nTZ Feedback

I am trying to fill in gaps in my family history and wonder if Susan Wynn-Jones' parents and mine were contemporaries in the 1930's.

My grandfather, Ferdinand Reder, was a sisal plantation owner.

My father, Ferdinand William Reder, worked at Ford International in Dar-Es-Salaam for Abdullah Karimjee,

I believe. My parents lived in Tanga overlooking the bay and my grandparents lived in Moshi with another home in Soni, where I believe they are buried.

My aunt, Elizabeth Reder Stadler Forbes, had a small business in Nairobi, and had two daughters, Barbara and Mary-Lynne Stadler, who were educated in Europe. One of their very dear friends was Father Joseph Noppinger, who was from either the Holy Ghost Fathers or Maryknoll Fathers, and I believe established several schools in Tanganyika and/or Kenya.

I have hundreds of letters written by my family during this period and am just beginning to organize them for publishing but have many unanswered questions, such as what became of their homes and businesses.

If anyone recognizes these names I would love to hear from you.

I was one of the contractors who built the Momella Lodge in the late 60's and early 70's. For old times sake, I would like to contact the above gentlemen. If possible, can you give me their email addresses?

I am a Kenyan citizen currently residing in Nairobi. I recently came a cross an Old man claiming to have taken part in the first world war and to prove it, he un-vailed some of the artifacts that he claim he was given.

One of the items was a round copper coin with one of its sides swollen have an inscription of what he refered to as William Kaisas Head with a bird on top of it. The other side was flat with the name William Kaisa inscription on the edges,& other German wording in the mild. When placed closely to the ear & Shaken, some form of heavy liquid can be hard moving & when you fold it into your palm, it sensationalizes your hand.

Word on the street has it that this item is a lot of money.

Question (1): Is it true?

Question (2): How much is it worth?

Question (3): If we were to exchange it for monetary gains, how &where would the transaction take place.

Also shown was a Knife & a Stove egg sharped with palm tree & two Lions on the sides.

Both items looked like they were made long time ago.

I am hosting sisters Cecile & Julia Popp here in Tanzania in the first week of February, coming 'home' to retrace their routes. Their parents were German farmers in Babati & Arusha and the family was interned in Oldeani 'Concentration Camp' during the Second World War, before being deported to Zimbabwe. There are a number of sisters, some of whom were born on Lutheran Missions between 1930 - 1939.

I am looking for ANY information on Oldeani - the whereabouts of the camp, the set-up (at present, this is a somewhat controversial issue with some remembering it as merely a group of German-inhabited farms 'watched over' by the British, and others producing old letters sent from Oldeani to Germany in 1943 with a postal stamp saying 'Concentration Camp, Oldeani via Arusha'.), as another sister Leonie was born in 'the Bundie's guest hut'. We plan to drive out to present-day Oldeani and 'look around' so any more information would be highly appreciated!

The family also went to Arusha School when Wynn-Jones was the Headmaster. I am trying to prepare a collection book of memories for them, so if anyone remembers them specifically and would like to get in touch, PLEASE DO. I know they would be so delighted.

Thank you for this facinating website!

I was back in Arusha in January 2008 with my son, a botanist with Harvard University working in Borneo, and dropped in to see Arusha School. I was there from about 1948 to 1953 before heading off to Michaelhouse in Natal, SA. We were on a walking safari with Paul Oliver who recommended looking up your site when I returned to the UK.

We managed to get out to our old farm at Ol Molog, went through our old house and wandered about the farm which has changed little in the intervening years. We were kindly invited to dinner at Simba Estate by the current owner (Sjouke Bruinsma) of our farm and that of De Beer and spent a pleasant evening discussing times past. Little has changed in the farming world at Ol Molog since the days of my father (Cam Webb) - still talking about rainfall and bags per acre.

We left Tanganyika in 1960 to return to the UK. I went on to read Agricultural Economics at Cornell University, then obtained an MBA and ended up on Wall Street. Later, I returned to London, worked as a merchant banker before retiring to a farm in West Sussex.

Hello, I was just going through my grandfather's pictures and found a picture of Colonel Conner. I was just told by my father that Colonel Conner and my grandfather (Ali Akbar Raja) developed a good friendship, and my grandfather gave him a seeing-off party in Jhelum before his departure to South Africa.

They maintained contact even after Colonel Conner left and it was Colonel Conner who actually gave my grandfather the travel voucher with which he came to the United Kingdom. I was wondering if you would like a copy of the picture.

I went through Percy Siganporia's note on the ten Rupee note from GEA. I have one of these notes.

You might be interested in my doctoral dissertation (anthropology) entitled 'People of Good Heart: Rural Response to Economic Crisis in Northeast Tanzania' Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University (1986). Although it is mostly about the 1980s, I have a chapter tracing some of the history of the sisal industry in Tanga Region.

You might be interested in my doctoral dissertation (anthropology) entitled 'People of Good Heart: Rural Response to Economic Crisis in Northeast Tanzania' Department of Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University (1986). Although it is mostly about the 1980s, I have a chapter tracing some of the history of the Sisal industry in Tanga Region.

There are a few mentions of St Michael's School at Soni on nTZ. Would you please add the school websites onto yours in case any old boys want to make contact with long-lost rafriki?

http://www.freewebs.com/saintmichaelsschoolsoni/

http://www.stmichaelsschoolsoni.co.uk/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soniprisoncamp/

I have added a link from my site to yours and I know many of the Soni "boys" visit your site since quite a few of them lived in the north and a few of them are mentioned.

salaam

Jan Ooms

Arusha, Mbulu, Dodoma, Tanga, Dar (1958 - 82)

I would like to contribute to your pages by providing some historical details about the Police in Tanganyika and also names of some members of the Police Force. These details will be in context to my fathers career as a Colonial Police Officer. I hope that some members would be interested to know about the famous Osale Otango in Tanga District.

