Companions Volunteer Week in Nairobi

A group of Companions, along with a group of Sixth Formers from St Aloysius' College, Glasgow, spent a memorable ten days doing hospitaller work in Nairobi. They visited the Nyumbani Aids Orphanage, Mirror of Hope, Foundation of Hope, Community Health Workers, and Sisters of Charity Home as well as working in four schools in Kibera Slum. Alice Murphy joined us for dinner on Thursday when we were celebrating the birthdays of two members of the group. Many thanks to Annabel, Rachel, Pam, Marie, Nicola, Julie,Tommy, Jim, Ellie, Alexandra,Olivia,Hannah, Lewis, Matthew, Michael and Danny. Also to our hosts, Thomas Nyawir, Madame Beatrice (Principal of St Aloysius High School), Sister Anastasia (Headmistress, Laini Saba Primary School), Mr Daniel Odiengo (Principal, St Christine's Primary School), Madame Angeline (Principal, St Cecilia's Primary School) and Mr David Dinda (Director for the Foundation of Hope). We are also very grateful to the Loreto Sisters, especially Sister Phyllis, who lodged us.

Castle Craig Gala Day - Saturday June 30th 2012

Two of our members, Peter and Margaret Ann McCann, have very kindly invited all of us to help at a barbecue and Gala Day at Castle Craig, West Linton, Peebles, on Saturday 30th June 2012. The clients from the Margaret Blackwood Housing Association will be there along with many clients of the Order of Malta's Dial-a-Journey facility in Stirling so plenty of help will be needed for what is always a wonderful day.

Kenya Update

A party of eighteen Companions from Scotland and London will be working in Kibera, Nairobi in February. They also hope to visit the Health Workers in other slums.

The Lamu Hospital projects are going well and Alice sends the following update:

1. There was a boat crash in early January with many killed or still missing The patients were brought to the Lamu District Hospital and were able to be treated there due to the new equipment we have provided - lights, operating bed etc... etc...

2. The Doctors' House is in stage of completion and the volunteer doctors from the UK are due to arrive in early February. I am going down there on Monday for 3 nights to make sure it is all ok.

3. Big medical camp upcoming in mid February with free medical treatment for all. Last year 4,500 patients were treated by volunteer doctors from around the world. This is only possible now due to the new equipment and facilities that are available thanks to the kind and generous donations we have received from you.

Knights' Ball - Saturday February 25th 2012

http://www.prestonfield.com

The Knights' Ball, the main fund-raising event of the Order of Malta in Scotland, will take place in the glamorous Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, on Saturday 25th February 2012 Tickets are available now via the Knights' Ball website.

Dundas Castle Conversazione

The Christmas Conversazione, graciously hosted by our Companion, Lady Stewart-Clark. was a huge success and has already raised more than £7000 with money still coming in. The professionals, actress Lorraine McIntosh, opera singer Ann Archibald and reader Lofty Buchanan were joined by a group of Sixth Formers from St Aloysius' College, Glasgow, to start Christmas with a bang. Many thanks to all and to Lady Bruntisfield who masterminded the ticket-sales so successfully. The money is now going to two of our Kenyan projects, the Marsabit Famine Relief programme run by Malteser International from Nairobi and the village hospital at Lamu. Many thanks to all who supported the evening in any way,especially our principal sponsors, C.R.Smith, and Margaret and Matthew Reilly of Suburban Taverns, Glasgow, who donated the wine.

Hay of Seaton Memorial Lecture

Matthew Festing, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, will give the Hay of Seaton Memorial Lecture at Aberdeen University on Monday 16th April. The lecture will be repeated on Wednesday 18th April in London. Further details to follow - the website has some background to the lectures, albeit very out-of-date: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/​hayofseaton/background.php

Christmas Conversazione - 12th December 2011

The Christmas Conversazione in Dundas Castle on Monday 12th December is fast-approaching and all the seats have been sold. The readers will be the ever-green Lofty Buchanan and the delightful Lorraine McIntosh. As well as her fame as a singer/song-writer with Deacon Blue, Lorraine is the star of Ken Loach's film "My Name Is Joe", and Lone Scherfig's "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself", as well as several episodes of "Taggart" and "River City"; she has just finished a highly-acclaimed run of "Men Should Weep" with the National Theatre of Scotland. The carols will be performed and led by this year's Kibera Companions of St Aloysius' College Sixth form, and Ann Archibald, a former principal soprano with Scottish Opera, E.N.O. and Royal Danish Opera will perform some arias. The event is generously sponsored by C.R.Smith.

Directions to the Castle, kindly lent to us for the evening by one of our Companions, Lady Stewart-Clark, can be found HERE.

Kibera Ceilidh

Many thanks to all who supported the Kibera Ceilidh on November 25th in Glasgow. More than £2000 was raised after expenses and this will be a substantial donation to the rebuilding of Laini Saba Primary School in Kibera.

Monday 12th December 7.30 p.m. Dundas Castle

A Christmas Social Event with cabaret, music, wine, carols and light supper will be held at Dundas Castle, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9SS by kind permission of Sir Jack and Lady Stewart-Clark in aid of Lamu District Hospital, Kenya and Marsabit Famine Relief
Ticket: £30 (contact Liam Devlin or Jan Bruntisfield)

Sunday 4th December 2011 Day of Recollection

The Delegation's Day of Recollection will take place on Sunday 4th December 2011 from 10.30a.m. – 4 p.m. at Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peebleshire, EH44 6PW by kind permission of Catherine Maxwell-Stuart.

The cost is £25 and places are limited to 30. (contact: Philip Scrope)

Friday 25th November 7.30 p.m.

Ceilidh for Kibera 7.30 p.m. in Christ the King Church Hall, 220 Carmunnock Road, Glasgow, G44 5AP. Run by the young people going to Kibera in February 2012 in aid of the Community Health Workers of the Order of Malta and Laini Saba Primary School, Kibera. Tickets £10 each from Liam Devlin

Thursday 10th November 6.15: Order Requiem

The Annual Requiem Mass for the Delegation will be celebrated on Thursday 10th November, at 6.15 for 6.30 p.m. in St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh.

The Cathedral has excellent wheelchair access and there will be a reception afterwards in the Cathedral Hall.