact the Events Team – events@mcc.co.ke

MCC Holds First ever Digital AGM It happened perhaps sooner than anticipated but, thanks to Covid-19, MCC was hurled unceremoniously into life on-line, as the new normal. To keep Members in touch during lockdown and the closure of the Club, virtual events, group zoom conversations and, most successfully, the first ever Digital AGM were conducted through cyber space. The Digital AGM was a particularly successful landmark occasion and involved a terrific team effort from the IT Department. Despite all our self-confessed ‘dinosaurs’, over 340 ‘virtual’ attendees were more than double the usual AGM turnout.

Right - Activity behind the scenes - MCC IT Team ensuring everything went smoothly.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DRAMA The International Helen O’Grady Speech & Drama Academy has been holding a series of one-hour sessions for young Members to promote Personality Development through Drama. With a session every Saturday, the 10-week course is designed to equip youngsters returning to school after lockdown, with a range of skills, which include coping with anxiety and introvert behaviour, engaging in positive and creative interaction, boosting confidence and enhancing dialogue and speech. The course will run until 27 March and there are still places for youngsters from 3 – 13+ years. For information or to reserve a place contact the Events Team – events@mcc.co.ke www.mcc.co.ke

forthcoming events

Saving Snakes & Saving Lives A Fundraiser by East African Venom Supplies Bio-Ken Snake Farm houses the largest collection of snakes in East Africa and is also one of the world's most renowned snake Research Centres where snakes are milked for medical study and for the preparation of anti-venom to treat victims of poisonous snakebite. Kyle Ray, Operations Manager for

MARCH 2021

Thursday 19 March 2021 at 5pm in the Ballroom Bio-Ken Snake Farm, will be giving a talk on the importance of conserving snakes, and how their work catching and relocating problem snakes and milking them to develop the anti-venoms, is work that helps to save lives. Come and listen to fascinating real-life stories and experiences of professional snake handlers, learn the importance of their research and meet some of their precious-s-s s-s-s-specimens-s-s-s.

Fo r t h c o m i ng E v e n t s D i a r y

The Return of High Tea - Hosted by one of E.A’s First Tea Sommeliers Whisky Pairing Dinner – Ballentine’s Whisky St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon Tennis Club – “Matata Trophy” Bowls Club – St. Patrick’s Day Challenge Speaker’s Evening - “Saving Snakes, Saving Lives’ Kyle Ray Ballet Night – ‘Notre Dame de Paris’ Acoustic Jazz Show – Guitarist Paolo Palmitessa KMS Speaker’s Evening Bowls Club – Barefoot BBQ MCC Book Club Meet – ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle Tennis Tournament – Wimbledon (Mixed Doubles) Club Night – Happy Hour (50% off all Beers) Kids Cooking Class - Easter Edition Easter Pop-up Market

6 March, Garden Room, 4pm. 11 March, Blue Room, 6.30pm. 13 March, Pinks Lawn, 6.30pm. 14 March, Tennis Courts, 9.00am. 14 March, Bowling Greens, 9am. 17 March, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 18 March, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 19 March, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 20 March, Balltroom, 6.30pm. 21 March, Bowling Greens, from 1 – 3pm 23 March, Blue Room, 7pm. 14 July, 9.00am, Tennis Courts. 26 March, Popsy Bar, 5.30 – 7.30pm. 27 March Ballroom Lawn, 11 am onwards. 28 March, Centenary Lawn, 11 am onwards

APRIL 2021 Easter Children’s Carnival Live Piano & Violin Recital – ‘Le Cygne’ Bowls Club – Club Singles Challenge Special Easter Sunday Lunch Book Launch – ‘Kenya Kaleidoscope’ Christopher Shaw EAWLS Speaker’s Evening - ‘Who does the future belong to?’ Live Piano Recital – Cordelia Williams Tennis Club – “Les Grands Chats” Mixed Doubles (55+ players) Opera Night – ‘Cinderella’ Race Day - Kenya Derby Christmas Draw Prize Winners deadline for collection of prizes Club Night – Happy Hour (50% off all Beers)

2 April, Pinks Lawn, 12.30pm onwards. 8 April, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 10/11 April, Bowling Greens, 9am 12 April, Pinks, 12.30pm. 15 April, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 16 April, Ballroom, 4.30pm. 22 April, Ballroom, 6.30pm. 25 April, Tennis Courts, 9.30am. 29 April, Ballroom, 6.30pm. Date TBC, Ngong Race Course, 12 noon onwards. 30 April 2021. 30 April, Popsy Bar, 5.30 – 7.30pm.

MAY 2021 Fireside Kids – Story Telling with Wangari Mothers’ Day – Mothers’ Day Luncheon Bowls Club- MCC vs KCC (Mackenzie Shield) Club Night – Happy Hour (50% off all Beers) Bowls Club - Club Trips

8 May, Blue Room, 6.00pm. 9 May, Pinks, 12.30 onwards. 22/23 May, KCC & MCC Bowling Greens. 28 May, Popsy Bar, 5.30 – 7.30pm. 29/30 May, Bowling Greens, 9am

*Members who would like to exhibit their products at the Easter Pop-up Market are requested to share details of their products with the events team via email to: events@mcc.co.ke by Friday, 12th March 2021 latest Dates and times of events were correct at the time of going to press. They are dependent on the COVID-19 situation and may change post printing so please check with the Events Office when making your bookings.

www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

events

Valentine’s Dinner Love was in the air and Valentines enjoyed a beautiful romantic dinner as they celebrated the14th February at MCC.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

www.mcc.co.ke

bowls Ladies vs Gents and Barefoot Bowls BBQ 2020 The last challenge of a rather disruptive year for Lawn Bowls at the Club, was the Annual Ladies vs Gents competition which was held in December 2020. Seeing out the year in triumph, the Ladies beat the Gents convincingly for the second year running… but there was an acute scarcity of gentlemen bowlers on the day!

Club 2-4-2 Pairs

In February we held the annual Club 2-4-2 Pairs competition, kindly sponsored by Gail and Eric Langton. The entry of 14 teams was divided into two leagues to play 14-end games in round-robin format. Both leagues were very competitive and in some of the games the very last bowl decided the outcome of the game. The final was contested by the League 1 winners, Oliver Fowler and Halina Pellini, and the League 2 winners, Maureen Burns and Sheila Barker. Ollie and Halina got off to a flying start, building up an early lead which left Maureen and Sheila playing a game of catch-up. In the end, Ollie and Halina were the clear winners 22-6. The winners of the Spider were Ollie Fowler and Sheila Barker.

Following the Ladies vs Gents competition, we all enjoyed our third Barefoot Bowls BBQ to promote the game among younger members. With a run on the Pimms there was no doubt that everybody was getting into the Christmas spirit in good time.

Muthaiga Club vs Kenya Irish Society

Muthaiga Club opened the greens for the first spoon of 2021 by hosting the Kenya Irish Society (KIS) – the Guinness Toucan Trophy – kindly sponsored by Diageo/Guinness. Captained by Maureen Burns the KIS side was notably weaker this year with a number of key bowlers absent, so a 10-shot handicap was awarded to the visitors. However, the turnout of bowlers was exceptionally good and we had four trips and one pair. All games had high scores. Muthaiga won three games and KIS two games, so Muthaiga retained the Guinness Toucan Trophy, making it three wins in a row.

From Left: Sheila Barker and Maureen Burns Runners-up in the Club Pairs, with Gail Langton (sponsor) centre.

The best win by a KIS trip went to Kieran Day, John Dawson and Paul Rees with a 21-shot difference. The best win by MCC went to Ollie Fowler, Peter Scholes and Rupert McClelland with an 11-shot difference. The Spider was won by Peter Scholes and Clare Jethwa. The Irish ambassador, Fionnuala Quinlan, graced the occasion. She is pictured below presenting Bowls Captain Gerry Cunnigham with the Guinness Toucan Trophy.

www.mcc.co.ke

Winners of the Club 2-4-2 Pairs Halina Pellini and Oliver Fowler

Forthcoming Bowls Events 4 MARCH

AGM

22/23 MAY

MCC vs. KCC

6/7 MARCH

Two Wood Trips

(Mackenzie Shield)

14 MARCH

St. Patrick’s Day

29/30 MAY

Club Trips

21 MARCH

Barefoot Bowls BBQ

5/6 JUNE

Club Pairs

10/11 APRIL

Club Singles

20 JUNE

Barefoot Bowls BBQ

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

squash We hosted our annual Handicap Tournament with a strong field of 16 players. The handicap format allows weaker players a more even footing as they start with a handicap based on their game and experience. This is a great event for players of all abilities to compete in and enjoy a fair challenge and I greatly encourage more members to participate in what has become a hugely popular annual event on the Squash calendar. Seven year-old Aaryan Bid was our youngest competitor this year and I would like to see more children joining us on the squash courts. The tournament was played with a group stage with the winners and runners-up advancing to the quarter finals. The top four seeds proceeded to the semi finals, where Keriri Muya defeated Anders Lindgren 3-2 in a hard fought match. Kunal Bid defeated Daniel Slazpak 3-2 in the other semi final. The final was played by two men who were walking wounded by the end, with Kunal Bid of handicap zero beating Keriri Muya, playing off a handicap of minus 1, by 3 games to 0.

Kennedy (left) presenting the winner trophy for the Handicap Tournament to Kunal Bid with son Aaryan

We held the annual Squash vs Tennis tournament at the end of February.…. We are planning to host a monthly Club Night to run concurrently with the existing Mix-ins. These will be on the last Wednesday of the month. The plan is to have ladder matches or mini tournaments on these Wednesdays, followed by drinks or a meal. I encourage as many new players to come join and try out their squash skills.

Kunal Bid presenting Keriri Muya, Runner-up in the Handicap Tournament, with his trophy

Our next tournament will be the annual Easter Cup, dates for which will be confirmed. If anyone is keen to play please come to the courts, we have three coaches/sparring partners who are available and willing for a game and to offer some coaching tips. Any interested members, please share your details so that I can add you to the MCC Squash WhatsApp group. Kunal Bid Squash Captain

From left - Anders, Kunal, Aaryan, Keriri and Joseph. 10

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

www.mcc.co.ke

tennis We kicked-off the New Year with a Ladies’ Singles event, but disappointingly, only eight players were available for this competition. With four players competing in two Pools on a Round-Robin basis, Pamela Bitange and Amelia Richards emerged as the winners in their two respective Pools. The final between them turned out to be an extremely exciting and closely fought contest with Pamela only just winning in a final tie-break. At the end of January, we held a Ladies’ and Men’s Doubles event. The two Pools of players were separated by the central fencing, however, players from both Pools were able to meet and chat in between matches at the refreshments table! It turned out to be a most enjoyable morning of tennis with Tessa McLellan & Anu Bhardwaj being the outright winners of the Ladies’ Pool and Ignacio Molins & Sats Machachosas, proved to be a formidable triumphant pair in the Men’s Pool.

