John Karmali and Hospital Hill Primary School, Nairobi

Hospital Hill Primary School NairobiIn 1949, Ismaili John Karmali, a member of the club, was worried about educating his children. He had married an English woman, and this was “almost the first mixed marriage in that mini-South Africa, which Kenya was in those days,” as his wife Joan recalled nearly four decades later. Indeed, she and her husband could not eat in the same restaurant. In segregated Nairobi, the Karmali children were not allowed to enroll in white schools. With five other Asian parents in 1950, the Karmalis founded the Hospital Hill Primary School, began in the Karmalis’ home and later located on what is now State House Road, which was open to children of all races. Within several years, it gained financial assistance from the colonial administration.

The Beautiful Plants of Kenya by John KarmaliJohn Karmali is a prolific author and has written several books including “Beautiful Birds of Kenya” and “Beautiful Plants of Kenya”.

Source: http://unitedkenyaclub.com/ukc/history.htm
A School in Kenya: Hospital Hill, 1943-1979 (Paperback)
The Beautiful Plants of Kenya (Paperback)

Author: ismailimail

Independent, civil society media featuring Ismaili Muslim community, inter and intra faith endeavors, achievements and humanitarian works.

105 thoughts

  1. Beloveds:
    I am a proud Alumnus of the Hospital Hill Primary School. It was the first ever really multi-racial primary school in Kenya and I was so blessed to have had the experience of being a part of that unique learning environment. I highly recommend John Karmali’s book!
    Love, light and shadow,
    Jalaledin

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    1. In this the Jalal Ebrahim that I knew? We hooked up briefly in 1982/84 when you were running your family tour business and I was teaching at the University of Nairobi Dental Facuklty. Where on earth are you? Please get in touch.

      Sopiato (Sophie) Likimani.
      sopiato.likimani@gmail.com

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    2. Hi Jalal, I am Anthony Faure and remember playing aginst you in marbles, cricket, rounders and ghilli danda ( if thta’s the right spelling.
      I left Kenya to live in Australia in 1964. From this side of the world news of Kenya is scarce. I was amazed to see the name of someone I knew in HHS.
      Best Wishes
      Anthony

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  2. I am another proud alumnus of Hopital Hill School (HHS) Nairobi (1958-1962) which provided us with great confidence and was such a sound foundation. We were prepared to face ANYTHING that life threw at us…… Many of us HHS contemporaries conrinued on to High School in Kenya remain good friends until this day.

    Sopiato (Sophie)

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    1. I too attended Hospital Hill School from 1959 to 1962. Sophie, I was a classmate of your sister Soila (Sheila). I have wonderful memories of those years and a nice photograph of my class taken around 1962. Our teacher was Mrs. Hawksworth. My sister Helen also attended the school and is in one of the photos in the book.

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      2. Hi Naila and Marcia..wel well well. the gang is nearly all here. How are you all..where are you all and where is everybody else. Hi TO Soila too and Sophia. my email address is yvonnefaure@hotmail.com…Id love to hear from all of you…..where is Biddy aka Shirin Karmali.

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        1. Hi Yvonne,
          Please contact me at mldiaz50@comcast.net. I would love to be in touch with classmates. I was in touch with Sheila (Soila) Likimani for years and then last year my Christmas card was returned. Not sure if she moved or what. I have a picture of Mrs. Hawksworth’s class (minus me as I took the picture). Would love to send you a copy.
          Marsha

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        1. Hi Sophie,
          I was in touch with Soila for years and last year my Christmas card was returned. Please update me on her whereabouts. I live in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. My e-mail is mldiaz50@comcast.net.
          Marsha

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        2. I have changed my email to mldiaz50@gmail.com. Hope you stay in touch….am contemplating a trip to Kenya sometime in the next 2 years….once the pandemic abates. Hope you are doing well. I retired and live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
          Marsha

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      4. Hi Marsha,

        This is Amyn Abdula! I was in your class and remember you well. I think I too have a photograph of our class with Mrs. Hawksworth, somewhere!

