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Name: BLOWERS, George

Nee: bro of Albert Edward Blowers

Birth Date: 1882 West Ham

Death Date: 29 Mar 1942 Nairobi

First Date: 1911

Last Date: 1942

Profession: Building contractor

Area: Nairobi, Kima, 1930 Box 259, Nairobi

Married: In West Ham 25 Dec 1903 Alice Emma née Blowers [sic] b. 1879, d. 25.6.1958 Nairobi

Children: John Leonard (11 Nov 1906 West Ham-26 Oct 1993 Buderim, Queensland, Australia); Eva Joyce (1910 West Ham); Winnie (1916); Violet May (21 May 1917 Nairobi-6 Aug 1935 Nairobi)

Book Reference: Gillett, KFA, Golf, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Macmillan, Red 22, Aero, Harmony, Barnes, Breckenridge, Campling, Red 19

War Service: Served in the SA Constabulary in Boer War

General Information:

Soon after arriving he established his own business and many important buildings were erected under his supervision including the Law Courts in Nairobi, the McMillan Library, Prince of Wales School, and Corner House.
After Boer War went to Canada, and later worked in the building trade in England. In Kenya, at Kima he developed on the most up-to-date lines a large sisal estate. For some years he was a member of the Nairobi Municipal Council and an Official of the Aero Club of EA, frequently piloting his own aeroplane. His wife, Alice was held in great affection throughout the Colony. She did tremendous work for the EAWL and the Women's Section of the British Legion.
KFA - Obtained a contract from Kenya Grain Mills Ltd in 1923, to build a mill in Commercial Street, Nairobi, an area then almost indistinguishable from the Athi Plains.
Golf - President of Muthaiga GC in 1941
Red 25 - Builder & Contractor, Signwriter & Painter
Macmillan - 1930 - No one has done or is doing more in connection with the development of Nairobi than Mr George Blowers, who, as a builder and contractor, operates on an extensive scale, and by his personality, ability, and skill in craftsmanship is making his impress on the town in no uncertain fashion. Amongst the many large structures erected by him during the last few years are the following prominent features of modern local progress:- premises of The Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd., The Motor Mart and Exchange Ltd., Bullows and Roy Ltd., Walgee Hergee [sic] and Sons, Whiteaway Laidlaw and Co. Ltd., (rear portion), Carr Lawson & Co. Ltd., Major Grogan's building in Sadler St., and Torr's Hotel, European School, Muthaiga Golf Club, and Muthaiga Dancing Hall. ……. Mr Blowers started his activities at Nairobi in 1911, but he did not actually commence contracting until 1913, and the extent to which his business has developed is indicated by the fact that he has a large European staff and employs very many Asiatic artisans and native labourers ……. At Muthaiga he is the owner of 32 acres of quarry lands used for building stone of any size and quality. He also owns 50 acres of hard stone at Mbagathi …… With his characteristic initiative, enthusiasm and enterprise Mr Blowers was originator, for building purposes, of concrete block manufacture, which has so greatly contributed to the reduction of the cost of domestic buildings, etc.
Red 22 - George Blowers (behind Whiteaway, Laidlaw) Sixth Avenue, Box 259, Nairobi - Builder & Signwriter
Aero - The Aero Club's First Aircraft - De Havilland Moth - On arrival it was registered "ACEA" but after a series of accidents the Club found it was impossible to continue to economically operate it. After an accident in 1932 it cost the Club £110 before it was back in flying condition again and in November they decided to sell it to Mr George Blowers for £300, the money to go to the "Aeroplane Replacement Fund". Ironically George Blowers, who had just obtained his "A" licence, crashed it on landing at his farm at Kima, and before the year was out repairs to the Clubhouse roof and verandah had to be paid for out of the "Aeroplane Replacement Fund".
Aero - See That Propeller at the Aero Club and Think of ….. - by Edward Rodwell -  ….. There was George Blowers who when over 70 bought an aircraft and because he knew nothing about navigation followed the road, the old Nairobi road that is when flying to the coast. On one journey he was lost in cloud and so lost his way. By God's good grace George found the road again just before his petrol ran out. He made a good landing but lost both wings against opposite trees and so flapped to a halt. I spoke to Mrs Blowers that evening and asked what she was doing during the acrobatics. "I was knitting a pair of socks," the old lady replied, "and because I could do nothing about it I carried on knitting until we stopped."
Aero - A past President of the Aero Club, and for many years on the Committee, George Blowers who died in Nairobi at the age of 60 in 1942, did much to put the Club on its feet, and his monetary gifts were considerable. In much of his flying his wife was his passenger, and Mr and Mrs Blowers made many cross-country trips on both business and pleasure. Born in Essex, George Blowers served, in his teens in the Boer War, gaining the Queen's and King's medals with clasps. Later he spent time in Canada, and in the building trade in England. He first came to East Africa with his wife (whom he married in 1905) in 1912, to take up a post with Swift, Rutherford and Co., but within a short time started his own business as a building contractor in Nairobi. He constructed some of the city's largest buildings at that time including the Law Courts, the McMillan Memorial Library, the Prince of Wales' School, Nairobi School, the New Stanley Hotel, Torr's Hotel, the Corner House, and the Empire and Royal Theatres. A member of Nairobi Municipal Council for many years, George Blowers took a keen interest in public affairs, golf and yachting. He interested himself in the development of sisal, and his estate at Kima was developed on the most up-to-date lines. He was a Committee member of the Kenya Sisal Growers Association and of the Sisal Industry.
Member of Harmony Lodge - Joined 4/9/16, age 34, Builder, Nairobi
Nairobi Forest Road Cemetery - George Blowers, British, age 60, died 29/3/42
Breckenridge - 'Mr Blowers also bred rabbits for the Nairobi market. There must have been at least 20 breeding hutches and pens for their young, and fattening runs for adult rabbits which had to be killed, skinned and cleaned for the shops. ….' Campling - 1933 - Kenya's first air force unit as a unit of the KDF - Pilot Officer
Red Book 1919 - G. Blowers - Contractor - Elliot Street, Nairobi
Gazette - Voters List 1936 - George Blowers, Builder & Contractor, Kileleshwa

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