Please do inform me whether this would be possible on your website.

I went to Arusha school for only two terms in 1958, prior going to St Michael's and St Georges in Iringa (was at Iringa on the first day and last day - five years later).

Have been to a few Iringa reunions but have very vague memories of Arusha school.

What intrigued me was a Martin Davis mentioning Drino and Winnie Baskira whom my parents knew well and stayed with them whenever visiting me at Arusha.

My brother Beert Wynbergen and my sister Lia Wynbergen also went to Arusha in the 60's.(Beert revisited the school in the 90's and was amazed to see the tortoise was still there) I have enjoyed reading this website as there are many, many familiar names.

There is a daughter asking if anyone knew her mother Hester Rijkebusch. I do remember the name. I think they were part of the Kilombero Sugar Scheme and I remember a Rijkebusch at Iringa.

I recently was made aware of your ntz.info website. It has been wonderful to read about all our old friends --- my husband, Campbell, and I had a farm at Ol Molog from 1946 to 1959.

Our son, Stuart, went to Arusha school. He recently returned there with his son in January of this year, finding the school in good shape. He also was pleased to find our house on Ol Molog still in good condition.

I would be very pleased to share some of my memories, if you are interested.

(Haslemere, UK.)

What a wonderful surprise reading all the memories of school life in Arusha…

The tortoise was my silent witness to all those anxious thoughts and fears of the tacky and the innocent errors in judgement mentioned by Andy Hannah.

I think of an Italian girl (possibly Andrea?) whose cries we heard as we cringed in our beds while she got the tacky for daring to use the toilet after 'lights out.' Where was the logic? So, we wet the bed and that was OK?

Even lovable Miss Jewell, gave the tacky to 3 girls who filled their skirts with the beautiful jacaranda blossoms and lay in wait behind a tree to surprise her with a tribute of showering petals. I missed the punishment only because I was late to the surprise event.

I was in love with Huw Jones ;) and would beg off those Sunday afternoon walks to play cricket with him…Would love to know how he is…His Father was so sweet. I was in Huw's class and I believe his Dad taught French and would ask me to pronounce the words for the class (we spoke French at home).

There was Margaret in the front of the class who had the most infectious giggle… Bryn Jones would say, 'Now, who's tickling Maggie…' leading to another 5 minutes of hysterical giggles.

Who was the strict head matron who always did those frightful tapestries….her houseboy was not to be trusted around little girls and on one errand to her flat I discovered the speed with which I could descend the stairs.

Who was the music teacher with the blue rinse and glass eye who taught knitting?

The beautiful pianist with the perfect french roll hairdo.

The kitchen lady…very stern, who picked up all the bread crusts from under the table one night and had them displayed to us by Mr. Hampshire. What a lecture that was.

I too remember the 3 elephants from the John Wayne film who were brought to the field. A few were chosen to ride then they turned on the sprinklers so that the elephants could play. We also stood along the side of the road to watch the filming in action.

Some names of students I remember: Huw Jones, Birgit Lund of Moshi where I too spent Half Term, Giles Dingwall, Lesley Truesdale and Katherine Tregarthen whose Mum was gorgeous and brought us lollies at the Sanitorium.

Love your website...a healing experience.

Our son, Stuart, went to Arusha school. He recently returned there with his son in January of this year, finding the school in good shape. He also was pleased to find our house on Ol Molog still in good condition.

I've spent hours discovering the various messages, photos.

I recognized and remembered Jane Holton from her photo, and Marjorie as well.

I remember the school photo, and the discipline it took to get us all to sit still and squeeze in! I am in the 2nd row, 5th from the right with short brown hair.

If Karsten Lund reads this, I would love to have his sister, Birgit's contact information.

Also David Holmes -- a family friend--who lost a shoe out of the train window on the trip to Arusha. I would get on, I believe in Morogwe at 10 pm and we'd arrive at 1 PM the next day. The highlight of the trip was anticipating the bathing villagers in the rivers along the way.

Someone mentioned an earthquake in 1963, after my time. There was another one in 1956 thru 59 because in the long dormitory, with the highly polished floor, when we awoke in the morning our beds had slid across the room and were quite out of order--slippers everywhere. We were fascinated.

I often think of the matron waking us up very early, carrying her little alcohol jar of thermometers as she walked from one bed to another popping in the thermometer, shaking it down, while her shoes squeaked on the polished floor. She always seemed to find one child with a fever.

There was an annual event, possibly sports day, when there was a parents race. One Mum was tall and ran really fast and always won the race.

And later: (4th March)

Lisette Moulinie is the way I was known at Arusha School.

I have gleaned some answers to my own questions from your website since I wrote…

Mrs White was the music teacher with the blue rinse hairdo.

I believe Leslie's surname was Teasdale and she came from Moshi.

I have actually connected with Birgit Lund this past week and look forward to continuing our relationship after 50 years!

I live in California, a long way from Arusha, and work as an Occupational Health Nurse in the semi-conductor industry. Thank you again for maintaining such a wonderful website.

Did Tepilit ole Saitoti get elected in 2005. Is there any thing I can do here in the US that can support what he is doing for the Maasai. I had an encounter with the Maasai that changed my life for the better and would like to do what I can to repay the great benefits I gained.

Trying to connect with anyone who was at Mbeya during this period. Fond memories - unfortunately no pictures. Would like to construct a sketch (from memory) of the 'river garden'. We were a Barclays family living in Dar.

hi to anybody who was in Arusha school in 1977 to 1983.

my brothers and I were there around that time, and we have been tryn to trace old pals to no avail. So when I stumbled on this site ,u can not begin to imagine how exited I got,

was shocked to hear that miss Ngowi is still there all the best miss Ngowi keep it up. And the totoise how wonderfull is that.

