Latest News
Please read the reports below for the latest news from the trustees. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We will be
happy to keep you up-to-date on the status of our current projects.
The following reports are available:
"First Student Placement Brings Norwich City Football Club Donation"
Report Date: November 2009
 
Earlier in the year, a gap year student called Matthew North approached Nigel Willgrass about going to Phuket, and helping out at Ban Ao Po school. The LWTF trustees agreed,
and were delighted to make arrangements with the school in readiness for Matthew's arrival.
Matthew spent a month in Phuket, and whilst he was there, he interacted with the children during their lessons, and played football with them.
He also took three sets of football kit with him, kindly donated by Norwich City Football Club. The children were delighted to receive the kits, and are all now keen Norwich City supporters!
The picture shows Matthew North (far right) presenting the Norwich City Football kits to the school. He is joined by Cindy Radcliffe from the LWTF in Phuket. Additional photos taken
during Matthew's placement can be viewed in our photo gallery.
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"Memorial Charity Tennis Tournament 2009"
Report Date: September 2009
East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club hosted the fifth annual Louise Willgrass Memorial Tennis Tournament.
Thirty two pairs of ladies descended on the club on the one sunny day of the week, but blustery winds created somewhat difficult conditions for tennis.
After a round robin stage, a sumptuous lunch prepared by Didi Briggs and her team was served, with much of the food being kindly donated. Special thanks to Philip Baker for the meat, Tim Plaice for the delicious strawberries, and donations from Ford & Yarham (salmon), the Greengrocery, Paula Taylor (cheese) and the Artisan Bakery.
A raffle and silent auction was held, with many fabulous prizes donated including a much-bid-for tennis outfit from Pilch/Jarrold. The Pavilion donated a selection of beauty treatments, and The Hub restaurant donated a generous meal voucher.
Just short of £1,800 was raised on the day, partly going to the Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund and partly to CRUSE, the bereavement counselling service. The LWTF has rebuilt a school and built a new nursery in Phuket. New funds are going towards equipment, and future plans include building more schools in the area.
After lunch, the top 16 pairs competed in a knock-out competition, with the final being contested by Susie Hill and Simone Davies (Norwich EAT&SC) against Liz Lake and Lynne Madge (Acle TC), with Susie and Simone prevailing 6-3. Flowers supplied by Libby Ferris Flowers were presented by Emily Willgrass.
East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club (affectionately referred to as just "Lime Tree Road") kindly allowed the tournament to take over the facilities which offers 10 hard courts, 7 of which are floodlit and 5 squash courts as well as fitness and pilates classes. New manager, Rob Hall, has plenty of plans to upgrade the club so to find out more about special membership rates and what it can offer you, please call him on 01603 453532.
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"The New Nursery Opens at Ban Para School"
Report Date: June 2009
After eight weeks of hard work and dedication by the construction team on site, we are delighted to report that the new nursery at Ban Para School is now open.
Building work finished on schedule and the children have already started to make use of the new facility. There are many more things that the school would like us to help with in the future, which we will consider at a later date when additional funds allow.
Nigel Willgrass and the LWTF trustees would like to say a special "thank you" to Joan Holroyd for her considerable donation, which made the building of the new nursery possible. A commemorative plaque on the wall outside the nursery, also acknowledges her support and bears her name.
Additional photos of the new nursery facility at Ban Para School can be viewed in our photo gallery.
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"Work Begins on the Nursery Project at Ban Para School"
Report Date: May 2009
We are pleased to announce that the nursery project has started at Ban Para School.
Work began on the 1st April 2009 with initial site prepartions, which included the clearing and
demolition of the old nursery building.
We decided to help when we learned that the existing nursery was too dangerous for the children to be in.
It was falling down and rotting away because termites had eaten away at the wood. This meant that the school was in urgent need of a new nursery facility.
To date, the builders are approximately half way through construction. Once completed, the new nursery will house around 60 children.
We will let you know when the nursery is finished, but in the meantime, why not visit our photo gallery to see some pictures of the work currently taking place on site.
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"Mike Cornwell Launches Tour to Update Supporters"
Report Date: October 2008
On the 13th October 2008, Michael Cornwell (Louise's father), gave a presentation about the work of the LWTF to his
fellow Rotarians and guests at the Rotary Club of Swaffham. This was the first of many such presentations planned, with a view to travelling
up and down the country, and updating supporters on the fund's achievements to date.
