Random - returned to Kenya in 1943 and looked after Kekopey and Solio with Eric Pardoe as manager. From 1948-50 my chief interest, outside the farm, became the building of the Church of Goodwill. Eleanor's sister Mary was with her from 1948-51 and was a great help. The design was inspired by the old mission church in Zanzibar.  Later became involved in Moral Rearmament. In 1956 she handed over her lands in Kenya; David chose Solio, and Arthur took over at Kekopey.    

Midday Sun - 'In 1916 Lady Eleanor Balfour, daughter of the second Earl of Balfour and niece of the former Prime Minister, braved the submarines to spend a few months with her cousin Alison who was married to the Principal Medical Officer of the Protectorate, Dr. Milne. Her fiancee had just been killed in France. She was young, tall, blue-eyed, fresh-complexioned, vivacious and attractive, endowed with intelligence, enthusiasm for good causes, a strong sense of duty and the heart of a lion. Galbraith hated what he called the 'peculiar vulgarity' of Nairobi and never went there unless compelled to do so by business. On such occasions he stayed with the Milnes, who kept open-house for up-country folk. Under their roof he fell precipitately in love with Lady Eleanor. She went on safari with the Milnes, and stopped a few days at Kekopey, where Galbraith took her out in his car to shoot a buck, lending her a light rifle. She took careful aim at an impala and shot it through the heart. 'I did not know until months later,' she wrote, 'how much hung on that shot. Galbraith had said to himself "If she kills it, our friendship will ripen; if she misses, it will come to nothing." Well, I killed it all right.' ........ In age Nell became rather a formidable figure - I suppose an arduous life, heavy responsibilities and a position of command had left their mark. But she was always kind and generous, quite without false pride or pettiness, and had memorable blue eyes with a look in them of candour, innocence perhaps, and now and then a glint of humour. She was an accomplished public speaker with a clear brain and an enthusiasm that kept her young in spirit, and was one of the first Europeans to become, after independence, legally that is, a Kenya citizen. ........... She ended her days, indomitable and sanguine to the finish and rising 90, in the home for the elderly established by the EAWL.  

Over my Shoulder - 'A letter to Lady Eleanor brought back to me, by return, the Cole sheep diaries from 1916 to 1952. Their covers were of tooled leather, opening out to a width of 18 inches. 'Solio' farm was on one side, of the open books, 'Kekopey' farm on the other. Each page represented a month. It was marked out as graph paper would be marked - the days along the top, the diseases, deaths, lambing etc., down the side, so that one could see at a glance the particular days events. Each page carried at its foot the general monthly report of the relevant manager of the day. What a galaxy of names appeared in those pages - Will Powys, David Begg, Dempster, Eric Pardoe, Prettejohn, Gerald Southey, to name but a few ..............'   (more pp.125-127)  

Who's Who - Dir. Of Companies and Farmer. Dir. Cole Estates Ltd. Past Pres. EAWL; Mem. Nairobi County Council; African Educ. Advisory Ccl., and D.E.B. and Reg. Educ. Bd.; Chmn. Gilgil UDC

Pioneers - Gilgil - Lady Eleanor Cole - When I arrived in 1916 our party consisting of my cousin, Mrs Milne, and brother-in-law, Berkeley Cole, had ridden over from Berkeley's farm at Naro Moru. There was no passable road from Gilgil to Nairobi, only a wagon track, and of course, the railway. The station served as Post Office, and Gilgil consisted besides this, of one Indian duka belonging to Nathoo Madhavji, whose descendants still had a shop in the town in 1968. Among the first settlers were Lord Delamere, Hobson and Galbraith Cole, who bought out Hobson and took up land as far as the slopes of Eburru. His original grant was waterless except for one bank of two small streams, but by buying out Hobson he acquired both banks, and by ploughing back all available money, he managed eventually to supply water by pipeline to the whole area of over 30,000 acres.

Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - Eleanor Cole - Gilgil