|
|
|
|
John Jeremy Branson
|
| |
John Jeremy Branson
| Nickname: |
'J' or 'J.J.' |
| House: |
Intermediate/New/Grigg |
| Years: |
1948-1953 |
| |
Known as 'J' or "J.J.'......'J.J.' was sometimes confused with 'J.J.' Woods who lived across the way in Hawke House so I
was known as 'J'
Started at the PoW at the start of the second term in 1948 and identified with Kester Brown (New House), 'Rastus' Roger
Bond (now in Natal, South Africa), Gorden Bell (still in Kenya), Dave Betts, Edward Lindsell, Peter Dey and many more in
the Junior School. Intermediate House for a year, my House being New House, later changed to Grigg.
Went to the main House,
(Liversidge our Housemaster), in 1950.
In 1948 lived on the South Kinangop and friends of Ken Archer, (much older) and Francis Lipscombe.
In 1949 our family moved down to Karen and in 1951 to Langata, near the Banda Hotel.
My elder sister, Susan, is married to Peter Leonard and they still farm cattle near Lukenya and the turnoff to Machakos on
the Mombasa Road.
Great friends in Grigg were 'Squeaky' Mowat , Kester Brown, Gillie Stanley,(Australia) Peter Saunders, Peter Rushworth,
Ian Macfarlane and the two Peal brothers, Tom,(Grigg) and John,(Hawke).
I left the PoW during 1953 and in 1954 went down to Rhodesia with the 5th and last consignment of Kenyans to be trained at
the King George IV barracks outside Salisbury. On my return in July 1954 I was posted to 'I' Company with Pat Colquhouun,
Peter Upson etc.(Madmen), The Ngecha Guard Post and later to the infamous Ngarariga Home Guard Post. In December 1954 I
volunteered to be trained as an Field Intelligence Officer, trained by Eric Holyoak (Hawke) and Capt Frank Kitson on
Banana Hill and posted to take over the North Tetu location North of Nyeri where I Had my own Pseude gang. I took over this
location from Mike Bennett ex Kitale. Another being trained with me was Frank Isaac, St Marys School. Both Eric and Frank
live in Natal.
In 1956 I joined the George Williamson Tea Group and worked on the Changoi and Lelsa Tea Estates before being transferred
to the Ambangulu Tea Estate in the Usambara Mountains above Korogwe in Tanganyika.
In 1968 I joined the Sapekoe Group of tea planters in South Africa. Started the first tea factory for the Group in December
1968 and made the first Sapekoe Tea in December 1968. Promoted to manage the neighbouring Grenshoek Tea Estate in July
1970. Promoted assistant Visiting Agent in the Head Office in Tzaneen in 1979. Promoted to General Manager Tea in 1993.
Retired to Haenertsburg, a beautiful Village at the Northern tip of the Drakensberg Mountains in 1995. Very happily married
to Sally Irlam (1960) in Kericho. We have two daughters who are married and live outside Johannesburg, They each have two
daughters.
(Registered 28th March 2004)
|
If anyone wishes to contact 'J', please e-mail webmaster@oldcambrians.com
to obtain his contact details
|
| |
