Tags
booker, family, guiana, history, old photos, Sir frederick seaford
A series of unrelated events last night led me to find some previously unknown photos of my Great Granddad. Last night a book arrived in the post, Sir Ken Robinson’s “Out of our Minds”. My wife wanted to know who the author was and, being from China, what all the “Sir” business was about. While I was able to satisfy her curiosity about Sir Ken the education reformer, unfortunately, I failed dismally in attempting to bluff my way through the topic of Knighthoods. All I really know about the topic is that, back in the day, you had to have done something pretty special for King/Queen and Country, or in more contemporary times, have a coke habit but be able to sing. Void of this knowledge, Elsa and I asked Dr. Google… anyway, one thing led to another and I typed in my Great Grandfather’s name because I was aware that he was knighted some time ago… and to my surprise, Vola, photo’s of my Great Pop.
Visit of the East Africa Royal Commission on Land and Population, between February 1953 and February 1954. Sir Hugh Dow, GCIE, was the Chairman. Sir Frederick Seaford was chairman of Booker Brothers McConnell Ltd., major sugar producers. Mr Frank Sykes was an agriculturalist and farmer with interests in sisal estates in Tanganyika. Chief Kidaha Makwaia (extreme left of picture), from Sukumaland, a member of theTanganyika Legislative Council, was the only African member of the Commission.
Well, for those who know me, and especially my Dad, it is very easy to pick which one is the Great Pop. It’s the guy front and centre on the left. Uncanny…
Frederick Seaford was heavily involved in trade and governance in British Guiana, where my Grandfather was born. As mentioned atop, he was Chairman of Booker McConnell, to whom many people may know them today through the ‘Man Booker Prize’ for fiction.
I don’t know much more about the guy other than what my father has told me. He sounded like a character right out of a James Clavell novel, with money to boot. Unfortunately for my family, when my Great Grandmother passed, this Lusty Seaford married his secretary whom on passing several years ago decided not to leave a cent of his fortune to my family, against his wishes I am led to believe. Family finally got a pin drop back.
- Sir F. Seaford third from left
"I say old boy..."
