A HEADLINE on the Page In History from June 2, 1956, (Memories No 35) brought back extraordinary memories for Arthur Stephenson, of Fairfield, Stockton.

It read: “Put poison in employer’s gin – Briton hanged in Kenya.”

The story told of the execution of Alan Huxley, a 25-year-old farm manager from Kent, who had forged the will of his employer, Major THA Mills, and then put strychnine in his gin in order to gain possession of a £60,000 Kenyan ranch.

“At that time, I was an inspector in the Special Branch (Detainees Section) of the Kenya police,” says Arthur. “I regularly visited prisons and detention centres to interview Mau Mau prisoners.”

Mau Mau fighters were opposed to British colonial rule in Kenya.

“While visiting Nairobi old prison in 1956, I made friends with Alan Huxley, the only European prisoner in the prison,” continues Arthur. “He was awaiting execution. He was lonely, frightened and segregated from the other, black inmates.

“We spent many an hour talking, playing cards and dominoes, etc.

“In the course of my Special Branch duties I attended many judicial hangings, and I was present at the gallows in Nairobi on May 31, 1956, when Mr Huxley met his maker.

“He died with dignity and remorse.

“His death affected me more than the dozens of hangings of Mau Mau prisoners I had witnessed previously in Nairobi.

“He had become a friend, and he acknowledged that greed had been his downfall. He paid the ultimate price.”