Mr and Mrs Mike Cornwell, whose daughter Louise was killed during the Indian Ocean Tsunami last Christmas, receive a cheque for £4,000 from the people of Kenilworth.  The money will go to the Louise Willgrass Appeal to help rebuild a school and orphanage in Phuket, Thailand.  Kenilworth Rotary President, Zig Layton-Henry, represented the Club whose members had collected most of the money in the three days following the disaster. The cheque was handed over by the Kenilworth Mayor, Councillor Pauline Edwards.

When the tsunami struck in December, killing over 200,000 people, the disaster was of such enormous proportion, few of us could get our heads around it. Arnold Bolton (above right) was concerned how the Rotary Club of Kenilworth could make a positive contribution and proposed a collection in Talisman Square. Such was the mood of the moment that people walked over and pushed money into over-full collecting tins, raising over £3,000 in three days. The Mayor of Kenilworth also opened an appeal and more money was added to achieve a £4,000 total. But how could this be used to make a real difference in such a huge disaster? Rotary prides itself on helping individuals as well as raising money for major causes. The decision was to support the Louise Willgrass Appeal, commemorating the life of Louise who was swept away by the tsunami when she left the family car to buy some sun-tan lotion. Her husband Nigel and their four children were sheltered overnight by a local couple, Upin and Pichat, and driven the 12 hour trip to Bankok next day. The appeal will benefit the local community of Patong, Phuket, rebuilding schools and providing education for the children where over 300 have been orphaned or have lost their family bread-winner. If you wish to support the project further, then you may do so here.