Fri Oct 12 th

Endured a 6 hour flight from Gatwick to Lunghi, Freetown. Found the police and security officers at Lunghi much more helpful than at Gatwick. helping us to change money, buy a simcard , put money into phones and buy helicopter tickets. Arrived Freetown 8pm and met by 6 friends with a podapoda( a campavan to you and me). Taken to YMCA. Thunderstorm!

Sat Oct 13 th

End of Ramadan and Muslim population dressed in National costume. Explored a little of Freetown before being transported to Waterloo Guest House in Val King's Police Land Rover. Had to develop an interesting method of getting in and out as no steps into cab. Arrived mid afternoon amid VERY NOISY celebrations in the Guest house. No water in rooms so wash in a bucket.

Sun Oct 14 th

TO NEWTON! Collected by Dominic and Val to go to St Mary's Church. Caught sight of the Skills Centre, huge relief! Service at St Mary's a mixture of traditional Anglican and African worship. During the Service which lasted about 2 hours we presented some gifts from Olney.

Had a meeting with the ONL committee at Dominic's house to decide itinery for week Lunched on bread, cucumbers and plantain. Began to realise just how hot and humid it is and how much water we need to buy.

On return to Guest House alarmed to find toilets not flushing , no running water, toilet seat has a will of its own. Rice and chicken ‘stew' for evening meal., quite pleasant really. Not too much in the way of insect life around thank goodness.

Mon Oct 15 th

Public holiday to mark end of Ramadan. Returned to Newton to review and discuss the Skills Centre. Mabinty, Mariatu, Bakkarr and Val told us about another Guest house. Went to see and decided to move. A little more expensive at £10.50 per room per night but had good toilets, a shower that worked, wash basin and VERY LARGE beds. Only draw back being no electricity between dawn and dusk, no outside window to bedroom therefore had to get up in the dark. At least we couldn't see the insectlife!

Tuesday Oct 16 th

Invited to take part in a breakfast show on UN Radio. Left Guest House at 6.30am to get across Freetown but unfortunately the Transmitter was off air.

Went to bank in Freetown Centre to change some money but unfortunately they were unable to accept Brian P's Travellers Cheques.

Invited to Parliament, met the Deputy Speaker who invited us to attend the session from the Diplomats gallery. Unfortunately all the lights failed after 10 minutes.

Invited to meet the new President, His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma at noon. Unfortunately His Excellency had forgotten that yesterday was a holiday so is working 24 hours behind.

Returned to Newton for a meeting with representatives from St Mary's Church. Fortunately they were there on time!

Wednesday Oct 17 th

At last able to visit the schools. Ably escorted by Val in the Land Rover. Visited 6 primary schools and the 2 Secondary. Took gifts from Olney but felt woefully inadequate. Met headteachers and discussed how we could help. Situation desperate.

A fantastic trip to Kent Beach after lunch. Stunningly beautiful and totally deserted except for 4 vultures. Came across a building used to imprison slaves while they awaited transportation. VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING.

Met with James Kabia and his Baptist Church Secretary. They gave us a proposal for a market garden scheme to grow okra and onions. Followed this with a stroll through the bush where we were greeted by Tiggy the baker who remembered Tricia Selwood!

Thursday Oct 18 th

Returned for another visit to Amaddiya Agricultural Secondary School and took a stroll through part of Newton village. Got to speak to some fascinating people. Sheila phoned Olney First School from under a banana tree as they were holding their Harvest Festival.

Afternoon spent visiting the fishing village of Tombo and some more amazing beaches. Tombo very thought provoking as little more than a shanty town where disease is rife. Many fishing boats but no refrigeration. Nets used not environmentally friendly but they cannot afford alternatives. Very sad.

Friday Oct 19 th

The 2 Brians went to Hospital and Clinic where they realised just how woefully inadequate the health provision actually is. Sheila and I spent most of day at the Rural Education Committee Primary School. Must tell you all about the little boys and their machetes building a fence sometime. And the singing. And the drumming. And the toilets. And Mrs Usman …….

Brian P tried to heat some water by digging a hole in the ground, lining it with bakofoil and putting the water in a glass bowl inside a metal pan ( all of which he had carried in his suitcase). Unfortunately the sun disappeared behind a cloud but it might have worked! It certainly fascinated a group of local children.

Saturday Oct 20 th

A very different day. Invited to the home of Modupe and Olive Taylor Pearce for lunch. Modupe had visited Olney and stayed with us for the 200 th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in May. Olive had cooked local food ie foofoo, cassava, curried chichen and rice and blackeyed beans. Absolutely delightful.

Sunday Oct 21 st

As the Amaddiya Agricultural Secondary School is a Muslim school they work on Sundays instead of Friday. Therefore we spent a couple of hours talking to the head teacher ,Mr Sesay, and to a group of students. They helped us with a list of questions provided by some students from Ousedale School in Olney and told us a bit about themselves too. We also had a lesson in Krio….found myself giggling in class again!

Monday Oct 22 nd

Our last day. This time we really did get to meet the President, or at least 3 of us did. It was extremely hot, Brian L was wearing shorts so was refused an audience as his trousers were packed. I'll tell you more about the actual audience another time…..

Caught the ferry back to Lunghi instead of the helicopter as we had more time. Said fond farewells in a deluge of tropical storm. Arrived Gatwick 6am and had to scrape ice off Brian P's car. Didn't stop shivering for 2 days.

Letters

Letter from Abu Bakarr Fofana (Secretary) 12th April 2007

Minutes

Minute of meeting held November 2006:

Minute of meeting held August 2006:

Minute of meeting held July 2006:

News article

Concord times newspaper 15/05/06

Prince Charles visits Sierra Leone - Reuters News article

Abstracted from Awoko website about the elections 27/08/07

Accounts

Skills Centre accounts July 2007