        Please email me the photograph and I will try and complete the names for you. Perhaps some of the others (without the benefit of the photograph in front of me) are Samuel Mutiso, Jalal Ahamed, Tazim Jivraj and Salim Rajan.

        I live in Vancouver, Canada. And you?

        Kind regards,

        Amyn

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    3. I remember you from Cobham Hall. You played the organ very well and I was one of your classmates. I am now a Speech Therapist. I tried to contact you a long time ago when I came to Kenya but failed. I don’t know if you will get this but if you do, my email is standing.by@virgin.net
      Caro

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    4. Hi, Sopiato, and former alumni of Hospital Hill! I am Elizabeth Rerente ene Mpaayei, one of the 6 Mpaayei kids who all attended Hospital Hill (I attended circa ’62-67.) We all loved HHS dearly, and it is part of our family and is still close to our hearts.

      I started out at Old Hospital Hill under Mrs. Angus as Headmistress– Sopiato, you would remember her? This was just before we moved to the New Hospital Hill. I remember Sopiato (Sophie,) Sheila (Soila,) Firoza and Sheherazad, Stella Abwao, Jenny Karmali, Alice Ndisi and of course Esther and Roy Ndisi. Jenny Karmali and I were very close friends, but she never told me that John and Joan Karmali had founded Hospital Hill! So this website has been a revelation to me and I would love to read the book.

      Of the teachers, of course I remember Anne da Gama Rose and Mr. French: Stanley founded the first school magazine, I think, and I poured out my little heart into a short story…I had already decided it was going to be a series of cliff-hangers, although I had already written the entire tale. Stanley came up to me and asked me if I would be able to produce the next two installments and I confidently said yes, knowing that I had already produced them. I still have that original manuscript, written in my first writing book, a black leatherette which my father had given me. Fiona was another budding writer – do you remember her, Stanley?

      Stanley, you will also be interested to know that at the Kenya High I ended up on some meets with the Nairobi Track Team thanks to your early gym coaching at HHS. Your history lessons were great; you knew a lot about Ibn Batuta, and made him seem alive. I remember Mrs. Barnes, Mrs. Finch, Mrs. Thomas, Miss Rice, Mrs. Hagburg, Suleiman Vania (may he rest in peace,) and his wife, who taught me sewing. Does everyone remember Mr. and Mrs. David King? How about Miss White, our favourite music teacher? I remember Begum Verjee (who played Beethoven’s Fur Elise beautifully,) and I were in her choir.

      All six of us Mpaayei children used to play the “do you remember?” game constantly. Happy childhood memories warm the heart and keep a little bit of heaven in our hearts all the rest of our lives. Thank you so much, John and Joan Karmali, you gave a great gift to Kenya when you donated the first site for the school. You campaigned generously and tirelessly for the kind of education in which my parents, the late Rev. & Mrs. John Tompo ole Mpaayei, so much believed.

      On a merry note, does anyone remember Faiza Mohammed, very bright and bubbly and cheerful? One day, one of the gentlemen who worked around the school came and went by us so fast that someone said, “Where did that man go?” And Faiza made a little rhyme that went, “Where did that mango, mango, mango??” We split our sides laughing. We used to have so much fun! I hope everyone has never forgotten how important it is to laugh.

      Dear friends, I now live in Ottawa, Canada and my married name is Brown. I can not wait to hear from my old teachers and schoolmates at lizbrown2007@hotmail.com. All of you above and anyone else who remembers me is welcome to e-mail at any time. Memory lane is wonderful!

