The M u tha i g a Country Club M agazi n e
July–September 2017
The M u t hai g a C oun t ry C l u b M agaz i n e
Front cover photo
Derby Day Members and friends enjoyed the winning hospitality of MCC and the Jockey Club of Kenya at Ngong Racecouse on Derby Day. See more photos on Pages 14 - 15 July–September 2017
C o nten ts page 1
Letter from the Chairman
page 2
Letter from the Secretary
page 3
Membership Matters
page 4
Balloting Report & Finance Report
page 5
Roving Eye
page 6 House Wines & Messing
page 8
page 7
page 25
page 16
Staff News
page 8 Events page 10 Forthcoming Events & Competition page 11 Bird Quiz page 12 Muthaiga Sports Round-Up page 14 Derby Day 2017 page 16 Racing in 1933 page 17 Members’ Honours page 8
page 6
page 20 Opera & Ballet page 21 Library Book Reviews page 22 Reciprocal Clubs Reviews page 24 Members’ Achievements page 26 Hatches & Matches page 27 Obituaries page 26
page 17
The Muthaiga Country Club Magazine is published by MCC for Members Editor - Yoyo Volak Magazine Production - Matthew Rudd, Lucy Muregi, Mercy Wanyeri, Mercy Nyambura, Diana Waithaka, Eunice Mulwa, Lucia Muli, Shumy Ahmed, Vincent Ford, Martin Musyoka Contributors - Julia Lawrence, Peter Usher, Edita Camm, Gordon Weston, Andrew Nightingale Design & Layout by Shelleys the Printers Printed by Graphite Lounge Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
Letter the from the Chairman Letter Letfrom ter from Chairman the Chairman Dear Members, Dear Members Dear Members, Welcome our second of 2017. I write this with a warmtofeeling havingNewsletter just received another collection of Welcome to our second Newsletter of 2017. We concluded selection of our next Secretary latewith last year increasingly welcome wordsthe of appreciation from ourClub Members happy We but concluded the selection of our next Club Secretary late last year It couldWe notknow announce it journey until all to themaintain formalities completed. the state of our Club. that the ourwere pedestal is butiscould not announce untiland all the formalities were completed. It therefore with greatitrelief pleasure that we welcome Rupert never overisbut are grateful to those who show appreciation to our Rupert therefore with great relief and pleasure that we welcome Elliot to Muthaiga and to the leadership of our Management Team. management who so hard meet our expectations. Elliot to work Muthaiga andtotohotelier the leadership Team. understanding of financial Rupert is a seasoned with an of eye forManagement quality and welcome y our q Rupert Elliott hasissettled quickly to role have started to someofof welcome Rupert a He seasoned hotelier with eye quality and welcome understanding financial qo ttake results. isintherefore Club in see pursuit the excellence an nhis eexcellent xce elan lenas tySecretary ffind infor d tto akand e tthe heweC lu forward changes toresults. thethat menu and service presentations. Pinks is feeling ‘cooler’ and the differentiation with the He is therefore excellent find to take the Club forward in pursuit of the excellence an n e x ce e l l e n t f i n d t o t a k e t h e C l u you as Members Club. Muthaiga diverse errs rrequire equire off oour ur C lu ub. M uth haiga hass a d iver Membership and we must you aas Members Club. Muthaiga diverse Membership we must are s nrrequire edqers usirtanding e of f oour ugrof lu ub. pursuit. uth hu aiti.gaAhas s aple d ene r m Main Clubthat dining iscommon becoming clearer, as was intended. The Management Committee have that simple might be: and oer nrunderstanding u oC foriginally pM ursu sim m eivoone ight well and have a common understanding of that pursuit. simple one might well be: o n u n d ers s t anding g o f p ursu u i t . A sim m ple e o ne m i g h t committed to‘delivering eternalnvigilance Members. we are of ability day and on occasion ever being g to to the th he best bon estthe of our ostandards ur abi ility and everyvalue day of an ndservice on every evvetoryyour occcas sion - without w We believe ‘delivering to the best of our ability day and on every occasion without ever being n g t o th h e b e st o f o u r abi i l i t y every d ay an n d o n ev v e ry y oc c c as s i o n w satisfied ed with with outorse elvevalues, s’. largely on track in living upourselves’. our in being contemporary and in being unafraid of the future. satisfied with ourselves’. e d w i th o u rse e l v e s ’ . Theethe Committee take us to the Cofuture, mm mittediscussions e and and Officers Officecan rs have hsometimes ave every every confidence cobe nfedgy idence tMuthaiga. hat we we have haavSome e the Team Tof eaour m to toolder In talking about ate that Members Theenext Committee and Officers C otmm m ilttof efeour aunrdeternal Oefrfnicaelrpursuit. suhave hrasvueitevery e.very confidence confidencee that that we we have haave the Team Team to to take us to the level e x l ev v e o ou ete pu feel they have made sufficient contribution to the Club and should not be asked to pay any more above next eternal pursuit. exWe t level leevvowe otons foour ou eteegratitude pu ursuoitF .ritz Walchli Fritz the Interim W oewl eof to nusrof grrn atailtude Walcsignificant hli for for his his stewardship scontributions tewardship offto thmaintain e Club Club as as and Inteerimprove i Secretary. what we all pay today. And indeed theytto have made what We owe tons of gratitude to Fritz Walchli for his stewardship of the Club as Interim Secretary. We Serving o w e to o n s g r a t i tude t o F r i t z W a l c h l i f o r h i s s t e w a r d s hip f t h e C l ub a s I nte e r i Servving for for over ovver nine nine months, months, he he was was capable, capable, sensitive sensitive and and available avaiilable to to Members. Mem mberrs. He raced they inherited from were have theto to do the Serving over nine months, capable, He Servaround nogunfor fodrthose ov r who n moth nhbefore tehtteenager se,ehe hneathem. wears h caeMaturing pn aoblllonger eo,nsensitive sgeenrgenerations siiistsivaand endand anu dpoavailable avai lanish ble oresponsibility Mthe em mClub berrs. as the Club the he no upon assignment, aviro th hveeC luibnelike gwas n ifi ffinishing hitn gMembers. ssigraced he same and around bequeath as have inherited. the Club the he no upon assignment, he aensure roou ndbeen th heenC lukbedlike th herichly tteenager eoecntaogas ogood d eu poisnh fi ffinishing ing and Club as has asked by his Doctor take wish him well a quick return to the bthey ee ask D reto trthey oh teakn eoallonger gonthemselves ogedrrest! riis esstaand !nWe W w hnish im hDebates athe nd around quick kssthese riegtu ur concepts been asked by hisretire Doctor rest! to the is braee enqui ask kwe eyddiscuss D ocetm ofinances reto tnot.take taThank gkoyou rF ersitt!zWe W wisubscriptions. sh him him well and anUnfortunately, d a quick quickk return retu ur inflation arise eachhas year when Club tranquility retirement. Fritz. tr nq ility oof f his Tkheaaand ngood yoin oduparticular . e wish tranquility retirement. you Fritz. trraand nq iiflity yonoofignore fthe men Tu hr assuccessful nukccsimply yeosusfuF tzu. trup a fact of life we its eeffects, issues pile against inrlater Based offt.our Outreach lastus repeat Bqaui sed thhis e feedback fretire fe edback oThank lriO eacand h Day Daretaliate y in in Nanyuki Nanyuki t year, year , we we plan pyears. lan n to t Thus Based on the feedback of our successful Outreach Day in Nanyuki last year, we plan to repeat B a sed t h e f fe edback f o u r s u c c e s s f u l O u t r e a c h D a y i n N anyuki t y ear r , w e p l an n t we failed last the year before) toe revise issue same be largely same but tyear he social so(and cial at athe t around the sa am ttime ime oofsubscriptions f tthe he yyear. ear. The Theinformat foline rmawith t willinflation larggeland y the th hethe buwill the social at around same time of the year. The format will be largely the same but t h e s o c ial a t the sa a m e t i m e o f t h e y e a r . T h e f o r m a t larg g e l y th h e b u hopefully there will be more Members supporting the from our Nairobi town base. h op p efu f u l ly t h ere M e m b e r s s u p p o r t i n g th h e event f fr om r N airo o b i to o w n b in inevitably arise again at this year’s AGM. My prayer is that the large majority who do not participate hopefully there will be more Members supporting the from our Nairobi town base. hop pGiven efu f u l ly t h ere M e m b e r s s u p p o r t i n g th h e event f fr om r N airo o b i to o w n b the of ourthat membership, choosing not easy dice with Given they the spread sare pread membersh hip,isch h oosing thereflect next venue was n ot ea asy butharm thee d our AGMs because satisfied the Club doing fine, on the longer-term that iscan Given the spread of our membership, choosing not easy dice is with Given thileon snprSaturday ead membersh hip,2017. ch hoo. sing the next venue was n otin ea athe she y but the egd Gilgil 30 September Further details will follow coming months but G i l g o Sa a t u rday F u r ther f fo llow n t comi i n m o result from present day neglect. Gilgil details willasfollow coming but Rift Gilgplease leon oassne Saturday Sa . Further Fudrther fmany fo llow in nethe tm heber comi gomonths m oble from save the and we look2017. forward to Members possible pile saavtue rday th he date d30 ateSeptember f rward fo to welcoming Me rs aasisnp ssib We have been discussing an endowment Fund/Trust for Muthaiga for some time now and I am glad to please date weand lookofforward to welcoming manyparts Members possible pleeas sey, aveWestern th hestern date fcourse fo rward dM toem Meemoofbf er rhseaas sop onstsib erefrom Valley, Members country are very Rift Vsaellsave Wthe We n Kenya Kand enya bers fr ffrom omasother tthe co un ryblar report thatValley, positive enquiries startedM to Members they lend a hand Western of course Members country are Vasome llwelcome. W We stern n Kenya K enya andhave emcome bers fr ffrom om other partsonooffhow tthe he co oun ncan try ar re very wey, elcome. welcome. welcome. and/or contribute. The endowment arrangement admechanism help preserve The project on There have beenour The Security proj o ecct is is approaching appro oaching conclusion cisonmeant clusioto n as aprovide s reported reported on page 5. to eh Security project page 5.thank Thereof have been TaheClub proj oasec ct is is approaching appro inem grepository cboenrcsluffor nhas aitems rew peoreflecting rted ognise eoh heritage asThe well being a cpossible of the necessary inconveniences which we your ceesas sary inconvenienc esoato tochMembers M mconclusion osriow ischreported aapologise podloon andhistory yyou uour fforcountry. necessary inconveniences to Members for which we apologise you for your ce e s s a ry inconvenienc c e s t o M em m b e r s f o r w h i c h w e a p o l o g i se and thank y o u f Concurrent with the has a very re-focus attention to eaartoanconsider ce. Concu urrent the wiithClub the project pinroany ject manner has been beenare vwelcome ery deliberate re-ffotheir cu ofideas Members whoforbearance. wish gifting to discuss with the forbearance. Concurrent with re-focus attention to eaarClub ance. Concu urrent wi itare h the thlooking e project projecmagnificent t has has been bifeiecent n a very vdespite ery deliberate re-f forains. caui ofOur the grounds, which the delayed b g r o u nds, w h i c h magni despit t e t h e d elaye e d r Committee and every effort will be made to accommodate the requests we receive. the congratulations Clubb grounds, which looking despite the delayed grouti nds, w ch are magni ificent despit tohre ttheir dhelaye eeemploy. d rpalio Our who passion ionsnew tto ohithe sstaff tafaccess fw ho arrangements cclearly lemagnificent arlyy have ap asssitaken otne ffor eir longer mrains. The implementation of our Club has a little we anticipated but congratulations who passion tiions last tto o tthe sstaff team ff bw ho we cclearly learly ycu have athe p assneed sieoed nd ffor orr ttheir heir eemploy. m pmloof anthan At the AGM November, discussed for some form endowment trust N o v er, d i s u s se e d t h e n f fo som m e f o r we are almost there. Recent feedback from Members suggest that we are not allan aware of the rules around At the AGM last November, we discussed the need for some form of endowment trust t N o v e m b er, d i s cu u s se e d t h e n e ed d f fo r som m e f o r m dedicated to the longterm Club terrm sustainability sustainability of our C lub aand nd oour heritage. Some further work is in the invitation of guests to the Club. restrictions on the frequency withSome whichfurther a non-Member dedicated to with the longterm Club heritage. work in terrm sustainability sThere ufrom stainare ability progress assistance Roger Oliver and the Officers of the is Club R oger Bebbington, Bofebour binC gtlounb aand Ond oourFowler can come progress to the Club, howsoever invited. And as non-Members can include spouses and close family with assistance from Roger Bebbington, Oliver Fowler and the Officers of the Club R o g e r B e b b i n g t o n O and we hope to see the project take off before the end of the year. Once again, Members are we hope tothat seeconsider theare project take offlimitations before the and endgifts of the year. Once again, Members members,and it isencouraged prudent we aware of the that wethe respect them indeed the are majority to bequeathing appropriate to Club even as we prepare suitable encouraged to consider bequeathing appropriate gifts to the Club even as we prepare suitable of us already legal do. structures to hold the assets and/or interests thereof. And Members’ views and legalexperiences structures to theendeavours assets and/or thereof. And Members’ views and onhold similar areinterests always very welcome. experiences on similar endeavours are always very welcome.
