As we have explained, Team Tom do get updates from his family and girlfriend who visit him in prison. We will do our best to pass on any messages or questions from this blog, and let you know what the reply is. Please understand that we will not be able to tell you exactly when anyone will see him next, time can be tight and is often chaotic.
However, comments will be read by Team Tom, published on the site (providing they are not slanderous) and responses by either us or Tom will be published as soon as possible.
JusticeforTom 
Wednesday, October 10th
So far we have heard nothing about a date for the Court of Appeal – Tom gathers it is in the gift of the DPP – and he isn’t feeling generous! Fred is badgering them every day, but, with two Public Holidays in a week (Moi Day and Idd-ul-Fitr) very little is getting done! Poor Tom is thoroughly fed up.
Dear Tom, Thank you so much for making me aware of this website – I’m sure it’ll make communication with you positively easy now. You are in our thoughts and prayers daily. Our computers alert us to any media reports on your case which we follow very carefully.
I would love to send you exerpts of media funnies from around the world to brighten your day and make you smile, so maybe you or the the person reading this can reply and tell me whether thats possible.
I extend all our warmest heartfelt love and best wishes from us four to you my friend. Our sons are itching to come and see you in Soysambu as soon as is possible.
Alex and Ali
hi tom, from london a big hug, you’re right and they are wrong, with you! – love ben
Tom and Sally
thinking of you loads. This website is great – you have loads of supporters and now we have a chance to at least express ourselves and let you know we’re thinking of you. I wish we could do more. If sending entertaining stuff or anything else will help then just let us all know how.
looking forward to seeing you on the outside…
Love to you all
Matt
Hi Tom and Sally,
You both and family are never far away from our thoughts and prayers. Northrepps is very little changed except for the addition of more children and dogs. Don’t forget about netcom. We can provide everything from websites, hosting, mailing lists etc. just let us know. If we can help in any way you know nothing could ever be too much. Huggs and Love.
Gurney family
Dear Tom Team, I’ve only just discovered your site. I’ve been trying to keep up with progress through the normal (rather poor) channels, so it’s been something of a breakthrough. Anyway, this is just to say that Tom and his parents are very much in our hearts and minds. Let’s hope the next few weeks produce some real progress. We’ll keep watching your site and look forward to seeing Tom, Hugh and Ann back in Sussex very soon.
Much Love, John and Sally
At last, Tom has definite dates to look forward to, and pace his life by. We went to court yesterday – and Tom wasn’t led in with all the others in handcuffs! They had forgotten to put his name on the “mentions” list! Fred and Virginia sorted that out, but didn’t have their wigs and gowns with them, so the DPP, correctly dressed but not briefed, had the field to himself. He announced that the Court of Appeal will hear Tom’s case on December 5th, and the Judge called for the next “mention” to be on Monday, December 10th. Then we will know if the defence can continue, and if so, we can get a date before the Judiciary go on their Christmas Holidays on December 21st.
Went to see Tom on Wednesday morning – he was being very amusing in Swahili, and keeping his end up rather well! He had a tiresome swollen ankle on the leg that was badly duffed up by a buffalo, and is being sent off to see the Doctor at the Kenyatta National Hospital on Friday. He is very grateful for all the messages on the website and all TT are doing for him.
What fantastic memories those photos bring back – that road trip with Sally Church, Emma, Ian, etc. was one of the most carefree times of my life. Boy does it seem a long time ago, particularly as I appear to be about twelve in all the photos! I seem to remember the party afterwards was quite fun, too, wasn’t it Tom? I wonder if that hole is still in the ceiling…? When this is all over will you come and see me and Richard when you’re down in Sussex? We can bore everyone with tales of what fun used to have! Much love, Andrew
Once in a while, in a converstion about our trip to visit Tom at Soysambu 10 odd years ago I get asked about my most poignant impressions of the mighty continent and its inhabitants, black locals or white settlers. The same story always springs to mind.
