Gazette 1 Nov 1966 probate

KFA - involved in the negotiations for the merger of the KFA and the Plateau Maize Growers' Association. (1926).

Habari 26 - 'My father, when he first reached Kenya in 1911, joined the Hurst brothers' hunting safaris. However, both Charles (better known as "Will") and my father, Q.H. Brown, soon settled down to farming in Uasin Gishu District. George was the brother killed by an elephant.' (Source: letter from Shirley Heriz-Smith)                        

Brewery -  Charles Hurst had been a gold prospector, an occupation that could be as frustrating as farming in those days. The search for precious metal could be a lonely occupation. With his brother away hunting, with one duka in the district, with sick animals and only maize as a crop, Charles began to think again of gold. This time it was liquid gold. Here was a growing country and the only beer obtainable had to travel 6,000 miles. The more Charles thought of it the more he considered it futile to sink his entire capital into the soil of that lovely yet hard countryside. And so Charles Hurst communicated his thoughts to his brother and to a friend named H.A. Dowding, who was connected with the Edme Malt Extract Company. The three men examined possible sites on the outskirts of Nairobi and chose Ruaraka because here was a permanent stream to supply water for their brewery ..... they discovered that they were only one of three groups of people who were looking at Ruaraka with the idea of starting a brewery. There was no time to lose.

Charles Hurst went down to the Coast, boarded a ship, travelled to England and paid cash for brewery equipment (at least equipment such as the three partners could afford). He had the plant loaded in a vessel that promised a fast passage to Mombasa and so returned to Kenya. The die was cast. Charles and George Hurst and H.A. Dowding had subscribed £2,500 each towards the venture. While Charles was away the other partners lived in a tent, dug a well near to the river's edge, cleared the land and built the brewery. The building of cut stone and corrugated iron was ugly but functional. The plant arrived and was installed. A company known as Kenya Breweries Limited was formally registered on 8 December and production began on 14th December 1922. Charles Hurst was the first brewer. Going by the manual he followed the instructions implicitly, boiled the resultant solution in a small copper vessel over a kuni [wood] fire, bottled the brew and carried ten cases, the first order, to Mr Waterman, the manager of the Stanley Hotel. Those who remember Mr Waterman can imagine the kindliness with which he would have accepted the crates, have extracted the cork from the first bottle of local beer, tasted the brew and raised his eyes to that high roof of the Stanley lounge. .........…

Charles Hurst was no brewer so Mr Hector Money was appointed acting secretary of Kenya Breweries Ltd. The first official meeting took place at the factory on 6 March 1923. Charles Hurst was in the Chair, George Hurst and H.A. Dowding were present. The three men elected themselves directors with Charles as Managing Director. A brewer was engaged - Mr Spurrier and arrived at the beginning of 1923 and it was at this time that Mr J.C. Aronson joined the company as a director. He took the place of George Hurst, who sadly enough, had been killed by an elephant in a hunting accident. In memory of the sad occasion it was decided to call the products of Kenya Breweries "Tusker". ..... 1931 - Mr Charles Hurst during all these years of trial, error and success proved to be a pillar of strength to the company. After the brewery was established he had returned to farm at Soy, but he was asked his opinion on every problem of moment. At the same time when Mr Taylor went on leave first to Great Britain and later to SA, Mr Hurst came down to Nairobi and acted as brewer. The care that he took resulted in the continuity of standards and production and the directors considered the company fortunate in having a man of Mr Hurst's all-round competency on the board.

Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Uasin Gishu Plateau - C.W. Hurst

Gazette 1 Nov 1966 probate

1939 England and Wales Register living in Uckfield with wife and daus.as 'coffee planter, Kenya'.