Ngugi N Ng u i Ki ug K Kiuna, una, MCC C Chairman Ngugi Chairman N ug Ng u i Kiuna, K una, MCC C Ki www.mcc.co.ke www.mcc.co.ke
April– June 2017 Muthaiga Country Club July–September April– June2017 2017 Muthaiga Muthaiga Country Country Club Club 11
1
From the Secretary I am delighted to announce the appointment of Rupert Elliott as the new Club Secretary taking over from our interim secretary Fritz Walchli. Rupert's permit has finally been approved and he Aswill I write I complete weeks in this glorious place. I wake each day infused takethis up his post with11immediate effect. with passion to advance this Club. In welcoming Rupert to thewonderful Club I would The has been with liketeam to thank Fritzworking for all heever hasharder done in hissome real progress made in several interim role where his steady hand guided areas. an week excellent performance with both cash Last we moved the breakfast service back to the Main Clubhouse with a Out-going Secretary Fritz Walchli with some of the and quality above budget. Staff at histable. leaving party. delicious cold buffet, hot food cooked to order and served MCC to your ForThe staff presented him with a splendid cake and a carved wooden elephant. Rupert Elliot has moved to us from the Capital Club those of you who enjoy breakfast at Pinks, this too has evolved with a new menu Nairobi and prior to that was running a large 4-Star including several breakfast favourites available all day. Hotel in Botswana. He has an excellent track record in There has been muttering about the music at was Pinks and, while I remain delivering quality and financial results and formally unapologetic about the5-Star inherent edginess the Pinks ‘vibe’, (let us in remember trained in London’s market with of international experience France, Africa. Hisfound commercial includes UK keep why it was Bahrain built) weand think we have a goodexperience solution here too. Please houses of excellence. incountry mind that for peace and quiet the Clubhouse offers any number of rooms Rupert is joined by his fiancée Heidi. bathed in silence. It is have an exciting timeuswith challenges andopening projectsofand hope new Some reminded thatmany we arenew behind with the theIshiny you will join me in wishing our new Secretary the very best of good gates. I am afraid that we have encountered a few obstacles in the production fortune. and activation of the new cards. We hope to resolve these soon but will open the gates, in all likelihood, sooner. Many apologies for the delay nonetheless. Members in Karen and Langata were sent an on-line survey in May concerning the renaissance of the ‘Club Bus’. Thank you to those of you who completed Bimb Theobald, Chairman of Committees it (around 20%). We may not offer free wi-fi on board as some requested, but hope to announce a service soon. For those of you who are Facebook savvy please do join the Club’s closed group. I am thrilled to take over as Secretary of Muthaiga Country Club, and Your confidentiality will not be compromised in any way. What you will get is delighted to join a team of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts up-to-the-minute information forthcoming events, bookings who, together, strive to ensureon Members can take prideband in their Club.and so on. of us, this a vital tool. it, you might like it!that I ran a MyFor lastmany job was with anisexcellent clubTry in Nairobi and before I am ever conscious we cannot please believe all of our theoftime, prestigious hotel inthat Botswana. I firmly thatMembers Muthaigaallisofone the but brightest Africa theforward hospitality sector, look to please knowstars thatacross we want to! Iin look to my dailyand readI of theforward Comments exploring ways to keep enhancing this historic place for the benefit of all Books and will guarantee a reply to each one. We are here to serve and delight Members, they joined longIfago moredo recently. you so pleasewhether keep feedback coming. we or cannot exactly what you ask for we I am very grateful to Members and Staff alike who have always try to give you a reasonable explanation as to why. already made me feel so welcome. My door is always open and I will welcome your feedback In closing, thank you for the genuinely warm welcome Heidi and I have received and suggestions. I am excited to get to work on the next stage of the Club's - itevolution, just makeswhile being here even ensuring thatbetter. we preserve the values and traditions that
From the Secretary
make this Club such a great one.
Rupert Elliott, ClubSecretary Secretary Elliot, Club 2 2
Muthaiga Country Club April–June 2017
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke www.mcc.co.ke
MEMBERSHIP M AT T E R S With the winding down of a communications committee, this page is devoted to being more
This page remains devoted to Members’ opinions. We loveonto hearClub from you, and to read your comments and mails. In the of an opinion page, where prevailing moods and sentiments of Members current issues, expressed in comments and mails, are echoed. As always, we want to know what’s on that was less than complimentary about breakfast, last issue, there was considerable disquiet about Pinks, a prevailing mood your mind, and will always welcome your feedback. lunch, supper, and service. Well, Members matter. We have an attentive new Club Secretary who is clearly listening and, whatever you may feel about his predilection for unceasing muzak, the tone of your comments has lightened somewhat. What’s more – as those of you who are friends of the Club on its secret Facebook page will already have seen – you can go back to having ‘proper’ breakfast in the Main Clubhouse. Thanks!
Pinks at LAST ISSUE, THERE WAS
BUT THERE’S STILL SOMETHING MISSING
DISQUIET RE CE NTLY, A D EABOUT C I S I O N WAPINKS… S M A DE TO O O F F E R BRE A K FA S T O NLY AT P IN K S …
The Club has been celebrated for its Dessert Trolley for over 40 years. Dinner service is incomplete Your German sausage has not seen Germany without it. We really miss it. Please the team to keep up their good work. KN Appalled by people’s behaviour at Pinks, and and the saurecraut [sic] was not cooked. It bring it back. CD disappointed to have to have breakfast there… I am tasted ok as I was very hungry. PE an come to the Club the Weoverseas have Member seriousand curmudgeons asfor Members. Kids make noise, Club, not to come to an average hotel. FP Why isisit better that there areit. never any ice-creams so what? This is family Club and in my opinion for in the fridge? Also, never any low-fat milk. RH By the way,with new of Pinks is doing a good job. AS While I agree the manager economic reasons for having Madam Editor, what was all the fuss about? Is it because you
Breakfast at Pinks only is a mistake. Do away with don’t likedishes Pinks allowed only negative views about the chafing andthat cook you to order as it used MO R E G EN ER ALthe LY to be. TP What’s the problem? It’s great and I love it. Please tell place?
only one venue for breakfast, I do not agree with AND THE RED ROOM Not the place it used to be. WR the argument that economy alone justifies Thank you informing on Facebook that All-Day Breakfast dispensing withfor breakfast in the oldus restaurant in a IS ALSO A SUCCESS child-free environment. RS and Old Style Breakfast will be served at Pinks willarebeonly served in wrong with Pinks: There three things Service.RK 2. Service. 3. Service. DN the Main Dining Room. Great decision, well1.done. Thanks to the commendation that I No waiters, tables not laid, multiple trips required, no logic to layout, food in chafing dishes cold, read in the last magazine, I decided table not cleared as food finished, coffee to celebrate my wife’s birthday in disgusting.AB
THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD PREFER QUIET AT PINKS…
the Red Room and we had a really good evening. There are not many B UT IT WAS N ’ T AL L B A D … places in Nairobi that can offer Thank to the team for a wonderful Redthe same kind of experience and What’s with the music? It’s long, it’s loud, and it’syou lousy. Room dinner… It made for a special evening and I might as well go to Art Café if I want to listen to noisy choons we all enjoyed ourselves. I highly a great meal. DB and lip-read my wife talking. JB recommend it. SN
www.mcc.co.ke
April– June 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO PREFER THE MAIN DINING ROOM My goodness, what happened? Your menu looks good and the food tastes better. I had a meal in the Yellow Room last week with a small group, and it was absolutely fantastic. Great ambience, wonderful service – I can’t wait to do it again. Thank you! KF Congratulations on the new menu in the Main Dining Room. It’s not cheap, but it’s good value. JO A friend and I tried out the new menu in the Main Dining Room starting with the Carpaccio, which was magnificent, followed by the Ginger Prawns flambéed at the table, what a triumph - what a spectacle! Main is destined to become a pretty serious foodie destination. Congratulations to you and your team. TCB
www.mcc.co.ke
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EVEN RECIPROCAL CLUB GUESTS SAW FIT TO COMMENT We were visiting Muthaiga Country Club via a Reciprocal Club membership recently, catching a few of our son’s concerts in Nairobi with the Harrow School Byron Consort. Staying at MCC was a lifetime experience and one I will never forget. Thank you and your staff for a warm and memorable experience. You have shaped my opinion of Kenya forever. Marlene Hauser-Oberschneider
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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balloting c ommittee balloting committee Proposers oryears, Seconders of Candidates confident about all are no involved with balloting – there many and her terrific diligenceare completely for Membership. In the last few aspects of their behaviour. In days short cuts. is probably what has made the months we have had several examples of gone by, if someone failed in their bid chairmanship look so easy. The rest of Finally, crucially, Members to Members of the utmost good standing for Membership, then we thaturge person’s the committee have enjoyed and are take the time to examine the names of proposing and seconding Candidates Proposer would ‘do the honourable grateful for her friendly, forthright Candidates whenThis theyconvention are posted on who failed to clear the selection bar, thing’, by resigning. leadership – we’ll miss her. the Board and,ofif the there is the and whose applications were deemed has become a thing past, butslightest doubt about their please ‘clubbability’, Soto now it’s me, and I’d like begin the principle ‘Unlikely Succeed’. In each case,tothe remains: do not to objections to business unless know All voice anyforward concerns to theyou Secretary. withrelated a few words about behaviour the waiting listput someone and ethics of which theMembers. ProposersIt is long. themobjections extremely are welltreated and can vouch, with the strictest for prospective evidently had no idea. for their confidence, andclubbability. are followed up Candidates can expect to wait at least absolutely, really do 18 months between being proposed And diligently. The embarrassment that this causes next time, We I promise to want writeto inensure a selection bar for prospective and being to attendfor a ballotingmorethe Last time I wrote how important it was is significant. It isinvited embarrassing jocular manner... Members is maintained at a very high meeting –toand will then wait a further for Members to take the time to examine the Committee inform highlylevel. the names of Candidates when they are two months while their names are regarded Members that the Candidates It’s important, when handing over the posted on the Board and, if there is the made known are to Members. they have proposed unsuitable; reins of any committee, to assure your slightest doubt about their ‘clubbability’, it is humiliating for the Proposers to wide-eyed successor that “It’s a doddle: The second point to note is that there to voice any concerns to the Secretary. discover has been arethat notheir shortjudgement cuts. Members are fun, doesn’t take much I assuredhuge Members, and remind you time, all called into question (and to be barred strongly advised not to use their pretty really”. again now, that straightforward all objections are treated from proposing or seconding anyone influence to have Candidates move up in the strictest and that the Yeah, confidence right. else forthe a period of two years); and of friendly list more quickly. However nature of any objection is investigated course it is difficult for the Candidate Gail Paul has done an outstanding job Matthew Rudd your relationship might be with the thoroughly. failed in his/her application. overseeing the Balloting committeewho for hasSecretary Chairman Balloting Committee – or with anyone else This time I am directing comments to Matthew Rudd And thus we urge caution. Do not those who are kind enough to act as Chairman Balloting Committee propose or second anyone unless you