Ali and I had only just got off the plane in Nairobi on a weekend to be welcomed by Tom, a girlfriend, Kerry Nimjy and Paris Foot. During next two hours the two of us listened to three laid back guys discussing what we could do now, what we should do now, where we could go now or whom we should see now. A short visit to the Muthaiga preceded our joint indecision to drive out to Soysambu and “hang out” there for the weekend. I must say, we were just happy to be going to our journey’s end and to relax. Upon arrival, Paris, who in those days had a television aerial sticking out of his leg following an accident, and Kerry a man whose love of the aesthetic quickly came to the fore, became embroiled in converstion with Ali and all were getting on like a house on fire from the word “go”.
I forget whom it was we were trying to reach – there was no reception at the house – or what it was we were leaving to get, but Tom suggested I come with him on a “short ride” to relieve this mood of ambivalent vacillation as I saw it – a state of mind that I discovered in retrospect to have been the norm. I followed my jovial strutting host across the yard, into a garage to be confronted with two dusty enduro bikes – one of them a proud monster KTM 550 obviously meant for the master himself, the other a heavy old 250 of indiscriminate manufacture which I was handed. I had last ridden one of these when years previously, whilst living in Dorset for a spell of time, I had passed a barn in a three house hamlet with the words “bike for sale” daubed in paint on a makeshift sign. I ended up spending £125 for a Greaves 400 that had no seat, no front forks or front wheel, no electrics, no clutch and no brakes. Well, the forks, wheel and tyre were quickly assembled and the bike if not road worthy was definitely dirt track worthy. It was a heavy cumbersome beast that you had to throw around with all of your might, but what it definitely achieved was to prepare me for that which was now expected of me.
At this point it may have been no more than 5 or 6 hours since we had stepped off the plane that had brought us over from London and I found myself kickstarting the old blunderbuss and chugging out of the estate to the bemused looks of the remaining four. I may have looked a laugh on that bike as I stand 6 foot 6 inches tall and probably seemed out of proportionately large sitting on the comparatively small 250 of indiscriminate manufacture. Compared that is, to the equally proportioned Tom sitting atop his huge machine – a machine I later discovered to be a veritable beast on two wheels. Anyway, my trial period lasted no more than a maegre minute as I found myself riding at speed across open countryside – reddish brown earth, shrubs, ruts, bumps and a blurred image of Tom disappearing into an ever-increasingly growing cloud of dust. The ground quickly flattened such that there were hardly any more ruts or shrubs to speak of, and I quickly came to the conclusion that in order to keep up, I was goiung to have to “open ‘er up all the way”! Having shakingly complied and hanging on for dear life, I found myself roaring at an imperceptibly high speed – the speedo had seen better days – across the desert “chasing” my host, who clearly had no intention of waiting.
All this was an absolute blast to me as my mind was quickly jolted back to those heady days careering around the Dorset countryside on that massive Greaves, standing all the while, my arse never touching the seat, existant or not. The ski goggles with which I had been issued before departure saved my vision and life as, clutching onto the handle bars for dear life I edged my wrist and throttle downwards until it would go no further. After a quick change of gear from third to fourth issued a strange splutter from the engine, I got the revs up again and flew at top speed into Tom’s never ending dusty wake. However this blissful feeling of elation, this euphoria was quickly to ebb away as my beast began to slow and I heard that tell-tale sound “un-unn-unnn-unnnnnnn…plop!” of an engine gasping for sustinance, crying out for help and then choking out its last breath. The immediate panic of being out of petrol in a desert-like environment miles from anywhere quickly dissolved as I remembered whose guest I was and that all of course would be well.
It is in such an extreme moment that the strangeness of both modern travel coupled with sudden, what the germans call “Tapenwechsel” i.e. change of wallpaper, is brought home with a resounding whack! But little was I to know that worse was to come.
After what seemed like 15 or 20 minutes, Tom must have looked over his shoulder, slowly come to a halt, listened and realised that something may be amiss. He eventually re-appeared on the horizon in the form of a magically mysterious dust cloud, slowly flimmering into the recognisable figure of a man on a mototbeast and roaring up close finally chugged to a halt at my side. A quick change of words and an fiddle around the engine area provoked the simple yet blindingly obvious words: “You’ve run out of juice”. To say that Tom was not in the least flustered is a blithering understatement, as, seconds before he was to disappear again into the distance in search of more fuel, he pointed to the left and directed me to a barely recognisable village about half a mile in the distance. “I’ll see you over there in about an hour” and he was off!
