Our Special Agent Jack Flint in Watumu sends this report.
“My latest letter from Watamu must start by thanking Middlesex Masters Harrow Lodge No 9897 for the generous donation which I received from the Charity Steward W. Bro Ken Sinclair. This had been the wish of the current Master W. Bro Gary Early. With that donation and others from members of the Lodge and those already received from other sources, we can help in a monthly feeding programme in the Watamu and Timboni until February 2025.
At present the East African Women’s League (EAWL) of Watamu and Malindi donate a set figure to help those who are starving. With the addition funds received in the past 2 days (16th Oct) we can increase that feeding programme four-fold, hence helping many more locals. The Ladies of the League of which my wife Lee is a member do a tremendous job not only in raising money but the time and effort to help those who need it most.
Since May 2024 through the generosity of Family, Friends and Freemasonry, a most successful golf day which was again promoted by Powercor we have now contributed 1,800,000 shillings or almost £11,000.00 making the total to date of £34,000.00 on my so-called sponsored diet. Apart from the money raised over the past 5 years which started in December 2019 at a meeting of Prince Michael of Kent Mark Lodge, the items of clothing, glasses and other articles has exceeded four thousand and sometimes I wonder how we have managed to transport so many items. Mind you the Babygrows still do not fit.
MOMBASA CALLING
Carrying on from the feeding programme some12 years ago, Lee and I went to an East African Bi-Annual Conference at Leisure Lodge in Diani which is on the South Coast of Mombasa. It was the year of 2012 Olympic Games in London and over the three nights had a theme for everyone. Apart from a theme depicting the Olympic Games they had a James Bond evening. Unfortunately neither the Queen nor Daniel Craig made a guest appearance.
That evening, I wore a jacket which was presented to me from the President of the James International Fan Club which Lee had been the treasurer for 16-18 years. There were only three produced, one was given to George Lazenby, (JB in the film On Her Majesty Secret Service.) the second was kept by the President of club and I had the third. I asked the District Grand Master if I might auction the jacket for their latest charity. W. Bro Paul Cockerell brought the jacket, and I donated the funds raised at that Auction to go to the charity the District of East Africa which we were supporting at that time.
Two weeks ago, I arranged through a District Grand Officer to meet up with the Assistant District Grand Master whose remit is Uganda. We meet at the Pili Pan which is only a few hundred metres from our home which is just across Prawn Lake. Unbeknown to me it was W. Bro Paul who I had agreed to meet and discuss our Watamu Project. He very kindly donated that jacket back for us to sell in the UK with half the proceeds going to an incredibly special charity in Kampala and half to the Watamu Project.
Above modelling the Jacket is my IT expert Thomas Shungu. Also, the name’s Bond, Jacko (Granddad) Bond, but no relation to James. As James Bond said in one of his films “Christmas only comes one a year” well this year it’s come twice.
Lastly, again our thanks to everyone for helping so many who have nothing.”
