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We had a cousin who never married and never had chilren. Although In later life she stood as a Labour Candidate In Bristol, she had dedicated her life to educating poverty stricken children around the 3rd world countries.

She spent many In years In Africa also but In the Phillipine's during the 70's, she raised enough money to build a school where there was none.

She died recently and my brother took over as one of the trustee's of the school.

Having received an Inheritence from our cousin, he chose to plough this money back Into the school.

He's just flown out there only to find due to the floods, he'll have to sleep on a floor of the only hotel.

Apparently the children are very excited at their new trustee visiting them bearing gifts and I hope to bring you the pics when he sends them.

It sounds like you have a very cool brother!

He's cute, too!

Wandrin;1445517 wrote: It sounds like you have a very cool brother! Yes, he's my soul mate.

Me and my Bro

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What a nice thing to do!

I can imagine you are very proud!

Looking forward to the pic's!

Chloe_88;1445590 wrote: What a nice thing to do!

I can imagine you are very proud!

Looking forward to the pic's! I will worry every day he's gone because he can be a Rodney at times.

But as Brothers go, I won the lottery... he's my moral compass... and the best bit... he has horses ¬!!! lol

Not many people are willing to do that. Good for him. You have every reason to be proud.

Update

He's due back Friday so pics to follow... apparently he's taken lots.

Apparently, he's being treated like visiting Royalty and the children, even the adults are calling him 'Sir Martin'.... omg, bet he's loving every minute.

However he says he's been humbled by the poverty and squalor the people of the area North of Manilla live In.

He's also spent some time at the orphanage our cousin also funded In the 70's as well as the school. She put an enormous amount of money and hard work Into building the school and orphanage and I know she'd also be so proud of him spending time out there and taking over as trustee. It meant so much to her.

I can't wait to see the pics when he gets back.

Having sorted through hundreds of pics, these are just a few of my brother with some of the children from the Orphanage my Cousin built In the 70's. First pic Is of the slums In Manila that he toured.

The children were so excited at having a trustee of their orphanage and school come visit them and they treated him like a royal visit.

He's going back at Christmas with gifts for the children and money he's collected since at his church to give to the families he met In the slums

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Fine man.

AnneBoleyn;1467998 wrote: Fine man.


Thanks Anne... we are very proud of him but It's just wonderful to see the school and orphanage our cousin built In the 70's still thriving.

Back In Blighty, my brother does one of his 9 local schools visits telling the children the Christmas story.

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That's not your brother, Silly, that's Santa Claus!

AnneBoleyn;1470413 wrote: That's not your brother, Silly, that's Santa Claus!
It's Father Christmas, and all Fathers of the cloth begin as monks - aka Brothers.

FourPart;1470414 wrote: It's Father Christmas, and all Fathers of the cloth begin as monks - aka Brothers.


Thanks. I knew you didn't say Santa, but I forgot what you call him. Anyway, what I said to oscar still stands!

AnneBoleyn;1470413 wrote: That's not your brother, Silly, that's Santa Claus! Funny thing was, when he got to his own boys school, and spoke, some kid shouts out ' That's not Santa, that's Henry's Dad.

It reminds me of a time the choir did a Panto, with the obligatory Special Appearance of Santa, and one of the kids whispered to his mate, as he came out of the Grotto, quite sincerely, "I didn't know Santa was bald!"

FourPart;1470425 wrote: It reminds me of a time the choir did a Panto, with the obligatory Special Appearance of Santa, and one of the kids whispered to his mate, as he came out of the Grotto, quite sincerely, "I didn't know Santa was bald!" Many years ago, my brother would call at my late sisters house every Christmas Eve where she had all the families kids present as Santa.

One year, after way too many sherberts, he was walking backwards up the front garden path waving goodbye to the children and suddenly vanished. One of the kids asked ' Mummy, Is Santa supposed to fall down that hole?' He was trying to climb out of this hole, beard coming off, hat gone with some shred of dignity. Made my year that sight.

Oscar Namechange;1470468 wrote: Many years ago, my brother would call at my late sisters house every Christmas Eve where she had all the families kids present as Santa.

One year, after way too many sherberts, he was walking backwards up the front garden path waving goodbye to the children and suddenly vanished. One of the kids asked ' Mummy, Is Santa supposed to fall down that hole?' He was trying to climb out of this hole, beard coming off, hat gone with some shred of dignity. Made my year that sight.
Perfect Xmas Carol - "O Holy Night"!