AN unforgettable overseas reunion has created special memories for two generations of family, inspired by their Walkhampton grandparents.

The Glanville family travelled to Kenya to help upgrade facilities at a primary school, after vowing to do something special together, in memory of grandparents Frederick and Ellen.

The cousins and in-laws volunteered two weeks of their time, working with charities with Developing World Connections and local organisation Access Kenya, to help pupils and their families improve facilities at Kirinyaga Primary School in the foothills of Mount Kenya.

The family helped to provide pupils with sanitary facilities including a supply of running water.

They travelled from Walkhampton, Plymouth, Cornwall, Kent and Canada to reunite, after making a promise to themselves to come together as a family and do something useful for a community in need.

The Glanvilles were inspired by a trip to Macedonia three years ago, to visit the former battlefield where their grandfather Frederick lost his leg and was left for dead, during the First World War. Happily, Frederick survived and, on returning to Devon became a cobbler, raising his family with Ellen on a smallholding he built in Walkhampton.

Unable to find a community project they could lend a hand to in Macedonia, the family cast further afield and came across the Kirinyaga Primary School project through non-political nd non-religious Canadian charity, Developing World Connections.

‘We were inspired by our grandparents to make this trip, as they were great believers in family get togethers, as well as helping others’ said Frederick and Ellen’s grandaughter Jane Stanford, who celebrated her 68th birthday during their stay.

As soon as they arrived at the school, located some 6,500 feet above sea-level, the family was put straight to work to dig drainage channels, install tanks for harvesting rainwater and foundations, re-build walls and paint doors.

‘From day one we were welcomed by everyone, especially the children,’ said Jane.

‘The teachers and Access Kenya, a local volunteer organisation which oversaw the project, made sure that we were looked after every day, with plenty of work to do.

‘When we went it was in the rainy season. It rained heavily and there was no road, just mud tracks.

‘We worked in mud, we played in mud and we slept in mud, but the whole experience was a blessing.’

Access Kenya organised three local tradesmen to join the team — a mason, a plumber and a carpenter — in order to provide much-needed hygiene facilities for the 380 school pupils.

Jane added: ‘The teachers and Access Kenya made sure that we were looked after every day, with plenty of work to do.

‘We worked rebuilding walls, putting in running water for the toilet blocks, building basins for hand washing, putting up fascia boards, guttering and digging out rain water channels for better drainage around the classrooms.’

With many of the children depending on the school for their one meal of the day, the group, with help from parents at the school, created a large vegetable garden that will be looked after by the pupils.

‘We spent many hours levelling and digging a 75ft x 30ft area to create it, installed fencing and then planted 1,000 plants,’ said Jane.

She and some of the other women in the family also visited and spoke at three schools in the area, about ‘days for girls’ a local euphemism for menstruation – a time of the month during which most girls have to stay away from school, if they are unable to access or afford sanitary protection.

‘We were able to hand out some 150 washable kits to girls who had reached puberty,’ said Jane.

‘We also painted the girls toilet block doors, as well as decorating a room for girls who are mensruating.’

‘During our time at the school, we were all invited into the classrooms, talking to the children about our country and way of life,’ added Jane, who greatly enjoyed the conversations she had with local people.

On her birthday, she was delighted when all children at the school sang several songs in English and Swahili.

‘On the last day of our two week stay at the school, they gave us a farewell, singing to us more lovely Swahili songs,’ added Jane.

‘It was a lovely end to a very memorable two weeks, blessing the Kirinyaga Primary School with positive improvements and they in turn blessed us as a family and individuals with their gratitude and love.

‘Whatever we have done we hope we have done something to make them happy,’ said Jane. ‘We gave them two things they did not have, which was water to the toilets and guttering.

‘We are hoping as a family to go back to the village with the same organisation.’