BOUSTEAD, Reginald Nevill 'Rex' Nee: bro of John Melville Boustead, Birth Date: 21.10.1863 Wimbledon, Death Date: 12.3.1924 London, Nationality: British

First Date: 1895

Profession: Joined Boustead Bros. in Zanzibar in 1891 and Mombasa in 1894. Boustead Bros appear in Stephen Ellis's ledger 1908. Hut has R.M. Boustead 1902 1st steamer on lake, Kisumu. Prop. of Mombasa Club 1899

Area: Mombasa

Married: In Wimbledon 24.10.1894 Ethel Marie Louisa Cockburn b. 1871, d. of tuberculosis in Mombasa 25 Jan 1905 (sister of Muriel Cockburn)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, HBEA, EAHB 1905, Hut, North, Playne, Drumkey, Land, Nicholls, Eton, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907, Leader14, Barnes, Red Book 1912

School: Eton

General Information:

Playne - In the old days Messrs Boustead, Ridley & Co., out of which grew the firm of Boustead Brothers, used to run safaris up-country, and they put the first steamer - the ss Kampala - on Lake Victoria Nyanza [sic], the parts being carried on porters' heads. They were also agents for many of the missions, including the CMS. They established themselves in Mombasa in 1892, but they have had a branch at Zanzibar for 35 years, and have another branch in Colombo.

The partners are Messrs. J.M. Boustead and E.G. Money. Mr H.C. Rayne is the manager for BEA, and came here in 1902. The Mombasa and Zanzibar houses are run separately, and quite recently the firm has amalgamated its Mombasa business with that of Messrs P.H. Clarke Ltd., of Port Florence (Kisumu), Mombasa and Homa, under the style of Boustead and Clarke Ltd. The directors of the new company are Messrs. J.M. Boustead, R.N. Boustead, P.H. Clarke, H.C. Rayne and A.S. Milliken

Land - 1908 - R.N. Boustead - Agricultural, 13.36 acres, Fort Smith, 30-8-06, Registered 29-4-08

Nicholls - Reginald Neville Boustead was born on 21 October 1863 at Wimbledon and was educated at Eton. His family had interests in Ceylon and branched out into Zanzibar in the 1870s.

Rex expanded the firm into Mombasa in 1892. In 1901 Boustead Ridley went into liquidation, to be succeeded by Boustead Brothers, of Zanzibar and Mombasa (in which Rex was joined by his brother john, known as Jack). In 1908 Boustead Brothers became Boustead & Clarke. Jack died in 1920 and Rex in South Kensington on 12 March 1924. Information from Peter Frankl.

Nicholls - A coast businessman Reginald (Rex) Boustead had prospered from the caravan trade to Uganda and commercial activities in Mombasa. The upstairs room of the Boustead Ridley Mombasa office, in Vasco da Gama Street near Fort Jesus, began to be used as a European club. Membership expanded to such an extent that in 1897 Boustead acquired a plot of land opposite his office, on which he built the Mombasa Club, stil occupying the same site today.

EAHB 1904 - Mombasa & Kilindini Residents - Boustead, R.N. - Manager, Boustead Bros.

Mombasa Cemetery - 25 Jan 1905, Ethel Marie Louisa Boustead, aged 34, 2 Station Rd., consumption

Red Book 1912 - R.N. Boustead - Mombasa

Red Book 1912 - Committee Member - Mombasa Chamber of Commerce

Gazette - 15-2-1905 - Probate and Administration - Mrs Ethel Marie Louisa Boustead deceased who died at Mombasa on or about Wednesday the 25th day of January 1905

Gazette - 15/3/1901 - Mr & Mrs R.N. Boustead and Mr & Mrs Allan Daly left Mombasa to attend the opening of the New Club at Nairobi. Invitations were issued by Mrs Boustead for the opening ceremony on Saturday 9th March

Mombasa Cathedral plaque: to the glory of God & the loving memory of Ethel / Marie Louisa Bousted / who died at Mombasa on / the 25 Jan 1905 aged 34 years / this window and the seven / windows in the apse were dedi / cated by her numerous friends /' in East Africa & England

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Birth Date: 31 Dec 1872 Bermondsey