Winners of the MCC Australian Championships from left - Alex Lehmberg, John Goodwin (Tennis Captain) & Bitange Ndemo.

As the Australian Championships in Melbourne had been put back by two weeks owing to their players having to quarantine for a twoweek period, MCC’s “Aussie”, also had to be postponed for two weeks in order to coincide with the actual Final in Melbourne. Unfortunately, the change of date did clash with the school’s half-term break and so MCC’s event only attracted some twelve players this year. Nevertheless, with just six pairs competing against each other in one Pool, a great morning of competitive tennis unfolded. The overall winning pair for the morning was Bitange Ndemo & Alex Lehmberg closely followed by runners-up, Johnny Ponsonby & Naomi Ndolo.

Forthcoming Tennis Events

SUNDAY 14 MARCH

SUNDAY 25 APRIL

“Matata Trophy” – Mixed Doubles “Les Grands Chats” – Mixed Doubles (55+ players)

Runners-Up of the MCC Australian Championships from left Naomi Ndolo & Johnny Ponsonby

'Tennis vs Squash’ Challenge The annual 'Tennis vs Squash’ competition, which has been running for some twenty-five years or so, was hammered out again in February. The challenge involves both sections playing each other at Tennis and Squash. This year the Tennis Team convincingly beat the Squash Team at tennis by 10/2, however, even more convincing was the defeat of the Tennis Team by the Squash Team at Squash by 12/0. Nevertheless, it was a great morning of sport, which was followed by a combined team lunch at Pinks. John Goodwin Tennis Captain www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

members’ ac hievements

Gone Fishing “Saw you on the bank with a Red-eyed Damsel earlier.” “Yes – nice, but a bit fluffy, so I switched to a Pole Dancer.” “Hmm - Any good?” “Depends what you want. Had a better fight with a Two Bit Hooker last weekend.” “Interesting (vigorous nodding) I’ve had some luck – specially at dawn – with a Hot Legs Foxy Gotcha, but between you and me, Mrs Simpson is my go-to, at any time of day in these parts.”

I over-heard this startling conversation between two, apparently very respectable gentlemen, in a country Pub once. I leaned in over my half pint of cider to hear more of the scandalous exchange, but when they moved on to Woolly Buggers, Amber Snatchers and Mini Muddlers, I realised they were not sex fiends, after all, but ardent fly-fishermen discussing the merits of their various flies. Fly-tying is a highly skillful hand-craft and has its own fanciful and wildly imaginative language, which matches the exquisite works of art fashioned, minutely out of sparkle, fluff, spangles and feathers, into whimsical, often fairylike and always exotic creations, which end up flashing across rivers and streams, oceans and lakes all over the world.

There are thousands of different styles of fly designed by individual fly-fishers who create them to their specific requirements – hence the fantastical names. Some are designed for certain waters – calm or fast flowing, deep or shallow, salt or fresh – and some are designed for the particular fish, which inhabit these waters. Passionate fly-fisherman MCC Member Johnny Onslow stumbled into fly-tying when he was approached by a local man in Rongai several years ago and asked if he would like to buy some flies. Mildly perplexed by the question, the man then showed Johnny a selection of exquisitely hand-tied fishing flies. Johnny was intrigued where the man had learned his skill and later discovered that fly-tying had been a dynamic and flourishing industry in Western Kenya for over 60 years. The late Denis Whetham is recognised as the ‘Father of the Kenya fly-tying industry.’ His parents brought him to Western Kenya as a boy in the 1930s, after he was crippled in a rugby accident. To pass the hours he spent prone in his bed, he taught himself to tie flies with the aid of a mirror over his head. He sold his first dozen flies to the local bank manager in Kericho for 5/- and so began the pupal fly-tying industry in Kenya. As Denis learned to walk again he taught two Kenyans to tie flies and over the years, despite the interruptions of WWII, the Mau Mau uprising and marriage, Denis’s business flourished, his team of tyers

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

grew, and he was exporting flies to twenty countries by the 1960s.

When Johnny retired from teaching, looking for a new challenge, and remembering the man he met in Rongai, he made some enquiries on a trip to UK and found he had an order for 300-dozen flies by the time he returned to Kenya. He then set about establishing a fly-tying business in Rongai, recruiting local tyers, which he called ‘Gone Fishing’. Today, in a good month, Gone Fishing, produces over 10,000-dozen flies and exports them to 15 different countries worldwide. COVID unsettled the market initially and Johnny had to lay-off most of his workforce, but during the summer months of 2020, fly-fishing www.mcc.co.ke

members’ achievements

Johnny Onslow pictured pre-Covid in his fly-tying workshop at Gone Fishing

in the UK and US became the perfect post-lockdown pursuit - natural socialdistancing, escape from the stifling confinement of working from home into the fresh outdoors, and peace from the clamour of endless bad news – and the orders slowly began to bite again.

In the last couple of decades the fly-tying industry has suffered the vagaries of overzealous conservationists, market forces and, most recently COVID-19, but today Kenya still produces an astonishing 60 per cent of the world’s supply of fishing flies, and Gone Fishing is a substantial contributor to Kenya’s extraordinary role in the fly fishing business, creating over 1000 different flies to meet the needs of their global clientele.

Chicken and pheasant feathers dyed and drying under the African sun, ready to be fashioned into flies, to catch fish in waters all over the world.

If the orders are anything to go by, the sportsman’s post-lockdown, must-have accessory, is a fly rod and a pouchful of jewellike flies from Gone Fishing – some Girdle Bugs, perhaps, or some Flashy Woolly Buggers, a Hippy Stomper or two – guaranteed to give you a lively afternoon fishing and provide sparkling conversation after. And they all come from a dynamic little workshop in Rongai, Kenya.

Johnny’s factory in Rongai is like walking into a fairy workshop. The stock room is stacked with fabulously exotic feathers, beads, ruffles and fur and gloriously extravagant bling and sparkle, and his workshop resembles the elves’ workshop preparing for Christmas. His tyers, several of them physically challenged, work quietly at their benches, each has a specific design to follow and each fly is rigorously checked to ensure it meets the exacting specifications of the design. www.mcc.co.ke

Johnny’s team at Gone Fishing has helped to develop flies for different Kenyan waters. January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

members’ ac hievements

Chemususu Fly Fish

Rainbow and Brown Trout were introduced to Ken extraordinary 7,000-mile translocation from UK by bo highland streams of Kenya, earned the Abe

To this day many rivers and dams are regularly re-stock built to provide drinking water to Baringo County, ha water trout fishing locations in the country, thanks to It all started back in 2015, in the Golf Club bar at Green Park, when MCC Member, the late Tommy Fjastad, fell into conversation with two Kenyans who were part of the contracting team building a dam in the Lembus Forest above Eldama Ravine. His curiosity piqued, Tommy drove up to the site and was delighted with what he found. The dam had a rock and earth wall 150 feet high holding back 180 acres of clear water that reached a depth of 130 feet in places. Tommy had an idea that he quickly shared with fellow MCC Members Tony and Colin Church. The dam had been built to supply drinking water to the communities of Eldama Ravine, Marigat and Kampi ya Samaki in Baringo County, and it occurred to Tommy that it might be good for trout. Tommy suggested that Tony and Colin go up to the dam and check the water temperature (20°c), clarity (clear), oxygen level (aerated by the Chebirara and Tenet rivers that feed the dam from Mau Summit) and found the mix ideal for Rainbow trout. After discussions with the Baringo County Governor and various other authorities, they bought 1,000 three-inch trout fingerlings and released them into the dam to see if they would survive. To their delight, the fingerlings not only survived, they thrived, and plans to establish the Chemususu Fly Fishers’ Organisation (CFFO) quickly developed.

In the five years it has taken to build up membership, fish stocks and community support, Chemususu Dam has had time to mellow. Ancient indigenous forest creeps down the steep valley sides to the shoreline, softening its recently-flooded raw edges. At 7,500 feet, it has an Alpine feel about it, the crisp rarefied air and cool clear waters offer a profound sense of tranquilty and peace. It is a beautiful wide lake, surprisingly well hidden in a deep, forested valley. The shallows are covered with lily pads festooned with their lilac blooms. The skeletal ghosts of trees that were flooded by the dam shimmer over the calm waters in spectral stands offering perches for cormorants, fish eagles and kingfishers, while below the surface they offer perfect shelter for the trout fingerlings that are released twice a year. Recently flocks of yellow bill and fulvous tree ducks have taken up residence. At daybreak, skeins of mist hang over the quiet waters and, occasionally, an angler drifts silently across the scene in his boat, ethereal in the magical dawn light, totally removed from the world (which is spinning, apparently out of control, not very far away).

With the subscriptions from membe Colin are able to stock the dam with To date, with the help of members, fingerlings.

waters with a total of 47,00

Passionate conservationists that Chemususu Dam is bo not only by keen anglers, so work hard to involve and su communities and, in partic Primary School.