I was a dormleader in fith dorm, mrs tito was our matron then. Pliz if anybody remembers me and my broters ie Eric and Robert Bilall get in touch pliz for old times sakes.

People like Ahsura alli christina abudlaziz, Ahadi Karume, Aska Karume, Aysha Karume, Rukia Baruti, Ronald Lwakatare and his brother, Asinati Andrew, haikaeli Andrew,

gosh the list goes on and on. we are ugandans,I live in the uk now but my brothers are in uganda and doing well.

I came across your page while researching my great grandfather. Clement Gillman. You may be interested in his biography; Gillman of Tanganyika. 1882-1946. The Life and Work of a Pioneer Geographer. By B.S.Hoyle.

A new book about me and my family's life in Mbeya can be found on the website; www.wildlifemurramandbush.com

Yes , the clock tower was built by Galanos , a greek millioner who came in tanganyika at early years of the 20th century . He was from a mountainous greek village and came here as a poor young boy . He also built the Saint Constantine School for greek pupils . In this school found hospitality hundreds of greek children in the 50s and 60s , between them and I.

SOURCE: Book 'greek of diaspora - tanganyika ' of Tsontos ,a Cypriot author resident of Tanganyika - published in 1953.

I am working on the book about Tengeru where I spent 6 years since Novemver 1942 to October 1948.

I have lived in archives, both Polish an British in London for the past several years, and have considerable amount of documentary knowledge. Unfortunatelly some of the information that appears on internet lacks authenticity and even misinforms.

I am greatly interested in any photographs as they speak volumes, more than words.

Thereforo any photos will be greatly aqppreciated. I am so pleased that there are people, here that seek to know the truth and not just tell tales.

Hi to all Allumni of Arusha School ,

I was there between 1976 to 1982 .I came from Uganda tho every one thought we were Tanzanians ,( such was the unity in diversity st the school),My sister was Eunice Bilal and my brother was Robert Bilal .

I had lots of close friends and it’s a pity I cant trace them .If the following are still up and kicking please Holla:

Mao and Juliet Luangisa ,

Kisamba and Hanifa Tambwe ,

Kubo Kalala and sisters,

Patricia Shango ,

Esther Amule ,

David Tembo,

Issa ,

Franco Shomari.

David , Flora and Lucy Moshi ,

Amani Mhlanga,

the Andrews,

Asinati and Haikaeli ,

Andrew Gumbo,

John Herriel,

Sunday Haule (used to be very quiete)

Flora Ngowi

the Lwakatares Ronald and George

gosh they are so many and I have fond memories of them . Where is Robert Ojok ?

I havent had the time to go back to Arusha but will do so soon.

Eric

This school was formative for my schooling in the best sense of British idealism given the great staff there mainly from Australia - the very brilliant Mr. David Nettelbeck our Headmaster and others under his command. I was called Mohamed back then as an adoptee first name although it was indeed inappropriate as it turned out and had to be shrugged off entirely as I came to my senses altogether in this regard.

I now lead the Euro British Coalition, based in Canada that aims for a Euro entity to come into being under the Irish/Australians in fact on the Euro continent of course!

Later (18 April 2008):

I was there early seventies 1971- and in fact Nettlebeck had left at the end of my stay at the school, having been replaced by an indeginous personal from the army, a sergeant in fact. (as such Mr. Nettlebeck was no longer at the school by the mid seventies)

I was awarded the prize for Mathematics and for Drama elocution in addition by Mr. Nettlebeck personally. I was also top speller!

I was also dorm leader during my time there. I once fractured my leg in a soccer mishap and Mr. Nettlebck had to drive to the capital to obtain some plaster of paris for the local hospital to apply!

I have been in touch with David Nettlebeck, who made contacts recently

I was at Mbeya School late 50's early 60's and remember Mr Morgan, Miss Thompson (who I met in Brazil)but very little else. Would love to hear from anybody who has been there recently as my son is going there in July and would love to tell him the address and how to get there. I was in Stanley house and remember the long dining tables, you could only have 20 people to your birthday party, and also remember the man with the drum who let us know when it was dinner time. As I lived in Moshi and also Lindi, I used to have to fly to school, but remember that we were the last to arrive and the last to leave.

Include_feedback: on

Date: 20-Mar-2008

Having been born in Arusha in 1950 and living the next 11 years of my life in Northern Tanganyika I find the personal memories of others in your website interesting and fascinating.

Many thanks for your hard efforts.

My 11 years were spent, along with my family, in the villages of Kondoa, Babati and finally Biharamulo, West Lake Province. My memory of years isn't too bright but we lived in each location for approximately 3 years before moving on to the next, except Kondoa where my Father John 'Jack' Allen spent 2 tours.

My early education, along with my brothers David Allen the elder and Robert Allen the younger, was undertaken in the HRH Aga Khan School, Babati, where my Mother Marjorie Allen was the teacher and co-founder of the school. Brother David started at Mbeya School at some stage during this tour in Babati.

On moving to Biharamulo in 1958/59 my younger brother and I were sent to Mbeya School and David started at St Michaels, Iringa. I have many happy, and some more painful, memories of Mbeya. The House (Wallington) Matron living in her flat at the end of the dormitory, The fear of the House Masters flexible black rubber 'tacky', Mr Morgan (I think) running the Cub Scout pack. Birthday teas, Saturday letter writing home followed by a visit to the Tuck shop and a film in the afternoon, Sundays visit to the River Garden, and many more.

On my Mothers death I found that she had kept a large number of those Saturday letters home and amongst them was a sketch of the River Gardens as drawn by a not so budding artist. This last may be of help to Judith Anderson

On a different tack, before his death, my Father wrote part of his life story. The story begins in Notttingham, UK, and goes on to his move to Tanganyika in 1928, at 13 years old, with his parents to an estate in Sao Hill. It tracks his life in the nTZ area during the 30s to joining and leaving the East African Army between the years 39 - 42. Unfortunately he didn't have time to continue the story further.