Death Date: 26 June 1934 Mombasa

Nationality: British

First Date: 1898 - after spending some 5 years in S. Africa

Last Date: 1934

Profession: Went to Mombasa in 1898 to join the firm of Boustead Ridley & Co.. In 1902 he started trading on his own account in Kisumu and in 1909 he amalgated with Boustead Bros. which latterly became Boustead & Clarke Ltd. with their headquarters at the Coast

Area: Mombasa, Kisumu

Married: In London 16.8.1906 Edith Annie Leng b.1888 (div. 1914)

Children: Edith Mary (Kisumu 11.12.1907); William Francis (31 Oct 1911 Kilindini)

Author: Further Bookref: Red Book 1912, Red 19

Book Reference: Gillett, HBEA, Cuckoo, Hobley, Ainsworth, Permanent Way, Police, Kenya Diary, Norden, Breath, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, EAMR, North, Playne, Macmillan, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, EAHB 1906, Gazette, Nicholls, Medals, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907, Leader14, Barnes,

School: Royal Merchant Seamen's College

General Information:

He became a very prominent business man at Mombasa, and at one time served on more than 17 different Commissions and Committees. In 1914 he was President of the Mombasa Club and served for some years on the Kenya Legco.

Cuckoo - 1904 - Kisumu - Close to the Indian bazaar lived an old-timer, P.H. Clarke. He had established a general store and trading business, just having taken A.K. Milliken into partnership. Clarke and Milliken were energetic, so soon cornered the main commercial activities of Kisumu.

They were stout hearted men and popular with all, richly deserving the success which came to them. Clarke had been for a number of years trading in the Protectorate, with varying fortunes. Later the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent; and Clarke acquired the flourishing business of Boustead Bros. in Mombasa. "P.H." as everyone called him, was the first Town Clerk and officiating in that capacity when I went to Kisumu in 1904. Died in Mombasa in 1935. His name was an honoured one to the last. After 1910 when he took over Boustead Bros. this included the proprietorship of Mombasa Club.

Hobley - bought Hobley's upright piano in Kisumu for resale in Uganda. Shipped to Uganda in a dhow which sank in a storm and Clarke survived by hanging on to the floating piano case! (more)

Ainsworth - December 1898 - 'it was unfortunately necessary to send a punitive expedition into the Kivosoi location of Kikuyu because of an unprovoked attack by the natives on Mr P. Clarke of Messrs Boustead, Ridley & Co.. Police - 1904 - the only European trader in Kisumu.

Obituary - 'East Africa' - 1934 - Courtesy of Mrs A. Durant - 'The sudden death in Mombasa at the age of 62 of Mr Percival Herbert Clarke will not surprise those friends who knew the serious state of his health. For a long time his heart had caused more anxiety to others than he allowed it to cause him and the news which he received a month ago of the death in this country of the daughter to whom he was so deeply attached must certainly have loosened his hold on life.

"PH" as he was known to all pre-War Kenyans, and to many of the post War generation - was born in Bermondsey on the last day of 1872, and educated at the Royal Merchant Seaman's Orphanage, to which he remained grateful to the end, never failing to visit it when in England. At the age of 18 he went to S. Africa, from which he returned a few years later. In 1898 he sailed for Mombasa to join the firm of Boustead, Ridley & Co. on the liquidation of which four years later he began trading on his own account in Kisumu - of which he used to recall with mock solemnity that he was its first Town Clerk (honorary).

Then followed years of strenuous effort, the fruits of which he reinvested in his business. But he lost everything by shipwreck on Victoria Nyanza when returning from Uganda in a dhow laden with ivory and other goods. For a while he organised a gold prospecting syndicate, but when that failed he restarted trading in Kisumu. In 1909 he amalgamated with Boustead Bros. and established his headquarters in Mombasa as principal of Boustead and Clarke, which has for many years been one of the best known names in EA commerce.

"PH's" record of public service was outstanding. At one time he was a member of no fewer than 17 different Commissions and Committees sitting in Kenya; and he was never a member merely in name, for, possessed of decided views and wide experience, he always contributed something to the subject under consideration.

He had been an unofficial member of the Kenya War Council, the Kenya Legco and the Inter-Colonial Railway Advisory Council; he was the first President of the Association of Chambers of Commerce of EA, thrice President of the Mombasa Chamber of Commerce; and an original member of the Mombasa War Committee, the Mombasa Harbour Board, and the Mombasa District Committee.