Recently, using funds from CFFO has installed rainwat storage tanks at the school g drinking water on site for t

In 2017 CFFO were allowed to clear some forest undergrowth on the northern bank of the dam. Then a track with murram surface was hand built to access Colobus Campsite, named after the four troops of pied monkeys that live in the forest around the site. It has seven leveled areas to pitch tents. This is wild camping. CFFO has the full backing of the Baringo County Governor (BCG). The Deputy Governor attended the opening baraza and helped to release the first fingerlings into the dam. Since then Tony and Colin with enthusiastic members of CFFO have stocked the

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

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members’ achievements

hers’ Organisation

nya at the turn of the last century. After surviving an oat, train and ox cart, trout fingerlings released into the erdares the sobriquet ‘Scotland with Lions’.

ked by keen fly-fishermen and Chemususu Dam, recently as become the newest and arguably one of the best, stillo the efforts of MCC Members Tony & Colin Church. also laid 1,450m of piping to get running water to the school for washbasins and loos. Junctions to the Dispensary and cattle dip are included. This project has been a priority for CFFO in view of the recent pandemic.

ers and campsite fees, Tony and h trout fingerlings twice a year. they have released 47,000

00 trout fingerlings.

s, Tony and Colin, are keen oth valued and protected, o they, with the committee, upport the local cular, the local Chemususu

m fishing and camping fees, ter harvesting and water giving the 150 children the first time. They have

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It is fitting that, Dismas Arwaya, the Fish Warden hired to manage the campsite and fish record book, is an ex-pupil of Chemususu Primary School, pictured below between Colin (left) and Tony.

enjoy nature and savour the tranquility in the crisp highland air. Over 74 species of birds have been spotted around the dam and in camp and a butterfly list is on-going. It is a wonderful escape for both serious fly fishermen and for those who just enjoy escaping into nature at its most unspoilt. For further information – contact CFFO Chairman Tony Church tony@samawati.co.ke.

Fishing at Chemususu is best done from a boat and records for 2020 show that a total of 337 trout were caught over 157 rod days - 2.1 fish per rod per day. Currently, the average size of fish caught this year is approximately 2lbs and those that were kept weighed 1.25lbs on average. The biggest fish caught this year weighed 3lb 14oz. Chemususu Dam and Campsite is a glorious natural haven in which to relax and unwind. Members can

All trout brought to the net are in excellent condition.

CHEMUSUSU DAM FACT FILE CFFO Members:

112

Location:

Lembus Forest, Eldama Ravine, Baringo County

Distance from Nakuru:

one and a half hours on tarmac

Surface area of Dam:

180 acres of still water

Stocking rate:

5,000 fingerlings per year. Total released to date 47,000 Rainbow Trout.

Altitude:

7,500 feet

Bird Species:

74 and counting

Facilities:

Colobus Campsite has space for seven tents.

Activities:

Fly Fishing, Boating (only oars or electric engines), Kayaking, Birding, Camping & Nature.

Founding Members:

Tommy Fjastad, Tony Church, Colin Church, Colin Gunson and Peter Low.

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

members’ awards

MCC Member Nuru Mugambi has been recognised among the top 25 global Influencers in Green Finance by international asset builder Mandalore Partners. In 2012, MCC Member Nuru Mugambi started the Sustainable Finance Initiative for Kenya’s banking industry, helping to create a framework for Green Bond issuance in Kenya. Since then she has become a leading voice in sustainable finance, consistently engaging policymakers both at industry and government level. Green and sustainable banking impacts the economy, society and the environment. By bringing banking sustainability to these areas with responsible lending, financial planning for environmental risks and easy money transfers to help small and medium size businesses, Nuru is creating social and economic value and embracing environmental responsibility. Among other projects, within the social dimension of Sustainable Finance, Nuru is currently working on developing Digital Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). For this she is also learning sign language. Green and Sustainable banking is an emerging developing field and Nuru is selftaught learning all the time, but she plans to pursue graduate studies in the future.

Nuru with her daughter Makena at the MCC Classic Car Show. Makena co-hosted a Webinar on ‘Parenting through Covid’ with Nuru for Club Members last year.

“I am honoured to be included on this list of people who have been influencing governments and advising regulators and policy-makers around the world for many years. To have received this recognition is a marker that I am on the right track. Eventually, I believe all finance will be green and sustainable - it’s the good side of finance. It’s a dynamic space and I am learning all the time.” Nuru Mugambi Global Influencer in Green Finance

COMPETITION Answer to our July – October 2020 Competition QUESTION: In this photograph, what famous wedding present from East Africa is being presented to H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth? And who is making the presentation?

Question:

Name this building and the year this photograph was taken and on which occasion.

Prize: The first correct entry

that we receive will win dinner for two with a bottle of House Wine in either Pinks or the Club Dining Room. Please send your answers to communications@mcc.co.ke 16

ANSWER: The gift was the world’s largest and finest pink diamond (later set in a brooch) and it was given as a wedding present to H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth in 1947 by the two partners of Williamson Diamonds, Dr. John Thorburn Williamson and the Hon. Iqbal Chand Chopra, CBE, QC (pictured on the right.) grandfather to MCC Member Jarat Chopra. WINNER: Dr. Salma Ramji

DID YOU KNOW?

The pink diamond was given to HRH Princess Elizabeth as a personal present upon her engagement to HRH Prince Philip, and the British Parliament had to provide a special tax exemption, as taxation on this priceless gemstone would have been unaffordable. Iqbal Chand Chopra was then approached by members of the House of Lords regarding the cutting of the diamond, which took another five years, by which time, the King had died, and the cutting and setting of the diamond became a Coronation present for the new Queen. I.C. Chopra made the presentation of the final brooch at Buckingham Palace in 1953. The Queen has since worn the brooch on many public engagements.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

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bird quiz

Bird Quiz

I take a two-hour stroll every Sunday in a local farming area within Nairobi's boundary. The birds I see are familiar and mostly easy to identify. Some may need a second look to be sure, but you should have no difficulty in recognising these common birds seen on Valentine's Day. (Answers on Page 29)

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January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

remembering the unremembered

The East African Campaign of the Great War is a story of heroic human endeavour and terrible suffering set in some of the most difficult terrain in the world. More than a century later, Tom Lawrence explains why it is time it is Remembered.

The East African Campaign in WWI has frequently and inaccurately, been dubbed as a 'sideshow' to the main theatre of war battled out on the European Western Front, but it is an unfortunate trivialisation and diminishes the enormity of the human loss and what became Britain’s most financially costly and ultimately tragically ineffective conflict of the Great War. It did not suffer the horror of the trenches, but it was a no less significant campaign with horrors all of its own. Not only was it the longest campaign of the Great War, BEA was the only British colony to be invaded and occupied by the Germans; it was the first territory to legislate mandatory conscription and a huge assembly of different armies was drafted in from all over the Empire, including approximately one million Africans as porters to carry food, equipment and ammunition. By the end of the campaign, the diversity of troops and countries involved in East and Central Africa was unrivalled in any other single theatre of war. In all, 23 countries deployed troops to the campaign, and around 75 per cent of those serving died from malnutrition, malaria, dysentery, blackwater fever and wild animals disease killed or incapacitated 30 men for every man killed in battle on the British side. 18

Photos courtesy Louisa Thornhill & Lotte Rasmussen What is generally forgotten is that the EA Campaign was all part of a 'World War,' which stretched from the Far East to Africa. The first casualty from a shot fired in anger was nowhere near Flanders but in Africa. One day after the Declaration of War (4 August 1914) the British and French made a fast

move to destroy a radio mast at Kamina in the German colony of Togoland in West Africa (now Togo). This was critical as it meant that the more southern colonies of German East Africa and German South West Africa were now isolated from the Fatherland. In East Africa General von Lettow-

Envoys from Tanzania, Britain, Malawi, Sudan and Belgium - all representing the combatant nations in East Africa, attended the third Remembrance Weekend held in Taita Taveta in 2020.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

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remembering the unremembered Vorbeck advanced into Taveta on the 15 August 1914, initiating the conflict by shooting dead the East African Border Policeman Murimi Mwiti, closely followed, in retaliation, by Ernst von Bock. Europe didn't get going until 22 August when John Parr was the first of millions to be killed on the Western Front. The first naval encounters were also part of the East African campaign, with the Konigsberg sinking the first civilian ship of the war -The City of Winchester, which was stopped, and then stripped of her cargo and coal, and then sunk on the 6th August. The Konigsberg then went on to sink HMS Pegasus in Zanzibar harbour - hopelessly outgunned, and unable to move as she was having her boilers cleaned - a regular necessity due to the poor quality of South African coal that the Indian Ocean fleet used. In contrast to the Western Front, the distances in East Africa were enormous and troop numbers were low. When 50,000 British, Indian, South African and Belgian troops advanced into German East Africa from the north and east in early 1916 they did so on a front 1,500 miles long – almost twice the length of France.

By the end of the conflict the African troops had proved their worth in the ‘White man’s War’ and had taken over as the main fighting force of the campaign. Their role was pivotal and they embraced the challenge with courage and honour. By 1918, the East Africa campaign encompassed 750,000 square miles – an area three times the size of the German Reich - the British had

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Brigadier Joachim Mwamburi with British Defense Adviser Nairobi Brigadier Mark Thornhill at the third Remembrance Weekend held in Taita Taveta in 2020. James Willson, author of 'Guerillas of Tsavo', and MCC Member Tom Lawrence, were also in attendance. committed at least 180,000 troops and drafted a million carriers to keep them in the field. It had cost the Empire £72,000,000 to fight a war, thousands of miles from European soil. After four years of bloody fighting, a ceasefire was finally declared on 11 November 1918, but in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) von Lettow was still fighting his guerilla tactics. Message finally reached him that the war had ended and he marched to Abercorn and laid down his arms - he didn't surrender - to General Edwards on 25 November 1918 - a full two weeks later than Europe, making the East African Campaign both the longest campaign of the war and the costliest since the Napoleonic Wars and the only part of British Territory to be occupied by the Germans in the whole of conflict. The significance of the 25 November is being revived in Kenya, in the formation of an 'East African Remembrance Day' and by 'Remembering the Unremembered', Kenya is honouring all the thousands of East African soldiers and carriers who died while fighting and supporting the Allied troops and the many who fell with no known grave. Of the porters

who died, 45,000 were Kenyan, about 13 percent of the country’s total adult male population. Last year the third Remembrance Weekend was held in Taita Taveta, fully supported by the KDF led by Brigadier Joachim Mwamburi and was attended by representatives from Tanzania, Britain, Malawi, Sudan and Belgium all representing the combatant nations in East Africa - as well as additional international representation from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Qatar and Serbia. James Willson, author of 'Guerillas of Tsavo', and MCC Member Tom Lawrence, were also in attendance. At the end of the war, General Kitchener was proved right - the East African Campaign was drawn out, it drained the European war effort and had no major impact on the final outcome of the war, but it was, by no stretch of the imagination, a ‘side show.’

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

edita’s ballet and opera programme

‘Notre-Dame de Paris’

I have only recently discovered this wonderful performance by the “Ballet de l’Opera de Paris.” Starring some of their best solo ballet dancers ‘NotreDame de Paris’ is the well-known tragic and moving story of the Hunch-back of Notre-Dame, here movingly recounted through the medium of classical ballet. ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’ will be screened on Thursday 18 March in the Ballroom at 11am.