God, did I feel stupid, wearing this red dust covered Drizabone coat, the clean white marks around my eyes giving way to a dirt smeared face, balancing and pushing this cumbersome iron horse across the desert towards the settlement. I may not have been further than 200 yards from it that I realized that all eyes had stopped whatever they were doing and were now very intently staring at me. It was a typical African village, just as I may have imagined it from story-books or nature programs; mud huts large and small, women walking with vessels on their heads, men in loin cloths and of course a fire, surrounded by a few logs lying on the ground, on which were placed a rudimentary collection of men old and young, talking. I tried my best not to catch and hold any of these gazes and headed for the gathering at the fire. Nothing had changed insofar that the program was Alien and I was the television screen, whilst I leant the damned beast up against a long dead tree and ambled over to the fireside, plonking myself down amongst a group of five men.
The contrast at hand couldn’t be more stark. I remembered the bustle of London I had only just left behind and sat there feeling like a complete fish out of water for what seemed to be about 20 minutes – not a single word was spoken – when suddenly, like a shot out of the dark, the scantily clad loin cloth wearing black fellow next to me uttered the words:”So, have ya run out of juice???”
I couldn’t have been more surprised. Well the rest is history, but such were the most poignant impressions of my first day in Kenya – never to be forgotten.
Dear Tom,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. All the best with your upcoming court appearances, you deserve every sucess.
The coverage on nationmedia.com has been particularly helpful in getting news.
Good luck and God bless,
Patrick
The Kenya Elections will be on December 27th. it has been announced. Tom’s next “mention” is on December 10th. and the Judiciary go on their Christmas holidays on December 21st., so unless the Judge gives the Defence four days of court-time before then, it looks as if Tom will be spending a second Christmas in gaol. Hugh and I are planning to spend Christmas in Nairobi so that we can go and see him on Christmas and Boxing Day, and take him a Christmas Cake for the 10 of them in his remand block, and anything else they are allowed for a party. Last year it was oranges and salami and a roast chicken for the 2 Muslims.
The Appeal on December 5th should take about 2 hours, Fred says, in a different, upstairs Court, and the decision of the Judges will be made known on December 10th, when Tom’s next “mention” is due. He is very low and depressed at the moment, and the Prison Governor says it is too difficult to find a vehicle to take him to the Kenyatta National Hospital for all the tests he is supposed to have there. And there is no water in his block – I have been instructed to shop for a 3/4″ gate-valve and a 6″ long pipe wrench and bring them on Tuesday, when I go to see him.(I wonder if I will be allowed to give him a pipe wrench!)
I scuttled around Nairobi on Monday afternoon and managed to get the 3/4″ gate valve and the 6″ shifting spanner he wanted, and took them to Tom when we went to visit him on Tuesday Morning. We “declared” them to the senior welfare officer, who couldn’t have been less interested – and got an enthusiastic message from Tom at lunchtime to say that they now had water for the first timae since Friday! He is in good heart, but has a nasty sore-looking place on his face where he has had an ingrowing hair – he says it is caused by shaving in cold water, and that luckily another of the remand chaps had a pair of tweezers, and performed surgery on him! I didn’t dare ask if they had thought to sterilize them first.
Dear Tom
I’m writing because I know Roo never will – he types with only one finger, and you know how big his hands are, it’s agony to watch. Poor Tobina is lucky to get one letter every six months. Roo’s up on Bute just now, building with Berkeley – London is not his soul home. I want you to know that he thinks about you and talks about you and that he really worries about you and the hideously slow progess of your case.
Does Mirella write? I think she’s very distracted about Lorenzo, who’s living in Sardinia and not very happy with his old age. She’s also busy with her up and coming exhibition at Michael Hoppen’s gallery, in February I think. It’s a huge coup to have got this partnership going and Amina is working hard with Mirella on her amazing archive. I haven’t seen Mirella for a while, but spoke to her yesterday to remind her that she’s due at my 2nd daughter’s wedding next Saturday.
