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Name: JOINER, William Davidson

Birth Date: 13 May 1889 Forfar, Angus, Scotland

Death Date: 2 Feb 1937 Nairobi

First Date: 1912

Last Date: 1937

Profession: Merchant. c/o Elliott & Co.

Area: Nairobi, 1930 Box 175, Nairobi

Married: In Sunderland 1922 Mary Patterson b. 11 Apr 1892 Sunderland, d. 11 Dec 1974 Hillingdon

Children: Kathleen Mary (Hasler) (1924); Ian William (1932 Nairobi)

Book Reference: KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Obituary, Macmillan, Patterson family book, EAWL, Red 22, Gazette, Barnes

General Information:

Obituary - The death occurred early yesterday morning in Nairobi of Mr William Davidson Joiner, aged 47.
In 1933 Mr Joiner, a well-known Nairobi business man, for many years connected with the firm of Messrs M.S. Elliot & Co. retired from business and went home, to Scotland, intending to settle there. Like many others who were unable to resist the lure of the country which earned them their retirement, he returned in October last with the intention of once again taking up an active business life. Last week he was taken ill and it was with great regret that his wide circle of friends in Nairobi yesterday learned of his death that morning at the European hospital from pneumonia. The late Mr Joiner is survived by his widow and two children, one of whom is at present at school at Home.
Born in Forfarshire, his early days were spent for the most part at Carnoustie. He first arrived in Kenya in 1912 and joined the old Boma Trading Company. Thereafter, and for several years was a partner with Messrs. M.S. Elliot & Co. the well known provision merchants, retiring in 1933 when he went home taking up residence at Bonnyrigg. During the War he was a member of the Wheat Control Board. He was a keen golfer, being a foundation member of the Muthaiga Golf Club. He also took a big interest in the building up of Parklands Club of which he was a foundation member. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 40 (Arbroath) and of Lodge Scotia (Kenya) and many of his masonic brethren were present at the funeral which took place yesterday afternoon at the Forest Road cemetery following a service at the Scots church. …… '
Macmillan - 1930 - M.S. Elliot and Co. - The business is the oldest baking concern in Nairobi. It was started in 1903 by Mrs M.S. Elliot, a Scottish lady from Glasgow, who began it in a very small way by baking and selling delicious scones and cakes, which were very highly appreciated by the little community that formed at that time the nucleus of the future capital of Kenya. ….. After some years she was joined by her brother, the late Mr William Braidwood, who had been in business in South Africa as a grocer and provision merchant. In 1917 Mr W.D. Joiner was engaged as manager. That gentleman trained in the grocery and provision trade at Arbroath, Scotland, had been since 1912 in the employ of a prominent Nairobi firm that went into liquidation [Boma Trading Co.], and became  a partner in M.S. Elliot and Co. in 1917.
In 1928 the firm was formed into a limited liability company, of which Mr Joiner is Managing Director, and Mrs Elliot is a large shareholder. The firm specialise as provision outfitters to safari and other expeditions, and were appointed in that connection to HRH the Duke of Gloucester.
Patterson family book - Mary Patterson - first of 'The Pattersons' to go to Kenya 1922-1933. Lived 1933-36 in Sunderland and then returned to Kenya. Husband died in 1937 and she retired to Sunderland.
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - W.D. Joiner, Boma Trading Co.
Nairobi Forest Road Cemetery - William Davidson Joiner, British, age 47, died 2/2/37
Gazette 13/4/1921 - Dissolution of Partnership between William Braidwood, Mary Scott Elliot, William Davidson Joiner and Elizabeth Baird carrying on business as M.S. Elliot & Co. has been dissolved by mutual consent, so far as regards the said Elizabeth Baird who retires from the firm

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