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Name: GIBBS, Harold James 'Tiny'
Photo Source: John Smith (great-nephew)
Nee: ?Harold James Gibbs
Birth Date: 11 Mar 1887 Stow on the Wold
Death Date: 18 Feb 1963 Nairobi, buried in Nanyuki
Profession: House steward at Muthaiga Club in 1930s; established Gibbs Autos in Nairobi, with a taxi firm; farmer in Timau 1945
Area: Timau, Nairobi
Married: Between 1936 and 1946, probably in Kenya, Agnes Grace Tait b. 2 Sep 1895 Aithsting, d. 25 Dec 1981 Lerwick, Shetland
War Service: Royal Navy, RAF
General Information:
1911 England census - he was a footman in Stow on the Wold.
He served in the Navy and RAF in World War 1.
EA Stud Book 1954 - Cattle - Guernseys - H.J. Gibbs, Lugilada Farm, Timau
EA Stud Book 1954 - Pigs - Large Whites - H.J. Gibbs, Timau
Nanyuki cemetery - Plot E12 - H.J. Gibbs
Gazette 16 Nov 1936 Voters List 1936 - Harold James Gibbs, Commercial, Muthaiga
Hut has H.J. 'Tiny' Gibbs 1950 Nanyuki ex Browne < Nairobi Tobacco Shop Car Hire Lugilada Farm Timau, married to Agnes
Played in the EA Amateur Golf Championship in 1931.
Member of Lodge Harmony - Joined 2/3/31, Harold James Gibbs, died 18/2/63
Campling - 1930 - Keith [Campling] was eventually fortunate enough to find a job with Tiny Gibbs of Gibbs Auto Tours who organised hunting safaris, Keith was to be driver and mechanic on a safari into the Northern Frontier with the well-known Pat Ayre as the 'white hunter'.
Mills - Muthaiga Club - In May 1920, the Club advertised for a Housekeeper and appointed A.H. [sic] "Tiny" Gibbs as House Steward. During his time as House Steward, Tiny suffered from incessant requests from members, too intoxicated to drive themselves , to drive them home. This gave him an idea which was to lead to his fortune as Tiny died many years later a very wealthy man, having started a successful taxi and car rental business called Gibbs Auto Tours.
John Smith (great-nephew): Agnes Tait was born on the 12th September 1895 to James and Barbara Tait. He was a typical seaman / crofter / fisherman. She was one of a family of 10 and after joining the Women's RAF in WW1 she found her way to Kenya, c1920's - 30's. She lived there until about 1969 when she returned to Shetland and lived out her last years with her brother and sister in the old family home. which she renovated, until her death in 1981. A recurring character in at least the first half of her story in Kenya seems to be Helen/Jane Silver/Wynne Eyton. The family tradition is that Auntie Aggie went to Kenya with Mrs Silver and there is a suggestion that the Gibbs eventually bought the Wynne-Eyton house in Timau.
East African Standard 5 May 1934: Mr. Gibbs, formerly the proprietor of Gibbs Auto Tours, Ltd., has just completed negotiations which have resulted in the formation of Gibbs Auto Transport, Ltd., of which he has been made managing director.