house & finance
finance various initiatives that we hope will appeal to, and attract a better turnout fromtothese sectors.our systems If you do have Internet access but are In an effort streamline In terms of of projects, are making uncomfortable using email, or need and reduce our use paper, we time reasonable headway on our security help setting up an account, we can help and money on the physical posting of project and expect to complete you with that too. We are more than monthly statements we shall be ceasing in early May….on budget! Thebilling. library project happy to take time showing you how if this practice after the August has been revitalised andallwe hope to you are in the Club, or even over the From September we will email a plan at themembers next AGM latertelephone. it account present statements to those he year. for whom we have email addresses. We are also planning to launch a Finally, we expect tobut complete Our records suggest that all 414 the smartphone app in the near future. Mukutano Room thisaddresses quarter, whichThis will allow you to access the Club of our Members have email willtooffer a state-of-the-art website and receive notifications of theirMembers email accounts. If The Club continues to make good and access “ I can complete the Meeting Room. progress in our key strategic initiatives. forthcoming events. You will be able to you think we may not have your correct
project under budget So we please have plenty work in progress Revenues are on budget and our cash set your own preferences to whichever email address adviseofthe office – and ahead of schedule, but defining the desires position is ‘safe’. We do however ‘non-receipt aspects of Club information most of account’ will notand be a requirements offor ournot diverse operate on very thin margins at three interests you. Herebut tooyou’ll we shallneed be to reasonable justification paying allocate additional time Membership remains paramount and per cent profit on turnover. happy to help you. your bill. our success will lie in our ability to and money fo that.” Our challenge remains how to increase There will be no change to the quarterly You maysatisfy know these. that you can check your utilisation of the Club, particularlyaccount the posting of the magazine for now. balance any time and even pay Main Dining Room and the sports on-line through the Club’s website. All facilities. you need is your Log-in and Password. We have identified certain sectors ofIfthe you are unsure of either of these VVijay Gidoomal ij Gid Membership that do not use the Club please email web.admin@mcc.co.ke Vijay Gidoomal Chairman House & Finance frequently, and we are working on for help. Chairman Finance 4
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017 4 Muthaiga Country Club April–June 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
www.mcc.co.ke
roving eye
Roving Eye wandered into the Ladies’ lavatory recently. Naturally, and in keeping with the best traditions of the Club, it was by invitation. (This is the temporary loo, in the West Wing’s Room No. 1, while the normal Ladies’ Room is being renovated.) Well. The view might have been attractive and the experience uplifting, but Eye was arrested by the sight of chipped tiles in the bathroom. In the smartest part of the Club? Is this what happens when Members vote not to increase subscriptions? Are we out of money? Eye thinks we should be told. This column might more accurately be called Rumbling Ear, because the noise in Room No 1 was deafening. Thing is, the din emanated from Pinks, where a well-attended monthly Punch Bowl was taking place. Punch drunk, more like, what with tunes pumping and walls shaking. The Club can’t be accused of not caring for the young, but it might be an idea to start catering for the less young, or anyone desirous of a good night’s sleep. Roaming round the Club, Eye alights on changes. Low hanging fruit, perhaps, and certainly this new Secretary is tall, but there have been some easy pickings. Have you eaten in the main Clubhouse recently? If not, you should. The menu is new and interesting, the food is good and (provided you’re in no hurry for a second bottle of wine) the experience is excellent. The Yellow Room is apparently proving popular for small private gatherings, and the Red Room creates a terrific ambience for special occasions. Best of all, civilised breakfast has returned to the Main Dining Room. Eye understands that what used to be known as the Private Dining Room (now Hydrangea or Hibiscus or something equally unmemorable) has been painted a startling shade of blue. Any guesses on the next name?
they stride importantly to the parking area, the better to bark at business acquaintances. Far be it from Roving Eye to cast nasturtiums, or whatever, but is it a demographic problem? What happened to that friendly, welcoming Club Eye used to know? Since this has now become Ranting Eye, what’s with all these damn phones? We come to the Club to get away from business, not to get on with it. So turn the wretched thing off, leave it in your car or give it to your driver – and, while you’re about it, remind him to follow the simple rule about waiting in the area reserved for drivers and their cars. Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, Eye thinks the play is going well… In line with which, if you missed the evening with Sophie Walbeoffe – ‘Painting with Both Hands’ – then you missed a treat. A riveting talk followed by flute and cello accompanying a live demonstration of how Sophie creates her art. Certainly one of the most versatile artists in Kenya today, Sophie uses a variety of techniques – oil, etching, inks, watercolour – and is both disciplined and prolific. One to keep an eye on, and exciting to watch in action.
Is it only Eye, or are Members becoming less friendly? The Club used to be a place where people would greet each other. (How does that toast go? “To us. For we are such sensational people.”) No longer, or so it would seem from the way socalled ‘clubbable’ Members avert eyes and yank phones as
“It keeps me from looking at my phone every two seconds” www.mcc.co.ke
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hou se wines & mes sing MCC GOES FROM PINK TO GREEN
From left - Young Members Devina Meinzingen, Wanjiru Walchli and Chloe Leymarie on an eco-crusade to change MCC from pink to green. Eco-conscious young Members have been lobbying to make MCC greener and more environmentally friendly. In response to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) “Turn the Tide on Plastic” campaign and in support of Cabinet Secretary for Environment & Natural Resources Judi Wakhungu’s recent ban on the commercial use of all plastic bags and household packaging in Kenya, young Members Devina Meinzingen, Wanjiru Walchli, Chloe Leymarie and Emma Lowe have appealed to MCC, as the most prestigious Members’ Club in Kenya, to lead by example and go from PINK to GREEN, by adopting a few ecofriendly practices, to reduce the use of plastic within the Club. As of this month, the Club will no longer be serving drinks with plastic straws; the use of all plastic bottles will be abolished (still and sparkling water will be provided in glass bottles); and filtered and treated water will be offered free in carafes, in all the Club’s restaurants. Other eco-friendly practices will be introduced over time and if any Members have any suggestions of their own on how MCC can go greener, please do let us know.
Wine Tasting Evening At a recent Wine Tasting Evening sponsored by Domaine Kenya, Members were treated to a sumptuous six-course dinner complemented by six different wines. Wine Specialist Thandiwe Chemn’goren (pictured) was there to explain the subtleties of the different wines and why they made the perfect partner for each course.
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
MCC Outside Laundry Service MCC is now offering Outside Laundry services to all Members. With our recently acquired stateof-the-art industrial washing and pressing machines we can now provide a cleaning service for all household laundry including sports gear, linen and upholstery. So next time you come back from safari with a 4X4 full of dirty washing or your cricket whites and polo jods need a little help brightening up, just drop it all at the Linen Room (near the Crescent) with the Laundry Attendant, and collect it the next day. This is already becoming a very popular service so please try to allow a little more time when possible. Carpets, curtains and upholstery will take 48 hours.
Chits More Friends, Fewer Problems, Sharing is Caring... even on your Bill” Are you troubled when you bring your friends to the Club? When it comes to paying does it get awkward and problematic? Now your friends and guests can pay their share of the bill either through MPESA (Pay Bill Number 902800) or Airtel Money (Business name MCC) and the Account Number is your Membership Number. Our POS Receipt/Chit has been modified to include the quickest and simplest payment options. www.mcc.co.ke
staff news
Ge offre y Ka rue M uch ina
Ro b er t M ac ha r i a M wa ng i
The Club welcomes Geoffrey Karue Muchina, who has been appointed as the new Manager of Pinks Restaurant. Geoffrey has over 20 years experience in the hospitality sector having worked in various hotels including Tribe Hotel, Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club and Park Hyatt Hotel in Dubai.
The Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Macharia Mwangi as new Assistant Bar Supervisor. His main job will be to assist in Bar Supervision and to encourage more Members to make use of the Popsy Bar.
Geoffrey has won various awards and the Club stands to gain from his wide experience and understanding of quality service.
Having worked for over 20 years in various hotels including Panari Hotel, Mercury Lounge and Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club, Robert has gained invaluable hands-on experience in Bar Management.
We dd ing for M CC D ri ver Congratulations to MCC Driver Frederick Mwaniki Mbuvu who has married his girlfriend of 14 years Lucy Njeri Mwanaura at his home district in Kiambu. Numerous MCC staff members were present at the happy occasion, including new Club Secretary Rupert Elliott and his wife Heidi pictured here.
Be s t C a n di date CITC P ro j e c t 2 0 1 6 MCC Business Centre Supervisor and Events Photographer Vincent Ford has been ranked the Best Candidate 2016 for his Certified Information Communications Technology project in the Kenya Accountants and Secretary’s National Examination Board (KASNEB).
J o na s So f t wa r e Tr a i ni ng Day Eight members of staff from the Accounts and F&B departments (pictured below) recently undertook a one-day refresher course in the use of the Jonas Software system. The management system was implemented in 2007 and is used for the day-to-day running of the Club. As well as generating statements, posting bills and payments and producing the Club’s financial reports, Jonas is linked to the MCC website for on-line viewing of statements and payments.
Vincent won this prestigious accolade for his project creating an Events Management System for Mobile Catering.
MCC Business Centre Supervisor Vincent Ford (left) receiving his award for KASNEB Best Candidate 2016 for his Events Management System for Mobile Catering ably assisted by his daughter Trinity.
www.mcc.co.ke
His mentor throughout the project was MCC’s Systems Manager Eunice Mulwa, who was awarded Information & Communications Technology National Woman of the Year 2014.
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events
@
Rongai 70 This year Kenyan trucking company Rongai Workshop & Transport Ltd celebrates 70 years of business and the family of the founding father the late Gordon Eccles, marked the occasion at Muthaiga Club hosting a celebratory dinner for management and longstanding clients of the company.
Entrepreneurship vs. Employment Young Members enjoyed an evening of discussion and lively debate on the virtues of Employment versus Entrepreneurship. A panel of successful Young Members shared their experiences and engaged in an informal exchange of ideas with other aspiring young entrepreneurs.
Caption From Left – Successful Young Members Kevin Mutiso Co-founder and CEO of Alternative Round Circle; Roy Wachira Co-founder and CEO of Camouflage Media Ltd (Kenya) and Njoki Chege Lawyer & Founder of Elelek (luxury hand-crafted goods).