I have now copied this story to PC along with photos taken at the time and would be happy to pass on a copy to you if it interests you.

By way of interest, Sao Hill is named after the estate my Grandfather named and ran and subsequently where he built the Highlands Hotel in said place.

Again many thanks for your informative and entertaining website.

Your website is absolutely fascinating. You have done an incredible job with your research and the communication with individuals who were in the area in this time frame is absolutely fabulous. My most sincere kudus to you.

May I please ask,; have you come across any information on a man named Mike Carroll, who hunted with/for Tanganyika Tours and Safaris or a man named George Neary, who hunted with Tanganyika Tours and Safaris from Oct. 1957 to Jan. 1958. He later purchased Tanganyika Tours and Safaris from Russell Bowker-Douglass, during the time he was building the Maryana Hotel.

Any information about these individuals would be greatly appreciated. Again, thank you for the extraordinary job you have done with this web site.

Dear East Africa enthusiast,

being at present posted in the German Embassy in Nairobi I happened to run across this interesting website about NTZ.

In a novel about a German officer taking part in the German-East Africa (GEA) campaign (Otto Inhülsen: Wir ritten für Deutsch-Ostafrika -We rode for German-East Africa - 1926) I found the person of Adolph Siedentopf thoroughly described and would like to share these information with the interested reader:

Inhülsen was on a raid to British East Africa, to confuse the British about the real low strength of the German troops in Northern GEA, which brought him from Arusha through the crater highlands almost south of Nairobi , passing what now is Norok province north of the Masai Mara Game Reserve):

> Adolph Siedentopf:

September 1915: 44 years old

Born in Hanover - Western Germany

Apprenticeship as a pharmacist.

Arrived in the middle/end of the 1880s in Dar es Salaam to work in the local German pharmacy.

Being adventurous travelled soon up country to nowadays Mwanza to trade with ivory and cattle. Begin of a close relationship with the Masai tribe whose language he learnt.

Since 1905 farmer in Ngoro-Ngoro ( received 6000 hectare of land by the German administration, although he claimed 24,000 ha, i.e. the whole crater area).

1 “young wife”, no children so far (9/1915).

Later constant quarrel with the administration because of the meanwhile established Masai reservation in the area, not allowing settling and farming anymore.

Had 6 former ascaris from the Belgium Congo province as bodyguards and lived peacefully together with 20 Masai families, who had lost there livestock during the rinderpest (1915: 1000 cattle). Boor farmers helped him to build his farmhouse in “boorish style”.

Interestingly Inhülsen mentions in his book that during his visit in 1915 Siedentopf´s brother lived in the crater, too. Inhülsen entered the crater from the South East side (possibly on the present SE descent). After 2-3 Km (!) at the Lemunge River the farmhouse was situated. I.e. not in the NE of the crater, where you can visit the remnants of a German farm today: is it possible that these are the ruins of his brother’s farm? Are there still ruins in the SE area of the crater?

Inhülsen describes Mr. Siedentopf as a very impressive, tall, energetic and tough person, which nevertheless was very sympathetic and humorous. He entertained the visiting officers over hours with funny campfire stories - “Once you learnt to know him you would never forget him”. Inhülsen met him again in Summer 1916 in the POW camp in Nairobi, where Siedentopf meanwhile had developed into the sports champion of the camp.

There the description ends.

Having emigrated into the US in post war Germany with already inflation in 1919 (having lost possible family property in Germany), famine, political turmoil, unemployment and economic depression – considering my family’s history - appears plausible to me. This goes even more for somebody used to the free and different live in Eastern Africa…

Suicide in 1932 around 72 years old , if really committed, could than have been caused by chronic disease or the 2nd economical break down in Adolph Siedentopf´s live, during the great depression after the wall street crash in 1929.

If these additional information will help to bring more light in the life of Adolph Siedentopf, please let me / us know.

I was a school kid in Tabora. An Arab origin man was shot dead and a few people were roughed up. My elder sister, the assistant head of the school, escorted a troop of kids (arab origin kids in the majority!)away from school, past armed mutinying soldiers looking for arab kids to rough-up, to the safety of our homes!

I am doing some research to find out as much as possible about my grandfather Frank B. Notley who settled in Oldeani and built a coffee farm.

I keep coming back to your web site that has snippets of information, and I am wondering whether you can point me in any number of directions that would help me learn more about his time there.

Things I have found include references to various papers on coffee leafminers, a mosquito that he found, his wife Violet's work on dried foods for solders.The latter my Mum says were frequently revolting!

Really appreciate the work you have put into the site and look forward to hearing from you.

When in Arusha last week I was so lucky to find the channel of the flour mill that my great grandfather built along the Temi in 1911, see attached picture (that's me in the photo). It starts about 100 meters north of the railroad bridge and carries on up north for about 300 meters - It is fed by three spings surfacing next to the Temi.

The house is unfortunately gone. It was exactly at that spot where the railway is crossing the Temi now.

Today the mill and house of the Bauer’s have vanished. They had been built at the spot, where later the railroad bridge would pass the Temi. The canal has however survived, even part of the concrete lining in its lower part is still existent. It runs for about 300 meters on the eastern side of the Temi, and joins the Temi some 150 meters north of the railway bridge. Since the Temi has changed its course over the past decades, it has destroyed the lower part of the canal, but some of the concrete elements are still found and are today used as a favourite spot of locals washing their clothes in the river.