For these great services spread over many years he was made an MBE. He was of the pioneer school, the members of which went after business on their flat feet. When he first reached EA, ivory was the main item of trade, and again and again he trekked up to Uganda to bring down caravans of the precious commodity.

That his camps were sometimes raided and his own life endangered did not divert him from his purpose. What a story he could have written! Though a good conversationalist, it was not easy to get him to talk about the early days, but at different times he told me sufficient to make me urge him to commit his reminiscences to paper.

They would have made a valuable historical record, for his memory of men and matters was undimmed by the passing years, and he could talk with inside knowledge of almost all aspects of Kenya affairs during more than 3 decades. In recent years his domestic life had been saddened by one blow after another; of them, though they hit him hard, he refused to complain.

His example in that respect will be long remembered by all who knew him well, as he will be for his spirit of public service, his hospitality, his generosity, and his ardent love of Kenya. Before leaving England a few months ago he told a friend that he hoped he would be buried beneath Mombasa's waving palm trees. His desire has been granted. RIP. - FSJ.

Norden - 1923 - Lake Steamer, HMS Jahazi, 65 ft. overall, used now in Government service. Built many years ago in Gloucester on the Severn, for Percy Clarke. He did not own her long.

North - Attacked by Kikuyu in Kirosoi location Dec 1898; Listed as member Mombasa Club 1899; based Nairobi June 1899; began trading on own account at

Kisumu 1902

Playne - In the old days Messrs Boustead, Ridley & Co., out of which grew the firm of Boustead Brothers, used to run safaris up-country, and they put the first steamer - the ss Kampala - on Lake Victoria Nyanza [sic], the parts being carried on porters' heads. They were also agents for many of the missions, including the CMS. They established themselves in Mombasa in 1892, but they have had a branch at Zanzibar for 35 years, and have another branch in Colombo. The partners are Messrs. J.M. Boustead and E.G. Money. Mr H.C. Rayne is the manager for BEA, and came here in 1902.

The Mombasa and Zanzibar houses are run separately, and quite recently the firm has amalgamated its Mombasa business with that of Messrs P.H. Clarke Ltd., of Port Florence (Kisumu), Mombasa and Homa, under the style of Boustead and Clarke Ltd. The directors of the new company are Messrs. J.M. Boustead, R.N. Boustead, P.H. Clarke, H.C. Rayne and A.S. Milliken

Playne - It was in 1907 that Mr P.H. Clarke established in Kisumu the business which has since been known all over EA. as P.H. Clarke Ltd., and has now amalgamated with Messrs Boustead Bros. of Mombasa, under the title of Boustead and Clarke Ltd. A salient characteristic of EA businesses is the quickness of their expansion.

The firm carries at Kisumu a large stock of wines, spirits, groceries, soft goods and general merchandise. They occupy large premises of wood and iron, covering an area of 4 acres, with 8.25 acres for the Nyanza Market. ..... the firm are large exporters of country produce and are official brokers and auctioneers.

Mr P.H. Clarke, who was managing director of the Kisumu business, and is on the board of the new company, resides in Mombasa. Mr A.S. Milliken (another director of the new company), who came to EA in 1899 from England is manager in Kisumu, and is assisted by Mr A.C. Blakeney and Mr J.D. Milliken ........ The company also own lime works at Homa Hill, 24 miles from Kisumu, in Karachonya District. There are 10 acres of quarrying, and 2 lime kilns with a capacity of 1500 feet each. .........

The company have a steam launch which runs to the lime works, and is in great demand for hippo shooting on the Lake. ......... [the company also owned a farm, grinding mill and a trading station at Hoima]

Macmillan - Chairman & Managing Director of Boustead & Clarke, Ltd. - has been in East Africa since 1898

Drumkey 1909 - Compagnie Des Messageries Maritimes de France, Kisumu

Drumkey 1909 - Broker - Kisumu

Land - 1908 - P.H. Clarke Ltd. - Building, 20,000 sq.ft., Kisumu Township, 6-5-05, Registered 16-1-08

Land - 1907 - P.H. Clarke - Agricultural, 109.09 acres, Kisumu, 9-12-04, Registered 28-2-07

Land - 1906 - P.H. Clarke - Building, 8.26 acres - Victoria Street, Kisumu - Lease from 1/4/1906 - Registered 3/5/1906

Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Mombasa

Nicholls - Kisumu - Business was in the hands of the Indians and of P.H. Clarke, the first white merchant in Kisumu. A cattle trader originally in charge of safaris from the coast, he was helped to put his business on a sound footing by Otto Markus of Mombasa, by the small white population of Kisumu clubbing together to raise funds for him, and by Stephen Bagge giving him contracts to rebuild Kisumu on the other side of the bay. He did well and joined Boustead to launch the firm Boustead & Clarke.