      God Bless and Keep you all – Elizabeth

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      1. Hi Sopiato,and any other alumni I have been trying to get in touch with you for many years. I was so happy to discover this site- brought back many memories of HHS! (And of Kenya High to follow)I’d love to hear back from my classmates Shahina Daar ( nee Jaffer) grad of 1962 sf.daar@gmail.com

        Sent from my iPad

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      2. Hello I am Shona King, David King’s daughter. My father was the head teacher of HHS in the 60’s and my mother Bette worked in the school too. We came back to Scotland in 1974 and I am still here. Unfortunatly my Dad passed away in October 2009 and my brother Gordon also passed away aged 50 in Pangani Tanzania where he lived, he is also buried there. My Mum is still alive and is nearly 90 years old.
        I have fond memories of my childhood in Kenya and know my brother loved Africa hence the fact he is buried there. his home.

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        2. Hi – I am Firoza Culligan (nee Moddie). So good to hear from you. My sister, Sheherazad, and I now live in UK but my mother is still in Nairobi. We are still in touch with Anne da Gama Rose.

          The best school days of my life were HHS.

          Your father was just the best!

          My email is ficulligan@gmail.com for anyone who wishes to contact me

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        4. Hi Shona,
          Your father was my class teacher Std 7 in his first year 1964. he had just come from a school in Switzerland and I really enjoyed his time and manner. I was shocked to hear of his death and shortly after that of your brother. (who was a one year old when I met him on occasion.)
          I wanty you to know that your father had a great influence on me and that his passing saddened me.
          Best wishes.
          Anthony Faure

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          1. Dear Anthony
            Thankyou so much for the message re my amazing Dad. It’s good to know how well he was thought of in his teaching career. A job he absolutely loved. Yes it was sad about my brother too. I also lost my Mum Bette King on 2/7/17, she was 90yrs old and had also had a great life. She also worked in HHS.
            Thanks again.

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          2. Hi Shona

            I do remember your whole family as my parents were great friends. My Dad (Kersey Moddie) was on the PTA of HHS for a while. Sadly Dad passed away on 7 July 2018. My sister (Sheherazad) and are miss him so very much – he was our rock. Very fond memories of all of you and happy times.

            PS – I was Firoza Moddie at school!

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        5. Hi Shona, I have very fond memories of both your mother and father, and I was in your class. I left the school about the same time as your father stepped down as headmaster. I remember you and Fiona, you were inseparable.

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      3. Hello
        My name is Shona King. My parents were David and Bette King and my brother was Gordon.

        I live in a town called Musselburgh just outside Edinburgh. Where my parents came back to in 1974.

        Sadly my Dad passed away in October 2009 of a heart attack aged 80.
        My brother lived in Tanzania and sadly passed away of a heart attack January 2011 aged 50 in Tanzania and is buried there.
        My beloved Mum just passed away this year 2nd July 2017 aged 90. Cancer.

        I am 54 and have 3 children. 2 boys and a girl. I also have 3 grand daughters. I work as a nursery nurse. Looking after 3-5 year olds. Love it.

        I have fond memories of Kenya and my parents.

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        1. Dear Shona

          I remember you so well plus your brother and of course your parents.

          I am still in touch with Anne da Gama Rose whom I am sure you also remember.

          Fond and happy memories of those days and your lovely family

          Fi (Firoza Moddie) Culligan

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        2. Dear Shona: My name is Toshiyuki (Toshi) Nakata. Alumni of HHS (’67-1970)
          I am very much indebted to your father for telling me (When I had a bad score in an exam)
          saying (Toshiyuki Nakata Believe you me, if you don’t study more you are going to fail (In CPE).. I still remember his solemn face .. then
          Toshi

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        3. Hi Shona: I’ve sent the book the theme of this ML to your nephew. he seems to have enjoyed it.. Best Regards.. PS we (class of ’70) had a wonderful Zoom meeting with Mrs. Saunders last month..