I started at Mbeya School Jan 1961, the headmaster was Mr Morgan. I was in Stanley House and remember being able to climb the Fir trees around the sports field, the swimming pool being built, picking up litter before the Saturday evening films, the drummer annoucing mealtimes, shoe cleaning on the grass in front of the dorms, and being taken to see the Walt Disney film Sleeping Beauty in Mbeya. The huge bonfires for Guy Fawkes across the stream, and the Kite making competition and the three horned chameleons. The awful TAB injections and the fancy dress party at the end of the year. Saturday evening Scottish dancing(being wisked through the Dashing white Sargeant with Mr Morgan) and the yearly House sing competition with it English Country songs.

The school closed down July 1963 and we were incorporated into Arusha School for the last term of the year.

I was born in Mahenge and we had to pick up the bus at the Mikumi stop. There were two bus loads of children from Dar and Morogoro and we overnighted at Iringa, girls in the White Horse Inn and boys in the Railway Hotel, this was reversed on the way out, Later when the numbers had dropped we all stayed at the railway hotel. One term the bridge on the Iringa road washed away, so we were bussed up to Itigi, overnight, to catch the train. My sister Judith joined me at the end of 1961 and was the smallest person at school and we were known as Big Butler and little Butler.

I am now fascinated by the curiously dated slang that we used and never came across at any of the other boarding schools I attended. Bosch for rubbish and the use of surnames only.

Thankyou for the interesting Website. I don't recognise any names but would love to hear from anyone who was at school with me.

My name is Sandra Finn [nee Phryce-Jones] I was born in Kitale East Africa in 1949.

My father was Philipe Phryce-Jones who married Eileen Rose Balson I have been trying to find my mothers family for many years and was wondering if Eric was my mothers brother she also had another brother called David,

Unfortunately my mother died in 1950 in Nairobi,then my father took me to England,

He also has passed on that is why I am still trying to find out more myself regarding my mothers family .

I would be so happy to find out this side of my family and look forward to your reply.

I love your site.

I hope in a year or two when I retire to find more time to go through it. For me Arusha will always be my home town although I have not been there for many years.

My attention was caught by the contribution by Wendy Sykes, ID 2176. I am the Nandine (von) Nagy she refers to in one of her messages. I would very much like to contact Wendy again.

Is there a way you could put me in touch with her?

Many thanks for your website and efforts.

Nandine Nagy

(went to Arusha School 1961-1965)

Now living in Vienna, Austria.

I came across your website while doing a Google search for information on Barrats and South Africa.

I was a third cousin of Thora Ulyate's (Robert Valentyne Ulyate married Julia Hephzibah Brown, my first cousin thrice removed) and I have been trying to find more information about Oswald.

The reason is two-fold. Firstly his ancestry is a bit of a mystery and I love solving mysteries. The second is that my wife is also a Barratt and I have been trying to determine if there is any relatuionship between the two families.

Her grandfather, William Stredder Barratt moved from the Transvaal to the Eastern Cape (Graaf Reinet) just before the Anglo Boer War and was a successful ostrich farmer until the crash in the feather market.

We have battled for years to piece together her family tree and I have managed to put together quite an extensive tree but I still have some loose ends to tie up. One of these is Oswald and the other is Albert Barratt who moved from the Ficksburg area of the Free State to the Eshowe area of Natal.

I would be grateful if you could help me expand my research or put me on to someone who can help.

Miss Ngowi, currently the longest serving teacher, is retiring as a teacher this year 2008.

I recently (February 2008) visited the school and had talks with Ms. Ngowi, the Headmaster Mr. Kaniki and Music Teacher Mr. Liheta at different times.

We have in principle agreed to have a music show in Dar towards the end of this year in honour of Ms. Ngowi.

I think the success of the event will depend on willingness of fellow alumni to participate in the preparations.

We need to find a venue, accomodation for the students (most will be at their parents homes) etc. For those interested please let us be in touch. My mobile is 0754268568.

The school is currently undergoing major rehabilitation. I saw the kitchen, swimming pool, laundry place being rehabilitated. The bathrooms now have solar power heaters for hotwater. I am informed that rehabilitation is going on and will also cover the assembly hall etc.

If you get time while in Arusha try to pass by and see the school.

How absolutely amazing to stumble upon your web site and also discovering that my sister has added my parents names!

I typed in George Rushby's book 'The Hunter is death' because I borrowed it from my father many years ago and have now lost it in the many moves I have had.It was a rather cherished book because we lived in Georges old house in Lupembe. We moved there in 1958.

I went to Mbeya School for all of one term in 1958 and was desperatly unhappy. I wonder wether anyone remembers me wetting my knickers because the teacher wouldn't heed my desperatly extended arm, and then to add insult to injury she put my knickers out in the sun outside the classroom with name tape fully visible…tis the only time in my life I wished the ground would open up and swallow me !

Coming back to the book I would be most grateful if you could tell me where I might find another copy.

Also if you could put me in touch with Birgit Lund and Rosie Goodman (Peacock) I would be thrilled as I went to the convent in Nairobi with them.

A great website well done.

Very interesting to read you and your family.

have you recently visited Tanzania ohh you should go take your family a lot of change.

I and my family we onced lived in Morogoro that time my father was a Tax man as an income tax regional officer and we moved to Arusha I was about 6 years old.

After 22 years we asked my father to take us so that we could see our old house it was a very nice feeling ever we took picture with all the memories.

I am a Tanzania now based in UK

I saw this fantastic website and all the communications between former schoolmates and families/friends looking for each other. I would like to get in touch with Robert Palmer-Wilson, one of my half-brothers. That way I can update him on some things. In case other friends are open to getting in touch, a little background on the Palmer-Wilson clan! I went to school in both Kongwa School and St. Michaels & St. Georges in Iringa.Would like very much to get in touch with old mates! I moved to Alaska in 1964 - worked in Africa part of each year since then.

