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Reunion + Roger Whittaker Concert - Toronto 25th March 2004
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Photogallery
Reunion + Roger Whittaker Concert
Toronto 25th March 2004
Report supplied by Zahir Shamshudin Dharsee
Photos supplied by Dave Burn
L-R: Zahir Dharsee, Dave Burn, Dave Allen, Roger Whittaker, Dorian Baxter, Hal Oliver
Our reunion was held on Thursday March 25, 2004 at the Living Arts Centre here in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada where our
fellow Prince Of Wales/Nairobi School alumnus, world renowned Kenyan born musician, Roger Whitakker (Scott 1949-1954), held a concert as
part of his 30 plus city tour across Canada. Ironically, the Mississauga Living Arts Center is situated on the Prince of
Wales Drive in Mississauga, Ontario
We were a party of 12 former Kenyan and other East Africans living in the Greater Toronto Areas and suburbs - Mississauga,
Oakville, Newmarket and Guelph. The party comprised five Old Cambrians and our respective wives, children and freinds -
myself - Zahir Dharsee (Hawke 1969-74) and my wife Nadia (Mombasa born), Dave Allen (Hawke 1960-5) and his
wife June (former Kenya High (Boma) girl !), their freind Daphne Spindlow, (another former Kenya High (Boma) girl),
Dave Burn (Scott 1955-9) and his wife Frances, Dorian Baxter (Grigg 1963-7) (aka Rev Elvis Priestly) and
his daughter Rachel and her boyfreind, James and Hal Oliver (Grigg 1944) and his son, David.
The evening commenced with a sumptuous pre-show dinner buffet at the Live Cuisine Restaurant in the Living Arts Center
complex. The food was excellent and the dinner gave the party members an occasion to reminisce about their good old
Kenyan school days (siku mzuri), their lives after school and their new lives and challenges in Canada and generally catch
up on the whereabouts of many common friends and acquaintances - kiswahili was fluently spoken - the 'Reverend Elvis' kept
the group well entertained and amused - it was a good dinner.
The concert commenced at 8:00 - after introductions, where Roger Whittaker's Kenyan roots were mentioned, he graciously
acknowledged the presence of many "former Kenyans, including those who went to the same school as him," in the audience.
He sang the song "My Land is Kenya", another swahili song, played the Africa drum (ngoma) and whistled the famous African
tune sound he is famous for. He sang many of his hits - Durham Town, New Day in the Morning, If I were a rich man....,
among many - he recalled his early musician days in Kenya, and the U.K. The concert was approximately 2 hours long with an
excellent back up band and singers.
After the concert the party was allowed to meet Roger backstage - many thanks to his good friend, and fellow Old Cambrian
Hal Oliver, for making the arrangements for the reunion party to meet with him backstage - all present had a wonderful
time meeting Roger and sharing pleasantries and Kenyan memories and posing for group pictures - Roger was a wonderful
person - so very gracious and warm - he spoke about his Canadian tour and his encounters with former Kenyans everywhere
he travels - he spoke a little Kiswahili - kijikoni as he put it - he posed for and let us take lots of pictures - they
should appear of the OCS web page soon
In summary, everyone present had a wonderful evening - meeting and reminiscing and the concert with one of the Prince of
Wales School's most famous Old Cambrians, Roger Whitakker was a bonus treat - it will be an evening we all will cherish
for the rest of our lives.
Thank you to all who participated, to others who contacted us with their experiences at previous concerts and to the man
himself, Roger Whitakker, for a wonderful evening and making us all feel proud of the Prince of Wales School/Nairobi
School and being former Kenyans at heart (roho yangu ni pamoja Kenya - my heart is with Kenya - God bless
all - Mungu ibaarike wote -
Zahir Shamshudin Dharsee
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Saturday March 27, 2004
L-R: Zahir Dharsee, Dave Burn, Dave Allen, Roger Whittaker, Hal Oliver, Dorian Baxter
L-R: Nazir Dharsee, Dave Burn, Dave Allen, Roger Whittaker, Dave Oliver and Dorian Baxter
L-R: Roger Whittaker being presented with Dorian Baxter's latest CD (aka Elvis Priestley)
L-R: Nadia and Zahir Dharsee with Roger Whittaker
L-R: Nadia Dharsee, Daphne Spindlow, Roger Whittaker, June Allen and Frances Burn
L-R: Dave Burn, Daphne Spindlow (ex Boma) Dave Allen, Frances Burn
L-R: June Allen, Daphne Spindlow (both ex Boma), Dave Allen, Hal Oliver and son Dave Oliver
Clockwise from front - Zahir & Nadia Dharsee, June Allen, Daphne Spindlow, Dave Allen, Frances Burn, Hal Oliver, Dave Oliver, James, Rachel Baxter, Dorian Baxter
Clockwise from front - Rachel & Dorian Baxter, Zahir & Nadia Dharsee, June Allen, Dave Burn, Daphne Spindlow, Dave Allen, Frances Burn, Hal Oliver, Dave Oliver, James
Frances Burn (aka Priscilla) and Elvis (aka Dorian Baxter)
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