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      4. Hello Elizabeth, My name is David Black and I was at Hospital Hill 64-67 I just stumbled on to this site after telling my son about an old school friend Arthur ?Kommerfelt ….are there any other links that might help track that family down? I am in USA Kind regards David

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      5. Dear Elizabeth, this is Bridget Hughes and I think I was in the same class as your sister Mary who then went on, with me, to Limuru Girls’ School. Is Mary about? I live in London and would love to know more about her.

        all the best

        Bridget

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        1. Dearest Bridget, thank you for remembering my late sister Mary Moisari ene Mpaayei Mbene. Tragically, my darling sister Mary passed away in a car accident at 38 years of age, and all the hearts in our family were broken by her death. As you know, she was the most beautiful of angels, and left many happy memories. You were fortunate to have gone on to Limuru with her (as you remember, she became your Head Girl.) You must have many happy memories of Old Hospital Hill, where I remember you and your brother being dropped off by your chauffeur. And how is Alistair? Tell us more of your Old Hospital Hill memories: it was a heavenly place, wasn’t it? Elizabeth 🙂

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          1. Dear Elizabeth, I am so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing. She was a lovely person and I am sure you all miss her. You must be thinking of someone else as we didn’t have a chauffeur, or at least not to my memory, I had a sister called Penny who left in 1968, and my brother was born after that in 1969, so has no memory of HHS. It was a special school indeed. We did share a school lift with our neigbhours, the Knowles – they had four boys, and the oldest was a year behind me, Christopher.

            Bridget

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  3. i am a young parent with my son having joined class one this year 2010
    he loves the school and all i can say is bravo to you all who pioneered it
    i myself went to westlands primary in the 90s but something still drove me to
    hospital hill minding it topped up nairobi for the last 3yrs academically
    congrats mr kharmali. keep me posted for your good leadership

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  4. I went to hospital hill when i lived in kenya in 2007 and 2008 . i really like the school it was a good experience for me coming from eden prairie, minnesota. thanks John Karmali

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    1. Linda,
      I was a teacher at Hospital Hill School from 1965-68. I taught Grade 7 social studies and English and PE to all students. I have retired after 45 years in education and would love to do something for the students in Kenya. Any thoughts? i now live in Vancouver BC, Canada. My email address is stanleyf@shaw.ca.
      I would love to hear from former HHS students wherever they are.
      Stanley

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      1. Stanley,
        My name is Nazir and I happened to come upon this site and boy it brought back some memories.
        I was at HHS 63-65. You were our PE teacher at the time. I recall the wooden shack where you kept all the PE equipment under lock and key. I also recall that if we didn’t behave we get a drop the punishment was a drop kicked football on the bum!
        Mr King was my teacher and some students in my class were Grace Madoka, Faiza Mohamed. Jane Kenyatta.
        Funny I can only remember the girls.

        I noticed that you live in Vancouver. So do I. What a coincidence.
        Perhaps we should chat.

        Nazir

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    2. Hi Linda Robinson and other alumni
      I have very fond memories of my time at Hospital Hill. We were in part of 3rd, 4th, and part of 5th grade together. You gave me the motion sickness pill that didn’t work out very well. Remember I threw up on Beth Grove during a test. Are you still in Virginia? My e-mail is phillis@cox.net.

      Pam (Ellis) Hillis

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    3. Hi Linda you may not remember me, karim Ghaidan but I was in the same class as your twin sister Jennifer. Please remember me to her

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  6. I was a teacher and vice-principal at Hospital Hill School from 1965-68. I taught PE to all classes and English and Social Studies to Standard 7 – the KPE class. This was one of the most rewarding experiences I had during my 45 years as an educator. John Karmali, his wife and those who supported them back in the 50s and 60s were true visionaries. I would dearly love to make contact with former students and staff. I believe that Hospital Hill alumni could be a constructive force in helping Kenya face its challenges today. I would love to be part of the movement. God bless John and Joan Karmali! Feel free to contact me.
    stanleyf@shaw.ca

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    1. Hello “Mr French”! I was just googling Hospital Hill whilst reminiscing! I do remember you and wonder if you remember me – Sheherazad Moddie.
      I now live in the UK – you can contact me at sherrie@aboutafrica.co.uk.
      Funnily enough my sister Firoza is keen to get in touch and I will give her your email address.
      Best regards

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      1. Hi Sheherazad. Of course I remember you and your sister. I finally got around to responding. I’m not totally adept at Facebook although I’m trying to improve with help from my granddaughter. I’d love to strike up a conversation directly by email. Please contact me at stanleyf@shaw.ca and we can catch up on our lives since HHS.
        Cheers, Stanley

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    2. I loved my time at HHS and what a coincidence … just joined Face Book last week and tried to find you!! I have lots of news as have been in touch with Anne da Gama Rose all my life (family friend). Would love to hear from you. Firoza Culligan (nee Moddie) – you will remember me as I was SO BAD at PE!!!!