For Robert Palmer-Wilson - last time I visited with you was in London about 1966. Our father, Clary Palmer-Wilson moved to the USA in 1985. He passed away living with me in 1996. Donald Palmer-Wilson, too moved to the USA and he passed away about 12 yrs. Ago. If you want to email me, we can be in touch again and I can fill you in on the rest of the clan. I am in London several times a year for Board meetings and in East Africa once or twice a year for activities - so we can meet easily.

Cheers! Mike

Serena - my half brother Donald Palmer-Wilson passed away about 12 years ago, here in the USA. He and I never communicated much so I do not know where he was nor any other details. Sorry to bring you this news.

Take care.

I attended Arusha school from about 1963-1965, boarding for the last 2 terms. My father was Dr Norman Birch, who worked in Arusha, then moved to Tanga and finally Dar es Salaam. My memories of Arusha school are distant - I was only 9 when I left. I remember the tortoise, snakes kept in a tank by the headmaster - Mr Jones.

I remember an earth tremor that frightened the life out of me. Also I had measles and ended up in the san and missed sports day.

The family friends we had were the McPhillips a large catholic famaily - Mrs McPhillips being a doctor and Mr McPhillips a magistrate. Also the Cashin's - Nick was a friend. Mr Cashin worked for Pubic Works - on roads I believe.

Good to see a website with memories from people of that time.

I´m writing you on behalf of Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin/ Germany. In connection with the restoration of an aircraft of our collection it would be very important for me to get into contact with family members of Margot Rydon.

The aircraft was once owned by a famous pilot. His name was Ernst Udet. In 1924 he came into contact with Margot Rydon. By that time her name was von Einsiedel and it would be very helpful to know something more about her and her relation with Ernst Udet and maybe some documents or memories have survived which can help us with our restoration project.

I think that there is a possibility for that since Ernst Udet was for movie work in Tanzania from November 1930 to March 1931.

Yours sincerely

Lars Urban

Aeronautics Departement

Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin

I found your query regarding the lineage of Oswald Horner Barratt and William Stredder Barratt. I believe I have a link between the Stredders and Barratts:

A Frederic Reeves Barratt married an Elizabeth Stredder in London in 1845. They had at least eight children (Maryanne (1847), Alfred (1853), David (1855), Septimus (1857), Frederica (1859), Felicia (1861), Georgiana (1863), Harry (1869)).

Please contact me if it seems one of these might be your connection.

Regards,

Greg

Jambo to all rafikis of the van Rooyen family of Tanganyika Packers (Van and Anna)

I was intrequed to read about Gladys Rydon as my late father, Ronnie Hamilton, was her business partner and managed Ol Kokola estate on the slopes of Mt Meru between 1947-1950, when he left to take up a job in the growing sisal industry further 'up the line'.

My mother, Olivia, can clearly remember staying at Gladys' lovely home on lake Diluti and told me that her son David was a very talented artist. David lived in separate house on the estate where he had his studio.

My Ma was also the receptionist at the 'New Arusha' for a short time and had the nickname 'The Honeypot' for reasons that have never been made clear to me!

Ronnie was an ex-army major (Kings 4th, Burma and India) and chose Tanganyika after he was sent to train KAR troops in jungle warfare. I think he thought he had died and gone straight to heaven! The farm was situated at 7,500ft and the only transport that could get up there was Dad's US Army Jeep and his horses!

I was born in the European hospital in Arusha in 1948 and we went on to live near Voi and later near Korogwe, when I went to school up at Lushoto.

Of course Arusha was not Arusha without it's share of scandal and Ma came to stay with the Swaffin's as she was running away from her first husband, Eric Hunt! I imagine she and Dad met at the New Arusha and the rest, as they say, was history!!!

I last visited Arusha in 2004 when I climbed Kilimanjaro. The place was very changed and had lost its charm, but I hope to go back again within 2 years.

Kind regards, David Hamilton

My father was a hunting partner of Clary's and lived in the area and hunted with him for 11 years. We have a lot of photos, old 8mm movies and info if you are interested. I was born there in 1956. Also interested in this topic. Now live in New Zealand.

Clare

I have bought a piece of pottery from a car boot and beneath it there is the name 'Joan Burnett' I 'Googled' the name and have found this site. If Joan Burnett was your art teacher would she have made some pottery at some time.

This is like a casserole dish and the lid has a chickens head and tail on the top of it.

It is most likely a different Joan Burnett altogether but I'll look forward to hearing from you to find out.

I bought this in Lincolnshire England.

Jo

I am trying to trace Dian Winkler who is researching the Kidugala story. My father, Mr Antonio Togni, a settler in the area at the time built the Kidugala camp for the British authorities and was there when the refugees arrived. My mother, Mrs Grace Togni, together with Mr Nico Panyayatopoulos, settled the first refugees into the camp.

Please contact me. Prof. Lorenzo Togni, [details given]

Hi David,

I have a copy of the 1965 Arusha School Magazine and several other things includeing the Sports Day programme of the same year. I will scan and email you what I have. I kept a scrap book so lots of info in it from my years in Tanzania.

Cheers, Shaun

I was at Arusha school from about 1967-66 to 1969, and a few names I recognise, I think I remember Fe McIntyre and definately Danuta. I had a picture of Danuta holding a 'rounders' bat. I don't know if anyone remembers me. I was the one that fell down one Sunday, cut open my leg and they had to rush me to hospital and because of that, no one went for that 'Sunday' swim. It was all because I was racing to the dining room to get the cup of hot chocolate we always had on Sundays.

I had a best friend named Dorothy and Linda (can't remember last names). Dorothy always took me home at half-term to her farm. I think her cousin was Micheal Rothbletz (not sure of the spelling) that I had such a crush on. Linda was the one that alway stuck up for me when someone teased me about being a P.Green or a Green P!!! I'd love to chat with anyone about those days. I remember Mr. Jones, the Headmaster and his daughter Peta. I think all the other teachers, except the music teacher, I'd like to forget. They were very cruel to us kids.

