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Name: NICOL, William George Drummond Hay

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Photo Source: Phyllida Cockell photo album

Nee: son of William James White Nicol

Birth Date: 20 June 1899 Clifton, Bristol

Death Date: Aug 1969 Ramsgate, S. Africa

First Date: 1927 Zanzibar

Profession: Chairman, Smith Mackenzie

Area: Kilindini, Zanzibar, Lushoto

Married: 1. In Kensington 29 Jan 1927 Phyllis Catherine Milton b. 14 Aug 1907, d. 8 Mar 1986 North Walsham, Norfolk (div. 1950 and she later m. in Sheringham, Norfolk 8 Mar 1956 William Sheridan Harpur b. 30 Oct 1910 New Brighton, Cheshire, d. 20 Feb 1986 Sheringham, Norfolk); 2. In Kenya 16 Nov 1950 Marjorie Houlton, widow. d. 1961; 3. In S. Africa 1962 Penny Searle

Children: Phyllida White (Urquhart and Cockell) (25 July 1930 Cardiff-13 July 2024 Brockhampton, Ross on Wye)

Book Reference: Red 31, EAWL, Richardson, Childhood

War Service: RFC, RAF 1916, lying about his age

School: Malvern College

General Information:

Bought 1st aeroplane to Mombasa 1934 - Shimanzi airport created from a strip of land on the island
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Mombasa Voters List
Source: Mrs P. Cockell
Richardson 1929 - "Then to lunch with Mr & Mrs Nicol (a junior partner in S.M. & Co.) - most hospitable and jolly people. N. has a lovely 8 cyl. Packard; 15 miles to the gallon of petrol; £650 here.
Newspaper obituary In 1921 he joined the firm of Mackinnon Mackenzie and was sent to Calcutta where he led a bachelor life with polo and pigsticking. In 1927 he married Catherine Milton and was given a junior partnership in the allied firm of Smith Mackenzie in Zanzibar, afterwards transferring to Mombasa. In 1936 he became chairman of the firm and flew his own aircraft on business. In 1938 he was elected to the Legislative Council as member of the Mombasa and also served on the Executive Council. These were busy times in his career as he was a prominent member of the Church Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the British Legion and Chieftain of the Caledonian Society. At the outbreak of the Second World War he was appointed Controller of Defence for Mombasa and became a Colonel in the Kenya Defence Force. He resigned from Smith Mackenzie in 1946 and on his retirement became a trustee of the newly formed National Parks of Kenya and was appointed to the board of East African Airways when it was formed. In 1950 he married Marjorie, the daughter of Major Holton and they farmed in Kipkabus where he also interested himself in many welfare projects. It was here that he discovered his gift for healing. On the death of Marjorie he retired to South Africa to settle in Ramsgate and there he met and married Penny Searle in 1962. He became an ardent spiritual healer and gave much time to this cause.
1927 Joined Smith Mackenzie in Mombasa as a junior partner.
1932 Made a senior partner and moved with wife and dau from Zanzibar to live in Kilindini House, Mombasa, built by his father
1934 Brought out a Clem Swallow aircraft - kept in hangar at Shimanzi
1936 Elected to Legislative Council
1939 Within 4 days of war being declared Kilindini House taken over by Royal Navy to house admirals. Nicols move to house on sea front above golf course called San Jose. The plot had been acquired so that a small house could be built for the bachelors to have a weekend country cottage. Later a bungalow was built there. After the war Hugh Robinson had a bigger house built there.
San Jose rebuilt.
1946 Kilindini House sold to Port Authority and made into 2 flats for port pilots.
1964 Kilindini House pulled down for new port installations
1946 retired from Smith Mac.
1950 Divorces wife and marries Marjorie. Went to live at Kipkabus.
1961 Marjorie died. The farm was sold for the African development scheme.
 
 

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