Alan's Diary - Final Extracts

By Alan Dick, Trust Director - see previous posts for first two extracts.

Monday 13th December

Our last project visit is Gunjur. The last time I was here, the school was just a shell, quite literally. But what a transformation! The 3 classrooms were a joy to behold and every bit of praise should go to Ali and Kira for all their efforts.

We also visited the small onsite clinic, which we created in the grounds of the lower basic school. This facility means so much to me, as it was only possible because of the generosity of my former employees at Greggs in the midlands.

It was their kindness on the occasion of my retirement that funded this project. Again we have managed to create a small, yet hugely important resource which is appreciated by all the staff and pupils.

Tuesday 14th December

Time to say a few fond farewells and reflect on a week which again seems to have flown by. We board the plane and arrive back late at night to be greeted by  miserable Birmingham weather (rain and + 2 degrees), but at least it wasn’t snowing!

Reflections? Humbling, always. Uplifting, absolutely. Rewarding, definitely.


I return, completely reassured, that what we (the African Oyster Trust) are doing, is making a tangible, substantial and positive difference to the lives of many people in the Gambia.

Alan J. Dick