I would like to wish you all a great Festive Season and very Best Wishes for 2026. Apologies for the lack of News since the last issue in September, but, other than fitting a water harvesting system on to the staff hostel at Westminster Secondary School no project work has taken place. It has however been a busy few months, with several speaker engagements, and since the start of the new Rotary year in July I have generated just over £15,000.
Sponsored bike ride
The final total raised from my sponsored bike ride was £1,750, thanks to all those that donated.
Westminster School teacher sponsorship
We currently have nine staff at the school and once again this year I have been very fortunate to receive sponsorship for all nine staff members from four long term sponsors – they know who they are and to you all I am extremely grateful for your support.
Sahr Sesay
Sahr is a teacher at the Banbury International Community School and for the past four year he has been studying for a Batchelor of Education Degree. This has only been possible due to the sponsorship by “Auntie Jean” and I am really pleased to report that Sahr will be graduating at the College ceremony on 10th January. Congratulations Sahr and sincere thanks to “Auntie Jean”.
St Mary the Virgin Broughton & North Newington
Since Christmas 2009 my village church have been supporting my projects in Sierra Leone and over this period they have donated a total of £7,051. Each year just before Christmas, I put together a photo display in the church, to show what has been achieved in the past twelve months. Once again this year they are supporting my work from their Christmas offertories and I will provide more news about the donation in the New Year.
After a chance encounter and conversation with Tom the “main man” at Blinkorns I am pleased to report that they have just donated a good quality second hand projector to me for my presentations. Many thanks Tom for your fantastic support – there are more ways of donating other than just money!
BANBURY PRINT & DESIGN
Another huge thank you to Dave, Caroline & Nicola who, once again this year, have undertaken ALL my printing of handouts, business cards and the A4 photos that I use at several presentations. All of this they provide free of charge as their donation towards my work – thanks team BP&D. The Waterside Bar @
General Foods Sports & Social Club
I must thank Sandra, the staff and members of the Waterside Bar. Once again this year, as a result of their Friday night bingo and raffles they have raised an amazing £802. They’ve supported me since 2023, raising a total of £4,461. Sandra is the driving force behind this and loves the fact that she knows exactly what the money is spent on and that every pound goes directly to the projects – thanks Sandra.
What’s next?
In the New Year I will be sending funding for the building the first of an additional two classroom at the Port Loko School. I have previously funded the building of four classrooms, an office, staffroom, storeroom and a small toilet block at the school. Due to an increase in the number of children attending the school they need the extra classrooms as soon as possible but we need to build one at once as currently I do not have adequate funds to do both My next trip to Sierra Leone
I am hoping to visit in the early part of next year but this is dependent on me raising enough funds. As well as the cost of flights, I have to fund hotel costs, the hire of a vehicle and driver and a visa and a typical ten-day trip is around £2,000. Due to the increasing costs, I have decided that this trip, which will be my sixteenth, will be final visit.
