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Name: STRONACH, John Clark CMG
Birth Date: 1887 Dublin
Death Date: 23 Feb 1967 Delgany, Co. Wicklow
Nationality: Irish
First Date: 1926
Last Date: 1945
Profession: Director of Public Works, PWD, Kenya in 1939, appointed 1936. Originally Supt. Engineer 1926. President of the Irish Society in 1934
Area: Nairobi
Married: In India 1915 Madge Helen Hemsworth b. 1893
Children: Jill; Joan M. (1915); Ruth H. (1917); Elizabeth M. (1922); John Gore Mackenzie and Helen J. (twins 1926); Brian William Hemsworth (4 July 1928 Kenya-1984 Galway)
Book Reference: Staff 39, Irish, Debrett, Red 31, Colonial, Thurston, Dominion
School: St. Andrews College & 4 years at Engineering School of Trinity College, Dublin Graduated 1909 BA, BAI
General Information:
Irish - He was an above average rugger player having represented his school 1st XV and later Wanderers Football Club 1st XV. In 1911 he joined the Indian Public Works Department (this appointment was subject to his passing the then mandatory horse riding examination!). His wife to be, Madge, later followed him to New Delhi, where John was working on the new Secretarial Complex, and they were married there. A royal visit in 1921 made the completion of this complex a matter of urgency and due to John's efforts all was ready in time for the royal visit. The Chief Architect, with whom John had worked, was commissioned to design and construct the new Government House in Nairobi and he requested that Mr Stronach be temporarily transferred for this purpose. Government House, presently known as State House, remains practically unaltered to this day.
John Stronach arrived in Kenya in 1926 while his wife Madge was busy producing twins in Ireland. Gore Stronach, our present Treasurer, was one of these twins and came to Kenya with his mother in 1927. By this time the family was well established in No. 1 Bungalow, Lower Hill Road and John decided to stay on with the PWD and not return to India.. He was quickly promoted to Deputy and then Director of Public Works and also became a member of Legco. During World War 2 years he worked under great pressure being in charge of all Public Services with a sadly depleted staff as many had joined the forces.
In 1945, after 26 years abroad, he decided to retire and settled in Co. Wicklow. He was a very charming character, very keen on singing, particularly Percy French songs. He was also a great story teller and much loved by his grandchildren who hang on every word of his mostly 'made-up' bedtime stories.
Debrett - appointed Assist. Engineer, PWD, India 1911, Executive Engineer 1919, Sup. Engineer, PWD, Kenya 1926 and Director of Public Works 1936; retired 1946.
Thurston - CO 533, 464/7 - 1936 - Director of public works: J.C. Stronach appointed
Dominion - Public Works Department - Loan Staff - Superintending Engineer, Buildings - 1930
Irish - President of the EA Irish Society in 1934
Gazette - 1/12/1926 - Arrived on 1st Appointment - Superintending Engineer - J.C. Stronach