TAVISTOCK individuals and organisations have this week been extending sympathy and support to the Japanese. as the effects of the devastating earthquake and tsunami unfold.

Tavistock College has close links with the country, having run exchanges with students in Japan for the last 12 years.

Helen Salmon, college principal, said many students, past and present, had been telephoning, emailing and using Facebook to express sadness at the news and convey their condolences.

She said: 'We have received a call from Mr Iwai, who is the director of the International Society of Educational and Cultural exchange organisation in Tokyo, and he thanked us for our concern.

'He reassured us that no-one from Edogawa Ward, where our partner school is located, was hurt, although there has been structural damage to the school.

We are keeping in close touch — we have sent cards to express our sincere condolences and support for them all at this difficult time.'

Mrs Salmon said some Year 10 students were bag packing at Morrisons last Saturday to raise money for their sports tour. Some of the boys were due to go to Tokyo in November and decided to donate some of the money raised to the tsunami victims.

Crispin Chambers, head of Japanese at the college, lived and worked in Japan for seven years.

He said: 'People are trying to sustain normal life in the chaos, but there are power cuts, shortages of food, water and petrol throughout the whole country.

'But the whole country wants to support the people in north eastern Japan.

'The sad irony is that the north east of Japan is one of the poorest areas in the country, it doesn't have the protection of places like Tokyo. In these small towns on the coast the houses are made of wood — they have heavy roofs, to protect against tornadoes, but with a tsunami, they've just been swept away.'

Mr Chambers said the Japanese were very comforted to receive any messages of support, and had told him that financial support would be best sent to charities helping in the aftermath of the disaster.

The Rev Michael Brierley, priest in charge of Tavistock and Gulworthy, said parishioners were praying night and day for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

He said: 'A member of our congregation was in Christchurch, New Zealand, when the earthquake struck there, and was telling us last Sunday that one of the worst things for survivors is the aftershocks, reminding them of the awful event, and causing further destruction.'

Tavistock Rotary Club will be collecting money for the ShelterBox charity at Morrisons in Tavistock this weekend.

Club president Geri Parlby said: 'We know ShelterBoxes are going in to Japan at the moment are we are doing our utmost to support the charity.

'We feel they have an enormously important part to play in the relief effort for the Japanese people.'

Tavistock resident David Glover, who works at the ShelterBox headquarters at Helston, said: 'There's a huge amount of traffic being created in terms of collections via the Rotary Club in the UK, Ireland and world-wide.'

David said ShelterBox personnel already in Japan had had to make a 'huge detour' because of the exclusion zone to get to their destination.

He said the team was facing harrowing sights while working in the disaster area.

Richard Hamer, president of Tavistock Lions Club, said: '$1.25-million has already been pledged by Lions International, to which Tavistock Lions contribute, and this will be distributed by the Lions in Japan — where there are approximately 100,000 members.

At St Peter's School in Tavistock pupils plan to man a cake stall to raise funds.

A school spokesperson said the idea came from the youngsters themselves: 'We had two Japanese students here some years ago when their father taught at Tavistock College so we remember their visit.'

Pupil Marnie Hoare said: 'I was devastated when I saw the pictures. I have always wanted to live in Japan when I am older to learn more about their music so this has broken my heart.' 

And pupil Livvy Carr said: 'I feel really sorry for the children, it has ruined their lives.

Another pupil, Megan Stone said: 'I couldn't believe it and feel really sorry for the people who have lost everything, including their homes.'

Mary Tavy and Brentor School are holding a pupil takeover day tomorrow (Friday), when the pupils will teach the teachers, who will wear school uniform. Funds raised during the day will be split between the Red Cross and Comic Relief.