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Name: PATERSON, Alice Celia
Birth Date: 16 Mar 1907 Notting Hill, London
Death Date: 9 Feb 1995 Nairobi
Nationality: British
First Date: 1935
Last Date: 1995
Profession: Went to Kenya as a Domestic Science Teacher at the Nairobi High School
Area: Kibwezi, Makuyu, Kitale, Karen
Married: 1. In Mombasa 4 June 1940 Evan Gall Springer (1897-1966 Kilifi); 2. Hugh William Paterson (1897-1983)
Children: 1. Margaret Ann (21 Sep 1941 Nairobi-1981 Grahamstown); Gill
Book Reference: Women 1/95
General Information:
Women - Obit. - She married Evan Springer just before war broke out. They lived at Kibwezi working sisal, later moving to Makuyu. In 1956 they bought their own farm, in Kitale and moved there with their two daughters Anne and Gill. Celia now aged fifty went back to teaching to help with school fees, but still carried out her farmer's wife's duties, overseeing the milking and care of calves, weekends and holidays. Sadly Evan's health deteriorated and they decided to retire to the coast. Evan died shortly after and Celia once again found herself back in Kitale, teaching dressmaking, embroidery and being more involved with the EAWL.
Four years later she met and married Hugh Paterson, who was farming a small mixed farm - so once again Celia was a farmer's wife. They decided it was time to leave Kitale and their friend from Makuyu days Bubbles Harroway offered them the White House on the edge of her property in Karen. Celia and Hugh were very happy here - both social people and keen supporters of the Polo Club. ..... When Hugh died in 1986, Celia left the White House and moved into a friend's guest house, where she had a dreadful break-in and was nearly strangled in her bed - this decided her to move to a flat in Harrison House.