M.A.D. In The Gambia

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How It All Started

In November 2002 Malcolm and I went to the Gambia on holidays.  We took a suitcase of pencils, pens etc (knowing they were very expensive there).  The following morning we met a man in the hotel selling wood carvings.  He asked us if we would like to visit a very deprived school that his brother attends which was about an hour and a half drive away from the hotel.  The tour operator does not visit this school so it was a great opportunity for us to see parts of the Gambia that we wouldn't normally see.  It was just like a brick built shed, no windows, just a bare shell.

The next morning the same man asked us if we would like to visit his village.  I was delighted to go and find out about their culture.  We were invited to dinner the next evening.  In our ignorance, we did not realise that they would go without food in order to feed us.  They served us Baracuda fish and spicy rice.  During dinner the sun went down and we could not see our food or anything else come to that.  It was the things that we took for granted, switching on the lights that you realise how fortunate we are.  I asked Kalilu to get me a price from the water and electricity company of Gambia.  The £2000 was funded by me.  Brilliant, Making a Difference.  I now know that I want to improve their lives.

In an interview with Womans Own, I said you've heard of Buckingham Palace and Beckenham Palace, well I wanted to create Heathers Palace in Africa giving my african family some pride and dignity as human beings that the world over should have.

The Story So Far...

In November 2003, I get a price for shower and toilets.  It will cost £1500, funded by myself.  Work begins.  I also paid £500 for Coucous rice, sugar, dried milk, onions and potatoes.  This all arrived on 4 donkeys.  Jeremy West the Director from West and Coe who I have worked for over 20 years, along with other companies associated with the funeral profession gave me £500 donation to pay for excess baggage, to take out clothes and household items donated to me by the local community.

I travelled to Gambia with Thomas Cook airlines.  I arrived at Gatwick 3 hours before check-in desk was open with 5 suitcases extra.  I stood underneath a security camera, eventually a young man, Christopher Pots who came and asked me if I was travelling with Thomas Cook that morning.  I told him I was James Bond and I was on a mission.  I wanted to get these suitcases to the Gambia but I didn't want to pay Thomas Cook any money.  He asked me if I had any proof that I did any work in the Gambia.  I showed him the receipts from Western Union for which I had sent out the money for the water and electricity bills.  He took them away, came back and told me that when I check in they would all vanish. 

So with the monies that were all saved.  I went into a town called Surrekunida and bought a 29inch TV, a dvd player and a stand for these items.  Also a fridge freezer.  We took it back to the compound in Brikaima.  About 90% of the people in the compound had never seen a TV or a fridge freezer.  Malcolm tuned the TV in with a massive audience of curious children.  When Malcolm switched the TV on, they asked where the door was to let the people out.

The clothes and household items are now making a big difference.  The people have now become my family in Africa and have really got under my skin and into my heart.  And now I find myself on a big mission to make a better life and living conditions for them.

Our next Charity Night is on 4th October 2008

What Next?

For 2007...
M.A.D. in the Gambia is a registered charity (charity no: 1112418)