Musical instruments appeal for Tanzania

He set up a Tear Fund project to build a hostel for schoolchildren in the village of Kilolo but months later he wants to do more '“ and he needs your help.

If you have an old musical instrument lying in an attic, under the bed or forgotten in a cupboard then get in touch '“ Mike wants to give these youngsters thousands of miles away the chance to set up their own band.

He was recently offered 40 band uniforms including claret jackets with brass buttons and dress cords which once belonged to the Hastings Corps of Drums.

He snapped up the chance and has already shipped the uniforms out to Kilolo where the pupils of St Michael's school are waiting eagerly '“ but now they need something to play.

He went last year to the village which is 6,000ft above sea level, and "very cold", with a small group of Tear Fund volunteers and became involved with practical work being done to improve the lives of children there and in neighbouring village Luganga. The group helped build a hostel for accommodation so that schoolgirls could board there instead of living away from school, but also became involved in solving other day-to-day problems such as an electricity generator which did not work, or organising purchase of a hose so that transportation of water no longer had to be carried laboriously by hand or balanced on top of workers' heads.

Mike, of Green Lane in Little Common, now believes learning musical instruments and having their own band will make a huge difference to the children at the school.

He said: "Can anybody help?

"Has anybody got anything stuck in their loft that perhaps doesn't get used? I will take any instruments that people have got and collect them together, and then if there is another team going out there I will try to get them to take something out there. Otherwise we will just have to airfreight them out."

Mike, 69, has lived in Little Common for two years having moved from Wraysbury in Middlesex. He worked as senior manager for Tear Fund and in that capacity has travelled all around the globe to help out in crisis areas, such as Darfour, Burundi, and Banda Aceh. He has joined in the relief effort for victims of the Tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lankha, and has also been sent out to New Zealand, Australia and the far east.

His visit last June to Kilolo however continues to inspire him as he formed lasting bonds with people living there not least headmaster of St Michael's school, Bernard Mgeni.

"It is called a transforming trip," commented Mike.

"It is all about transformation of people '“ it transforms you as well as others."

For information about similar trips you can go to www.tearfund.co.uk/transform. Anyone wishing to donate a musical instrument however can call Mike on 01424 846383.