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20 swindonlink.com • May 2008
                                                                     Ethiopia could be the next place

                                   Mansfield                                     for lights charity
                                   Begbie                          Following  The  Link’s  exclusive  story  in  March  on  councillor  Gary
                                                                   Perkin’s  involvement  in  Ethiopia,  we  have  introduced  him  to  the
                                   Associates Ltd                  Cricklade based charity Lights for Learning which has been featured
                                                                   many times over the last five years.
                                                                     Charity founder Roger
               Providing mortgage services for the community since 1987  Mugridge  invented  a
                                                                   simple  solar  powered
                                                                   lighting  system  which
                    Get more                                       ies to allow children to
                                                                   stores  energy  in  batter-
                                                                   see  after  dark  in  areas
                 from your                                         where  there  is  no  elec-
                                                                   tricity.  He  tried  out  his
                                                                   prototypes  in  village
                                                                   huts in Kenya and, with
                  mortGaGe                                         a team of volunteers, has
                                                                   progressed  to  lighting
                                                                   whole schools. Systems
                                                                   have  been  installed  in
                                   Be surprised by                 seven schools in Kenya,
                                                                   Uganda and Zambia.
                                                                     Most recently, last No-
                                            how much                   vember,  the  team  went   Roger Mugridge demonstrating his solar powered
                                                                                              mini-system to Gary Perkins
                                                                   to the Phillippines to fit
                                     you could save                 out twelve buildings in a deaf mute   Gary  said,  “as  an  electrical  en-
                                                                   community. They had enough kit to  gineer  I’m  impressed  by  Roger’s
                                      from a review                light up classrooms and a village  invention and will be telling contacts
                                                                   hall in a former, but still dangerous,  in  Ethiopia  that  it’s  good  way  of
                                                                   rebel  resettlement  area  hidden in  providing light to schools in remote
                                                                   the mountains.              and poorer areas of the country.”
                                                                     All the solar panels are donated   In this year alone Roger has had
               We may be able to find you a lower interest rate.                             by an American company and the  enquiries for the Lights for Learn-
               You may have to pay an early repayment charge                        wires and special light bulbs are sold  ing volunteers to fit lights to more
                                                                   to the charity at cost price.
                                                                                               schools in Zambia, Uganda and also
                  to your existing lender if you remortgage.         We  asked Roger to demonstrate  Madagasca and Tanzania. An In-
                                                                   how the system works to Gary be-  dian businessman based in Canada
                  Whether you’re planning to move to a new         fore his trip to Ethiopia in March. He  is discussing how the system could
                 house or to remortgage your property, with        has fallen in love with the country  be fitted to schools in India.
                                                                                                In March Roger received a Rotary
                                                                   and has set  up business interests
                over 20 years experience providing mortgages       there, whilst making contact with  International  ‘Service Above  and
                   in Swindon, Mansfield Begbie Associates                                                                              the government and locally based  Beyond Self’ award for his work
                                                                                                  www.lightsforlearning.org
                                                                   charitable organisations.
               aim to provide an excellent and personal service.
                                                                   Safety concerns over web bought bikes
                  There may be a fee payable at completion
               for placing your mortgage. The precise amount       Buying a bicycle via the internet is an attractive option for many look-
                                                                   ing for a keen price but a cut price machine may bring more problems
                  will depend on your circumstances but the                   than people bargained for.
                                                                     West  Swindon
                           maximum will be £300.                   based  Bike  Doc-                     they can go through
                                                                                                         the spokes and cause
                       However, no completion no fee.              tor,  Phil  Mitchell,                 a lot of damage. If the
                                                                   advises a thorough                    pedals aren’t put on
                                                                   check-up  before                      properly,  they  can
                Mansfield Begbie Associates arranges mortgages with                     taking a new bike on   rip the threads out of
                the majority of building societies and banks in the UK  the road. “You may               the cranks, and that’s
                        For free mortgage consultation and                                              be  saving  money   expensive to fix.”
                         further information, call us now.         but  you  could  be                    He  recommends
                     Your home may be repossessed if you                                      putting  someone’s   that  people  spend
                 do not keep up repayments on your mortgage        life  at  risk,”  said                some  of  the  money
                                                                   Phil.  “Bikes  don’t                  saved  from  an  on-
                            Swindon                                arrive ready to ride.                 line purchase to en-
                                                                                                         sure  they,  or  family
                                                                   Vital  components
                                                                   have to be fitted and
                                                                                                         members, are riding
                           772779                                  the bike has to be as-                safely.
                                                                                                          Following  an  ini-
                                                                   sembled properly.”
                                                                      He added that a
                                                                                                         recommends regular
                                                                   bike which has been                   tial  once  over,  Phil
                          e: [email protected]            incorrectly set up can be difficult to  services and a spring check-up for
                           www.mansfieldbegbie.co.uk            H0083791  ride: at worst it could result in seri-  bikes that have been stored away
                    Mansfield Begbie Associates Limited is an appointed representative of   ous injuries to the cyclist. “If they  all  winter.  He  offers  a  collection
                Legal & General Partnership Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the          are  not  checked,  the  brakes  may  and delivery service from home or
                 Financial Services Authority for advising on and arranging mortgages and insurance  not work when you need them or,  the workplace. See the Bike Doctor
                                                                   if the gears are not set up properly,  advert on page 3.


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