Keeping Rongai trucks rolling, family members of the late Gordon Eccles, founder of Rongai Workshop & Transport Ltd, raise a glass to celebrate 70 years of business. From left - Director of Health & Safety Cheryle Robinson (Eccles); Pam Eccles; CEO Ritu Bahal and MD Vanessa Evans (Eccles). The gradual expansion of Rongai Workshop from its humble beginnings to the substantial transport company it is today is largely due to the vision and single mindedness of Gordon Eccles. He and his wife Pam joined the Club in 1994.
‘Painting with Both Hands.’
Gordon established Rongai Workshop in the mid-1940s, as a one-man agricultural workshop to service and repair tractors and farm vehicles. By the 1960s the emphasis had shifted to providing farmers with transport for their produce. In the 1980s Gordon’s daughters Cheryle Robinson and Vanessa Evans joined the business and since then Rongai Workshop & Transport has slowly evolved into long distance haulage. Today the Rongai fleet numbers over 100 trucks hauling 15,000 tons of cargo around the country every month.
MCC Members Mary Collis (left) and Sophie Walbeoffe.
MCC Member and Travel Painter Sophie Walbeoffe held her audience captive while she demonstrated how to paint with both hands at the recent launch of her book “Painting with Both Hands”. With an introduction by fellow artist and MCC Member Mary Collis, Sophie also gave a talk and presentation about her life as a travel painter and her career capturing on canvas the landscapes, wildlife and peoples across four continents. Sophie has donated a copy of her book to the Club Library.
Oxford & Cambridge Society May Ball Member revellers and their friends enjoyed a wonderful evening celebrating 91 years of the Oxford & Cambridge Society in Kenya at the 2017 May Ball hosted at Muthaiga. 8
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
events
Muthaiga Day Up-Country Lunch Party
Saturday 30 September 2017
Gilgil 12.30 - 6.30pm The Open bar will close at 3.00 pm. MCC Members in the Rift Valley are cordially invited to Muthaiga Day, which will be held in Gilgil and kindly hosted by Mary Coulson in her lovely gardens.The Committee has recognised the fact that for many upcountry Members, a visit to the Club is often a considerable safari, so the Club will be sending the catering staff to Gilgil to provide a BBQ lunch with Bar service.
JUNIOR MEMBERS’ SPORTS CAMP 10 to 21 July 2017 9.00am-12.30pm From 4 to 15 years
The Chairman hopes to draw as many up-country Members to the Lunch Party as possible, by bringing the Club to Gilgil!
Tennis, Soccer, Cricket, Swimming, Squash, Painting & Beading
Members wishing to attend are requested to contact the Events Desk by email events@mcc.co.ke
Groups by age and level Snacks & Refreshments
Confirmed invitations and further details, including directions will be provided.
For more Information and Registration Contact
fitness@mcc.co.ke
Flying ex-NBO JUST GOT BETTER! MCC Members who do not possess an Airline Lounge Card will be delighted to know they are now eligible for a 10% discount on the walk-in fee to the Aspire Lounge at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Just present your Club Membership Card and MCC Members and their families and travelling companions can enjoy the excellent comfort, food and free wi-fi of the Aspire Lounge.
Bon Voyage!
Inanda Club Offer to Reciprocating Club Members As one of MCC’s Reciprocal Clubs, the prestigious Inanda Club in Johannesburg South Africa, is offering a ‘Winter Special’ to MCC Members for the months of June and July. MCC Members will be offered up to 20 per cent discount on accommodation during the winter months, and guests who stay for three nights will get the fourth night free. Visitors to Inanda will enjoy the best of South African hospitality with luxury accommodation, fine dining and excellent service. MCC Members can contact info@inandaclub.co.za for more information.
www.mcc.co.ke
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forthcoming events Fo r t h c o m i ng E v e n t s JULY 2017 Henley Royal Regatta – MCC Members’ Invitation
28 June & 2 July, Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames, UK.
Guitar Recital – Ricardo Garcia Flamenco Guitar
6 July, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Ballet Night – The Winter’s Tale
13 July, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Young Members’ Social Night
Saturday Sundowner, 15 July, Pinks, 6.30pm.
Tennis – Wimbledon Championships
16 July. Tennis Courts, 9.00am-12.30pm.
Theatre Night – One Woman Show with Davina Leonard
21 July, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
AUGUST 2017 Film Night - Young Goethe in Love
3 August, Ballroom, 6.30pm
Opera Night – La Fanciulla del West
23 August, Ballroom, 6.30pm
SEPTEMBER 2017 Imre Loeffler Lecture
6 September, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Speaker’s Evening – ‘What a Life’ with Rhodia Mann
7 September, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Tennis - U.S. Open Championships
10 September, Tennis Courts, 9.00am–12.30pm.
Musical Evening - Remembering Il Grande Pavarotti
14 September, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Speaker’s Evening – Greg Du Tuits
19 September, Ballroom, 6.30pm.
Tennis - Herring Cup Tournament
16 & 17 September, Tennis Courts 9.00am
Herring Cup Tournament Dinner
16 September, Ballroom, 7.00pm – Dawn.
Outreach Luncheon – Members’ Lunch Party
30 September, Gilgil, 12.30pm.
WEEKLY EVENTS Lawn Bowls Coaching
every Monday, Bowling Greens, 4.30pm.
Lawn Bowls Mix-Ins
every Thursday, 4.30pm – 6.00pm, and Sundays, 9.30am, Bowling Greens.
Club Night
every Friday, Happy Hour, Cocktail Bar, 6.30pm – 8.00pm.
Fish Bowl Friday
every third Friday of the month, Pinks, 6.00pm.
Dates and times of events were correct at the time of going to Press. They may change post printing so please check with the Events Office events@mcc.co.ke when making you bookings.
Competition April – June 2017 Competition Answer QUESTION: Name this building, where it was situated and year. ANSWER: National Bank of India, Station Road, Nairobi, 1904. WINNERS
Question: Name this visitor to
Kenya, his title and the year of his visit.
Prize: 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 10
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
Keith Blackie & Akbar Hussein. *As an Overseas Member Keith Blackie is unable to take up his prize so he has very kindly donated it to the MCC Christmas Draw.
Did you Know? In 1912 JC Shaw went to open a branch of the Standard Bank of South Africa up-country next to the little trading store opened by Messrs McNab Mundell and Wreford-Smith in 1910. When the safe was first unloaded from the wagon it tumbled against the mud wall and knocked over the Bank. The Bank had to be rebuilt around the safe. It had a counter, and Mr Shaw used to take his morning bath behind it before starting business, after a preliminary visit in his dressing gown and slippers to the Ratpit Bar next door.
Taken from ‘The Pioneers Scrapbook’
www.mcc.co.ke
bird quiz
Birds Eye View People have variously coloured eyes – blue, green, brown and hazel, and so do birds, some with very vivid colours. In addition, some birds have eye-rings, wattles and skin patches. Try to name the six birds below viewing only their eyes.
And what is the sex of the bottom left bird? All too difficult? See page 25 for answers. www.mcc.co.ke
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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bow ls and fitnes s
BOOT CAMP Saturday 8 July, 8.30am After the very successful Boot Camp in June the Fitness Centre will be holding another Boot Camp for Members and friends on the first Saturday in July. Everyone is welcome to take part in this High-Intensity Interval Workout Programme to Burn Fat, Build Muscle, Get Fit and Have Fun! If you’re up to the challenge email fitness@mcc.co.ke for more information.
Wellness Beyond the Fitness Centre YOU MAY WANT TO STAND UP WHILE YOU READ THIS. Medical researchers have warned that prolonged sitting is bad for your health and can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, and depression, as well as trivial old muscle and joint problems. You can combat these treacherous kill-joys at the most basic level by simply standing up. Start by standing up at work for at least two hours a day, and work your way toward four. Working out vigorously before or after work may not compensate for extended sitting. Metabolism slows down 90 per cent after 30 minutes of sitting. The enzymes that move the bad fat from your arteries to your muscles, where it can get burned off, slow right down and the muscles in your lower body are turned off completely. After two hours, good cholesterol drops by 20 percent. Just getting up for five minutes will get things going again and a few simple activities like taking your phone calls standing, walking around, walking over to a colleague’s desk instead of sending an e-mail, using the stairs instead of the lift and taking a lunch break, all contribute to a healthier work regime and a more active workday.
Bowls Report The Bowls Section had their AGM on the 23rd March at which John Porter was elected the new Captain and Ian Stamp was elected Vice Captain. The Bowls Section recently held the Club Pairs competition, which was kindly sponsored by Marion and Gordon Weston. The runaway winners were Maureen Burns and Essie Ndungu and the worthy runners-up were Gail Langton and Maria Cunningham. The next competition will be the Club Handicap Singles to be played in 12
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
September and will be sponsored by Oli and Sheryl Fowler. But it’s not all competitive bowling, we have social bowls between the competitions and we have regular mixins on Thursdays starting from 4.30 p.m. and Sunday mornings starting from 9.30 a.m. We welcome new bowlers and there are always Members on hand willing and able to help and coach. John Porter Captain Bowls Section
From left – Runners-up in the Club Pairs competition Maria Cunningham and Gail Langton, John Porter (Bowls Captain) Marion Weston (Sponsor) and Winners Maureen Burns and Essie Ndungu. www.mcc.co.ke
tennis
Forthcoming Tennis Events 23 June
Staff Quarterly Competition
16 July Wimbledon 10 September Winners of the Seniors’ Tennis Tournament Fiona Fox and Peter Scholes.
Wilson Cup Winners of Pool B – Dirk Sickmueller & Tessa McClellan
Wilson Cup Winners of Pool A Christian Vater and Katrina Karanja
16/17 September Herring Cup Tournament
MCC Wilson Cup winning team.
We started off the second quarter with a competition specifically aimed at our Senior Players. Initially we advertised for players of 60+ years but owing to the lack of numbers, the age barrier had to be reduced to 55+ years. And despite lowering the age limit, only ten players made themselves available for this immensely fun Doubles Competition. Nevertheless, a most enjoyable session of tennis was had by those who did take part with Peter Scholes and Fiona Fox alias ‘The Mongols,’ emerging as the overall winners in this highly charged, very animated tournament. The competitors flagging energy levels were recharged with a superb array of snacks and refreshments made available throughout the morning courtesy of MCC. I plan to repeat the tournament later on in the year, in www.mcc.co.ke
U.S. Open Championships
the hopes that many more players will get involved. At the very least, we will all be a bit older and may feel more qualified to participate. In May the MCC team took part in the annual ‘Wilson Cup.’ This highly competitive tournament is played between MCC and Karen Club. Michael Wilson started the tournament in 1989 and the trophy has been battled over every year since then. The tournament is held at Karen and involves six Mixed Doubles pairs who are divided into two separate Pools. Our three pairs in Pool B were particularly ruthless this year and produced some excellent results. When the scores of both Pools were added up at the end of the day, to our surprise and delight, we found MCC had won by 19/17 sets. This is the
first time MCC Tennis Club has won the Wilson Cup in fourteen years. Congratulations to the whole team for an outstanding achievement. The splendid Trophy has been brought home and is now triumphantly on display in the Club’s main Reception. In June we held our Roland Garros Tournament but, disappointingly, only twelve players turned out – a few players had attended the ‘May Ball’ the night before and, having danced until dawn, were either unwilling or unable to come to the courts on Sunday morning. In the event, only one Pool of six pairs took part playing on a round-robin basis and JC Clemeur and Harald Guenther, representing the Lyons team, emerged as the worthy overall winners. Bien Joué les Mecs Lyonais! John Goodwin – Tennis Captain
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
By kind invitation of the Jockey Club and Racecourse Management. MCC Members and friends recently enjoyed a fabulous day of racing at The Derby. MCC provided a splendid lunch with Bar, Bookies & Betting tips in the cool comfort of the Club’s private marquee.
www.mcc.co.ke
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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races 1933
A Day at the Ngong Races 1933 In her memoires Barbie Nightingale describes a trip to the Races in 1933. The old Race Track was down Racecourse Road. We arrived just as the sun was setting. We found three stables allocated to us. One for each horse and one for tack and hay (supplied.) We gave the horses a good grooming and fed and watered them for the night. Afterwards it was fun to meet up with friends and have a chat, and we all fed together in the Banda. Then a ‘comfortable’ night in the stable wrapped in blankets. Up early to clean, feed and walk our horses out, and back for breakfast.