‘Le Cygne'

The German Piano and Violin Duo ‘Le Cygne” that were originally booked to perform last Easter, and who had to postpone to October 2020 are now definitely (although nothing is definite anymore) coming at Easter 2021. The programme originally included Beethoven - to celebrate his 250th anniversary - and some Clara Schumann, whose centenary fell in 2019. This was particularly poignant as the pianist half of the duo, Heike-Angela, is a direct descendent of Clara Schumann. The duo will spend much of their time in Kenya teaching at “Ghetto Classics” with the aim of preparing one pupil well enough to join them in the concert at Muthaiga Club. ‘Le Cygne’ will be performing live on Wednesday 8 April 2021 in the Ballroom at 6.00 pm.

‘Cinderella’ by Alma Deutscher

The Opera ‘Cinderella’ composed by Alma Deutscher is not the Cinderella you know. It seemed demeaning to Alma that Cinderella was attractive because her feet were small, so she cast Cinderella as a composer and her Prince as a poet. But what makes this opera truly astonishing is the fact that it was written by Alma when she was twelve years old, Something that has never been done since Mozart's first opera, which in fact is boring, whereas this one is not at all! ‘Cinderella’ has been performed around the world to standing ovations and international critical acclaim. It is an opera of astounding wit, craft, and musical beauty, with an effervescent sense of musical humour. ‘Cinderella’ by Alma Deutscher will be screened on Thursday 29 April 2021 in the Ballroom at 6.00 pm.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

On Thursday 29th April 2021 at 6.00 pm in the Ball Room

Film and Canapés: Members: KES 1,900, Members’ guests: KES 2,200 Member’s children KES 1,000 Guest’s children KES 1,250 Dinner charges KES1,950

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book reviews

New Arrivals HAMNET by Maggie O’Farrell ‘Hamnet’ must surely be one of the most brilliant novels published last year. The story is about William Shakespeare and his lesser-known family. His wife Agnes, also known as Ann Hathaway, has borne him three children, Susanna, then twins, Judith and his son Hamnet. Little is known about Hamnet, nor is it recorded how he died, but O’Farrell suggests the plague was the cause for his death as Bubonic plague was spread by fleas carried by the black rat, and usually appeared every summer in London. Even the flea has a vital part to play in this story. O’Farrell has an uncanny ability to bring these late years of the sixteenth century vividly to life. She takes us to the London theatre where we see William at work, and on the stage. Back in Stratford-upon-Avon she draws a vibrantly authentic picture of rural England drawing the reader in almost to feel part of it. Her characterisation is equally luminous, and the story sweeps us along with a flair that brings each character and every scene dynamically to life. There is very little existing information about Shakespeare’s only son, but O’Farrell has created an imaginative story round what Hamnet might have been like, so that hopefully he will be remembered more clearly than he hitherto has been. ‘Hamnet’ is so unusual adjectives such as unputdownable and outstanding, simply fail to suffice. The book is all of these, and much, much more, I have seldom been so enthralled by a book.

THE EVENING AND THE MORNING by Ken Follett Follett has described this as the ‘prequel’ to his earlier masterpiece of storytelling, ‘The Pillars of the Earth,’ a book once started that was impossible to put down. I read it first, my husband didn’t think it was ‘his kind of book’ but when begun, little sense came out of him until he’d finished it too. ‘The Evening and the Morning’ is not as compelling as ‘Pillars of the Earth,’ and it’s a long read. The plot is set in tenth century Anglo-Saxon England, where Viking invasions are causing destruction and fear. The story begins with one such raid and extreme loss of life. Those who are left, begin again in the village of Combe. A wedding takes place between Ragna, daughter of an aristocratic Norman family and Anglo-Saxon Wilwulf, also of noble family. They are happily married, but soon Wilwulf is obliged to go and defend the realm against both the Welsh and the Vikings. In his absence Ragna becomes deputy ruler. Her position is threatened by her mother-in-law, Wilwulf’s stepmother, who is ambitious only for her own sons. As the story progresses, the excitement grows palpably and tension builds. The action is built round three main characters – Edgar, who survived the Viking raid, Ragna and an ambitious monk who seeks to better his monastery. Follett himself is a remarkable author, simply because he has never stooped to produce ‘potboilers’, in other words books just to keep his name in the public eye. Here is one of his best. www.mcc.co.ke

KENYA KALEIDOSCOPE by AGNES R. SHAW, OBE.

When I first came to Kenya, everyone knew of ‘Aggie’ Shaw’ - a vociferous member of what was Leg Co, alias Legislative Council, later Parliament after Independence. Kenya news in these far-off days was hard to come by. We, being Colonial Government servants, lived in Embu. Transistor radios had not been invented, while an ‘ordinary’ radio had to be run off the Landrover battery. It was never very distinct (hard too on the battery.) The East African Standard arrived once a week only, on Fridays, by bus. Thus my knowledge of Aggie herself was limited. She did not write her book until 1973, and it has just very recently been published. Here is a brilliant autobiography of an amazing lady whose thinking was well in advance of her time, and who never lost her sense of humour, or her moral standards. Kenya has a history in which she played a significant part. The interest of the book is certainly not just for those who are now decidedly ancient and recollect Aggie: she holds an integral role in how this beautiful country developed and how well it has done – not without problems admittedly - but nonetheless it has suffered much fewer ills than many African countries, and come through its troubled times successfully, thanks to people such as Mzee Kenyatta himself, Michael Blundell, Aggie and many others. Aggie and her husband were originally Sotik farmers. Her account of the difficulties of farming in these early days is fascinating, showing that life in remote areas of Kenya was not exactly a piece of cake. When Independence arrived, the country was lucky, as although it was desperately difficult, let alone tragic for many colonialist farmers to accept either giving up their farms, even with compensation, or to decide whether to stay on, if given the choice. It was thanks to the good team in Leg Co. that things went as well as they did, although there were many gloomy predictions at the time. People like Michael Blundell, Aggie and of course Mzee Kenyatta himself perhaps never did gain the recognition due to them at the time, but with the ‘foresight of hindsight’ they fulfilled a great deal more than they ever received credit for. All this, and much more, is contained in Kenya Kaleidoscope, which is both a gripping story as well as almost being a historical document. The book – highly recommended and very readable - will be launched officially at MCC on the 15 April 2021. Julia Lawrence

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

h at c h e s

m at c h e s fo re

Engagement Announcement Lawrence Kennedy to Jessica Sedwell On behalf of his wife the late Gillie Horsley-Kennedy, Peter Kennedy is very proud to announce the engagement of their only son Lorian (Bezzy) Kennedy, to Jessica Sedwell, daughter of Kate Sanderson of Hereford, England.

fo re

Henry Carr & Cara Prettejohn Henry Patrick Carr, only son of Richard and Alison Carr of Banbury, England, married Cara Gillian Gwynne Prettejohn, only daughter of Giles and Ali Prettejohn, of Laikipia, Kenya. The wedding was held on 4th January 2020 at Kihoto Farm, home of Ali & Giles, in Laikipia.

Amélie Mae Mackenzie

Iris Athena Walker

Born 2nd July, 2020 in Queensland, Australia. To Georgia (née Mullan) and Matty Mackenzie of Queensland, Australia. First er of grandchild to Eamon and Lesley Mullan of Nairobi and second grandchild to Ken and Jenny Mackenzie of Queensland, Australia.

Born 2nd March 2019, Chelsea London. To Isabella (née er of Lorenzi) and Charles James (Jamie) Walker of Maui Hawaii. First grandchild to Lucia Rhodehamel and Mark Lorenzi of Kula Hawaii, and eighth grandchild to Belinda and Patrick Walker of Nairobi, Kenya.

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

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h at c h e s

fo re

m at c h e s fo re

Milly Moon Fleur Ray

Ivor Michael McCorkell

Born 22nd December 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya. To Lara (née Simpkin) and Kyle Ray of Watamu, Kenya. Little sister to Rollo. Fourth grandchild to Jeanette Ray and Martin Haylock of Karen, Kenya and second grandchild to Sophie and Piers Simpkin of Karen, Kenya.

Born 17th January 2021 in Nairobi, Kenya. To Lydia (née Craig) and George McCorkell of Lewa Downs, Kenya. Little brother to Orla. Second grandchild to Will and Emma Craig of Lewa Downs, Kenya and fourth grandchild to Barry and Lucy McCorkell of Lanarkshire, Scotland. er of

William Arlo Laurence Luke (given name Arlo)

James Assheton Powys Morley er of

Born on 21st April 2020, in Hinton St. George, Somerset, UK. To Julia Walker & William Luke of Kilifi, Kenya. Sixth grandchild to Trish & Quentin Luke of Tigoni and seventh grandchild to Belinda & Patrick Walker of Nairobi & Kilifi, Kenya.

Born on 25th June 2020 in Midland, Texas, USA To Allison (née McDonnold) and Geoffrey Morley of Gilgil, Kenya. First grandchild to Hollyce & Kyle McDonnold of Midland Texas, USA and to Tisha & John Morley of Timau, Kenya.

All newly-weds who send in their wedding photo for publication will be offered a romantic dinner for two with a bottle of House wine, either at Pinks or in the Club Dining Room. Send your photos and details to secretariat@mcc.co.ke and please send high-resolution images.

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January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

Christmas Draw Prize Winners 2020 We have always received tremendous support from our Members, but this year, despite all the restrictions and shortcomings brought about by Covid, our Members donated more prizes this year than ever before, confirming the dynamic spirit of Muthaiga. Sincere thanks to the 35 Members who supported us this year who, between them, donated 58 of the 220 prizes. Winners who have not yet collected their prizes are kindly requested to do so before 30 April 2021. Prizes can be collected from Erastus everyday between 12 and 2pm.

Prize Winner

A Year CREDIT to use ALL facilities and services at MCC to the

Dinner for 4 at Nyama Choma Ranch, Safari Park Hotel

Richard Ndung'u

value of Ksh. 200,000/=

2 x Return Flights to Upcountry, Safarilink

Nassra Abass

A Year CREDIT to use ALL facilities and services at MCC to the

1 x Camel Leather Cabin Luggage

Kenneth Kaniu

value of Ksh 100,000/-

1 x Sets of Thermos Cooler Boxes 40 Litres & 10 Litres

Roger Sylvester

4 x Nights for 2 guests BlueBay Beach Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

James Clark

1x Sundowner Cocktails plus Tumblers

Patrick van Oudgaarden

2 x Nights for 2 guests + B&B at Driftwood Beach Club

Stella Mwangi

1 x Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones

Martin Dunford

1 x 55" Samsung UHD Smart TV

Craig A. Oulton

1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Patrick Obath

Dinner for 6 guests including two bottles of house wine

Gregory O. Oduor

1 x LG 23 Litre Microwave Oven

Ian Edwards

at Muthaiga Country Club, Red Room

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Mburu Karanja

1 x Inflatable 2-Real Man Kayak plus Pump

Christina Andersen

1 x 30,000/= Voucher Craig’s Sports

Christopher Kinyanjui

1 x Family trip for 4 to Ragati Conservancy for 2 days fishing

John Gethi

1 x Bose Soundlink Colour II (Red)

Jonathan Coulson

and 1 Night at Ndongoro

1 x Brown Cheese Hampers

Eamon Mullan

1 x Day Big Game Fishing and 1 night for 2, Pemba Channel Safaris Ltd

Peter Wanday

1 x Set of 2 Ornamental ‘Kukus’

Cirino Ofuho

1 x Case of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Jonathan Evans

1x Sleep Study Consultation, Sleep Lab Africa

Janet Barlow

2 x Nights Self-Catering at Samawati House, Msambweni

Stuart Allison

1 x Sandstorm Laikipia Long Weekender Bag

Anis Pringle

Bravecto Pets Supplies Hampers for Cats & Dogs

Boniface Kariuki

1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Jeremy Wyatt

1 x Hand carved Mirror – White Heat

Simon Roberts

2 x Safarilink Return Flight Tickets to Coast

Eugene Ngumi

1x 10,000/= Vouchers, Healthy U

Justus Ogalo

1 x Night for 2 guests at Lake Elementeita Serena Camp

Rodney Evans

1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Ashley Kihara

1 x Vintage Crafted Mirror, Linda Camm

Jolyon Mills

1 x Handcrafted Silver Bangles by George Simpson

Jeremy Block

1 x Set of 5 Piece Saucepans

Ursula Brenneisen

1x 10,000/= Vouchers, Healthy U

Nova Morgan-Woods

1 x Kingsize John Lewis Penguin Duvet Cover

Ross Withey

1 x Wooden Chopping Board + Knife Set, Nyoka Moto

Philip Mathews

1x Ornamental brass Lantern

Patrick Obath

1 x Sets of Garden Jewellery, Kitengela Glass

Richard Ndung'u

1 x Handwoven Iranian Kilim Carpet

Philip Kyriazi

1 x Dalle Kitengela Glass Table + Chairs

Alex Shipiri

Lunch for 2 at Thorn Tree Restaurant, Sarova Hotels

Colin Waruhiu

1 x 150 Litre Hotpoint Chest Freezer

David Hutchison

1 x Hotpoint Cooker 3 Gas + 1 Electric

Michele Castegnaro

1 x Sandstorm James Moore Bag

Stephen Kunyiha

1 x Kitengela Glass Juice +Water Dispenser

Clair Mathews

1 x Gin Making Set + Kitengela Glass Decanter

Susan Kirima

1 x Luxury Food Hampers from Green Spoon 15,000/-

Frances More

1x Cocktail Sundowner Tumblers

Bridget Davis

1 x Sandstorm Explorer Bag

Paris Issaias

1x Bakuli Blue Ceramic Hanging Flowerpot

James Kahiu

Lunch for 2 Guests + Bottle of Wine, Tamarind Dhow

Darshna Patel

Family Brunch & Jazz for 2 guests at Hemingways Karen

Michael Evans

1 x Sets of Kitengela Water Jug + Glasses

Horace Burnett

1 x Braun Food Processor

Christopher Wade

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Simon Wairegi

1x Home-made Christmas Cake

Boniface Kariuki

1x Home-made Christmas Cake

Des Bowden

1 x 32” Samsung LED Smart TV

Charles C-Clause

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Boniface Kariuki

1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Charles Njithi

1 x Handcrafted Silver Bangles by George Simpson

Michele Castegnaro

1 x Christmas Hamper, Farmer’s Choice

Graham Dean

1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Ian Stevens

1 x Samsung tablet 10.4"

