Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans, chairman of Hemingways Collection has been awarded by the British monarchy for exceptional service to the UK overseas or internationally.
He was among 125 people recognised in By King Charles in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours List for contributing to British foreign policy, international development, voluntary and charitable work.
Evans was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) “in recognition of his significant and sustained contribution as a British businessman overseas”.
He is the businessman behind two boutique hotels; Hemingways Nairobi, Hemingways Watamu and Ol Seki Hemingways, the high-end tourist camp in Maasai mara’s Naboisho Conservancy.
“At a time when the world faces many challenges, I am always impressed by the incredible work being done globally. The UK’s impact internationally depends on exceptional people like those honoured in His Majesty’s New Year Honours list,” said Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service.
Evans, a water engineer, began his African sojourn in Uganda where he trained local engineers after his graduation from Kings College, London. He fled Uganda after two of the engineers were killed by dictator Idi Amin in 1971.
In Kenya, he established Homegrown, a horticultural firm he founded in 1982 and later, together with Martin Hudson, founded Flamingo Horticulture. He also served as chairman of the Export Promotion Council and was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior.
The hotelier is also a sports lover who captained Kenya’s Simbas and East Africa’s team, then known as Tuskers, at rugby tournaments in the 1970s.
He is a champion of the ‘tag and release’ sport-fishing programme at the Coast where Hemingways Watamu hosted the legendary Captain Morgan fishing competitions.
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