I am a retired Senior Bank Manager, and have lived in a small village in the East Midlands for the past 30 years.

I first came across the charity "Hamelin Fistula UK" almost 40 years ago and have been supporting them ever since, both by covenanted financial donations, and by working with friends to create knitted blankets to be sent to provide cheer and comfort to their patients in Ethiopia, who are being treated for the devastating childbirth injury known as Obstetric Fistula.

In 2026 the UK arm of the charity, Hamlin Fistula UK, asked supporters if anyone would be willing to be trained to act as a volunteer speaker to spread the word of this vital work, and I was delighted to be chosen to do so. I have a professionally produced slide/video presentation, created by the charity, which I will bring on my laptop, so it just requires a digital projector and a screen/white wall.

Obstetric Fistula is almost unknown now in the UK, and if it does occur can be successfully treated immediately, but in the third world women can suffer in pain and humiliation for years without help. I look forward to being able to raise the profile of this very worthwhile cause.