There are few tickets left for the fundraiser next Saturday (May 26) for the students’ summer visit to work on a project in Gunjur – the village which has had a thirty year link to Marlborough. Two of the main organisers, Ellie Vesey-Thompson (left in the photo) and Georgie Thatcher promise a good evening with lots of prizes.
The summer visit has been run on alternate years since the Marlborough Brandt Group began its association with Gunjur. Students from Marlborough College and from St John’s have worked on a number of projects bringing significant benefits to the villagers.
This year, from July 3 to July 31, there’ll be thirteen students going from Marlborough. One from the College (two have had to drop out due to exam commitments) and eight from St John’s and they’ll be led by four former St John’s students who are now at university.
Apart from being enjoyable and very hard work, it’s also not cheap for the students. The air fares are about £650 and jabs and anti-malaria tablets come to about £250 each. They will all stay with families in village compounds and pay for their board and food.
And then there’s the ‘visit pot’ which buys materials for the project once they get there. They have to raise £2,000 for this and so far are almost five-eighths of the way to their target.
One of the unknowns this year is that the Gunjurians have not decided yet what the students’ project should be – so they are just hoping that between them they’ll have the right skills. Students like Ellie and Georgie who are taking the International Baccalaureate will be earning time on the Community Action Service which they have to achieve as part of their course.
Saturday’s fundraising evening (8pm to 11pm at the St John’s) will include live music from some of the schools best performers – including two who sang for the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Salisbury.
There’s a Golden Envelope draw – with a one in three chance of winning a prize. And there’s an auction of major prizes – including a week in a luxury villa near Malaga (it sleeps four); a day’s game shooting – or if you’d rather a day’s photography course; a painting course worth £90; an antique Samovar – which still produces a good cup of tea; and a painting by the artist Sarah Ewing, who is well-known for her bold and colourful mixed media works.
There’s a pay-bar and free canapés. And if you can’t bear to miss the England football international you may be able to leave your table and slope off to watch some of it.
There are still some tickets left – £10 each. For tickets contact Ellie Vesey-Thompson.