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      1. Hi Firoza!! I believe you and I were in the same class at HHS together with Jenny Karmali and Tasnim Nanji? Would be great to hear from you and others who were in our class – I have a very old black and white picture somewhere in an album at home in Kenya

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        1. Hi Stella

          Good to hear from you. I remember Tasneem Nanji in my class and Alice Ndisi (who I have met on a few occasions in Nairobi). I do not remember Jenny Karmali.

          Where do you live these days. I moved from Nairobi to UK about 4 years ago. Went to visit my mother earlier this year. How everything has changed!

          Fi (Firoza)

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          1. Hi Fi – SO NICE to hear from you!! I have thought of you and other school mates often over the years!! Please contact me directly through sabwaon@gmail.com and we can definitely catch up!
            Best,
            Stella

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      2. Firoza, sorry it has taken so long to respond. I lost my way in Facebook (although I’m getting better) and somehow deleted your original email. I would love to begin a conversation with you and other ex HHS ‘kids’ so that we can learn about each other’s lives since then. My email is stanleyf@shaw.ca. looking forward to hearing from you. Stanley

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        1. So sorry about the long delay in replying. I will send you an email as I see my sister, Sheherazad forwarded a message from you. Yes we are still in touch with Anne da Gama Rose (sadly Mirabeau passed away last year). My father stayed in touch with the Kings too.

          Shocked to hear about Arthur Porter – I remember him well as he was in my class.

          Will send you some more information via email.

          Firoza

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        1. Hi Bridget – Penny your sister was a great friend of mine at school – in the same class. I have fond memories of staying at your house and the occasional trip to Naivasha. Sadly we lost touch after she went to Bedales. According to my parents, Penny came to my 1st Birthday party!!! I now live in UK. Where are you and Penny?

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        2. Greetings Bridget,
          I saw your posting to Firoza and thought I’d say hello. You were in my class for a number of years up to 1964. We emigrated to Australia in 1965 and all contact with friends was truncated. I often remember you as one of the brainy ones, because I was usually playing up and being reprimanded.
          This is just to say hello. I have 2 photos of our class from 19561`5 /7 Mrs Gregory but you were not in it. I could send it to you, it had Margaret Ross, Tom & Robin Paine, Alastir Piers Naaz Rajan and others.
          I trust that you are well.
          Anthony

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          1. Hello Anthony, I do remember you, as someone who was frighteningly sporty and part of a gang of noisy boys. I live in London, with two adult children and my father, Richard Hughes, is 92. He was on the HHS governors and designed the school hall and the infants’ class block. He left Kenya in the mid 1980s.

            I would love to see the class picture – I was ill quite a lot in one year, so it might have been then.

            Bridget

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        3. Hi Bridget,
          I,d like to send you the photos but I don’t know how to do that through this blog.
          Do you have aa emeil address that I might use?

          Regards

          Anthony Faure

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    3. Stanley,
      I left HHS for Kenya High School Dec 1962, so never met you.
      However, I am due to make a long planned epic trip to Canada almost all of September, stopping off at Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton.

      Sounds like there are quite a lot of HHS alumni in Canada? Would be great to have an HHS reunion sometime

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    4. Just found this site amazing! This is Alice Ndisi-Herrmann Hospital Hill 1961.. Yes Mr. French was our PE teacher. I see a lot of our old class and of course Mrs. Da Gama Rose.
      Just love that we all are connecting.

