W. Bro Jack Flint reflects on the Watamu Project and its success and the way that it has been a major part of his and his late life Lee’s charitable work in Kenya. This is what he said, “After the passing of my beloved wife Lee, I have decided finally to end our ‘Watamu Project’ fund raising efforts which had been started by her some 34 years ago when Lee visited a local primary school in Watamu.
Over the years we have helped numerous individuals along with various schools and other community projects which needed financial support. Since its inception every shilling raised has been spent on those projects unlike so many Governments and large charities where so much is syphoned off and never reaches those who are the intended recipients.
The latest project which started as my “sponsored diet” in Prince Michael of Kent Lodge of Mark Master Masons almost six years ago has now raised over £45,000,00 or about 7,500,000/- shillings apart from the vast number of donations via Jacko’s girls and other individuals who have given so generously.
In September 2024 we took sixty-one kilos of clothes, glasses, stationery and other goodies when we travelled to Watamu which I never realised would be Lee’s final journey to a place we both loved. It would now be impossible for me to even consider something like that again.
As this will be my last in-depth account of that journey which has helped so many over those thirty-four years, it is therefore only right that I thank those who have contributed financially, personally or have helped in the organising of any event.
GOLF DAYS AT COBHAM
So much has been raised through the four Watamu Project golf days at Chobham which have been sponsored by Chris and Richard of Powercor. Also, I must mention the invaluable assistance of Garry Foley and the Chobham Golf club management whose administration has been exceptional. Also, a mention must be made to the teams who participated and the girls who have helped to make the day so special by collecting the monies for the mulligans, nearest the pins, winning score and selling raffle tickets all of which help raise funds for those charities that Lee and I supported.
A THANKS IS DUE
I cannot forget the Lodges, Masonic units and the Middlesex members who have been the backbone of the funds raised. We have not until recently openly explained how we as Freemasons have helped so many charities both masonic and non-masonic. The Watamu Project is a non-masonic charity which has helped thousands over the past few decades. Middlesex Freemasons support has been invaluable and so many have become interested and involved with the “Watamu Project”. One of those was the late Gary Earley and Bridget his wife who contributed every month, I never knew Gary had kept every “Letter from Watamu” and the “Watamu Project” updates over the past five or six years.
I spoke about “Jacko’s Girls” who have donated thousands of Items since I started my sponsored diet. Elaine Windsor, my cousin, Susie Holmes one of Lee’s closest friends and Vivian White, who was Barry White’s wife who I had played cricket with for several decades. All have been fantastic by donating so much to those who they had never met and, in many cases, had nothing. Another who I must thank personally is Annie Holton, who had a wonderful rapport with us both, but especially with Lee. There are so many others who over the years have supported everything we have been involved with in Kenya. Lee was also an active member of the EAWL (East African Women League) and through their network in and around Watamu and Malindi monies raised went directly to helping those who needed it the most.
We talk about “food banks” which in the UK help many of those who are struggling. In Kenya they have no such luxury. The EAWL help once a month to feed as many as their funds allow them and it is a stark difference between the Western world and Africa.
ECOWORLD
Another organisation and project which captured our imagination was EcoWorld. Steve Trott and Jane Spilsbury took the collection and recycling to another level. They now employ several hundred collectors and although the wages are minuscule for those who receive them, it is nevertheless a means of feeding their families.
Our love of the Kenyan people and especially the love that Lee had has made the fund raising more than a personal challenge. I genuinely believe our efforts have made such a difference to hundreds.
COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS
When Lee was in the ICU in Mombasa, I returned to Lakeside House to get some respite time away from the hospital at Christmas knowing that the following day Jamie my eldest son and Therese my daughter in law would be arriving to spend time at the hospital with his mum. Also, in the previous eight weeks my sister-in-law Carly and my daughter Samantha had given me the opportunity to return to Watamu, again time to collect my thoughts away from the ICU at the Mombasa hospital which I visited several times every day as I was beginning to struggle with the endless reports and doctors’ diagnoses all of which seemed to vary from day to day.
I had told Lee that I wanted to do something special for the villagers at Christmas and with the help of the Village Elder, Simeon and my staff at Lakeside, we arranged a Christmas food programme for everyone in the village as they were all concerned about Memsabah. I spent Nine hundred and fifty pounds which was enough to feed everyone for a week or more. However, I never knew how many Toto’s (kids) there were in the village all of whom wanted to say “hallo to Bwana Jacko”. Simeon has started a regeneration programme with the planting of mangrove saplings. Every month almost a hundred women plant those seedlings, and he asked if I could sponsor some posho and other stable foods for their efforts. It was Lee’s last wish to help Simeon fulfil that ambition.
A LIFE’S JOURNEY
It has been a journey that both of us have enjoyed, and the experience has been unforgettable. Unfortunately, every dream must end that is the reality of life. As someone said to me when she was born, they threw the mould away. Lastly, a thank you to Chris and Brenda Nixon who have been unbelievable in their support over the past years. I mention them but so many have just been truly marvellous, both here and in Kenya. I only hope that Lees legacy will live on for many years not only in helping those less fortunate but in their memories”.
Final edit by W. Bro Stan Marut PPrJGD SLGR – Communications Team
