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Name: THORNE, Percival Gaunt 'P.G.'

Nee: bro of Henry, Arnold Linsley, Reginald Francis, Norman, Muriel, Christiana Margaret, Bessie, Joyce and Gerald Thorne

Birth Date: 18 Oct 1880 Leeds

Death Date: 1975 Pretoria, S. Africa

First Date: 1904 March

Profession: Worked first for Lord Delamere and then with brothers started a brick-making and general builders business near Nakuru. Later started an Auctioneering business in Nakuru. One of 1st secretaries of Rift Valley Sports Club.

Area: Nakuru, 1922 Airedales at Njoro, Hut - Pigs, Rongai

Married: 1. In Nakuru 10 Sep 1923 Suzanne Charlotte Curwen née Frey b. 29 Dec 1892 Guebwiller, Alsace, d. 7 May 1978 Pretoria (she was previously m. to Robert Babington Curwen 1882-1921); 2. Hilda Clark née Green b. 3 June 1891 London, d. 15 Sep 1987 Cambridge, New Zealand (she prev. m. Frederick Arthur Thomas Clark 1884-1947)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, KFA, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Playne, Pioneers, Drumkey, Red 22, Advertiser, North, SKP, Rift Valley, Red Book 1912

General Information:

Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Rift Valley Voters List
SE has Thorne Bros.
KFA - First secretary of the Rift Valley Sports Club, he had a blacksmith's and wagon building business in the town.
Playne - Secretary and Treasurer of Rift Valley Sports Club
Playne - Pastoralists' Association (Nakuru) - The idea of this association was first mooted by Messrs S. McCall and R. Chamberlain, and at a meeting a few days later the association was formed after a joint conference between them and Mr A.S. Flemmer. At a general meeting held at Nakuru on May 22, 1906, a constitution was agreed to, and Mr Flemmer was elected President and Mr Banks Secreatry and Treasurer.  At the annual meeting in 1907 Mr Chamberlain was elected President; Messrs S. McCall and Flemmer Vice-Presidents, while Mr Banks was re-elected as Secretary and Treasurer. At the annual meeting in 1908 Dr. Atkinson was elected President, Messrs S. McCall and F. Watkins Vice-Presidents, and Mr P.G. Thorne Secretary and Treasurer, vice Mr Banks, resigned.
Playne - Thorne Brothers (Nakuru) - The builder is obviously a very useful person in a new country like BEA, and Thorne Brothers cannot complain of any lack of work since they established themselves in 1906 as general builders, coach, waggon, and furniture makers. Carpentry and repairing of all sorts is also undertaken, as well as contracts for fencing, 100 miles of which have already been put up for customers. Messrs. Thorne had had previous experience in Johannesburg in this kind of business. When they came to BEA in 1904, Mr P.G. Thorne went at first to work for Lord Delamere, and Messrs H. & N. Thorne farmed at Ndragua, on the Aberdare Hills. Thorne Brothers have also started as brickmakers. Bricks are now being made at Njoro after 8 months experimenting ........ about 70 hands are employed in this department of the business alone. At Nakuru a new building for workshops etc. is to be erected early in 1909. Mr P.G. Thorne is Secretary to the Rift Valley Sports Club, the Pastoralists' Association, and the Nakuru Show Committee.
Advertiser - 11/12/08 - Nakuru Agricultural Show - Hon. Sec. - P.G. Thorne
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived Mar 1904 - Rongai
Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 1907 - P.G. Thorne
Red Book 1912 - P.G. Thorne - Naivasha
Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - P.G. Thorne - Farmer - Njoro
Gazette 10 Nov 1978 wife's probate
Gazette 28 Aug 1951 Njoro
Drumkey 1909 - Directory of Residents - P.J. Thorne, Nakuru

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