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  7. Hi all,
    My name is Kanyi Ohawa, a former student of Hospital Hill School (finished 1989) and a current parent there. We are in the process of organising an alumni get together on the 28th of July, this year. We plan to have a swimming gala and BBQ. It would be great if you could all get involved. Please check out our facebook page, Hospital Hill Primary School for more details. This is an open group so it is easy to join it.
    Feel free to get in touch with me also for more details.
    Thanks.

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    1. Kanyi,
      I am so happy there is a group of alumni from HHS. I will not be able to attend the upcoming celebration but I will be there in spirit. I was a teacher from 1965-68 and, as secretary to the PTA, helped raise funds to build the swimming pool. Unfortunately I left Nairobi before the pool was built. Someday I will see it!
      Please share my best wishes to those who attend. I would love to be part of building the alumni group. I believe HHS alumni could contribute a lot to rebuilding the education system in Kenya.
      I will check out the Facebook page.
      Stanley French

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      1. Hi Stanley,
        Thank you so much for your very encouraging remarks! People like you who were there at the early stages of HHS life would be invaluable in our alumni as you know what the culture of that school was. We will definately keep you in the loop as we build the alumni; we would love any old pictures that you have of the school also… if you do not mind sharing.
        Kind regards,
        Kanyi

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  8. Hi
    for some reason I was thinking of “Sophie” and ‘Sheila{ Likimani today and decided to google. Was in the same class as Sheila with my twin brother Naushad. The school moved from the Arboretum site ( which was great and great play place) To Parklands in our last year.
    Naushad still lives in Nairobi and I hope to go out in November. Still go past both sites with very strong fond memories.
    Loved the book by Shirin Karamlis Mum.
    Naila Webb (nee Gwaderi)

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    1. HI Naila and Naushad. Yvonne Faure here. I had been looking for school mates on line but to no avail I saw a facebook site and the book. I was told to google the book and here I am. Do you remember Pammy Mota Singh has anyone heard of her. Also looking for Biddy Karmail to aka Shirin Karmali.
      Also Janet Meynell. My email address is yvonnefaure@ hotmail .com

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  9. Hello all, Sophie I was also at HH with you and then at Kenya High. Would love to get back in touch!
    Shahina Jaffer ( now Daar)

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    1. Shahina,

      I have been looking for you for AGES – obviously in the wrong places? Where do you live these days? Am planning on an epic trip to UK and Canada Aug – October, looking up old KHS pals and retracing my late sister Soila’s footsteps in Canada. Please do get in Touch through my email: Sopiato.likimani@gmail.com

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      1. Hi Sopiato,
        Please get in touch with me at mldiaz50@comcast.net
        I would like to know about Soila…we have exchanged news at Christmas for years but my card in 2012 was returned and I had no idea why.
        Take care,
        Marsha Diaz

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  10. Hi…my name is Bishwadeep Chatterjee…was at HHS from ’74 – ’77… Mr. Cutler was the headmaster… Ms. Hagburg was the deputy I think… Ms. Ogila…..was one of the nicest teachers, Ms. Wray….taught us science…. Mr. Pecket loved his old Benz and Beetle…kept in immaculate condition…..

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        1. Hi, this is Stanley French, former teacher and vice-principal at Hospital Hill School 1965-68. Anne Ryce came to HHS while I was there. She had a short lived marriage. Later she married Alan Cutler who came to HHS after I had moved to Yokohama. However, I did visit Anne and Alan in Duncan on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. I haven’t seen them for a few years and do not know whether they are together or not. I didn’t know Alan but Anne was a wonderful teacher and a nice person. I would love to hear from more HHS students. My 4 years there were among the happiest years of my life. Regards to all HHS alumni. Stanley

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    2. I HATED MR PECKET, but am surprise that you remember Cutler, as he married my STD one teacher MS Norris and left in ’73. Remember puff the magic dragon that she used to sing? He on the other hand was more into Kumbaya my lord on his guitar.

