Kenneth Thomas was the archivist who cared for the extensive range of historical records and artefacts from different breweries in the Courage group stretching back 200 years. They were stored in Bristol until many were dispersed on closure of that site by Scottish Courage Ltd. Ken wrote extensively on Brewery History and has written an as yet unpublished PhD Thesis to explore the apparent contradiction that he sees in the period of the decolonisation of the British Empire. ‘Why was it that, as the colonial empire progressed towards political self-government in the 1950’s and 1960’s, British business and commerce seemed to be expanding their imperial commitments?’

This is an extract from that work, as it relates to H&G Simonds Ltd and that he has generously made available.

Another flavour of his work ‘Brewing in East Africa’ published in 1995:

Brewing & Empire, H&GS 2015

Brewing in East Africa, Ken Thomas 1995

And a view of the then new brewery building in Nairobi, Kenya in 1958

East African Brewery 1958

East African Breweries produced their own tribute brew to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.