East Ham vicar off to Kenya
A newspaper cutting, annotated “May 30 1956 · The Star”, records the departure of the Reverend George Hawes from St Paul's Church, East Ham, for missionary work in Kenya. The photograph shows George with his wife and two young children. The family identifies his wife as Beryl.
The cutting
Report: text preserved
The cutting says that the Reverend George Hawes had served for eight years as vicar of St Paul's Church, East Ham, and would leave for Kenya on 15 June 1956 to supervise missionary work in the Western Province. It also reports that his wife and their two young children would accompany him. The children were described as four and two years old at the time.
The children's names are present in the original clipping but are not included in this public transcription while their living status and the family's publication preferences are unconfirmed.
Why it matters
This is evidence for George's occupation, parish ministry, departure date and planned overseas work. The article documents an intended departure and mission assignment, rather than independently establishing when the family arrived in Kenya or what happened afterwards.
Archive catalogue
- Person
- Reverend George Hawes (identified by family as George W. Hawes)
- Wife
- Beryl (family identification; surname before marriage not yet recorded)
- Document date
- 30 May 1956, handwritten on cutting
- Reported parish
- St Paul's Church, East Ham, London
- Reported destination
- Kenya, Western Province
- Reported travel date
- 15 June 1956
- Source
- Photographed family-held newspaper clipping, supplied 6 November 2026