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    3. I am giggling …Mr. Pecket and his Benz….How may times I got a good thrashing for getting dust on that car!!! I attended 74′ -76′ Jimmy Lembcke…stupid red head from America….The best part of my life was growing up in Kenya !!! Mother taught at St. Mary’s..all the spoiled rich white kids. I wish they would bring the bamboo cane back here to the States…

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  11. Yes, Cutler and Ms Norris did get divorced. I knew her brother Peter, who came from Kenya and was a car dealer in Vancouver.

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  12. Hello Everyone, My name is Ishrath Velshi. I came across this site quite by chance. I attended HHS from 1966-1971 at which time we moved to Canada. Mr. King was the the Principal and Mr. French, the VP at the time. I used to play with Mr. and Mrs. Kings children (who lived in the house on the school’s property). Zaitun Vania was my std 1 teacher. I am in touch with her here in Toronto. Begum Verjee is my cousin and also lives in Canada. I often share stories of HHS with my children, particularly those elocution and French classes. The memories are absolutely priceless. I can be reached at ishrath@velshi.com.
    Ishrath Velshi

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  13. Hi,

    I found this thread by searching for Joan Karmali’s book about Hospital Hill. I’m Graeme King – David and Betty’s grandson and Gordon’s son. I have been desperately trying to find the book for months but to no avail. Could anyone point me in the direction of finding this book as I know my gran would love to read it after all these years. I’m sure she would also love to hear from any colleagues/students. My email is graeme_k@live.co.uk

    Cheers!

    Graeme

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    1. Hi Graeme,
      I was able to purchase the book a few years ago and have been trying to get a second copy for my sister but it seems it is no longer available through any publisher. The first time I went through the publisher and was put in direct contact with Joan Karmali who was a personal friend of my mother’s; however the e-mail address I have for her no longer works as I have tried to get back in contact with her a couple of times in the past year. I have also tried to contact her daughter who was a classmate of mine but to no avail. Good luck trying to find it and let me know if you have any success.
      Marsha Diaz

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    2. I have just seen this message. Anne da Gama Rose may know where you can find a copy of the book. Sadly I have misplaced mine. Remember your father well and your grandfather VERY well. Such happy days at HHS. Fi (Firoza Culligan nee Moddie). My email is ficulligan”gmail.com

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  14. I am Alice Ndisi-Herrmann, great reading all the comments from all the wonderful people of Hospital Hill.
    We all still talk about the impact the school had on all of us, especially as Kenya transitioned.
    I live in Nairobi, would love top meet up.

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    1. Hi Alice, you may not remember me – Sarah Clifford. I was in the same class as you and Tasneem and Firoza. I also remember a boy called Anthony but can’t recall his surname. My cousin Penelope was also in the same class. We played that great game stones which I tried to teach my children but was never as fun. I remember Mr French as I was in the swimming team. We left Kenya in 1970 but my sister Blaise and I went to school in the Uk in 1968. I have so many very happy memories of HHS. I now live in London and would love to be in touch. My email address is sarahjaynecox@gmail.com
      Sxx

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      1. Hi Sarah

        I remember you so very well – visiting you at your house in Nairobi near Nairobi Club and later in Tunbridge Wells for half term in UK!! Also remember your sister, Blaise (hope I have spelt this correctly)

        I had a lovely email from Bridget yesterday and said that Nell (Penny) was in UK.

        I have been living in UK (Suffolk) now for 12 years – still a bit of a change from Nairobi!

        Occasionally I would bump into Alice who has not changed other than looking more glamorous every time you meet her!

        It would be great to catch up.

        My email is ficulligan@gmail.com

        Take care

        Fi (Firoza)

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      2. Hi Sarah
        I think I remember you as a blond haired girl in the class above me. I was the only Anthony at HHS at the time, so it might have been me. I think you m ight have been on the fallen tree that we all used to get on, and us boys used to bounce it up and down ans we all chanted “Ro, Roh”.
        Anyway, if you wish I could saend you a photo of Mrs Gregoy’s Stdb 2 class photo!

