Women in Kenya - April 1979 - Helen, daughter of Hector and Nellie Douglas and Great Granddaughter of Sir Theophilus Shepstone was born in South Africa in 1908. She came to Kenya in 1912 at the age of 4 with a pioneering party comprising her parents and many relations. The party brought with them all their possessions, high grade horses, cattle, sheep and poultry with which to settle in the Kenya Highlands. Arriving in Mombasa they travelled with their cattle to Londiani from where they trekked overland; the men riding the horses and the women and children with the household goods in ox waggons. Their destination was the Kitale District where they had purchased land. Disaster struck within 2 years and most of their livestock died from unrecognised tickborne disease.

After striving with bad farming seasons, Hector Douglas brought his family to Kiambu where he became manager to Mr J.C. Store on his coffee farm, Kasarini. Helen after leaving the Kenya Girls' High School in Nairobi became her father's secretary. She was a member of the Kiambu and Ruiru Clubs in the late 1920s and early 30's. She represented both Clubs at Tennis and Hockey.

In 1931 she married Ray, son of G.R. Mayers of Miwani. They moved to the Southern Highlands of Tanganyika where they helped to establish the first tea in the Mufindi area. Prior to the Second World War they returned to Kenya and spent a delightful 2 years helping Joe and Lil Torr. At the outbreak of war Helen joined the FANYs and was posted as Staff Sergeant to Headquarters  under Lady Sydney Farrar. In 1942 she was posted to the British Military Administration at Mogadishu where Ray had previously been posted from the 5th KAR.

In 1948 the family returned to Kenya to farm part of Powys Cobb's land at Mau Narok. Helen joined the EAWL at Njoro and later joined the Thika Branch when she moved to Donyo Sabuk. Later, on moving to Nanyuki, she joined that Branch of which she remained a member.

For the last 12 years Helen has helped Ray develop a cattle ranch in the previously untouched, virgin bush country South East of Voi. It was a case of pioneering all over again and she set up house in very primitive conditions but had soon established a comfortable homestead where she was happy to  entertain all her old and new friends at whatever hour they turned up. Her house became a focus for travellers on the Mombasa-Nairobi road.

She is survived by her husband Ray; her daughter Patricia who is married to Sandy, son of J.T. Robertson of Kitale; her 3 grandchildren Ian, Kathryn and James as well as 2 sisters, Jean Seed and Sheila Wallace.