Came to Kenya to work in Sam Jacobs Dustpan store, 1921, when his parents did not have enough money to fund his higher education.

East Africa & Rhodesia - 26/6/52 - Mrs Zena Shirley, who has died in Nairobi, was the wife of Mr Eric Shirley, and daughter of the late Rev. E.P. Ellis of London. She leaves one son and one daughter.

Campbell and Cohen, 'Rugby in East Africa' - Rugby photo - Harlequins v Mombasa Dec. 24th 1923

Founder and committee member of Harlequins RFC, 1923-6

Early player for Nondies Rugby Club, 1927-32

He donated the Eric Shirley Rugby Shield to the Rugby Union in 1959.

Jews - 1950 - Elected Hon. Vice-President of the Nairobi Hebrew Congregation

Barnes - Nairobi South Cemetery - Eric Charles Shirley, died 28 Feb 1959 aged 55 - "in loving memory of Eric Charles Shirley, died 28 Feb 1959 aged 53 [sic]deeply mourned by his devoted wife sons and daughters …….. " AND Zena Shirley, died 5 May 1952, aged 40

Glimpses - post WW1 - as Nairobi continued to grow, more houses were being built, more furniture was needed. Eric Shirley, an extremely pleasant man who came up from South Africa and started a furniture shop  in Victoria St, Nairobi …….. He found a bride in Nairobi, a nice Jewish girl, Zena Ellis, one of the 3 daughters (the others being Hetty and Annie) of the Congregation's memorable minister, The Rev. Ellis.

Shirley was a kind and generous man, who twice served as president of the Congregation. When he died shortly after his second term, his successor, Herman Strauss, paid him a glowing tribute - "Whatever the honours  may be which adorn the office of the President of the Community, it is a heavy burden for anyone who is able and willing to put in the enthusiasm, energy and self-sacrifice which this position demands. Such a man was Eric Shirley. I wonder how many of our members know how hard he worked for the Congregation, how much of his time he devoted to all the various facets of communal life; whether it was the Synagogue and its services, the education of the children, the improvement and security of the Congregation's assets or whether it was but a small grievance of an individual member. To all these manifold problems he applied his never-failing energy and the selfless, but tenacious thoroughness which was so typical of him …….. If Eric Shirley was not a "learned" man in the narrow sense of that word, he was, I am sure, filled with deep and genuine love of his religion. He was a true leader of his community and by his deeds and conduct, a shining example to us all ….. (East African Jewish Newsletter)

Rugby - Nondescripts RFC - President - 1955-56

Gazette - Voters List 1936 - Eric Shirley, Salesman, Box 546, Nbi. And Eva Shirley, Box 546, and Mrs Zena Shirley, Box 546, Nbi

Gazette 11 Nov 1941 He requires probate for Eva Shirley who d. Nairobi 9 May 1941

Gazette 4 Aug 1959 probate required by Eleanor Shirley and Ellen Shirley