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20 www.swindonlink.com - 10 years

South Africa links go deeper
Mansfield Nine pupils from Greendown School returned from a trip of a lifetime
Begbie in early November.
Associates Ltd

Providing mortgage services for
the community since 1987
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Bonding together in a dramatic landscape,
pupils from Greendown and Moriteng Wa Thuto
review your mortgage After a year of planning the it was clear where black and white
before Christmas Year 11 girls visited Moriteng Wa people live and go shopping.”
For Natalie Irving the strength
Thuto secondary school in Clar-
and you could be making ens township which Greendown of their partners’ culture was strik-
has been building links with for ing. “The singing and dancing was
several years.
amazing. All the children whatever
a saving for 2008 and videos barely prepared them each other. You see them practicing
But all the pre-trip discussion their age perform, in public and for
for the intensity of the experience in the playground before school and
We may be able to find you a lower interest rate. said Kate Birch. “It was a big shock in breaks, it’s clear how their culture
You may have to pay an early repayment charge to arrive at last. The talking and is passed down the generations.
to your existing lender if you remortgage. pictures can’t give you a sense of “It was such a big cringe when
the smells and sounds, and meeting we were asked to do songs or dance
Whether you’re planning to move to a new house or to the people we went to see. It was a from our own culture; it’s best not
remortgage your property, with 20 years experience good shock though.” to say any more.”
Film maker Gurge Singh from
The two week trip started with a
providing mortgages in Swindon, few days bonding between pupils Create accompanied the group to
Mansfield Begbie Associates aim to provide from both schools in a game park record how the youngsters broke
an excellent and personal service. education centre. down barriers, dealt with miscon-
“Our welcome was absolutely ceptions and learnt more about
There may be a fee payable at completion for placing your amazing,” said Jessie Howard. “The themselves.
mortgage. The precise amount will depend on your whole school was there
circumstances but the maximum will be £300. to sing and dance for us.
We were all in tears, it
However, no completion no fee. was so emotional.”
According to the girls,
tears flowed liberally
throughout the visit as
the new experiences
piled in on them.
to all Link readers class at Moriteng Wa
They spent time in
Thuto, visited town-
ship primary schools
Mansfield Begbie Associates arranges mortgages with and local tourist sites to
the majority of building societies and banks in the UK learn more about South
For free mortgage consultation and African history.
further information, call us now. The abilities of their We all leave the same colour shadows in a game of tig
partners made a huge
Your home may be repossessed if you impression on the girls. “For many A trip for the partner pupils from
do not keep up repayments on your mortgage of the South Africans English is Moriteng is planned for next July.
Swindon their third or even fourth language, “We’re more committed than
but it wasn’t a barrier,” said Sian ever to the school partnership,”
Gannon. “We tried to talk a little said Kate. “Saying goodbye to our
772779 Susutu, but it’s quite difficult with friends was the hardest thing.
lots of clicks.
“We really want to bring them
here and will be working really
“Our partners attitude to learn-
e: [email protected] ing is different. Until recently hard to raise the money needed to
www.mansfieldbegbie.co.uk H0083791 education was not free. It’s not like help them make the trip.”
Jessie added that the group
something they are obliged to do;
Mansfield Begbie Associates Limited is an appointed representative of getting an education is a route out wanted to thank their Greendown
Legal & General Partnership Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the of poverty. teachers who accompanied them to
Financial Services Authority for advising on and arranging mortgages and insurance
“But when we went into Clarens, South Africa.

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