Tag Archives: Colonial Kenya

Synopsis of The Seedsman’s Daughter

Posted on 16th August 2026 by Hilary

The Seedman’s Daughter is the remarkable true story of pioneer May Sutton, born into the Sutton family (of Sutton Seeds fame) in which the sons are groomed as future soldiers and heads of the family firm, from which the girls … Continue reading →

Posted in British Colonial Kenya memoir, Commercial horticulture memoire, Pioneer settler farming Kenya Memoir, Pioneer women Memoir, Published Writing, Uncategorized, Women''s history memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Seedsman’s Daughter is finally finished. It only took 12 years!

Posted on 16th August 2026 by Hilary

An intimate look at the life of pioneer woman May Sutton, who travels to 1920s Kenya to marry. Letters and journals relate actual experience of pioneer life, the hardships and hazards, her fight for recognition as a woman and horticulturist, … Continue reading →

Posted in British Colonial Kenya memoir, Commercial horticulture memoire, Kenya Blog: Kitale & KK, Pioneer settler farming Kenya Memoir, Pioneer women Memoir, Published Writing, Women''s history memoir | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How we view the world, then and now

Posted on 21st July 2019 by Hilary

I’ve reached the bit in my book where Emilie May has arrived in Nairobi to get married. It took her exactly one month to the day from setting off from Reading Station to arrive in Nairobi. I flew to Nairobi … Continue reading →

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April blog

Posted on 7th April 2016 by Hilary

Ok, my first blog. My intention is that these are at least monthly as part of my strategy to write this novel by setting goals and deadlines, but if you find it useful or interesting too then this is also good. This … Continue reading →

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Gertrude Mary Kuhn

Posted on 12th February 2016 by Hilary

Today I went to pay my respects to Gertrude Mary Kuhn, nanny to my mother and her two sisters, who was shot and killed by my grandfather on 18th September 1929 –– apparently he thought she was a leopard. Gertrude … Continue reading →

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Kitale: Searching for echoes and dents

Posted on 8th February 2016 by Hilary

The morning – Mahendra, the Railway Station and the Museum Our first morning in Kitale. I resolve to begin my quest for my grandmother in Kitale and find The Kitale Store, in which my grandfather was a major shareholder, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Kenya Blog: Kitale & KK | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments