Page 13 - link magazine

LOCAL LIVES 13
Taking aid to Albania HAVE YOU TRIED
Nell Atkinson from Grange Park is a photographer with Swindon's Calyx news agency. In May he was part of
the mercy mission organised by people in Wootton Bassett with support from the Feed the Children charity. SUGARING YET
Albania is a land of contrasts. A old daughter for us to look after as My lasting impression of Albania
beautiful landscape of mountains the family had run out of food and was the finaldelivemyof aid we made the ancient art of hair removal.
and valleys, with the warm Adriatic money some time ago. to a school. The children crowded The simple way to smooth
sea lapping miles of unspoilt This was real life in Albania in around, tryingto get the first glimpse hairless skin, face, legs,
beaches. A country with no contact May 1992 of whatever we were going to de- underarms, bikini line, etc.
with the rest of Europe for 45 years, Our convoy was escorted by aid liver. Their joy at the discovery that Why not try sugaring for this
where the Communist Party dic- workers from Feed The Children to it was books, paper, pens. Things summer ladies?
tated the pattern of life; a centralised a rundown Government warehouse that they had not seen for so long. To find out more about this
economy in ruins, following the on the outskirts of Durres. It would A 13 year old girl tugged at my
unique beauty treatment,
death of dictator Emmva Hoxha. not be safe for the articulated lorries arm, curtseyed and in halting Eng-
lish said "thank you for everything call Joanne on
you are doing for ourcountry, please Swindon 613484.
do n,ot go, you must stay and help I am also a qualified 255r
mr
us". We couldn't stay, our time had beauty therapist.
run out.

Accountancy
k
1W
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Services

THE COMPLETE LOCAL ACCOUNTS SERVICE
INCOME & CORPORATION TAX WI BUSINESS PLANS
WAGES & P,A,Y,E WI NOMINAL LEDGER
WI BUDGETING WI SALES/PURCHASE LEDGER
One of Neil's photographs of aid being distributed & CASH FORECASTING WI ANNUAL & MONTHLY ACCOUNTS
In late December last year, the to proceed any further due to the FOR A PROFESSIONAL & CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE CALL
BBC managed to bring back the first danger of ambushes in the north of
pictures of the disaster that had be- the country. (0793) 878680
fallen the people of Albania. Hospi- As darkness fell on that first night FAX NO. (0793) 886323
tals with no medical equipment or the sound of machine gun fire could RAMLEAZE HOUSE, SHAW VILLAGE CENTRE, SWINDON
beds, children in tattered rags and be heard a few miles away. The
no winter crops had been planted guards took up positions as we pre-
due to the complete failure of the pared for sleep. At 3am the com-
agricultural system. The situation pound was rocked by a massive
was desperate. explosion somewhere near the coast. CRYSTAL
On a cold and wet night, with The next four days were spent
Christmas a few days away, a group delivering the aid in small Feed The CONSERVATORIES
of people met and decided that there Children trucks. The weather was
was something that could be done hot, and despite the discomfort of + Superb MahoganyIUPVC
to help. The appeal had been born. working in the lOOT midday tem- Conservatories & Porches
Fundraising and aid collection perature the aid was despatched. + Full guarantees & Deposit
started immediately. By the end of In each village that we stopped at
Indemnity
Marchtheappeal had raised £15,000 the headman had arranged for the
and collected over65 tonnes of medi- most deserving cases to be brought + No pressure sales
cal aid, clothing and food. forward. No one in the group will + Maximum delivery six weeks
With 24 hours to go Feed The be able to forget the sight of a + Expert design service. All our own
Children informed us that the situa- beaming mother showing her highly trained, qualified fitters
tion in Albania had deteriorated to children their new clothes; the rags
+ Free quotations given after survey
such an extent that the safety of the that had got the family through the
group was in grave doubt. Looting wintercould be finally thrown away. + Replacement windows & doors also
available
of Government warehouses had A hot meal would be on the table
taken place, with many people killed that night. + Commercial projects undertaken
in exchanges of gunfire. We had no The deliveries to the hospitals and + The friendly service by a family firm
option but to postpone departure. schools was like taking a trip back in
By the end of March the problems time. There was not even basic Included in price on all buildings
began to ease and a new departure medical equipment available to the - fitted electrics, insulated floor, blinds,
date was agreed. medical staff; sanitation conditions
The convoy of 4 articulated lorries were appalling; the conditions of overhead fan and security light
and 16 people set off for the 1600 the buildings were beyond
mile trip to Bari in southern Italy. description. The sight of an empty Competitive Prices inclusive of base & erection
Hardwood UPVC
The journey was long and hard, but wardbeingfilled withbedsand clean Lean To 8x11 £5450 8x11 £5720
by 2 May the boat from Bari finally blankets, a medicine cabinet filled
docked at the Albanian port of Durres with drugs, a maternity hospital Victoriana 13x11 £6225 13x11 £6475
Within minutes of our arrival on store room now complete with 6 Lean To 8x13 £6120 8x13 £6310
the dock the convoy was besieged months supply of baby milk and Victoriana 13x14 £7270 13x14 £7470
by groups of starving children beg- food - and the grateful thanks of the Prices sub act to VAT
ging for food and clothes. A father medical staff - was the reward for Your local conservatory service tel. 512612
approached me offering his 9 month the 12 weeks of aid collection.