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Name: SPEKE, Albert

Birth Date: 1876 Montford, Shropshire

Death Date: 13 Nov 1935 Nakuru

First Date: 1912

Last Date: 1935

Profession: Builder and cabinet maker arrived with wife and family. Initially joined Frank Watkins in Nakuru but when this business closed down he started on his own.

Area: Nakuru

Married: In Ellesmere 1897 Harriet Price b. 1874 Great Ness, Shropshire, d. 13 Jan 1937 Nakuru

Children: Mary Eveline (1902 Brace Meole); Margaret Elizabeth (Pearson) (1907 Church Stretton); Valerie; Albert Edward (1898 Great Ness, d. of fever in WW1, Kajiado)

Book Reference: Gillett, Red 31, Hut, Pioneers, Gazette, Barnes

War Service: WW1 with EA Pioneers, mentioned in despatches

General Information:

Pioneers - Nakuru - Amongst the earliest European builders were the Speke brothers, who arrived in 1912. They made bricks by hand from red earth at Rongai, and transported them by hand cart to Nakuru. ………. One of the first stone houses was built for Bwana Simba [A. Buchan-Sydserff] in what was then Delamere Avenue. He insisted that tiles should be cemented into the wall, each one bearing a footprint. There was the imprint of his tame ostrich, those of lion, hippo, rhino and giraffe. The last was the print of the tiny Pike baby's foot. It is still embedded in the wall opposite the Nakuru Athletic Club.
During the First World War Nakuru Racecourse became an army convalescent camp. The Padre asked Mrs Albert Speke if she would make some cakes for their canteen. Albert was away at the war. Although dismayed at the thought of making cakes for 200 men on a No. 9 Dover stove, Mrs Speke agreed. Before the camp closed down she was making close on 2,000 cakes a day. When Albert returned he built a brick oven and a bakehouse in Lake Road. Their three daughters used to push a hand-cart full of freshly baked loaves up to the railway station every morning before going to school. That was the start of Speke's bakery.
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Gilgil - A. Speke (British), Settler
Barnes - Nakuru North Cemetery - Albert Speke who passed away 13/11/1935. Harriet d, 13 Jan 1937
Hut - 1912 Speke's bakery 1919 Builder for Watkins
Gazette  6 Dec 1938 Uasin Gishu Voters Roll expunged - Speke, Alfred and Kerene
Gazette 10 Dec 1935 probate
Harriet made her own bread & cakes for Church Army Soldiers Club, Speke's Bakery. 

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