Friends Afar

Mrs. Wilkinson and myself set off to meet Head Teacher Bernard Okochwe from St. Stephen's School, Mukuyuni and Erick Wanyoni from Com Academy, Luuya.  We were very excited and a little nervous, as it had been two years since we last met.  Manchester airport was very calm, we were early and we easily found a car parking space, much to my delight, only to later discover we were at the wrong terminal!  A quick whizz to the right arrival spot and before long the two gentlemen emerged from the arrivals door way.  We were all delighted to see each other and decided a photo shot underneath the sign for the prayer room was appropriate after such a safe (if somewhat long!) flight.

Mrs. Fountain, our Chair of Governors, Mr. Duncan and myself visited Hackness School bright and early on Thursday to prepare to welcome Bernard and Erick formally to Britain, Scarborough and our Schools.  All of the children had banners and flags and had learnt a song in Kiswahili.  Unfortunately, it was a wet morning so the brightly coloured welcoming line of eager smiley faces wound around the entrance area, along the corridor and up the stairs.  Being inside didn't affect the tuneful singing one jot.  Marafiki Bernard and Erick arrived to a School full of happy faces, uplifted voices and waving banners, just right for the occasion - they looked delighted too!  We all had tea and biscuits whilst the children went to lessons.  A few were resourceful and found ways to take sneaky peeps through the doors or delivered urgent messages to Mrs. Fletcher in the Office, as we chatted and supped our tea.  Kenyan tea is very much more milky than ours but both gentlemen drank and seemed OK with the difference.