Gazette 16 Nov 1936 Voters List 1936 - Hugh Thorpe, Clerk, Ainsworth Rd., c/o Municipality

One of the original '500' men in the Kenya Regt. in 1937. (KR 115).

Secretary of the Irish Society from 1949

Pat Whiteley: When my Alcorn grandparents went to N. Ireland for my grandfather to complete his exams for his legal profession, they took Hugh to Kenya with them. That is how Hugh came to East Africa. He loved singing Irish songs.

Obituary: In 1929 he emigrated to East Africa where he lived with relatives in Nairobi. He took up employment with the Nairobi City Council whom he served well for over 35 years until his retirement. In 1966 he returned to Limavady where he lived with his sister. During his years in East Africa he served with the King's African Rifles and volunteered for service during the Abyssinian campaign. In the Second World War he served in Bura and Somali land. He held the rank of Lt. Quartermaster with the 14th Army for which he was awarded the Burma Medal and often came close to death in action. He was a keen sports enthusiast and in his early years was a member of the Limavady Rover's football team. He had many trophies for boxing, tennis, and in later years bowling. He took an active part in bowling until a few weeks before his death. He was secretary of the Irish Society in Nairobi and he had a great love of Irish culture, Irish ballads and Irish folklore.