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        1. Hi. I think Sarah Clifford may have been referring to Anthony Orchardson who was in our class. It has been great that I have been able to make contact with Sarah from this portal. Firoza

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  15. I Am a proud.alumnus of HHS… it natured my swimming talent and I Am a proud rugby referee with international rugby board. it instilled sports discipline in me. I Am also doing fine academically .it has made me an all round person

    I however have a request, is it possible to get copies of certificates from the swimming department. I was involved in competitive swimming between 1997-2001 or even earlier
    thanks

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  16. Hi Aluminis of HHS my name is Toshiyuki Nakata one of the Alumni of HHS of Class ’70 . We’re looking for our classmates and teachers. Fortunately, we’ve been able to contact Mrs. Saunders. We’re are looking to see if we can contact Mrs. Hoilet. Aby pointers would be appreciated..

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    1. My name is Mohamed Verjee and I am an Alumni of the class of 1972. I remember Mrs. Saunders very well. I had a Takayuki Nakata in my class before we graduated. Are you any relation?

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      1. Hi Mohamed：Yes Taki is my brother. He is living well in Tokyo and has two daughters, two grandsons and one granddaughter.

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        1. Hi Toshiyuki, I am so happy to hear that Taki is doing so very well. I was what they call a “lifer” at HHS from Standard 1 in 1966 to Standard 7 in 1972. I now live in Toronto with my wife. My sister, Begum Verjee was also at HHS but was 5 years ahead of me…so she completed her KPE in 1968. Mr. King was Principal in the beginning with Mr. Grigalus (not sure of the spelling) who replaced him.

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  17. Actually we (class of ’70) had a wonderful Zoom meeting with Mrs. Saunders on 15th Aug. 2020 any class interested in contacting her please tell me..

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  18. Dear all, it is lovely to have come acroos this. My name is Karim ghaidan and my brothers (Shuan and Frank) attended HHS. Our first head was King, followed by Grigulas, Forbes(Ithink), and Cutler.
    Our father was an architect and worked at onstage with Bridget’s father Richard Hughes. We knew the Moddie’s well so nice to see Firoza here.
    Living in the UK after many, many years of travel
    It would be lovely to catch up with anyone who remembers us. My email is karim.ghaidan@tff-asia.com

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    1. Wow what a coincidence – I have been looking at my father’s photos (sadly he passed away 2 years ago) and found 1 Ghaidan wedding photo at which he is there including Richard and Anne Hughes (I was friendly with Penny Hughes at HHC). I remember visiting your house in Nairobi. I too am now living in UK as is my sister, Sheherazad Jahedian (nee Moddie). I will drop you a line. Fi (Firoza)

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      1. Great Firoza, I remember both you and your sister very well as indeed your very lovely father. Look forward to hearing from you

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  19. How lovely to see messages from you both. Just to say that Dad, Richard Hughes, died in April this year, aged 93. We would love to be in touch with both Ghaidan and Moodie families.

    Bridget

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  20. Hi, I am Thrity Jal Vakil…i was at Hospital Hill between 1970 and 1975. I remenber it very well and fondly. I moved to England in 1975, and now I have lived and worked in Puerto Rico since 2000.

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  21. Hi Marsha Diaz here….I attended Hospital Hill School from 1960-62. I have a lovely photo of my class with our teacher Mrs. Hawksworth. Classmates included Soila (Sheila) Likimani, Yvonne Faure, Frank Mwangi, Naushad and Naila Gwaderi, David Mwathi, Rehana Ratansi, Pam Mota Singh, and several others that I wrote down first names but don’t remember the last names ( Robin, Samuel, Jahal, Tazim, Salim, Amin, Ruth,2 Peters and one student I didn’t identify). If anyone is interested in the picture give me your email address and I’ll send it to you. My parents and the Karmalis were good friends and I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the book written by Joan Karmali. I would love to have a second copy to give my sister Helen who also attended the school and is in one of the pictures in the book. Any help with that would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Marsha Diazmldiaz50@gmail.com

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