David Kunyiha

1 x Car Breakdown Accessories plus MCC Umbrella

Ian Sharp

1 x LG 202 Litre Fridge

Christian Larsen

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Patrick van Oudgaarden

1x Philips Shaver Unit with Wash Bag

David Hutchison

2 x Nights for 4 guests at Takashak House, Takaungu

Vincent Maddison

1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Njoroge Ng'ang'a

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Matthew Barton

1x Home-made Christmas Cake

Brian Plumbe

Bravecto Pets Supplies Hampers for Cats & Dogs

Oliver Benham

2 x Nights for 2 guests at Sarova Lionhill Game Lodge

Eric Mungai

by Cooper (K) Brands Ltd

1 x Ornamental Table lamps with Glass Shades

Jack Robertson

1 x Cocktail Sundowner Tumblers

Jonathan Evans

1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Richard Ndung'u

1 x 40,000/= Voucher Wood Charm

Stephen Strong

2 x nights for 2 at Kilima Safari Camp, Mada Hotels

Ken Waibochi

Shushi, Sashimi & Sangria for 2 at Hemingways Karen

Ian Stevens

1 x Suede Ladies Handbag, Bush Princess

Stefan Andersen

1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Gerald Cunningham

1 x Nikon Professional Bird & Game Watching Binoculars

Marion Weston

100 1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Anis Pringle

1x Handwoven Persian Kilim Carpet

Noordin Adamali

101 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Kevin Nyutu

1 x Luxury Food Hampers from Green Spoon 15,000/-

John Lloyd

102 Dinner for 2 guests at Sarova Panafric,

David Hutchison

2 x nights for 2 guests FB at Ashnil Samburu Camp

David Hutchison

1 x Sandstorm Kimana Bag

Stephen Kunyiha

103 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Sean Garstin

1 x Kindle Paperwhite E-reader plus protective cover

Giles Littlewood

104 1 x GoPro Hero 7 Camera with Harness Set

Marinella Donati

1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Nicholas Hutchinson

105 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Jeremy Wyatt

1 x Christmas Hamper, Farmer’s Choice

Roger Sylvester

106 1 x Taylormade 2018 Golf Bag plus Umbrella

Patricia Combes

2 x Return Flights to Coast, Safarilink

Fredrick Brendon

107 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Marion Weston

1 x Bathroom Scales and Luxury towel set

Nyokabi Kiarie

108 1 x Kenwood Juice Extractor

Jonathan Evans

1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Julio Garrido-Mirapeix

109 1 x Sets of Kitengela Water Jug + Glasses

Sophie Kyriazi

1 x Car Breakdown Accessories plus MCC Umbrella

Julio Garrido-Mirapeix

110 1 x Sets of Thermos Cooler Boxes 40 Litres & 10 Litres

Chris Kariuki

1 x Langstroth Beehive plus Starter Kit

John Barnard

111

Boniface Kariuki

1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Sheelagh Zagoritis

112 1 x RockRider Mountain Bike

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

Graham Dean Stephen Strong

Flame Tree Restaurant, Sarova Hotels

Gift Voucher for 15,000/=, Little Red Group Ltd

Helen Dalton

www.mcc.co.ke

Christmas Draw Prize Winners 2020

Prize Winner

113 1 x Original Watercolour Painting by Frances Simpson

Sebastian McKinlay

167 2 x Nights for 2 guests at Sarova Shaba Game Lodge,

Parmindar Lotay

114 1 x UE Wonderboom Wireless Speakers + Hard case

Patrick Henfrey

168 1 x Sets of Garden Jewellery, Kitengela Glass

Stephen Strong

115 1 x Sets of Kitengela Water Jug + Glasses

Sarit Raja-Shah

169 1 x Home-made Christmas Cake

Danton Vorster

116 1 x Kenwood Kettle + Toaster Set

Jitu Nathwani

170 1 x Sleep Study Consultation, Sleep Lab Africa

Patrick J. Henfrey

117 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Jane Parmley

171 1 x Handcrafted King size Cotton Bedcover from India

Tanvinder Dhariwal

118 1 x Home-made Christmas Cake

Patrick van Oudgaarden

172 1 x 2 Man Tent + 2 Sleeping Bags

Gerald Cunningham

119 1 x Hotpoint Hand Mixer + Kenwood Sandwich Maker

Michael Hopkins

173 1 x Brown Cheese Hampers

Sarit Raja-Shah

120 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Thomson Aikman

174 2 x Nights for 8 guests at Chingwede House, Msambweni

Jonathan Coulson

121 1 x Home-made Christmas Cake

Roger Allen

175 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Christopher Kinyanjui

122 1 x Eco Christmas Tree with Decorations

Deborah Sickmueller

176 1 x Free Last Will Legal Consultation for 2 people

Nyokabi Kiarie

123 1 x Sandstorm Metrina Long Weekender Bag

Paul Muite

177 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers, Healthy U

Pratul Shah

124 1 x Gift Voucher 10,000/=, Kitengela Hot Glass

Patrick Henfrey

178 1 x Dalle Square Coffee Table, Kitengela Glass

Richard Coate

125 1 x Powerbeats Wireless Earphones

Christopher Ballard

179 1 x Camel Leather Cabin Luggage

Darshna Patel

126 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

John Syekei

180 1 x 12v Petrol Generator, Davis + Shirtliff

Philip Toye

127 1 x Single Duvet Cover plus Throw

Antony Church

181 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

David Hutchison

128 1 x One Hand Wooven Alpac Wool Pashmina

Aislinn Killian

182 1 x Chuma Works Towel Rack with Luxury Towels

Alexander McLeish

129 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Young-Kwan Roh

183 1 x Camel leather Men Wallet plus MCC Goodies

Alan Collis

130 1 x Hotpoint Stand Fan with remote Control

Steve Mullens

184 1 x Cleaning & Polishing, Muthaiga Dental Care

Edward Morrison

131 1 x Brown Cheese Hampers

Nizar Hemraj

185 1 x Luxury Food Hampers from Green Spoon 15,000/-

Sarit Raja-Shah

132 2 x Safarilink Return Flight Tickets to Coast

Mike Craig

186 1 x Revival Mini Robert’s Digital Radio

Elizabeth Wily

133 1 x Single Duvet Cover sets with Throw

David Hutchison

187 1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Ashok Desai

134 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Alphan Njeru

188 2 x Nights for 8 guests at Kweisos House, Homa Lime

Jonathan Evans

135 1 x Sets of Kitengela Water Jug + Glasses

Oliver Benham

189 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Luis Galiana

136 1 x Muthaiga Bundle

Pratul Shah

190 1 x Cleaning + Whitening Session, One Oak Dental Studio

David Kamau

137 1 x Night B&B for 2 for 2 guests at Safari Park Hotel

Jeremy Wyatt

191 2 x Nights for 4 guests at Rutundu Self Help Cabins

Nyambura Kimani

138 1 x Turkish Handcrafted Glass Mosaic Vase

Jeremy Block

192 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Michael Hopkins

139 2 x Nights for 2 Guests, Tamarind Tree House Hotel

Oscar Kang’oro

193 1 x Cocktail Sundowner Tumblers

Boniface Kariuki

140 1 x Kingsize John Lewis Elephant Duvet Cover

Judith Kunyiha

194 1 x Ornamental Table lamps with Glass Shades

Nicholas Nesbitt

141 1 x Langstroth Beehive plus Starter Kit

Elizabeth Mwangi

195 1 x Kindle Paperwhite E-reader plus protective cover

Sanjay Gidoomal

142 3 x Nights for 4 guests on B&B at Nderit House, Kilifi

John Cokayne

196 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Ariana Issaias

143 1 x Camel leather Men Wallet plus MCC Goodies

Katharine N. Gunson

197 1 x Brown Cheese Hampers

Gachara Ng'ang'a

144 1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Thomas Pye

198 1 x 30,000 Voucher Silk Road

Hildabeta Amiani

145 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Oscar Kang’oro

199 1 x Dalle Round Coffee Table, Kitengela Glass

Stella Mwangi-

146 1 x Brother Printer T510W

Patricia Combes

200 1 x Cosori Air Fryer + Recipe Book

Horace Burnett

147 1 x Original painting by Bettina Roedling

Catherine Gitobu

201 Full Mouth Cleaning & Polishing, Muthaiga Dental care

John Lloyd

148 1 x Hand painted Ceramic Mini Trinket Box from India

George Issaias

202 1 x Revival Mini Roberts Digital Radio

David Hutchison

149 1 x Cocktail Sundowner Tumblers

Ian Edwards

203 1 x Camel Leather Laptop Bag

Boniface Kariuki

150 1 x FitBit Versa 3 Smart watch

Jorgen Oberg

204 1 x Couture Sunglasses, Optica Kenya

Ross Withey

151 3 x Nights for 8 guests at Jinchini House, Msambweni

John Lloyd

205 1 x Bean Bag + a Safari Blanket

David Hutchison

152 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Rajesh Maini

206 1 x Camel Leather Laptop Bag

Peter Ruysenaars

153 1 x Muthaiga Bundle

David Hutchison

207 1 x Half Day Workshop on Stress Effect, Albain Institute

Adam Withey

154 1 x Bose Soundlink Colour II (Citron)

Marion Weston

208 1 x Suede Ladies Bucket Handbag, Bush Princess

Chris Kariuki

155 1 x Christmas Hamper, Farmer’s Choice

Carol Stemp

209 1 x Set of Vintage Glass Candle Holders

Jeffrey Rees

156 1 x Samsung tablet 10.1"

Edward Morrison

210 1 x Hand Carved Mirror, White Heat

James Brooks

157 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Christopher Outram

211 1 x Italian Lamp

Richard Coate

158 1 x 10,000/= Vouchers for Mr. Price

Kariuki Ngari

212 1 x Original painting by Bettina Roedling

Mebs Tejpar

159 1 x Nikon Professional Bird & Game Watching Binoculars

Betty Musau

213 1 x Single John Lewis Flamingo Print Duvet Cover + Throw

Philip Kyriazi

160 1 x 10,000/= Voucher for Carrefour Supermarket

Roger Sylvester

214 1 x Sandstorm Canvas Weekender Bag

Nicholas Nesbitt

161 1 x Night for 2 guests B&B at Hemingways, Karen

David Hutchison

215 1 x Original Water Colour Painting by Katie Simpson

Gachara Ng'ang'a

162 1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Peter Ruysenaars

216 1 x Italian Lamp

Bridget Davis

163 1 x GoPro Hero 7 Camera with Harness Set

Martin Dyer

217 1 x Safari Lounge Coffee Selection with Coffee Filter

Ken Waibochi

164 1 x Selection of Mixed Wines, Domaine Kenya

Richard Muigai

218 1 x Safari Lounge Coffee Selection with Coffee Filter

Kevin Rodrigues

165 1 x Luxury Food Hampers from Green Spoon 15,000/-

Budgeree Langat

219 1 x Wireless Officecore Speakerphone

Michael Hopkins

166 1 x Luxury Christmas Hamper, MCC

Patricia Combes

220 1 x FitBit Versa 3 Smart Watch

Jocelyn Taylor

www.mcc.co.ke

January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

obituaries

May 1924 - July 2020

John Atrup Nielsen Royal Danish Veterinary & Agricultural University from where he graduated as a veterinary surgeon shortly after the War.

John Atrup Nielsen has died at the age of 96 after a fall at his home. John was born on the small Danish island of “Bogø,” where, having lost his mother as a small child, and with his father a Captain in the Danish Merchant Navy, away at sea most of the time, he was brought up by his grandmother. During WWII he did not see his father for five years. After completing High School John went to Copenhagen to study at the

After some years of working as a vet, John bought his own practice. He was, by then, married to Ulla and they had two sons, Søren and Lars. However, in the 1950s, the inherited zest for travel made John sell his practice and travel to Oklahoma, US, to work in a large slaughterhouse. This was the beginning of a life lived abroad for John and his family. Working as a veterinary surgeon for FAO he went to Iraq and Somalia. He then took overseas assignments in the Danish Foreign Ministry in countries including India, Kenya and Tanzania where he was appointed Chief of the Danish Foreign Aid office, DANIDA. His last assignment was with ICRC, where he managed a large programme vaccinating cattle in South Sudan, after which, John retired with Ulla to Nairobi. John had two main hobbies - hunting and golf – and he was able to indulge both

Michael Eustace Aronson Mike Aronson was born in Kenya after his parents moved to Nairobi from South Africa. He was a proud Kenyan citizen from Independence and never acquired a second nationality. He did his early schooling at Charterhouse in England and in 1940 he returned to Africa to finish his education at Hilton College in Durban, SA. From there he graduated from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Mike’s parents divorced in 1943 and he returned to Nairobi to join his father, and learn the coffee trade, but after the War he changed tack and went to study law at Cambridge University. When he returned to Kenya he was appointed District Officer in Embu during the State of Emergency, and was in charge of the notorious Mwea settlement where thousands of Mau Mau freedom fighters were sent to open the modern day irrigation project. Later he was appointed Chief Lands Registrar, working in land administration both before and after Independence, and was closely involved in the rolling out of the land resettlement schemes. 26

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

throughout his travels. John was a very good shot and gathered a fine collection of rare trophies from the many countries he visited. He was a keen member of the Karen Golf Club where he played right into his nineties. John took a great interest in other people and had a fantastic memory for names and events. He was a wonderful raconteur and entertained his family and friends recounting the many exciting events he had experienced during his travels. He told them with his dry Danish humour, which was very amusing. He was a frequent visitor to the Club and would come almost daily to collect his mail and read the newspapers. He also particularly enjoyed Curry Lunch on Sundays. John was a longstanding Member of the Club and he will be missed by his many friends and the staff who knew him. He was a Member for almost 35 years. Jens O. Bang

October 1926 - October 2020

Later, Mike joined Kaplan & Stratton as a partner and it was in land matters that he distinguished himself. He was a member of both the Njonjo Commission on Land and also the Vice Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Illegal/ Irregular Allocation of Public Land, which came to be known as the Ndung’u Commission. Mike was married twice - his first wife Marion was American and was the Bureau Chief of ‘Newsweek’ in Nairobi. She died in 1972. Mike married Suzanne, who hailed originally from New Zealand, in 1974. He had no children of his own but ‘inherited’ two stepdaughters, Imogen and Melanie. He was a very good stepfather and was very proud of his great and great-great step grandchildren. Mike joined the Club in 1969 and became a Life Member in 2009. He was a very active and much treasured Member, never afraid to share his views on life in general and the Club in particular in a full, frank and witty manner. In that regard, Mike was a wonderful purveyor of gossip, particularly when it concerned the legal profession,

and was known by some of his closest legal colleagues as the ‘Mine of Disinformation’. He had a very sharp mind and possessed a photographic memory. He could recollect dates and people right up to the end of his life. Mike is survived by his stepdaughters Imogen Rumbold and Melanie Scott and nieces Valerie Botta, Sarah Culhane and nephew Nigel Mathews.

www.mcc.co.ke

obituaries

August 1935 – June 2020

Diana Lettice Shaw Diana or “Dinah”, née Kingsford was born in Nairobi in August 1935, a second child to “Tiny” and Cecily Kingsford of Togi Farm, Limuru. She attended Limuru Girls’ School, getting there and back mainly on horseback, then St. Andrews, Turi (by train) and then Kenya High School – cheerfully known as the Heifer Boma. After school she completed Nursery Nursing training at St. Thomas’ Hostel in London, which fulfilled her lifelong love of looking after small babies and children. Dinah married Michael Shaw, in January 1959 and remained happily married to him until his death in 2015. They raised three children, Christopher, Nigel and Tessa. It was during the latter part of their time at Mweiga that Diana became the sole bread-winner of the family teaching at Nyeri Nursery School, whilst Mike was in Nairobi studying law. The family soon returned to Togi Farm and moved into the house that Tiny had built, and Diana set up her own nursery school at Brackenhurst.

