Vera's Story

Vera with her dog
Outspoken and energetic, Vera Winter bred prize-winning Boran cattle in the Eldoret region of Kenya, supplying the Allied Forces with beef through the Second World War. Although amusing and a great raconteur, she was happy to live on an isolated farm in East Africa. 

Vera's house

A talented pianist, she studied music at the Conservatoire in Paris before marrying a British Army Officer who was sent out to serve in East Africa.

Vera on her horse
Vera loved dogs and horses. After her first marriage was dissolved she met Tony Maxtone-Mailer, the show-jumping champion of Kenya,  when he was working as an Assistant Police Officer supporting farmers producing food for the war effort.

Tony on his gelding
They loved going on safari and once rode up into the misty hills of Mount Kenya on their own horses.
Tony and Vera on Mt Kenya
Vera enjoyed gardening and manged to grow European flowers such as daffodils on the Equator. In 1963, the couple moved to Usa River in Tanganyika where they took over a 400 acre coffee plantation from Tony's parents.

Vera's garden
Tony and Vera were married for thirty years. No one knew that she was twenty-nine years older than him until her funeral.
Vera and Tony

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