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March 2006

A helping hand for Africa - A worthy cause needs help

Thank you for your support

Mark Hackman weds in Australia
(This letter was too late to appear in the printed version)

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

In this age of instant communication, we have all seen distressing images of people in Africa. Myself and some of my 6th form colleagues at Mangotsfield School, having had enough of saying “something must be done”, are doing just that. We are signed up for a trip to Zambia in July 2006 (just after the dreaded A levels).

Our objective is to help in the design and construction of a health centre, capable of basic surgery, disease prognosis, midwifery and basic pharmaceutical treatment. We believe that the ability to treat the sick is essential in the building of a modern Africa and, in a land without any semblance of an NHS, aid work is an essential alternative source of care until such a time that there is enough commerce and wealth to support a health service in Zambia. This centre, which will save lives, create jobs and help raise the local community's standard of living, will be the only one in an area of great poverty. The change this will make to people’s lives is immense and I feel both humbled and excited to be part of this project.

Now we come to the hard bit. This expedition will cost me £3,095. I have raised most of this myself by working at the Rose and Crown pub in Pucklechurch and cleaning at my school. I would, therefore like to make a proposition to the Parish Council. I have already raised £1,700 – so am now well over halfway there. I am not asking for money for nothing. In return for your generosity, I am offering to write two articles for Pucklechurch News, one when in Africa building the centre about what we see around us and what we are trying to accomplish, and another when I return about what we have achieved and how you assisted in the achievement of it.

With your help I can at least try to stop some of the regrettable stories about African people recurring in the future.

Athel Dunning, Age 17

Dear Athel,

While I doubt that the Parish Council can contribute to the cost of your expedition, perhaps there is a local business or organisation that would be keen to help a young man who wants to make a difference. We wish you the best of luck in this worthy endeavour and look forward to reports about your experiences. Any reader would like to offer financial help, please contact Athel on 937-2554. -- Ed.


Dear Editor,

May I, through your columns, thank everyone in the village who sent me get-well cards and best wishes through Les during my recent stay in hospital following a stroke. I thank the Lord that I am now home. I can walk about and do things for myself, like washing and dressing. I just wish the weather would cheer up so that I can get outside and walk.

Yours sincerely,

Mary Whittock

P.S. Les and our daughters Anne and Molly are doing a good job looking after me. Many, many thanks to them too, though I say this to them every day.


Dear Editor,CandM

I have recently travelled to Australia with friends for a wedding. It was the wedding of Mark Hackman and Caroline Briggs and it took place on December 11 2005 in Perth.

Many of your readers will know that Mark had lived in Pucklechurch until last year when he moved to Australia to live with Caroline who he had met whilst traveling around Australia a few years earlier.

The reason why I write in is that he let me into a secret when we were there. Although he is really enjoying living in Oz with his new wife he still tends to get homesick from time to time. To help him feel closer to home he has subscribed to the Pucklechurch news! This way he is kept up to date with all the news from home.

I know they will be reading this so I just wanted to say congratulations to the both of them and to thank Caroline and Mark for making our stay in Australia very special!

The photo is the happy couple on their wedding day.

Yours sincerely,

Jenny Cooper-Key

 

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