Do you remember the 'Leek dish' we had and everyone hated it? We didn't eat it, so the next night we were served with no dinner! Jones wife was the cook. How many times were we locked in because we didn't shower quick enough? And those midnight feasts with a tin of Milo and saved sweets from the 'tuck cupboard'??

I went to both these schools and would like to let Victoria Brenan know that I travelled on those buses that went from Dar via Morogoro and Mikumi to Mbeya. I got on at a place called Soga and later at Kidugallo before Morogoro

My elder brother and sister went to Kongwa and St Michaels and St george's in Iringa

Maria Sossi from Mbeya was my best friend and when that school closed we both went to Arusha

I now live in france and would love to hear from any one that either remembers me or would just like to get in touch.

Susan Barallon.

connecting with fellow students from Arusha School btw 1973 - 1983

Greetings from Canada.

This is a wonderful site. It helped me read about my old classmates and my wonderful teacher, Mrs Ngowi, and all the other teachers who had taught us during that time. Good luck to Mrs Ngowi and I must say that she did give wonderful years to Arusha School and I very much remember her wonderful sense of humour. She instilled a lot of confidence in her students and took out the best making them believe in themselves. I miss her and all those wonderful times. That was the best times of our lives. I don't believe that era can ever come back.

I was sorry to hear that Mrs Musana has passed away, another wonderful, pleasant teacher who was always laughing. I tried to connect with her but couldn't succeed. Can anyone help me? I also noticed that Priya Behal has communicated with this site but no contact number or add. It would be great to connect again and rekindle all the memories again. Thank you and looking forward to your emails.

Hello to all Alumni of Arusha School

Hello Everyone,

First I have to thank David for dedicating his time in putting this website together. Thank-You!

My name is Al-Karim Walji (Alka) and I was at Arusha School from 1980 to 1983. Stumbling on this website brings back a lot of good memories. The old good days!

I made a lot of close friends but unfortunately have not kept in touch with most of them. It has been a very long time yet the memories are so clear that it seems just yesterday. It would be really nice to hear from fellow classmates. If you remember me please feel free to e-mail me [via ntz webmaster]

Below are some of the Teachers and classmates that come to mind. I am sure I can think of more. Please forgive me for the spelling errors.

Bachu Mcgee

Harvinder Bhogal

John Herriel

Omani Hunt (great artist)

Kamal (great artist too)

Simona Makwaiya

Eric Bilal

Eunice Bilal

Patricia Shango

Agatha Msetchu

Kalpna Patel & her brother

Sajeda Hassanali

Gurwinder Singh (Guru)

Salma Chagani

Kirit

Jaswinder Singh

Rola Carnero

Sanjay & Ajay Brothers

Edwin Mpanyu

David Ezekeil (juju man)

Mao

Komal Mandalia

Mohamed Shoeb

Murtaza Hassanali

Naushad Nanabhai

Amani Namfua

Andrew Gumbo

Peter Redding

Gulam

Fiona

Rashida Patwa

Mohammed Jariwalla

Shabir

Mr. Y. Dalal (son Mashud)

Mr. N.Dalal

Mrs. Ngowi

Mr. Shaibu

Mr. Kaale

Mrs. Walala

Mr. King

Mrs. Buckaldee

Mrs. Musana (May her soul rest in peace)

Wow! I am sure I am forgetting so many more names.

I currently leave in Vancouver, Canada. I am planning to visit Arusha next month.

Al-Karim.

Thank you for replying to my ntz Feedback.

My apologies for being a bit slow in replying. After having a chat with my brother David over any copyright issues he may have, I am happy to say that he has no concerns regarding my fathers memoirs and I also confirm that they have never been published and therefore no third parties are involved. If you have the time to read through them you may find extracts that may be of interest to members of the ntz community. If so please don't hesitate to use them.

Unfortunately, due to the size of the file containing the memoirs and photographs is somewhere in the region of 14Mb so I attach a copy minus the photographs.

Whilst reading the story it may be of interest to view the photographs which are available at the following web address; http://flickr.com/photos/richmal/sets/72157600046104464/

I hope you enjoy the story,

Arusha School - The best!!!

Thanks on a most amazing web site. I was at Arusha School from 1970 to 1975 and saw many many names of people I fondly remember. In fact all my brotheres and sisters were there too - Francis, Lucy, Flora and David.

Can you please let me know how I can get in touch with people who were at Arusha School? In particular I would like to get in touch with Kirit Patel, Dipak Patel, and Rashna Hackett (Jiwany)

Once again congratulations on an excellent web site.

It has been a delight reading so many similar memories from Mbeya School, which I attended from late 1958 to 1960. My best friend there was Ingrid Tanner, with whom I am still friends. My brothers Martin and David Western were at Kongwa and then Iringa. I remember Mr, Morgan well, an excellent teacher. I was in Stanley House and remember living in fear of our matron, a dour Yorkshire woman, Miss Dooley, whose manner hid a kinder heart than I realised at the time. Like other my memories comprise the dinner drums and the river gardens, where we planted a tree each to celebrate Prince Andrew's birth!

I am now teaching in Cheshire, in a prison. I am sure boarding school prepared me for institutional life!

Clara von Ruckteschell, born Clara Trueck-Basel was the wife of Walter Alexander Moritz von Ruckteschell, born in St. Petersburg , who was the Aide de Camp of Generalmajor Paul von Lettow- Vorbeck.

Source: Family papers of the von Ruckteschell family.

