MEMBERS were welcomed to our meeting on Monday, March 14 at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern by Chairman Mike Taylor. Ken Lilwall was congratulated on his recent birthday and members were reminded that the AGM would be on Monday April 18.

Club member Don Wood then began his talk entitled ‘To Govern and Exploit. The Royal Niger Company- Chartered and Limited 1886 – 1900’. Don has a depth of knowledge and understanding based upon more than 30 years working in West and East Africa, supported by extensive research and he told a fascinating story.

The 1832 expedition to the area of Nigeria was led by Richard Lander to establish a trading post at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers. The expedition failed, with 40 of the 49 members dying of fever or wounds from native attacks, an explanation for the lack of white settlers in British West Africa. The growth of trade in Palm Oil, the increasing rivalry with France and Germany were factors in the 1862 declaration of a British Protectorate aimed at securing the Niger River and Delta.

It was, however, impossible for a chartered company to hold its own against the state-supported protectorates of France and Germany, and in consequence its charter was revoked in 1899 and the Royal Niger Company transferred its territories to the British Government for the sum of £865,000. The ceded territory together with the small Coast Protectorate, already under imperial control, was formed into the two protectorates of northern and southern Nigeria.

The company changed its name to The Niger Company Ltd and in 1929 became part of the United Africa Company which then came under the control of Unilever in the 1930s. Explorers, traders, small companies, mergers, eventually resulting in one of the largest companies in the world.

On Monday April 4 our speaker will be Gerald Brook who will recount his experiences as ‘A Guest of the KGB’.

We meet in the Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern. Refreshments are available from 10am and the meeting begins at 10.30am. For further information on the programme, please e-mail the Programme Secretary, t.batesworc@btinternet.com

TONY BATES