Barbie with Squirrel “Squirrel was a two-year-old chestnut mare given to me by my husband. I trained her, not as a racehorse, but as a useful farm hack. One day my sister Pam (nee Polhill) and I decided we’d enter the Nairobi Races. We did a few weeks training - our favourite exercise was to chase a large herd of zebra across the Kinangop Plateau, sometimes entailing many hours and miles of hard riding – but exciting and fun. When the weekend of the Race came up I was pregnant. The distance from our farm to the Racecourse was a 68-mile ride, which we aimed to complete before dark.
When I saddled up for the first race – I was in two races – a syce from another stable came along and tried to give Squirrel a bucket of ice-cold water! “Tricks of the trade!” From then on I stayed in the stable until I rode out to the Collecting Ring. In the first race more dirty play cropped up, including a jockey alongside me who pretended to be using his whip on HIS horse but in fact was hitting my mare across the face to keep her back. Squirrel was in good form and overtook that one. For a few exhilarating minutes we were in the lead, but we were overtaken before the finish and ended up third. By next race Squirrel knew what it was all about. We kept steady for the first
two thirds and then I let her go and had the pleasure of overtaking the leading horses. We were well in front, when a big black horse overtook to be first. Back to the stables, again afraid to go far from my horse, as there were all types of ‘baddies’ around – cold water, musty hay, cutting of girths, tampering with bridles and worse things! We got into our blankets early, with torches at the ready. We left the Racecourse at dawn on Sunday morning in a light drizzle of rain. When we cantered up our home drive late in the afternoon, the horses seemed as fresh as when they started, but I’m sure they enjoyed their own stable and supper that night as much as we enjoyed ours! The son I was carrying at the time (Geoff Nightingale) has never really been that keen on horses, unlike his younger brother Bruce, who went on to breed racing horses and has produced a string of champion runners.” Photos and extract taken from Barbie Nightingale’s memoires, with kind permission of the Nightingale family of Njoro.
My sister and I set off from the Kinangop at 4.30am on our mounts, carrying our food, drink and spare clothes in saddlebags. Mornings on the Kinangop were cold and frost was on the ground. It was still dark and the hyenas started to call. We decided to sing at the top of our voices, which we did for several miles! We stopped for breakfast when the sun came up. The Colobus monkeys were curious to see us, and the odd bushbuck would cross the road, but otherwise it was peaceful green and quiet, except for the birds of many kinds. We saw no habitation until we were nearing Limuru. 16
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
Young Geoff Nightingale with Barbie on the Kinangop circa 1938 www.mcc.co.ke
members’ honours
A Brace of Awards for Kamili Kenya It has been a deservedly rewarding year for MCC Member Melanie Blake. In March she was invited to the Vatican in Rome by the Fidel Gotz Foundation to attend an award ceremony held in recognition of the contributions of Catholic women to the Church and to humanity. Melanie was invited for her commitment to improving mental health in Kenya. Then, in May Melanie received the honour of an MBE from her Majesty the Queen, also for her work in improving the quality of life of those suffering from mental health illnesses in Kenya through her organisation Kamili Kenya. In developing countries, there is an increased risk of mental health problems attributable to poverty, low education and inequality. Mental health is essential to the well being of individuals and economies, but Kenya currently has only one dedicated mental health hospital, based in Nairobi. Melanie founded Kamili in 2009 with two mental health clinics running in low-income areas of Nairobi. Since then, Kamili has grown to become the
main provider of mental health care in the country. In addition to providing access to services and affordable care to those suffering from mental health illnesses in Kenya, Kamili also provides community support networks for their families and micro-finance incomegenerating loan schemes to help sufferers and their families to provide for themselves. Kamili clinics are seeing an increasing number of patients all the time. With 33 qualified mental health nurses trained through the Nurse Scholarship Scheme, Kamili currently has a trained nurse in 23 counties in Kenya. As a result, 7,700 (and growing) patients and their extended families are getting the support and therapies they need to manage their mental health troubles. Melanie’s vision for Kamili is to continue to expand the clinics in Nairobi, as well as provide a monthly mobile mental health facility in Nairobi district offering diagnosis, treatment, and support to patients and their families as well as providing education and awareness around mental health issues in the community.
Melanie in Rome for the Fidel Götz Foundation Award Ceremony.
“I accept these honours with great pride and gratitude on behalf of the Kamili team and everyone who has supported us over the last few years. We have come a long way and we could not have done this without the backing, encouragement and generosity of a large number of people both here in Kenya and across the world.” Melanie Blake MBE Melanie at Buckingham Palace with her husband Robert and children Toby and Harriet.
www.mcc.co.ke
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members achievements
WARRIOR BOY MCC Member Ginny Larby (nee Clay) was shortlisted for the prestigious Times Newspaper/Chicken House Children’s Fiction prize with her book Warrior Boy. Out of over 1000 entries from new writers from all over the world, Warrior Boy made it to the short list of five. In 2007, in association with The Times newspaper, Chicken House Publishing launched The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition for undiscovered talent. This annual competition for new writers was created by Barry Cunningham, who is both founder of Chicken House Publishing, and the editor who famously discovered JK Rowling (and Harry Potter). To have reached the last five is an amazing achievement for first time writer Ginny since, as the judges said, “all the longlisted submissions were absolutely brilliant stories, full of originality, excellent writing and riveting plots from hundreds of submissions.”
would happen to a Maasai with a blood phobia. Her book Warrior Boy, which is written for 10 to 14 year olds, follows its hero Ben, a mixed race boy from London who embarks on a journey of selfdiscovery that takes him from inner city London to a dynamic Maasai homestead on the vast plains of Kenya and his estranged family.
Ginny came to Kenya in 2008 after reading English at Manchester University and then working as an actress in London for fifteen years.
Here, drinking cow’s blood, evading lions and living off the land are daily norms, but it is also the place where Ben must overcome his greatest fear if he is to find his true place in the world. He is crippled by a shameful secret that he is convinced will prevent him from being acknowledged as the true son of a Maasai warrior, but in his Kenya homestead he learns that his real identity is more surprising than he ever could have imagined.
When she first encountered the Maasai culture of drinking cow’s blood, Ginny immediately wondered what
As a shortlistee, Ginny was recently invited to a Luncheon at the Savile Club in London, hosted by Barry
Ginny Larby shortlisted out of over 1000 entries for her book Warrior Boy Cunningham, to meet the other shortlisted authors and during which the final winner was announced. Although Warrior Boy didn’t win the overall prize, it will be published in the summer of 2018. Chicken House books are sold all over the world. Ginny, whose nom de plume is Virginia Clay, is married to Justin Larby and has two young children. Since coming to Kenya she has retrained as a teacher, and now teaches English at the Banda School.
“I’m a big believer in the power of reading and I love watching my students discover this for themselves. I hope children will enjoy reading Warrior Boy as much as I have enjoyed the whole experience of writing it.” Ginny Larby Ginny (far left) with the other shortlisted authors at the Savile Club in London 18
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
members’ honours
RESTART AFRICA MCC Member Mary Coulson has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, for her energy, compassion and determination to rescue desperate homeless children from the streets of Kenya. After the post-election violence in 2007 more than 500,000 people were displaced from their villages. Many of them were children who had been orphaned or abandoned by parents who could no longer support them. Most of them had fallen victim to hunger, violence, drugs and sexual abuse. Mary was so horrified by the growing number of street children in Gilgil that in 2008 she founded the Restart Children’s Centre to offer a new life and a brighter future for children living on the streets of Gilgil. When it first opened, in a modest rented property, the Restart Centre gave shelter to just six boys, today, in smart new premises just outside Gilgil, the Restart Centre now houses more than 100 children and provides them with a secure home, food, education, love and stability. Most of the children have suffered severe abuse and deprivation and all have significant emotional problems. It can take many months of care before they are able to trust and enjoy a more settled life in the Restart Centre. Through Restart Africa Mary has set up several thriving projects, which help to fund and support the Centre and also the local community. These include a briquette making operation using recycled materials that provides the Centre with all its fuel requirements and generates some income through local sales. www.mcc.co.ke
Mary pictured outside the new Restart Centre with some of the Rescue children, General Manager Restart Africa Marvine and Matron Lucy. Sanata Crafts provides employment, security and independence for over 100 women making bags, shoes and jewellery, enabling them to feed and educate their children. As well as an agricultural project, which supplies vegetables both to the Centre and the local area, the Restart herb garden produces over 800 species of plants and herbs, which are sourced from all over East Africa. All these projects help to support the running costs and work of the Restart Centre and aim to provide worthwhile employment for the local community enabling people to earn money and gain stability, security and self-respect. Today Restart houses over 100 orphans and provides employment for more than 120 adults, a number of whom are former children from the orphanage.
Mary outside Buckingham Palace with her MBE medal. July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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edita’s opera and ballet programme
The Winter’s Tale Realising that ballet definitely has the ‘edge’ over opera I decided to start this quarter with a brand new ballet. The Winter’s Tale is a dance version of Shakespeare’s play of the same title and is a joint production between the Royal Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada. It was first presented at the Royal Opera House in 2014. The first two acts are filled with intense psychological drama masterly choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon to depict through dance the feelings of jealousy, loss, love, joy, redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The Winter’s Tale will be screened on the 13 July.
Young Goethe in Love Based on true events and characters this is the story behind Goethe’s first huge success “Die Leiden des Jungen Werther.” Set in Germany 1772, the young and passionate Johan Goethe aspires to be a poet, but after failing his law exams, he is sent away by his father to a sleepy provincial court to mend his ways. That is when Lotte enters his life and nothing is the same ever the same for him again. But she is promised to another…. The story is recounted with humour and feeling, and the film received enthusiastic reviews. Young Goethe in Love will be screened on the 3 August.
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
Remembering Il Grande Pavarotti It has already been 10 years since the great Pavarotti died in September 2007. This will be a commemoration of his life and music. Not just operatic music - for eight consecutive years he organised huge charity pop concerts inviting the greatest stars of the time to sing with him.
La Fanciulla del West As I have mentioned before, the only opera worth showing with the “hottest” tenor of the moment (Jonas Kaufmann) is Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. This fabulously traditional production from Vienna includes live horses on stage. Minni dreams of love and one day, love comes walking into the salon in the form of a stranger. She does not know that he is the much-feared bandit Ramirez…It is a story about love, friendship and redemption, upon which Puccini lavished some of his most emotional melodies and dramatic scenes. The Poker scene is one of the most heart-stopping suspense scenes to be found in an opera. La Fanciulla del West with Jonas Kaufmann will be screened on 23 August.