From Kitale Kenya. Son of Henman and Molly. P of Wales school. Any fam hist. thks

Trying to get more info on family and where we all came from

Jambo

I came upon this website by accident whilst looking for my late sister's children in Norway. Her name was Betty Figenschou (nee Ulyate) and she was married to Bjorn. They had four children namely Bjorn, Lynda, Sven and Annelise. I would be delighted to hear from one of them.

Regards

Peggy Ulyate

(I am Sven Figenschou's aunt and sister of his later mother Betty Ann Lydia Ulyate. I want to make contact with him and Bjorn his brother and sisters Lynda and Annelise. )

My Mama and Babcia were Polish refugees who lived in Kidugala. My Mama had many wonderful memories of her time there. She often spoke of a book written by Father Lucjan Krolikowski. The book was titled Stolen Childhood. I recently read this book and found it very informative about the journey my Mama and Babcia took along with thousands of other Polish refugees. The book is about all the Polish refugees, not only those in Kidugala. You may find it beneficial. The book contains several pages of pictures.

Kinyala Lauwo (1871-1996) was my inlaw and I interviewed him on video in 1993.

He said he climbed Kilimanjaro many times before he guided Hans Meyer. He said he had ascended nine times before he realised there was an inner crater. He also found the dead leopard but when I told him of Hemingway's book about it, he said he'd never heard of it.

The West German government built the house in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Meyer's ascent.

[2008 08 16]

Here is Kinyala Lauwo's family tree:

Lauwo

Kimonge

Aisere (brother was Kimemia)

Mramba

Mwiwere

Rawia (brother was Mkawo)

Kinyala

Kimemia's descendants were

Kiwere

Ndauliso

Rawia's descendants were

Mkawo

Paolo

Many children including Yakobo, my wife's father.

I haven't yet found the name of any of Kinyala's siblings. Most Lauwos are descended from Paulo's children. I have a more detailed family tree somewhere but haven't managed to find it.

Hello,

I found with google and the words Molomo and Arusha Your website.

Bertie and I have been in school together in germany. It was a nice time and we had lot of fun. When I heard about Bertie's death, it made me sad, because we were like brothers.

Best wishes to everyone who reads this.

Jochen

in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Well done in producing this site.

(re Kirti Jani - Arusha School 1966 - 1970 -Name of Riding Teacher)

Wondered who the riding teacher was. It could have been my mother Carol Hopson who did teach riding there during this time.I attended Arusha school with my sister, Emma and brother, Rupert from 1967 - 1971. My father, Guy Hopson after a time as DC in Mwanza stayed on and became a teacher at Ilboru School.

I have actually returned a couple of times from the UK; the last time bringing my own young boys who in turn sat on the the same old tortoise.

Now I know of your site it has inspired me to go though my attic and dig up my old reports photos etc.

All the very best

Regards

Matthew Hopson

We are trying to find an Alice Brazier who was at Mbeya School 1951 to 1956 and wondered if anyone remembers her or know where she is now.

I was born 1949 in Kitale East africa.

Christened ST Lukes Kitale.

My God parents were P.W. Lawson and M.Lawson and I. Ulyate - is this a relative of yours and are they still alive ?

I am chasing up my family history of the Balsons and the Bennetts (Henry Alexander)

My family had a farm in Ruarka and had connections to Alan Tarlton , any information would be helpful for the above names.

Thank you

Sandra Rose.

[31 July 2008]

Regarding your feed back about my chasing my family history (Susan Wynn -Jones) had some article mentioning Eileen Rose Balson!

Or of anyone who knew my family in Ruaraka in the 1940's My grandmothers name was Rosetta Balson the farm was shared with Alan Tarlton, It was a snake farm.

Thank you

David for having such a great site…

Hi Al-Karim. Good to see that you are looking for all these people. Most of them were my friends though I left at the end of 1979.

If you try facebook.com you will find Eunice Bilal. Eric is in Uganda doing well. Should you get the contacts for Omani Hunt, Bachu, Sajeeda, Patricia Shango, Mao Lwangisa, Mohammed Jariwalla and any others do let me know.

Take care and good hunting

and

Hey bro Eric, I am alive and living in the Uk!

Eunice has probably told you by now that we have met and I will be meeting her again this coming weekend for a nice Ugandan meal in London!

I miss all our friends Kisamba and his sis Hanifa, Abraham and Isaac Molel and by the way I got in touch with Keith Ngulukulu!

And (28 July)

I just remembered a few more friends who left Arusha school when the East African community broke up.

Tom Ndeer

Simon Mwangi (who lived in Tengeru with me) Michael Kamya Robert Aaron And where is Ruge Mutahaba!?

Mr. David Marsh thank you for your site.

My father Lars Figenschou borned in Arusha June 09 1933 - November 11 1999, I remember him telling me about his life in Tanzania, The Daktari series filmed in my grandfather´s farm (Lars Figenschou) and so many other stories that I hardly can remember.

My eldest sister Daphne lives in Nairobi, I am sure that she has more fresh stories about my father safaries.

I came across your various entries re Clement Gillman by accident and thought I'd contribute. I am the author of a 400-page biography entitled 'Gillman of Tanganyika, 1882-1946: the life and work of a pioneer geographer', published in 1987 by Gower.

Some of your correspondents seem to know about this book (now out of print, but available in libraries). The book deals among much else with the naming of Gillman's Point. Gillman reached this point on the crater rim on 19 October 1921 and, although he did not continue to the summit,the climb was regarded as the first successful attempt on the mountain after it came within British territory in 1919.

Gillman later objected to the naming of the point, but actually rather liked it. It is, of course, Gillman's Point, with two lls. For further details see my book, pp 165-67, which includes a photograph of Gillman standing at the Point.

There has been quite a bit of research on Guy Babault in Monty Brown's book 'RJ' about the professional hunter R.J. Cunninghame who took him out on safari.

I know that his grand-children from his son Rene still live in Kenya. I would be happy to see if I can locate them for you.