Marian Slade

As well as being a devoted wife, Diana was also an able sportswoman. She and Mike made a formidable pair on the tennis court and she represented Muthaiga Club in both tennis and squash. Diana selflessly devoted her life to others, whether it was her own immediate family or other people. She headed the Limuru/Kiambu branch of the EAWL for many years and she hugely enjoyed her year as Vice National Chairman as this entailed touring Kenya and visiting other branches. She was also a member of the Benevolence Committee for many years. Diana was a key driver in the creation of Fairseat Foundation. She ensured that it became the beautiful, comfortable and happy home for the elderly that it remains today. Up until a few months before her death she was a regular visitor there and brought joy to many of the residents. After Mike died Diana became an energetic and intrepid traveler, and together with her sister Susie Alleyne, they enjoyed many safaris and adventures. Diana also devoted much of her time to preserving and enhancing the

www.mcc.co.ke

Diana was a Member of Muthaiga Club for 59 years. At an appropriate time a Memorial Service will be held for Diana in her beloved Limuru Church, of which she was a devoted supporter until her death.

September 1939 – January 2021 Marian remained a committed Kenyan, selflessly and unfailingly helping those less fortunate than herself. A prime example was when the US embassy was bombed by Al-Qaeda, she went immediately to see what contribution and support she could give.

Marian Slade (née Frost) was born in South Africa in September 1939. She and her brother David soon moved to Kenya where their Salvation Army parents were running the Eventide Care Home, in Thika. Marian fitted in right away and saw her whole life in Kenya as one of love, commitment and utmost involvement. She enthusiastically took up Kenya citizenship at Independence along with her husband Nigel and her beloved parents-in-law, Menina and Humphrey Slade. Marian was adopted wholly by her beloved siblings-in-law; Laurie, Olwen and Kathy with her own family living so far away in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

environmental aspect of her tea farm in Limuru, and planted several acres of indigenous forest which are now maturing as a fitting legacy to her life. She remained cheerful and uncomplaining to the end and will be fondly remembered for her interest and compassion for others and will be greatly missed, particularly by her children and seven beloved grandchildren.

Marian married Nigel Slade at the Duke of York Chapel (now Lenana) in August 1961. They lived on the grounds of the Duke of York School where Nigel was Housemaster and Latin teacher. It was there, helping her husband with costumes for a school play, that she first met a young John Sibi-Okumu. In the years that followed, Marian was to become John's steadfast and proud "Mzungu mother”, a friendship that flourished for over 52 years. Marian had a formidable work ethic. Starting at East African Airways she went on to help found Bruce Travel and was elected Chair of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents, rapidly becoming a doyenne of the travel industry in Kenya. One of her more spectacular achievements was to organise an international congress in Kenya for IATA, which included

a picnic excursion for delegates on a train up the Rift Valley! More recently, her touching dedication when running Fairseat and Disney retirement homes saw her giving comfort, companionship and care to many. During an airline-sponsored trip to Italy during the early 1970s, Marian met Heather Jordon, also working here in the travel industry. They became firm friends and their lasting friendship has spanned more than 50 years. Having been given the all clear from her cancer ordeal, forever brave, positive and forward-looking, sadly Marian sustained a fall at her care home in Tigoni, fracturing her hip. Though the surgery was successful, recovery proved challenging for Marian and she passed away peacefully in Nairobi Hospital in January. Her devoted niece Juliet Nightingale, “Fairy god-daughter” Tamsin Corcoran and Carer Jane Nkanya were with her. Marian was a loyal Member of MCC for almost 35 years. She will be greatly missed by everyone. Juliet Nightingale January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

obituaries

John Malcolm Golds M. B. E.

September 1927 – June 2020

Lessos Creameries and it continues to thrive today under the ownership and management of the Cuthbert family. When the Mau Mau rebellion against British rule began in 1952, a state of emergency was declared and John, together with many others, was called up for duty in the Police. He was appointed to Kiambu as District Officer, Home Guard. By 1955 John had brought security so well under control that he was made a member of the Provincial Administration in Kiambu involved in the country’s programme of land consolidation. John Malcolm Golds was born in south London in 1927, the only child of Sidney and Gladys Golds. John went to school in Croydon, but claimed he spent much of his early life in air-raid shelters. After leaving school he was accepted at Edinburgh University to study veterinary science, but this was deferred for a couple of years to give priority to soldiers returning from the war. Instead, his father who managed the Shell Oil fleet of tankers, found him a crewing opportunity. When he reached Mombasa, he travelled upcountry to stay with a friend of his grandparents, and he was soon hired as assistant manager of a 6,000-acre mixed farm. When the manager left the 20-year-old Golds took over, but the farm remained stubbornly unprofitable so John borrowed £1,000 and started a factory producing cheese and canned milk. He employed a young cheese-maker from England called Brian Cuthbert. The new company was called Doinyo

When this came to successful completion in 1960 John was promoted to the dangerous job of District Commissioner in Wajir county, and later, Mandera and Moyale districts, where the Somali community were actively, and often violently, trying to secede and join their brethren in Somalia. In the months leading up to independence in 1963 he had to control an area the size of Great Britain with a staff of 300 and a camel corps. His beat included the 1,000-mile border with Somalia and Ethiopia, where there were frequent skirmishes. However, his efforts to maintain control were so successful that the authorities in Somalia realised that while John was in charge there would be little hope of persuading the Kenya Somali community to join up with the motherland. Consequently, there were many attempts on his life and a price was put on his head. When he found out it was only £500 John was quite disconsolate, thinking he was worth “rather more than that”.

He survived this period even though his successor was assassinated shortly after John was sent on his first leave, which prompted his immediate return to Wajir where he served over the Independence period. But it was not all fire-fighting, he legalised use of the herbal stimulant miraa, established schooling for girls, many of whom were nomadic, and set up a maternity unit. After that John accepted a position with the Commonwealth Development Corporation and was appointed Comptroller for the Caribbean, covering 14 islands. By that time he was engaged to Pamela Broadhead, but she was killed in an aircraft crash near Nairobi in 1969. After that he moved to the US where he worked as financial advisor to a real estate company. John eventually retired to Watamu in Kenya in 2007. A passionate gardener he set about turning his garden into one of the finest on the Kenya Coast and was soon drawn into Chairing the coast section of the Kenya Horticultural Society. Besides organising the flower shows that he and his gardener almost always won, John also became Chairman of the Malindi Museum and Turtle Bay Beach Club, which on John’s advice introduced the concept of the “all-in” price scheme that has been widely adopted elsewhere. As well as his garden, John was a keen sailor and he loved opera. He was a Member of Muthaiga for 62 years.

DEATHS

The Club regrets to announce the deaths of the following Members JOHN BEWERS on 8 November 2020 MONTAGUE (MONTY) RUBEN on 17 June 2020 GORDON HERBERT on 22 November 2020 PETER VON CARLOWITZ on 2 August 2020 ANGELOS (TAC) MICHAELIDES on 24 November 2020 LESLIE DONALDSON on 4 September 2020 HORST SCHOENEMANN on 24 November 2020 BRIAN LEES on 23 September 2020 GENERAL JOHN KOECH on 29 November 2020 JOHN (TONY) FORT on 27 September 2020 OSCAR KANG’ORO on 8 January 2021 JONATHAN LOW on 8 October 2020 PAUL SPENCE on 9 January 2020 ALASTAIR DODS on 25 October 2020 MARIAN SLADE on 25 January 2021 MICHAEL ARONSON on 31 October 2020 HOSEA KIPLAGAT on 6 February 2021 HON. KYALE MWENDWA on 3 November 2020 If anyone would like to publish an obituary for a Member who has died recently, please send a tribute and photograph of the deceased to the secretariat@mcc.co.ke 28

Muthaiga Country Club January – March 2021

www.mcc.co.ke

candidates being considered for membership CANDIDATES BEING CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP 1 FEBRUARY - 31 MARCH 2021

CANDIDATES BEING CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP 1ST MARCH TO 30TH APRIL 2021

Proposer Candidate Category

Kibuga Kariithi

Esther Kibuga

Full Town

Steve Mainda

Rita Thatthi

Full Town

Kibuga Kariithi

Gitari Tirima

Full (18-29) Resident

- Surinder Thatthi

Full Town

Peter Kenneth

Andrew Kenneth

Full (18-29) Resident

John Morley

Geoffrey Morley

Full (18-29) Resident

Peter Kenneth

Andrea Kenneth

Full (18-29) Resident

- Allison Morley

Full Country

Jackie Wathua

Andrew Kiarie

Full Town

Karen Gikunda

Rahul Shah

Full (18-29) Resident

Kush Parmar

Ayesha Patrick-Parmar

Full (18-29) Resident

Karen Gikunda

Radhika Shah

Full Town

Gerhard May

Emily Thuita

Full Town

Mike Eldon

Jawahir Adam

Full Town

Richard Harney

Rachel O’Brien

Short Term (18-29) Resident

Mike Craig

Michael Rabar

Full Town

Vijay Kantaria

Adil Suleman

Full Town

- Tracie Rabar

Junior Family Town

- Deyan Suleman

Junior Family Town

- Jade Rabar

Junior Family Town

- Micah Suleman

Junior Family Town

Thomas Mason

Ravi Kohli

Full Town

Peter Cege

Paul Njoroge

Full Town

- Jennifer Pabley-Kohli

Full Town

- Lilian Githua

Full Town

- Devan Kohli

Under 7

Peter Cege

Lynette Githua

Full (18-29) Resident

- Yara Kohli

Under 7

Peter Cege

Cynthia Githua

Full (18-29) Resident

Joseph Muigai

Andrew Kairu

Full Town

Sebastian Wichmann

Hannes Eckmayr

Full (18-29) Resident

- Margaret Kairu

Full Town

Timothy Chege

Jackline Nkumba

Full Town

Kunal Bid

Frank Meifels

Full Town

Jonathan Kinisu

Robert Gicho

Full Town

George Kahira

Benjamin Gikonyo

Full Town

- Nellie Kinyanjui

Full Town

- Sarah Gikonyo

Full Town

- Edward Kinyanjui

Junior Family Town

- Melissa Gikonyo

Junior Family Town

- John Kinyanjui

Junior Family Town

- Georgina Gikonyo

Junior Family Town

- Sarah Kinyanjui

Under 7

- Malaika Gikonyo

Under 7

Kariuki Mbugua

Rose Ougo

Full Town

Kariuki Mbugua

Odhiambo Ougo

Full (18-29) Resident

Kariuki Mbugua

Chiwo Ougo

Full (18-29) Resident

SWEEPSTAKES JANUARY 2021 Prize

Member Name

Amount

1st

Ian Rowe

65,895.20

2nd

Haren Patel

32,947.60

3rd

Robert Ngugi

18,827.20

4th

Peter Mbogua

18,827.20

5th

Gurminder Grewal

14,120.40

6th

Edward Kiraithe

9,413.60

7th

Nathaniel Kang’ethe

9,413.60

8th

Simon Jones

9,413.60

9th

Andreas Nujiten

9,413.60

Answers to Bird Quiz

SWEEPSTAKES FEBRUARY 2021 Prize

Member Name

Amount

1st

Ian Manson Hart

65,439.50

2nd

Richard Kimenyi

32,719.75

3rd

Trevor Haynes

18,697.00

4th

James Mathenge

18,697.00

5th

Robert Ngugi

14,022.75

6th

Damian Davies

9,348.50

7th

Anis Pringle

9,348.50

8th

Edward Kiraithe

9,348.50

9th

Charity Muya-Ngaruiya

9,348.50

www.mcc.co.ke

Top Row: Tawny-flanked Prinia, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Middle Row: Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Red-faced Cisticola Bottom Row: Montane White-eye, Jackson's Widowbird & Kenya Rufous Sparrow January – March 2021 Muthaiga Country Club

MCC reciprocates with 114 Clubs in 24 countries around the world. The Reciprocity Committee invests a great deal of time ensuring that these Clubs are worthy of our association and Members are encouraged to submit brief reports if they visit or stay at any one of them. These reports will be published for the benefit and interest of other Members who may be planning to travel overseas.