Hearing Pavarotti is always exciting and I think he deserves to be remembered and revered for the many years of pleasure he has given to his audiences. Remembering Il Grande Pavarotti will be screened on 14 September.
The Year Ahead……. My 7th OPERAtion Classics Opera The Barber of Seville, is arguably the most ambitious I have attempted so far. Envisaging the need for a longer rehearsal period I have scheduled the premier for early next year. During auditions for this opera I discovered some promising new talent, which I am hoping to have groomed for a little live concert performance before the end of the year. The concert will have excerpts from my past operas and a few “preview” numbers from the new one.
One more Kaufmann… Although I dare not show any of Kaufmann’s recent operas because they are just too weird, a new concert from Baden Baden has recently been released where Jonas Kaufmann is joined by a host of stars, including the great Welsh bass baritone Bryn Terfel, who almost overshadows him.
www.mcc.co.ke
book reviews
New Arrivals THE GIRL AND THE SUNBIRD by Rebecca Stonehill Although long and improbable this is a very readable story. When Iris Johnson refuses to marry the man her ambitious mother has selected, she is shipped off to 1903 Kenya, with chaperone, to marry an unknown quantity. Iris’s father, a clergyman, is sympathetic but cannot prevent this happening. If indeed he were so devoted to his daughter and as impoverished as he apparently was, how could he have agreed or afforded to do this? What happens later in the plot is even more doubtful in early colonial Kenya. The story continues into the Mau Mau uprising, with more improbabilities and inaccuracies. It is a pity that Stonehill did not consult more local people about her researches, as the book is full of errors, many admittedly small, but they could so easily have been avoided.
MY VANISHING AFRICAN DREAMS By Susan M. Hall
EARTHLY REMAINS by Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti is back, this time involved in a complicated environmental issue. He finds himself taking enforced recuperative leave on an island not far from Venice, where he plans to enjoy a healthy break. The first week is idyllic, he tests his rowing skills and enjoys the company of the somewhat taciturn caretaker Davide. Circumstances change dramatically when Davide disappears after a severe electrical storm. Davide had been very involved with his bees, which had started to die and this plunged him into a deep depression that dragged back memories of his wife’s death. Brunetti finds himself trying to solve the mystery of Davide’s disappearance. As always Leon writes beautifully about Venice, but this plot somehow lacks her usual sparkle.
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE TUDORS by Tracy Borman The Tudors are by far Britain’s most colourful monarchs. In recent years there has been an outbreak of novels about them, their family and relatives. Borman’s book is a welcome complement to what many readers may have already read. She puts life into each of the sovereigns, all of whom have hopes and fears, perhaps different from ours, but making them human beings with feelings like our own. Borman shows how the dynasty’s shaky beginnings were dominated by the importance of a male heir to ensure succession. Elizabeth, the last of the line, flatly refused to marry, for many interesting reasons. This book is immensely readable and will remain a benchmark for all novels about the Tudors.
STAY WITH ME by Ayobami Adebayo The story begins in Nigeria’s more turbulent times of the early 1980s. Yejide’s mother, the husband’s ‘favourite’ wife, dies at her birth. Even after she has gone, the other wives resent Yejide, who becomes deliriously happy when she meets, falls in love with and marries Akin. All is well until it becomes apparent that Yejide is not producing any children. There is no failure so serious as barrenness and Akin’s unsympathetic family find him a second wife, making Yejide’s life more difficult. The plot produces one shock-surprise after another, mostly with unhappy consequences, but Yejide and Akin remain together, until something even more unprecedented happens. Adebayo writes skilfully of the earlier Nigerian military dictatorships and the family customs of the older generation, showing how inevitably times change, whether we accept them or not. This is an incredibly moving story, also relevant in Kenya, and in which many parents will recognise their own problems. Adebayo is a writer to watch. www.mcc.co.ke
In her recently published book ‘My Vanishing African Dreams’ MCC Member Susan Hall shares her unusual life story spent in the wild and remote areas of Kenya. Born in Nottinghamshire in England, Susan moved to Kenya with her parents at the age of four. She taught herself to paint and became a professional bird and wildlife artist, as well as a ‘lady cattle trader’ - an occupation unheard of for women at that time. Her father taught her to fly when she was 16 and she flew throughout rural Kenya, buying and selling livestock. Her remarkable book includes her experiences exploring Kenya’s mostly uninhabited Northern Frontier District and accounts of some of her more treacherous run-ins with the wildlife that come with the territory. Now retired, Susan lives on the border of the remote and starkly beautiful NFD. Susan has donated a copy of her book to the Club Library.
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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reciprocal clubs
With over 100 Clubs in 24 countries around the world reciprocating with MCC we welcome Members to submit brief reports if they visit any of them. The Army and Navy Club, St James’s, London The Army & Navy Club, affectionately known as ‘The Rag’ is a Private Members’ Club in St. James’s, London, originally founded in 1837 for former and serving officers of the British and Commonwealth Armed Services, and their immediate relatives. The Club acquired its nickname, when one Member was offended by the Spartan fare offered to him. He described the Club as a ‘Rag and Famish affair,’ which was intended as a great insult. Far from being insulted the Members were highly amused and the name was adopted as the Club’s nickname, eventually being reduced to ‘The Rag’. Located at 36 Pall Mall, the Club went through a total re-build in 1962, replacing the handsome old building with a more functional modern one. It is the most perfect location for anyone needing to be in the centre of London – a short walk away from theatres, Victoria, the Institute of Directors – with ‘Boris’ bikes on hand across the square. The dress code is as you’d expect, with serving officers often seen there in uniform. One of the key sartorial instructions is for gentlemen to wear a belt – lest one forgets, presumably. There’s a Jaunty Flaneur to shine your shoes – though Bata safari boots are a bridge too far – and the Barber Shop’s client list (not that anyone’s in the business of dropping names) on the Ground Floor reads like an international edition of Who’s Who.
and good (a reminder of how Muthaiga used to be: shepherd’s pie and sausage and mash, properly cooked, can be a delight) and attentive waitresses are happy to recommend appropriate wines. Naturally, more exotic foods are available at a price. It’s a military Club, and perhaps military types will enjoy it most. It is comfortable and welcoming, with a great atmosphere and unstuffy stylishness. Best of all – at least for military people – are the bedrooms. Neat and tidy, the width of the beds will take officers straight back to nights at the RMA Sandhurst, where any notion of rolling over usually ended
in a thump. One lady in our party (no former soldier she) took one look at her room and immediately demanded a suite, which she later confirmed was perfectly comfortable and well worth the extra cost. Location, location… and a very nice place. The Army & Navy Club is highly recommended to Members. ‘The Rag’ has three Bars and Restaurants each with a different atmosphere and style of cuisine. There are 75 air-conditioned, en-suite guest rooms, all equipped with multichannel TV, refreshments, toiletries, hair dryers and laundry facilities.
The reception, bar and dining rooms are wonderful, decorated with paintings of Royal and military figures and yet, for all that, the rooms are usually quite busy and the atmosphere is convivial. Food in the main restaurant, The Coffee Room, is simple
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
reciprocal clubs
The Yale Club of New York My wife Marion and I recently had a most enjoyable week at the Yale Club of New York and I would encourage any of our fellow Members travelling to Manhattan to seriously consider staying at the Club. The Yale Club is a private club in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City. It was founded in 1897 to allow graduates the ability to continue the friendships they formed at Yale University. To be eligible for membership, a candidate must be an alumnus, faculty member, or full-time graduate student of Yale University. Over its 116-year history the 22-storey clubhouse has accrued a worldwide membership of over 11,000 and is the largest private clubhouse in the world. The location on Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is ideal for visitors to the ‘Big Apple’ being just a few steps away from Grand Central Station. It is also very close to all of the attractions of 42nd Street, Broadway and Times Square. The Club is surrounded by a whole host of restaurants offering every conceivable type of cuisine from basic ‘Diners’ to top-of-the range Michelinstarred establishments. Fifth Avenue and Central Park South with their world-famous shops and www.mcc.co.ke
Department Stores are also in the neighbourhood. The Club itself is grand but with a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Dress code is similar to MCC, if not more rigid and the use of mobile phones is also regulated. Recently refurbished, the Club’s 138 guest rooms range from single/studio rooms to very luxurious suites. The rooms are comfortable, and wellappointed with complimentary Wi-Fi in every room and use of the very well equipped Fitness Centre with squash courts and swimming pool, is included with your stay. With suites that can sleep up to six, the Club is familyfriendly, too. Room pricing varies accordingly but when compared to hotels in the vicinity they are reasonable. Public rooms in the Club are imposing and include a marvelous Library, which is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Manhattan. We were lucky to arrive just as the Rooftop Restaurant and Bar were opening for the summer and, being on the 22nd floor of the Club we had spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline with the iconic Chrysler and Metlife (formerly PanAm) buildings very close by.
With lovely weather and the magnificent views we dined almost exclusively on the roof. The Club also has what they call a “Grill Room,” which is really a pub-type restaurant, which we found rather gloomy. This was the Club’s only minus point. The standard of food, as one would expect, was high and reasonably priced, as was the comprehensive Wine List. Legend has it that the Yale Club was able to stock up enough ‘liquor’ to see the Club through the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, so to find they also had a good selection of Craft beers, making a refreshing change from the Pabst, and Schlitz of years gone by, was not so surprising. One of the most remarkable things about the Club is that it always seems to be pleasantly busy with many functions taking place daily. We were made to feel very much at home by a Kikuyu gentleman from Nairobi who was one of the staff on the Reception Desk. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Yale Club and recommend it enthusiastically to our fellow MCC Members. Gordon Weston
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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members achievements
Award-winning Kenyan Play Tours Africa and Hong Kong The award-winning Kenyan play ‘A Man Like You’ written by MCC Member Silvia Cassini continues on a roll of critical acclaim. Nominated for seven awards at last year’s Sanaa Theatre Awards ‘A Man Like You’ won two - Best Actor and Best Tragedy – and has continued its incredible success with of a recent tour of southern Africa this year. The play, which premiered in Nairobi last year, had a three week run off Broadway in New York last July, and has now just completed a tour with performances in Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The play directed by Silvia is a tale of two idealistic headstrong men - Patrick North, British diplomat and hostage (played by internationally renowned Zimbabwean actor Kevin Hanssen) and his Somali kidnapper Abdi (Maina Olwenya.) The script has them defending their world-views in an intense exposé of extremism, politics and religion. Their poignant and thought-provoking conversations engage questions about the nature of radicalisation, the flaws of differing cultures, and the similarities between them, without painting over either side’s atrocities. The southern Africa tour of ‘A Man Like You’ ended with such excellent reviews the International Silvia Cassini pictured at last year’s Sanaa Theatre Awards where she received ‘Best Tragedy’ Association of Theatre Critics has invited Silvia and the award for her play ‘A Man Like You.’ Pictured with her are Keith Pearson of the Theatre cast to perform in Hong Kong this November. Company and Maina Olwenya with his award for ‘Best Actor.’
Answers to Bird Quiz Top row: Abyssinian White-eye; Reed Cormorant; Northern Whitefaced Scops-Owl (No – White-eye, Cormorant and Owl will not do!) Bottom row: Saddle-billed Stork (f); White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher; Hinde’s Babbler (As before - not Stork, Flycatcher and Babbler)
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
members achievements
Supporting Conservation Through Art MCC Member Karen (Laurence) Rowe has been doing wonderful things for Conservation by raising money through her art. Recently Karen sold two of her magnificent original paintings at auction and together with prints, raised over $42,000. Proceeds from the sale of her iconic painting ‘The Last Three’ depicting Sudan, Najin and Fatu, the last three Northern White Rhinos on this earth, went to support the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, while funds from her dramatic painting of ‘Satao’s Last Stand’ portraying Kenya’s famous bull elephant Satao, have been donated by Karen to the Tsavo Trust. Karen is pictured here with her paintings “The Last Three” and “Satao’s Last Stand.”