Are you allowed an iPod? If you are try and get friends to load on silly programmes like I’m sorry I haven’t a Clue so you can LAUGH. I’m listening to Humphrey Lyllelton as I type and he’s such a hoot. Laughing is the best way I know to keep your body well. I spent a year of my life in isolation in hospital – well the oncologist and nurses came in all covered but noone else was allowed near me – I think I only came out alive because I laughed my way through the treatment.
I’ll write again after the wedding – with proper comments from Roo. Meanwhile you might feel alone, but you’re not, there are lots of people who think about you and send their salaams. Stay strong and use your rich mind to carry you to other places. Will you let me know if there’s anything I can send out to you from the UK via Sally or your mother.
Love Melanie
I went to see Tom on Tuesday morning. Hugh’s Christmas Present to him was a really good haircut by our favourite hairdresser, who, bless him, went all the way out to Kamiti to tidy up Tom. Tom looks years younger and a lot less uncared for, and says a spot of luxury has given him a tremendous lift!
Hey Tom,
Every day, and I do mean, every day, I think about you.
I wish that I could have found the words to write sooner, but couldn’t.
Please excuse my crapness.
Although I am not a big ‘ prayer’ there are many other ways of wishing you peace, love and freedom.
Hope that it’s working.
Keep on keeping on my friend.
See you in Sussex over a pint of warm flat beer ( Harveys) Yum Yum. Very soon.
With very much love
Amanda xxxxxxx
Hi Tom
I am thinking of you all the time, hoping that this goes your way. Hope to catch up next time I,m home.
Kindest regards to you
Roy
PS
Dear Tom
Did you know Mirella is to have an exhibition with Michael Hoppen in February with some of her wonderful Vanishing Africa photographs – limited edition sliver gelatin prints. Amina is helping her get her archive sorted out – quite a job.
I have so many friends travelling through Kenya over Christmas and I wish I was too, I’d bring you a slab of my middle daughter’s wedding cake. I’m using one uneaten layer to keep guests glued to thier seats over Christmas – it knocks you out – and keeping others for the christenings of some of the babies I stirred in as I made it. We’ve planted the 100 bulbs of the lily of the valley Martha had in her bouquet in their country garden so, if they’ve sirvived the frosts this week, they’ll have a reminder on their 1/2 year anniversary.
I’ll light a candle in my window for you over Christmas and perhaps other people will do the same if they read this message.
I’m sure you’re staying strong in spite of the hideous situation. I send you good wishes and positive thoughts with this message
Melanie
Hi Tom,
It must be 20 years since we last met – I’ve been meaning to get in touch for ages. I’m so sorry to hear about the trouble you are in – I guess the latest events in Kenya will not make things any easier for the moment, but hopefully 2008 will turn out OK in the end.
I very much hope that the trial goes ahead and that justice prevails regardless of the politics. You must keep your chin up and be patient, and trust that there will be much better times ahead.
Very best wishes for 2008 (and beyond!)
Phil
ps – you may recall that you had the misfortune to share a boat with me at Ciren – an unsuccessful (but very stylish) mens novice four.
Up until now I have always been either too bone idle or indifferant to align myself to what might I have previouslly dismissed as a noble cause. I have however followed this travesty in which you have become embroiled with such ever increasing rage that I felt compelled to contribute. Just to say that you need to know that you are in the thoughts of an ever growing number of people, all of whom pationately hope that the new year brings an improvement in your fortunes. The best of luck and keep hangong in there.
Rupert Gillingham.
Keep up with your news from your Mum – do hope some decisions are made at your next court appearance. All I will do now is wish you a happy Christmas and pray that you have some good news in 2009.
I have recently discovered the plight of Tom. However I have not found any reference to recent information in regard to the May appeal hearing. I would welcome an update posting, and hope there has been a favourable outcome. People like Tom, who love the land & its wildlife & live in poor developing countries, are both rare & brave. The intense pressure of population growth in poor countries is the primary cause of conflict which can lead to tragic events and consequencies . Unfortunately until and if population growth is severely muted in the developing world, it is a bleak future indeed. Although a Canadian, I have seen for myself in places such as the Phillipines, Ecuador etc., the same dynamics, at work. Enough said, My best wishes to Tom the family & friends supporting him. david langford Toronto