Building links in Thailand (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Building links in Thailand

TOW Primary School is hoping to set up links with a school in Thailand that looks after children suffering with Aids.

Chairman of governors Dick Glazier is heading for Baan Gerda this week to visit the school and begin organising the link.

"We hope the children will write letters to each other and form friendships. No-one there speaks English so local people there and here are acting as translators for us.

"The children here will learn about new cultures and we hope the links will make a difference to the children there and their short, grim lives."

The huge difference in climate between the two countries holds no fears for Dick, aged 70. "I was in the RAF for 27 years so I'm not daunted by travel - or the snakes and spiders."

While in Thailand, Dick will be having lunch with the 120 children at the school, which was set up by a German charity. The idea for the link between the schools was prompted when a friend of Dick's went to farm in Thailand and found out about the school.