NEWS FROM THE UK - Page 1
MORE NEWS ITEMS:
Short Note from Pat Spurin, May 2010 - Page 4
Christmas Newsletter 2009 - Page 3
St.Peter's Burnley Harvest Festival (Fund Raising for FOS) - Page 2
The Following is a Letter sent in May 2009 to supporters of Friends of Sikinga:
Dear Friends of Sikinga,
We are grateful to those who sent donations early this year which enabled us to pay the school fees almost on time! It takes the bank in Bungoma a month to process the cheque we sent towards the end of April as we didn't have enough earlier, so Milton had to plead with the various Head teachers to allow the students back at the beginning of May. I did my annual fund-raising at home in late April ( instead of May as I was going to USA) and luckily it was quite a pleasant day. Bric a brac and Bring and Buy were in the garage, and I served refreshments from 10.30- 4pm in the house and about 20 lunches (prebooked). About 50 people came during the day and there was never a quiet moment! Our last visitor arrived at 3.45 and when I offered her tea, she said she hadn't had lunch and wanted soup and sandwiches!! I managed to find some. The event almost didn't happen, because the previous day I went down to church to load chairs and tables into the car, and managed to knock over some large screens and all the round tables. Blood was streaming from my finger, so I did some first aid and phoned the Rector who came and rescued me and replaced all the stored furniture. Very gracious at 8.15 on a Monday morning! I then loaded my car and went home. I still haven't filled in the accident book! Anyway we made £500 with donations, so all was well. That day we had the Burnley Football Club programme for the previous day's match on display. When Martyn Smith went to Kenya with Richard a few years ago he took a Burnley FC shirt with him. Recently we were able to get a photo of Humphrey from Sikinga wearing it, and Peter Pike kindly applied for it to be included in the programme to the great delight of the folk in Sikinga! I sent them 2 copies: very expensive to post but luckily they arrived, and now they will be even happier that it was the same team that Burnley defeated in the play off for the Premier Division. Life is still hard for people at Sikinga, because food prices have risen considerably but they have no more money to spend. One meal a day is all they can manage. School fees have gone up, and boarders only get fed if there is food available. The politicians are still struggling to work together, but it is not an easy coalition. Here in UK many are worried about the future, and grumble about our politicians but...! I'm also willing to come and speak to any group which would be interested in hearing more, and I love going to schools.
Yours, on behalf of the committee,
Pat Spurin
