THE BIG ADVENTURE....
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1924 was an unsettling year for Wynne
and the family. For some time now there had been family conferences regarding
their eldest, Thomas (Pink). Herbert and Wynne had decided that he had
to be set up in some sort of business, either in India or Africa. The
family had connections in both continents, but when Pink was sent out
to check, he decided that neither India nor South Africa, where the family
had planned to grow oranges, would be feasible. He much preferred the
newly emerged Colony of Kenya, and so on the decision being reached, his
father commuted his army pension, and put the whole sum into a property
on the slopes of Mount Elgon, in the north of the country. It was an amazing
gamble for a man of over 60 to make, entrusting his whole future to a
dubious experiment growing coffee, on an estate run by a young man with
very little experience.
The year was full of debate about this, and they packed up and left their
rented house in Newnham at the end of March, going up to London where
they remained until they left for Africa at the end of the year. While
there they indulged themselves - theatres above all - and numerous visits
to the great Empire Exhibition, which the King opened on April 23rd. They
attended the May 24th Empire Day celebrations at Wembley (this is the
stadium which was specially built for the event, and is now about to be
demolished), and spent a lot of time exploring London, thinking they would
not see it again for a long time. Finally on November 10th their last
week arrived...Wynne's mother was seen off on a trip abroad; farewells
were said all round, most particularly to Wynne's old governess, B. Scratchley,
now living in Golders Green with a companion; endless bags and boxes were
packed. They spent their last evening at the Co-Optomists, and then took
the boat train to catch their boat, the SS. Norman.
Nov 13th, Thursday. 1924
We got on board at about 12.0 and made at once for our cabins. They are
the usual pattern of these older boats, quite clean but tiny and I must
say I am thankful for one of the many advantages married life brings one
that is on this occasion a 3 berth cabin for it gives one a little extra
room. We have unpacked our goods and chattels and our cabin now looks
like a little wigwam.
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The above row of beauties are preserved here as an example of the flower
of England, a pity that such elegance should be wasted upon the far deserts
of Elgon, but in any case they should be useful for frightening away lion
and other noxious beasts. I only know that if the Passport Officers pass
us on these it wont be much of a compliment.
Nov 16th, Sunday
I am writing on Sunday evening having perforce had to miss out the whole
of Sat. owing to a most vile 24 hours spent on my back. Oh! it was horrible,
this vile Bay (the Bay of Biscay) has
a bad name and certainly earns it, this old tub began its rolling on Fri.
night getting worse and worse until the crockery took flight and masses
of stacks flew hither and thither and I lay watching my clothes hanging
in the cabin sway about until I turned to the wall in sick disgust. The
poor girls were sick and utterly hors de combat till this morning when
it became calmer and we all crawled up on deck. All today its been ripping
and as we lay out basking in the hot sunlight one couldn't realize that
it was November and that our people at home were probably freezing in
black rain and fog.
Nov 20th, Thursday
These last days have had to be missed out because the weather has just
been one long roll....we have been hugging the African coast for some
time, a gaunt arid wild looking land with occasional clusters of white
adobe buildings , minarets and mosques, this afternoon we passed a huge
sinister looking island which we learnt was the French convict island,
a grim looking place where they apparently send their life sentences.
At this time too we came upon a cargo boat carrying timber. She lay very
low and her timber was stacked high up all along her decks, and the sea
was washing completely over her at frequent intervals...
Our passengers are not an exciting crowd but there are a few nice people
amongst them: Mr King and Mr MacMichael who sit at our table, Sudan folk
and very pleasant, and Major Tyack who comes from the Elgon District.
I am hoping that after Port Said this frantic weather will cease.