Michael's talk covered the period from the moment the tsunami first struck, the return of
the family to Norwich, the ideas behind starting the fund in memory of Louise, and the progress made.
It was an opportunity to explain why the fund is moving in a slightly different direction, and with the aid of slides, it was a chance to celebrate the
completion of the fund's first major renovation project; a new classroom block for 286 children at "Ban Ao Po" school.
Both Michael and Jane have already met many of the very generous donors to the LWTF appeal. They send
their greetings and best wishes to you, and would appreciate the opportunity of coming to speak to you, your club or organisation, if desired.
The renewed focus on renovating schools means that your continued support is
still very much required. So much has been achieved to date, that Michael would welcome the chance to share the latest news with you in person.
If you would like to arrange a presentation, you can or call his mobile on 07768 914001. He would be very pleased to hear from you.
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"A Renewed Focus on Rebuilding Existing Schools" by Nigel Willgrass
Report Date: September 2008
The aim of the LWTF was to help with education in Thailand. The
original plan was to build a new school in partnership with the Asia Foundation. I never realised how many hurdles there were to overcome, and one thing
I realised early on, was that all of our fantastic supporters wanted results quickly.
There have been so many delays with regards to building our own school, that
I decided to move things on temporarily, in a slightly different direction.
I had been approached by Cindy Radcliffe MBE to see if the LWTF could help a local school called "Ban Ao Po", because their facilities were very limited,
and they needed a new classroom block for 286 children. I met with the trustees in the UK, and we decided that we wanted to support
this project, and from the website, you can now see the finished building, together with the new toilet
block and water purification system. Visit our Achievements page to see some pictures.
It really has been fantastic to see the joy the children get from going to school, and using the new facilities. The big
advantage with this school, is that the LWTF does not have to worry about staffing.
Moving forward, it is my intention to help other schools in Phuket with limited facilities, and that need new classrooms etc. However the LWTF would
still like to build its own school, but at the moment we can help more children by providing new facilities at their existing schools.
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"The Opening of the New Classroom Block at Ban Ao Po School"
Report Date: September 2008
In September 2008, Nigel Willgrass visited Phuket to celebrate the official opening of the new classroom block at "Ban Ao Po" school.
During a two hour ceremony, the school children performed a traditional Thai dance, played music and sang various songs,
including "Love Your Home Town" (a song about the sea and where they live)
and a specially written "Huloo Ao Por" song, to say 'Thank You' to the Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund.
Guests at the opening ceremony included the Director of Phuket Education, the
Director of the Ban Ao Po school, LWTF trustees, as well other Thai education officials and supporters. Members of the press and Thai media were also in attendance, not only to record the day's events, but to interview Nigel Willgrass for Thai television; (see the related link below).
During this visit, Nigel also looked at other possible renovation projects in the area. He found one of particular
interest, which the trustees might like to support if sufficient funds allow.
The project would be to construct a new building for 70 nursery children, but whether or not we will go ahead with this is currently under review.
In addition to the above, Nigel met with Khun Eam (the chairman of our Thai based charity), in order to change the Directors.
It is the trustees intention to add Cindy Radcliffe and Ron Amos to the Thai Board. More details will be released as soon as these appointments have been confirmed.
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"Deal to Buy Land for the New School Gets Underway"
Report Date: September 2005
In September 2005, Nigel Willgrass and Keith Watts, journeyed back to Phuket, with a view to securing a land deal that looked as though it was in progress back in
June 2005.
Unfortunately after much discussion and analysis, the land originally sought by the charity was
dismissed due to the unsuitability of the soil and the fact that much of it was held together by tree roots!
We were therefore very fortunate to have the services of Richard Scott-Wilson of Foster and Partners (Architects), who flew to Phuket from their
Singapore office, to advise us and identify possible sites for development. We were also advised by C.P. Leong of DLS Quantity Surveyors who were able
to supply quick estimates for clearing and levelling the land.
After much discussion with both Richard and Roelien (the Director of the existing day care centre), we have agreed to
purchase land equivalent to about 5.5 acres (12 rai) for an amount of approximately £370K (26.4 million baht).
A deposit of £74,000 (5,28 million baht) has subsequently been paid, and contract negotiations are moving forward
rapidly.
This will allow the project to provide care for up to 500 children between the ages of 2yrs to 16yrs with either full time care being provided during the day,
living accommodation for those in need, and recreation for the elder children who can come to the centre at the weekend.