The Rhodia Mann Library & Museum of Samburu Culture Rhodia Mann is never without a project. The library she created for the Samburu Mixed Day Secondary School outside Maralal, which was featured in a previous issue of the MCC Magazine, was finally completed in January this year, with a total of 800 books, and over 300 pupils to enjoy them.
photographs and books that she has collected during her exhaustive study of the Samburu tribe over the last 45 years. Rhodia became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 2000 in recognition of her work with the Samburu people of Northern Kenya and these activities are part of her legacy for future generations.
Rhodia is most grateful to all those MCC Members who donated books to the library, and will happily accept any more.
Rhodia will be giving an illustrated Talk about the Samburu Tribe and the History of Beads in Africa, at the Club on 17 September.
For her next project, the International School of Kenya is creating a permanent Rhodia Mann Museum of Samburu Culture, on its compound. This will include artefacts covering the whole spectrum of Samburu life,
Proceeds will go to train a librarian for the Samburu Mixed Day Secondary School in Maralal.
www.mcc.co.ke
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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hatches & matches
Benedict Bishop & Stephanie Doig
Xan Hopcraft & Stephani Crotty
Benedict Bishop, son of Nick and Jane Bishop of Shipton er of Hall, Shropshire, England, married Stephanie Doig, youngest daughter of Julia and the late Alan Doig of Tigoni, Kenya. The wedding was held on 6th May 2017, at St James Church, Shipton Hall, Shropshire, England.
Xan Hopcraft, eldest son of David and Carol Hopcraft of Swara Plains, Kenya, married Stephani Crotty, daughter of Stephen and Traci Crotty of Michigan, USA. The wedding was held on 6th August 2016 at Moira Hill Farm in Michigan. Following er of family tradition, they became the fourth generation to be wed there, with a reception at the Walloon Lake Country Club, Petoskey, Michigan.
Darrel Evans & Philippa (Pippa) Strong
Henry Davis & Heather Cuthbert
Darrel Evans eldest son of Asha and the late Yank Evans of Nairobi, married Pippa Elizabeth Strong, eldest daughter of Vanessa Strong of Karen and Stephen Strong of Ridgeways, Nairobi. The wedding was held on 15th April 2017 at Takaungu House, Takaungu, North Coast Kenya.
Henry Marshall Jude Davis, youngest son of Alec and Christine Davis of Muthaiga, married Heather Sarah Cuthbert, youngest daughter of Neil and Linda Cuthbert of Karen. The wedding was held on the 11th February 2017 at the Cuthbert residence in Karen, Kenya.
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Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
www.mcc.co.ke
obituaries
Julianne Brigid Marshall Julianne was raised on a farm in the Cape, built up what she modestly called her magic at the foot of the Helderberg, overlooking Somerset West and the sea that stretches from Gordon’s Bay to Simonstown. You can’t fail to have an appreciation of what’s beautiful in the world, both natural and man-made, with an upbringing like that and there’s no doubt that her approving and artistic eye enhanced her husband Robert Marshall’s great skill as an architect, particularly blending lodges into natural habitat, after they had moved to Kenya in 1955. One of her early lessons as a teenager was being introduced to the world of investing by her father and, despite (perhaps because of) an early failure, her appetite was whetted and she had learned the value of careful research. Her work routine in later years was to retire to her spare room after lunch, usually with chocolate close to hand, and indulge herself in a careful diet of the Herald Tribune, Financial Times, Valueline, Economist and others. She was a value investor in the purest sense and
pudding fund. Her investments were longterm and carefully considered, always based on her studies of financial success and failure, and historical precedent from more than a century earlier. Though not naturally combative, Julianne loved to debate. She honed her skills against her brilliant younger brother, Pierce Newton-King, a successful lawyer, and his early death left a void that few could fill. Julianne would always take a contrary view, purely for the fun of it, and call on her huge depth of knowledge and wisdom. She’d be as likely to quote from little-known artists, famous archaeologists or historians, as from financial gurus or modern-day economists. And you’d know you’d lost when she’d chuckle and say, “Well, I’m sure you’re right really.” It was her typical way of completely disarming her interlocutor, and resting her case. Her husband Robert’s death in 2006 extinguished a lot of the light in her life,
Flora (Paddy) Migdoll Boxing Day organiser and resolute Pony Club supporter. There was not much time left for Polo or Eventing, but she would have a go whenever possible. After happy school days, Paddy joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force for the duration of WWII. At the end of hostilities in Europe she was posted to New Delhi where she ably assisted Chief of Staff, Air Marshall Sir Roderick Carr and where she honed her equestrian skills at the prestigious I.D.I. Club. Born Flora Mackenzie, an only child of farming stock in the Highlands of Scotland, Paddy lost her mother at the age of three, and father fifteen years later. Her step parents gave her a wonderful horse named Star, who helped to shape the course of her long life thereafter. Paddy tried out every field of equestrianism, from owner to racehorse breeder, trainer, rider, journalist, activist, Derby Ball coordinator, Limuru www.mcc.co.ke
April 1933 - March 2017
In 1946 Paddy joined the Kenya Shell Company. Upon arrival in Kenya, she was introduced to entrepreneur Micky Migdoll, who was opening his up-market clothing store for men Esquire Ltd. Paddy offered to exercise Micky’s horse, Todd. Todd’s intervention led to holy matrimony and Paddy and Micky had two children - Michael and Honorable Jooooolia. The Migdolls swept the show-jumping boards at Jamhuri Park but it was Paddy’s great friend Beryl Markham, who lured
but she remained genuinely pleased to welcome visitors from every nation and background to the home she built in Kitisuru, while her infectious chortle, appetite for interesting anecdote and cheerful smile remained with her to the very end. Julianne is survived by her four daughters Fiona, Jessica, Serena and Rowena. She was a Member of Muthaiga for 48 years.
August 1924 – June 2017 Paddy away from show jumping and into horseracing. Paddy enjoyed immediate success, which tempted her into the world of training. Simultaneously, Paddy enrolled as a journalist for the East African Standard, and she wrote a popular weekly racing column under the pseudonym SQUIRREL, for 56 years. As a founder member of the Limuru Hunt, Paddy ran charity meets for thirteen years. Among the beneficiaries were the KSPCA, Homes for the Blind, Protection of Donkeys, Cheshire Handicapped Village and Nyumbani Children’s Centre in Karen where she became a Director. Still active at 93, Paddy kept her weight rigidly below 40kg, was a dab hand at ping pong, enjoyed gardening, cricket and walked two miles most evenings. She would say, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing,” and she followed that maxim through to the end. Paddy was a Member of the Club for 42 years. July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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obituaries
William (Bill) Parkinson December 1932 – March 2017 learned to fly and later became a full-time pilot for Boscovic Air Charters before launching Car Hire Services based at Vic Preston’s Service Station. Bill and Vic became great friends igniting Bill’s passion for motorsport. They both competed at the Nakuru Circuit and Bill still holds the Touring Car lap record for the Nakuru and Embakasi tracks.
Bill Parkinson was born in Newtownards, Northern Ireland in December 1932. After excelling academically and on the sports field in the Enniskillen Technical School of Business he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary. In 1953 he was recruited by the Kenya Police and served for 14 years rising to the post of Chief Inspector. While in the police Bill
Not content with motor racing Bill took up rallying and participated in the Safari Rally ten times. After retiring from rally driving he became the Chairman of the Safari Rally when the event had World Championship status. In more recent times he concentrated on restoring classic cars and became the Chief Judge of the Africa Concours d’Elegance for ten years. During his action-packed life he founded Car Hire Services, Executive Air Services, Wine Masters and latterly Phoenix Aviation. He was also a formidable table tennis and squash player and was the
Tristan Voorspuy Tristan Maarten Voorspuy (Stan) was born in Johannesburg SA, the youngest of four children. His father was an airline pilot for KLM and was transferred back to UK when Tristan was four, but his love of Africa, its people and the environment and his lifelong fascination with wildlife, had already begun on the South African Veldt. Tristan was educated at Eastbourne College and, after a year at Cirencester Agricultural College, he joined the British Army in 1975 on a Short Service Commission with the Blues & Royals. He left with the rank of Lieutenant. In 1982 he rode a motorcycle from London to Cape Town and somewhere along the way he stopped in Kenya and joined MCC Member Tony Church and Safaris Unlimited, as a trainee guide on horse riding safaris. He was kept busy on safari for the next five years and in 1989 he married Lucinda (Cindy) Macintosh and had two children, Archie and Imogen. In 1990 they set up Offbeat Safaris together and moved to Deloraine Estate 28
Muthaiga Country Club July–September 2017
Kenya Champion for both sports. Together with his son Steve and his long-term business partner Sati Reel, Bill launched Phoenix Aviation in 1994. This has become a leading aircraft maintenance, charter and air ambulance service providing first generation jet aircraft to AMREF Flying Doctors Services. For two successive years this service was awarded the best ambulance provider in the world and has rescued over 30,000 patients. Bill and his wife Gill were married for 56 years. He was a loving husband and father to Suzie, Steve and Ingle and a wonderful grandfather. His family, his two sisters and brother and their children in England and the management and staff of Phoenix Aviation will treasure the memory of Bill’s cheerful and caring spirit. Bill was a Member and great supporter of MCC for 24 years.
March 1955 – March 2017
in Rongai, from where they created an immensely successful horse riding safari business, becoming celebrated for their wild parties and generous hospitality and hosting many rich and famous equestrians. In 1999, together with several shareholders, Tristan became involved in the purchase of Sosian Ranch in Laikipia, transforming it from an overgrazed, rundown spread, to a popular safari destination and successful cattle ranch until his untimely death there this March. I first met Tristan when he arrived, somewhat the worse for wear, at my house on his 28th birthday; he created a circular drive out of my rose garden and stayed for four years. Tristan was an exceptional horseman, and as well as Eventing he played Polo for Kenya. He was banned twice from the Club for unruly behaviour, most famously on his stag night when he rode his polo pony into the ballroom. The story has become Club legend and has been immortalised in pictures in the Club’s main corridor.