For more information and contact details of reciprocating Clubs please contact the Secretary’s office. MCC reciprocates with 114 Clubs in 24 countries around the world. The Reciprocity Committee invests a great INDIA THAILAND AUSTRALIA deal of time ensuring that these Clubs are worthy of our association and Members are encouraged to submit Tollygunge Club Ltd Kolkata The British Club, Bangkok Bangkok Adelaide Club Adelaide brief reports if they visit or stay at any one of them. These reports will be published for the benefit and interest Umed Club Jodhpur Athenaeum Club Melbourne TURKEY of other Members who may be planning toNadu travel overseas. Ootacamund Club Ooty, Tamil Australian Club Melbourne Melbourne Secunderabad Club Secunderabad Commonwealth Club Canberra Buyuk Cercleoffice. d’Orient Istanbul For more information and contact details of reciprocating ClubsBangalore please contact the Kulup Secretary’s Bangalore Club Melbourne Club Melbourne Queensland Club AUSTRAL IA Club of Australia Royal Automobile

Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Adelaide Brisbane Melbourne Hobart Melbourne Sydney Canberra Melbourne Perth Melbourne

Royal Automobile Club of Victoria Adelaide Club Tattersall’s AthenaeumClub Club Tasmanian Club Melbourne Australian Club Union, University & Schools Club Commonwealth Club Melbourne Weld Club Club Melbourne Savage Club Naval Military and Airforce AUSTRIA of South Australia Adelaide St. Johanns Club Club of Australia Vienna Royal Automobile Sydney Royal Automobile Club of Victoria Melbourne BOLIVIA Tattersall’s Club Brisbane Tasmanian Club Hobart Circulo de La Union La Paz Union, University & Schools Club Sydney United Service Club Brisbane BELGIUM Weld Club Perth Western Australian Perth International Club Club Chateau Sainte-Anne Brussels AUSTRIA CANADA St. Johanns Club Vienna Granite Club Toronto B OLIVIA Rideau Club Ottawa Royal Canadian Military Institute Toronto Circulo de La Union La Paz Saint James’s Club of Montreal Montreal B ELGIUM The Forest & Stream Club Quebec International Brussels The HamiltonClub Club Chateau Sainte-Anne Hamilton The National Club Toronto CAN ADA The Ranchmen’s Club Calgary CypressClub Clubof British Columbia Medicine Hat Union Victoria Granite Club Toronto University Club of Toronto Toronto The Hamilton Club Hamilton Vancouver Club Vancouver The National Club Toronto The Ranchmen’s Club Calgary CARIBBEAN Terminal City Club Vancouver West Indies Club Columbia Caribbean Union ClubYacht of British Victoria University Club of Montreal Montreal University Club of Toronto Toronto CHILE Vancouver Club Vancouver Club De La Union Santiago CH ILE FRANCE Club De La Union Santiago Cercle de l’Union Interalliee F RANCE The Travellers Club Cercle de l’Union Interalliee The Travellers Club GERMANY GERMANY Club E.V Anglo-German Anglo-German ClubClub E.V Union International Union International Club HONG KONG HONG KONG The The Hong Hong Kong Kong Club Club

Paris Paris Paris Paris Hamburg Hamburg Frankfurt Frankfurt Hong Hong Kong Kong

IN DIA ITALY Tollygunge ClubTiro Ltda Volo Kolkata Circolo Antico Rome Umed Club Jodhpur Ootacamund Club Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu

IIRELAND NDI A continued Kildare Street Club and University Club Secunderabad Dublin Secunderabad The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club Dublin Bangalore Club Bangalore IJAPAN RE L AND Tokyo American Club Kildare Street and University Club

Tokyo Dublin

The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club Dublin LUXEMBOURG JAPAN Cercle Munster Luxembourg Tokyo American Club Tokyo MALAYSIA LUXE M BOU RG The Royal Lake Club Cercle Munster

Kuala Lumpur Luxembourg

NETHERLANDS M AL AW I The Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit De Witte The Hague

Mulika Royal Industrieele Groote Club

Blantyre Amsterdam

NE THE RL A N D S NEW ZEALAND The Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit De WitteThe Christchurch Club Christchurch Hague The Canterbury Club Inc. Christchurch Hawke’s Bay Napier N EW ZE ALClub AND The Northern Club Auckland Christchurch Club Christchurch The Wellington Club Wellington The Canterbury Club Inc. Christchurch PAKISTAN Hawke’s Bay Club Napier SindNorthern Club Club The

Karachi Auckland

The Wellington Club PORTUGAL SGrémio I NG APO R E Club Literário

Wellington

Tanglin Club SINGAPORE

Singapore

Lisbon

STanglin OUTHClub AF R IC A Cape Town Club SOUTH AFRICA The Country Club Johannesburg The Country Durban Club Club Johannesburg Durban Club Inanda Club Inanda Club Kelvin Grove Club Kelvin Grove Club Port Port Elizabeth Elizabeth St. St. Georges Georges Club Club The Pretoria Country Club Club Club Rand Club

Singapore Cape Town Johannesburg Johannesburg Durban Durban Johannesburg Johannesburg Cape Town Cape Town Port Port Elizabeth Elizabeth Pretoria Johannesburg

SSPAIN PAI N Ecuestre Circulo Ecuestre Real Gran Club de Polo de Barcelona Real Peña Real Gran Peña S RI L ANKA SRI LANKA The Hill Club The Hill Club T HAI L AND SWEDEN The British Club, Bangkok Club Sällskapet

Barcelona Barcelona Madrid Madrid Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya Bangkok Stockholm

UK UK Army & Navy Club London Army Navy Club London Buck’s&Club London Boodle’s London Cardiff & County Club Cardiff Buck’s London Carlton Club London Cardiff County Club Cardiff Farmer’s&Club London Carlton London Garrick Club Club London City of London Club London Hurlingham Club London Farmer’s Club London Lansdowne Club London Hurlingham Club London Leander Club Henley-on-Thames, Ipswich & Suffolk Club Ipswich Naval Club London Lansdowne Club London Norfolk Club Norwich Leander Henley-on-Thames, Northern Counties Club Newcastle Naval Club London Oriental Club London Northern Club Newcastle Oxford & Counties Cambridge Club London Nottingham Notts United Services Nottingham Phyllis Court&Club Henley-on-Thames, The Oriental London Reform Club Oxford & Force Cambridge London Royal Air Club Club Phyllis Court ClubClub Henley-on-Thames, Royal Automobile London The ClubLeague London RoyalReform Over-Seas Royal Force Club London SavileAir Club Royal Automobile Club London The Athenaeum Liverpool Royal Over-Seas League London The Boodle’s Savile Club London The Caledonian Club The Athenaeum Liverpool Cavalry & Guards Club London Clifton Club Bristol The Caledonian Club London East India Club The Cavalry & Guards London In & Out Naval & Military Club London The Clifton Club Bristol New India Club Club Cheltenham The East London Club Edinburgh The New Club Cheltenham Norfolk Norwich The New ClubClub Edinburgh Royal Northern The Norfolk Club & University Club Aberdeen Norwich Scots Club The Royal Northern & University Club Edinburgh Aberdeen SloaneScots Club London The Royal Club Edinburgh The Sloane St. James Club Manchester The Club London The St Western Glasgow The James Club Club Manchester Travellers Club Club London The Travellers London TurfWestern Club Club London The Glasgow Ulster Reform Belfast The Turf Club Club London Ulster Reform Club Belfast USA Vincent’s Club Oxford The Army & Navy Club Washington DC USA Cosmos Club Washington DC The ArmyClub & Navy ClubYork City Washington DC Harvard of New New York Colony Club Club New York The Explorers Cosmos Club Club Washington DC The Princeton New York The Princeton Club Saturn Club Buffalo City,New NY York State The Saturn Club Buffalo City, NY State Standard Club Chicago The Standard Chicago Union Club ofClub Boston Boston Union Club of of Boston Boston League Philadelphia Philadelphia The University University ClubClub of Cincinnati Cincinnati of Washington Washington DC The University Club The Yale Club of New York City New York City ZI MB A B W E ZIMBABWE Bulawayo Bulawayo Bulawayo Bulawayo Harare Club Harare Harare Club Harare

MU THA IGA C OUNTRY CLUB P.O.Box 16526, Nairobi 00620, Kenya Email secretary@mcc.co.ke, accounts@mcc.co.ke, reservations@mcc.co.ke,exec.chef@mcc.co.ke, events@mcc.co.ke

The Muthaiga Country Club Magazine January - March 2021

Articles inside

Obituaries

Library Book Reviews

A Century Later… Remembering the UnRemembered

Hatches & Matches

Christmas Draw Prize Winners’ List

Opera & Ballet

Bird Quiz

Staff News

Members’ Honours & Competition

Wines & Messing

Muthaiga Sports Round-Up

Members’ Achievements

Membership Matters

Balloting Report & Finance Report

Letter from the Chairman