The team of architects, led by Lord Norman Foster, Andy Miller and Richard Scott-Wilson will prepare the required drawings (together with C P Leong of DLS Quantity Surveyors) by the end of 2005,
and the development of the land and the building is targeted to commence prior to August 2006, with an approximate finish date of August 2007.
We are extremely excited by the commencement of the project, now that it is finally taking shape. Our next visit to Phuket will be in November 2005 when we are hoping to finalise on the purchase of land, and gain the necessary planning permission.
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"Thai Based Charity Created for Legal Purposes"
Report Date: September 2005
The trustees of the LWTF have recently discovered that in order to
purchase land in Phuket, the UK charity must have a legal presence in Thailand. The LWTF cannot buy the land for the
new school without it.
Given this fact we have had to create a Thai based charity, which has five
officially appointed Directors. These are Khun Eam (who will be the chairman), Nigel Willgrass,
Keith Watts, and two other people from the Asia Foundation, who are also working in the area.
The Thai based charity has only been set up to meet legal requirements, and it will effectively
operate under the guidance and direction of the trustees based in the UK. It does not have an office because any decisions taken about which new projects to support
will be made by the trustees in the UK, and not by the Directors of our Thai based charity.
It is also our intention in the future, to add to or change the current
list of Directors, because we wish to include those people who are actively involved in completing our projects on the ground.
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"Upin and Pitchat Accept an Offer to Get Involved"
Report Date: September 2005
Upin and Pitchat, the Thai couple who helped Nigel and his
family after the Boxing Day tragedy, have been asked if they would like to be involved with the new school project.
We are delighted to confirm that they jumped at the chance, and in the interim we have rented them a property, and they have immediately taken in 5 young children, who
are deemed to be at 'very high risk' in their local community from drugs and prostitution. This property will not only be Upin and Pitchat's new home for the time being,
but it will also act as a 'safe house' and refuge for the street children in urgent need.
Upin and Pitchat have also agreed to live on the site of the new school when the development is finally complete.
Upin will assist with the care of the children, and act as a cook for the daycare centre and orphanage. Pitchat has agreed to
act as the 'handyman' and driver when required. We are very grateful for all they have done and for their continued support.
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"First Trip Back to Phuket to Assess Likely Projects"
Report Date: June 2005
On the 4th June 2005, the trustees of the The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund (LWTF), Nigel Willgrass, Keith Watts and Jon Pemberton, re-visited Phuket to assess the situation on the ground,
and decide how the money raised could be effectively spent.
This was Nigel's first visit to Thailand since the tsunami, and although very nervous and skeptical
as to what he might find, he remained very focused as to the purpose of the visit. Both Keith and Jon had already been back to Phuket (post tsunami), to retrieve the body of Nigel's wife Louise, after many delays.
The trustees visited a day care centre for children who are either orphaned or reside in the slum areas of Phuket and who currently have care in temporary accommodation at Phuket International Hospital.
There are presently 33 children at the centre who are aged between 2 and 6 years old. The centre would like to increase its numbers to 150 children initially and then in time to some 500, such is the need for this type of continual daily care.
Nigel, Keith and Jon therefore decided after visiting other very needy projects in the area,
that this should be their main focus and are therefore in negotiation to purchase 3 acres of land in the centre of Phuket to relocate these children.
The LWTF have on board, one of the worlds most renowned architects, Lord Norman Foster who is ready to send his team
to Phuket to design the new premises, providing both a day care centre and orphanage initially.
The LWTF will also be providing transport for these children, as many of the families
who have taken the children in, are either too poor to provide transport, or are desperately working
all hours available to forge any kind of living to provide for these children.
Nigel, Keith and Jon will continually travel back to Phuket to oversee the project and ensure that the money raised is invested directly into the project, thus
alleviating any concerns that many have had with regards to administration costs reducing the money available.
Many thanks to our guides and interpreters Trevor Fisher and John Farrington.
We are also grateful to Simone Allene, who took us to the Phuket Sunshine Village for Children, and Klau Orlick at the Poseidon Crusaders Child Centre. We would
also like to thank the Lifehome Project and the Patong Child Care Center for allowing us to visit, and see the work they are doing with the poor and
underprivileged street orphans who are in desperate need of help.
Lastly, in addition to the above, we were also able to track down Upin and Pitchat,
the couple who helped Nigel and his children to safety. We found out that their landlord has evicted
them and has sold the land they were living on. Although they would accept no monies when Keith and Jon visited last time, we have informed them that we want
to help, and they have agreed to look for some land or property that we could buy or rent for them in the future.
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