Tristan was an extraordinary man – greatly respected, he was unflinchingly loyal, principled, sensitive, and kind. We will remember him for his courage, humour, wild sense of fun and his immense generosity. He is survived by Cindy, Archie and Imogen, his brothers Rufus and Morven and his sister Sorrel. His death leaves a huge hole in our lives and our hearts and we will miss him terribly. Tristan was a Member of MCC for 33 years. Bimb Theobald www.mcc.co.ke
candidates being considered for membership CANDIDATES ON BOARD FOR THE 1ST MONTH
CANDIDATES ON BOARD FOR THE 2ND MONTH
Proposer Candidate Category
Proposer Candidate
Alphan Njeru
Isaac Mwige - Elizabeth Mwige - David Njiru - Daniel Njiru - Keane Njiru
Salim Manji
Jonathan Chapman - Philippa Chapman
FT FT
Anthony Sugden
Wayne Hennessy-Barrett
FT
Anuj Kapila
Anika Kapila
F (18-29NR)
Humphrey Kariuki
Thinji Kariuki
F (18-29R)
Alan Simu
Benard Ajwang - Millicent Ochieng - Kyle Tunu - Courtney Tendai
FT FT JFT U7
Humphrey Kariuki
Nyawira Kariuki
F (18-29R)
Mahmud Janmohamed
Taninder Bamrah
FT
Paul Mackenzie
Jorgen Oberg - Joanna Oberg - Jakob Oberg - Julia Oberg - Jan Kristopher-Oberg
NR NR U7 U7 U7
Lau Larsen
Jilan Shah - Heena Shah - Anaiya Shah
FT FT U7
Lau Larsen
Shukit Shah
FT
Joseph Schwartzman
Clemens Calice - Alexis Calice - Eleonore Calice - Seno Calice
FT FT JFT JFT
Kirsten Engebak
Timo Pakkala - Leila Pakkala
FT FT
Paul van Brussel
Harry Macadam
NR
Peter Kenneth
Herbert Gasana
F (18-29R)
Alnashir Visram
Nuru Mugambi - Lailah Mugambi
FT JFT
Peter Kenneth
Martina Gasana
F (18-29R)
Omar Amin
Farah Amin
Paul Owora
Aniruddh Shah
FT FT JFT JFT U7
Charles Bengough
James Roberts - Holly Roberts - Ella Roberts
FC JFC JFC
Isabella Ochola-Wilson
Arne Eriksson - Anne Eriksson
FT FT
Kimani Mathu
Njoroge Regeru
F (18-29R)
Willem Dolleman
Tejwant Sagoo - Avinash Sagoo
FT FT
Kishore Nayar
Ravindra Bowry - Tula Bowry
FT FT
Jeroen de Clercq
Julius Delahaije - Myrna van der Veen
ST ST
Joerg Weich
Tatiana Romero - Santiago Pacheco - Valeria Pacheco
ST JFST U7
SWEEPSTAKES MAY 2017 Prize 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Ticket No. 14712 11116 4507 4559 2540 208 9101 11589 11994
Member Name Jonathan A. Sutton Charles Mutsi Maye Ngene B. Gituku Berit C. Hollister Robert C. Cork John Stuart Armitage John A. Muhoho David M. Ngugi Richard G. Njoba
Amount 63,786.24 31,893.12 18,224.64 18,224.64 13,668.48 9,112.32 9,112.32 9,112.32 9,112.32
SWEEPSTAKE JUNE 2017 Prize 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
www.mcc.co.ke
Ticket No. 4476 10556 13463 12745 2179 3357 5069 11834 8398
Member Name Ngene B. Gituku Frank K. Mwongera Brian Fredrick Sadler Stephen E. Plumbe Gerald Cunningham Robert W. Entwistle Simon N. C. Herd Charles K. Nyamu Julius K. Kipngetich
Amount 63,053.20 31,526.60 18,015.20 18,015.20 13,511.40 9,007.60 9,007.60 9,007.60 9,007.60
Category
FT F (18-29R)
DEATHS The Club regrets to announce the deaths of the following Members WILLIAM (BILL) PARKINSON on 9 March 2017 GITHAE KIEREINI on 4 April 2017 SARAH HIGGINS on 26 April 2017 SAMUEL GITHEGI on 7 May 2017 FLORA (PADDY) MIGDOLL on 28 May 2017 MAJOR LESLIE (PADDY) DEACON MBS, MBE, MC on 7 June 2017 INGRID AYERS on 8 June 2017 SUSAN VALENTINE on 16 June 2017 CHARLES (JULIAN) LARBY on 20 June 2017 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
July–September 2017 Muthaiga Country Club
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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 if theywith visit114 or Clubs stay at in any24one of them. Thesethe reports willThe be published the benefitinvests and interest MCC reports reciprocates countries around world. Reciprocityfor Committee a great of other Members who may be planning to travel overseas. deal of time ensuring that these Clubs are worthy of our association and Members are encouraged to submit brief reports if they visit information or stay at and anycontact one ofdetails them. These reports published for the benefit and interest For more of reciprocating Clubs will pleasebecontact the Secretary’s office. of other Members who may be planning to travel overseas. UK IRELAND AUSTRALIA For more information detailsandofUniversity reciprocating the&Secretary’s Army Navy Club office. London Kildare Street Club Clubs please Dublincontact Adelaide Club Adelaide and contact Athenaeum Club Melbourne Australian Club Melbourne AUSTRAL IA Melbourne Commonwealth Club Canberra Adelaide Club Adelaide Melbourne Club Melbourne Athenaeum Club Melbourne Royal Automobile Club of Australia Sydney Australian Club Melbourne Melbourne Royal Automobile Club of Victoria Melbourne Commonwealth Club Canberra Tattersall’s Brisbane MelbourneClub Club Melbourne Tasmanian Club Hobart Melbourne Savage Club Melbourne Union, University Schools Club of Sydney Sydney Naval Military and & Airforce United Club Brisbane of SouthService Australia Adelaide Weld Perth RoyalClub Automobile Club of Australia Sydney Royal Automobile Club of Victoria Melbourne Tattersall’s Club Brisbane AUSTRIA Tasmanian Club Hobart St. Johanns Club & Schools Club Vienna Union, University Sydney United Service Club Brisbane BOLIVIA Weld Club Perth Western de Australian Club Perth Circulo La Union La Paz AUSTRIA BELGIUM St. Johanns Club Vienna International Club Chateau Sainte-Anne Brussels B OLIVIA Circulo de La Union CANADA
La Paz
B ELGIUM Granite Club Toronto The Hamilton Club Hamilton International Club Chateau Sainte-Anne Brussels The National Club Toronto CANRanchmen’s ADA The Club Calgary Union Victoria CypressClub Clubof British Columbia Medicine Hat University Club of Montreal Montreal Granite Club Toronto University ClubClub of Toronto Toronto The Hamilton Hamilton Vancouver Club Vancouver The National Club Toronto The Ranchmen’s Club Calgary Terminal City Club Vancouver CHILE Union Club of British Columbia Victoria Club De LaClub Union Santiago University of Montreal Montreal University Club of Toronto Toronto FRANCE Vancouver Club Vancouver Cercle de l’Union Interalliee CH ILE The Travellers Club Club De La Union
Paris Paris Santiago
GERMANY F RANCE Anglo-German Club E.V Cercle de l’Union Interalliee The Travellers Club Club Union International GERMANY HONG KONG Anglo-German Club E.V The Hong Kong Club Union International Club
Hamburg Paris Paris Frankfurt
Hamburg Hong Kong Frankfurt
HONG KONG INDIA The Hong Kong Hong Kong Tollygunge Club Club Ltd Kolkata Umed Club Jodhpur IN DIA Ootacamund Club Ooty, Tamil Nadu Tollygunge Club Ltd Kolkata Secunderabad Club Secunderabad Umed Club Jodhpur Bangalore Club Bangalore Ootacamund Club Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu
The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club I NDI A continued JAPAN Secunderabad Club Tokyo American Club Bangalore Club
Dublin
Secunderabad Tokyo Bangalore
ILUXEMBOURG RE L AND Cercle Munster Kildare Street and University Club
Luxembourg Dublin
The Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club Dublin MALAWI JAPAN Mulika Blantyre Tokyo American Club Tokyo LUXE M BOU RG MALAYSIA Cercle Munster The Royal Lake Club
Luxembourg Kuala Lumpur
M AL AW I NETHERLANDS Mulika The Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit De Witte NE THE RL A N D S
Blantyre The Hague
The of Littéraire Sociëteit De WitteThe NEWNieuwe ZEALAND Hague Christchurch Club Christchurch The Christchurch N E WCanterbury Z E AL A NClub D Inc. Hawke’s Bay Club Napier Christchurch Christchurch The NorthernClub Club Auckland The Canterbury Club Inc. Christchurch Wellington Club Wellington Hawke’s Bay Club Napier SINGAPORE The Northern Club Auckland The Wellington Tanglin Club Club
Wellington Singapore
S I NG APO R E SOUTH AFRICA Tanglin Club Cape Town Club The Country Johannesburg S OUTH AFClub R IC A Durban Club Cape Town Club Inanda Club Kelvin GroveClub Club Johannesburg The Country Port Elizabeth Durban Club St. Georges Club The Pretoria Country Club Inanda Club Rand Club Kelvin Grove Club
Singapore Cape Town Johannesburg Durban Cape Town Johannesburg Cape Town Johannesburg Port Elizabeth Durban Pretoria Johannesburg Johannesburg Cape Town
Port Elizabeth St. Georges Club SPAIN The Pretoria Country Club Circulo Ecuestre Rand Club Real Gran Peña
Port Elizabeth
S PAI N SRI LANKA Circulo Ecuestre The Hill Club Real Gran Peña
Pretoria Barcelona Johannesburg Madrid
Barcelona Nuwara Eliya Madrid
STHAILAND RI L ANKA The Hill British Club, Bangkok The Club
Bangkok Nuwara Eliya
ZI MB A B W E
T HAI L AND TURKEY Buyuk KulupClub, Cercle d’Orient The British Bangkok
Buck’s Club London Cardiff & County Club Cardiff U K Carlton Club London Army & Navy Club London City of London Club London Boodle’s London Farmer’s Club London Buck’s London Hurlingham Club London Cardiff & County Club Cardiff Lansdowne Club London Carlton Club London Leander Club Henley-on-Thames, City of London Club London Naval Club London Farmer’s Club London Northern Counties Newcastle Hurlingham Club Club London Oriental&Club London Ipswich Suffolk Club Ipswich Oxford & Cambridge Club London Lansdowne Club London Phyllis Court Club Henley-on-Thames, Leander Henley-on-Thames, Reform Club London Naval Club London Royal Air Counties Force Club London Northern Club Newcastle Royal Automobile Club London Nottingham & Notts United Services Nottingham RoyalOriental Over-Seas League The London Savile Club Oxford & Cambridge Club London The Athenaeum Liverpool Phyllis Court Club Henley-on-Thames, The Reform Boodle’s Club London The Caledonian Club Royal Air Force Club London Royal Automobile ClubClub London The Cavalry & Guards Royal Over-Seas League London The Clifton Club Bristol Savile Club London The East India Club The Athenaeum Liverpool New Club Cheltenham The Caledonian London New Club Club Edinburgh The Guards London The Cavalry Norfolk&Club Norwich The Club & University Club Aberdeen Bristol The Clifton Royal Northern The London The East RoyalIndia ScotsClub Club Edinburgh The Club Cheltenham The New Sloane Club London The ClubClub Edinburgh The New St. James Manchester The Norwich The Norfolk Western Club Club Glasgow The Royal Northern & University Club Aberdeen Travellers Club London The Edinburgh TurfRoyal Club Scots Club London The Sloane Club London Ulster Reform Club Belfast The St James Club Manchester The Travellers Club London USA The Western Club Glasgow The Turf London ArmyClub & Navy Club Washington DC Ulster Belfast ColonyReform Club Club New York Vincent’s Club Oxford Cosmos Club Washington DC The Princeton Club New York USA The Saturn Club Buffalo City, NY State The & Navy Club Washington DC The Army Standard Club Chicago Colony Clubof Boston New York Union Club Boston Cosmos Club Club Of Washington,Washington DC The University DC The Princeton New York Washington DCClub The Club Buffalo City, New NY State The Saturn Yale Club of New York City York The Standard Club Chicago Union Club of Boston Boston ZIMBABWE The University Club of Washington Washington DC Bulawayo Bulawayo The YaleClub Club of New York City New York Harare Harare
Istanbul Bangkok
Bulawayo Harare Club
Bulawayo 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
www.mcc.co.ke