Medals - Mombasa Defence Force - P.H. Clarke, No. 9271, Private

EAHB 1904 - Kisumu Merchants and Residents - Clarke, P.

Barnes - Mombasa Cemetery - P.H. Clarke, died 26 Jun 1934 age 61, European Hospital, Cerebral Haemorrhage

Red Book 1912 - P.H. Clarke - Mombasa

Gazette - 1/2/1906 - Member of Kisumu Township Committee

Red Book 1919 - District Committees - Mombasa - P.H. Clarke

Red Book 1919 - Mombasa Swimming Club - President - Hon. P.H. Clarke

Gazette - 8/4/1930 - Liable to serve as Jurors and Assessors - P H Clarke, Boustead & Clarke, Mombasa

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THE MOMBASA CLUB

This book was first published in 1988, has 97 pages, 10 chapters, 19 B/W photos but no maps. The book starts with Rex Boustead, who landed in Zanzibar in 1872. He joined with Ridley to form a company and became very successful.

They launched into Uganda in 1890. They obtained land on 1.7.1897, on which the current Mombasa Club stands. This 1st small building in 1898 contained a bar, reading room, billiard room and card room.

The 1st members meeting was held on 28.1.1898. The 1st 50 members were all British or Americans. The women were ordered to leave at 7 pm. In 1903, the Mombasa Club was enlarged. Goan stewards and swahili staff were taken on. I

n 1905, the Club building was enlarged to 2 stories and 6 bedrooms.

In 1905, the BEA (British East Africa) currency notes were introduced.

In 1907, the seat of Government was moved from Mombasa to NAIROBI.

In 1908, the 1st pictures of the Club were published and the membership rose to 560 and the membership fee was Rs 50.

The motion to include Asians in 1915 was lost. Jews were also not included as members.

In 1926, the Club was no longer profitable and was put on sale by the proprietors.

However, no one was interested to buy it and by 1934, the membership fee was abolished. In 1949, the Club was sold to East African Breweries. Many improvements were made to the Club in 1950.

Still all members were of European extraction. In 1958, the Club was purchased by its members. After Kenya's independence in 1963, other ethnic members were included. In 1968, the Club was 75 years old.

By 1971, the member numbers were 1992. More improvements were made to the Club in 1979 and addition of 4 new bedrooms. By 1986, the members stood at 2523 and the Club was making a profit. None of the original members were now alive.

However, today(2013) the Mombasa Club is still popular, has 26 bedrooms, enjoys fantastic views of the Indian ocean next to Fort Jesus, has a library, swimming pool, 2 squash courts, conference room, snooker room, restaurant, reading room and 2 bars. Today the Club is open to all races and to both men and women and children.

The Memory Wanderer

I'm at the wrong end of the road, a short distance to look forward to and a long way travelled, so I spend more time looking back, enjoying the memories, and less time in anticipation of the way ahead. The road trodden has been a good one, a rich and winding one, over which I hold no regrets. There is much still to do - only the end of the track ahead intimidates.

Time is mine now, so I remember, sometimes deliberately, sitting in the warm sunshine, sometimes because my mind, as if keen to help, suddenly gives me a flash of memory, a vivid picture which, like an exploding rocket, illuminates a moment in life; and then fades.

I have seen its dark side but, in general, the world has been kind to me. I have few regrets, I have many blessings, so these thoughts are offered as a celebration of a fortunate life.

The Chini Club pool was so-called because it was below the Mombasa Club, 'chini' meaning 'below' in KiSwahili - this picture courtesy Tony Chetham.

Before the coming of the Florida Club and the pool at the Oceanic Hotel, it was the only place on the island of Mombasa to which we could easily cycle for a swim - swimming in the sea off the island wasn't a good idea as the waters were the home of some rather unfriendly sharks.

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