My name is John Orton, Nightingale House 1948-1954 (I think)
I now live in Western Victoria having moved to Australia
more that 40 years ago.
I have just found your site! How all the memories came flooding
back! I have to congratulate you on the article and how you
all must have enjoyed returning to Kongwa.
If you are creating a sort of diary of that time I can add
some memories of mine –
The train trip from Dar to Kongwa in trains towed by the
now iconic Beyer-Garrett articulated locomotives. I have
since learned that these locos were some of the biggest steam
locomotives ever built. We had some fun in my later years
at school on the train trips by sharing a bottle of Cinzano
with my mate Georgio Fourtini and other miscreants.
Making “bird-lime” to catch Kasukus, by smearing
the lime on tree branches.
Keeping pet Chameleons and aiming them at flies to watch
them have a good meal.
Making bent wire Manyara guns and having inter-house battles
at night.
Purchasing Jagari (raw sugar lumps) from Patel’s Duka
and having midnight feasts. Jagari was really cheap and satisfied
my yearning for something sweet to eat. I am fairly sure
it was not hygienic, but we melted it and added cheap peanuts
for a primitive ‘Peanut Brittle”.
Going for walks at the weekend as far as “The Units” or
excursions to “Children’s Mount” out near
Mpwapwa.
Chasing Hyenas at night with torches and rattling dustbin
lids.
Cross-country running, typically around Kongwa Hill. In
the years I was there Nightingale won the Inter-House cross-country
race four times. We had a young “gun” called
Ron Howard who came first each time.
Marcus Savy was in Nightingale House and played the mouth
organ as one of you noted. Sadly overweight, but a gentle
soul, I remember him with great affection. He was excused
from running!
Everyone running round making a hell of a racket during
Locust infestations. I remember watching the dark clouds
approaching across the plain. It was considered that if a
lot of noise was made, the Locusts would not hang around,
but as you probably recall this was a forlorn hope.
Did you know that Kongwa is the KiGogo word for dust-devil
or whirlwind?
My dad was a surveyor and civil engineer, his businesses
in Tanganyika Included Orton Surveying and Civil Engineering.
When the O.F.C. started up The Paulings Company was the main
contractor in the early stages, and dad’s company was
contracted to Paulings and surveyed the Kongwa, Nachingweya,
and Urambo sites and the access roads, including building
many of these roads.
I certainly had ideas of returning to Kongwa over the years,
but now nearing 71 and having traveled the world, I have
lost the urge to globe-trot.
Thanks so much for the interesting website feature.
Kind regards.
John Orton.
Ex Dar-es-salaam Oyster Bay Kindergarten
Ex Oyster Bay Primary School
Ex St. Joseph’s School, Dar-es-salaam
Ex Kongwa School
Ex Prince of Wales School, Nairobi
Ex Kenya Regiment 1958-1962. H.Q. Coy, 3 Inch Mortar Platoon.
PS. I can add some more snippets if you are interested. |
