Ashfords staff remember the victims of the forgotten Tsunami...Employees at West Country law firm donate funds for Solomon Islanders...
Introduction
Staff at West Country law firm Ashfords in Tiverton have been helping the firm's retired former managing partner Christopher Palmer raise money for Solomon Islanders whose homes and land were completely devastated by a Tsunami which struck in April 2007.
Following an earthquake measuring an incredible 8.1 on the Richter scale, a tidal wave hit sea-level villages and completely decimated everything in its path.
This week, Janet McKnight presented Christopher Palmer with a cheque worth £260 towards his fundraising efforts for the Solomon Islanders on behalf of staff at Ashfords' Tiverton office.
Christopher Palmer explains: "They call it the 'forgotten Tsunami' – and even though the Solomon Islands are only 1,500 miles north east of Australia, there is little known about the impact of this disaster.
"There seems to be a complete lack of information and little in the way of relief efforts, yet we know, from the personal letters that we have received, that lives, houses and complete villages have been destroyed.
"In a modest way, we wish to help fill the gap and help these people to re-build their lives. And, through fundraising and generous donations like we've received from the staff at Ashfords, we can take steps towards doing that."
Christopher Palmer's long-term involvement with the Solomon Island villagers is the legacy of his God Father, Ninian Scott-Elliot, who lived and ran a 2,000 acre plantation in Rendova Harbour for over 25 years.
This development meant that local villagers secured work, houses, a shop and a church, the likes of which they had not experienced before.
And, although the Solomon Islands political situation changed in 1978, forcing Scott-Elliot to move away and sell his land, which rapidly became derelict once more, he never forgot the people of Rendova Harbour and Madali Point. Mr Scott-Elliot set up funds for schooling and housing projects and, both he and his sister left money for the charity when they died.
Soon after he retired, Christopher and Jennifer Palmer visited the villages. They spent over a month ensuring that Scott-Elliot's funds were used for setting up new house building schemes, schooling plans, boat repairs, subsistence projects, and even a tourist-attraction. However, all their efforts were completely destroyed when the Tsunami struck in April last year.
Mr Palmer continues: "The two communities that we have been involved with at Rendova Harbour and Madali Point want and need to rebuild their houses themselves.
"They are capable of that given time and provided that they have the tools to do so. They need roofing sheets, saws, hammers, nails and pangas.
"They also need to replace their water tanks and, I suspect, there will be a need for medicines and first aid. The monies donated by staff at Ashfords in Tiverton will go directly to the communities to help them re-build their lives."
Anyone wishing to make a donation towards Christopher Palmer's Solomon Islands Tsunami appeal should contact him via Ashfords in Tiverton on 01884 203010.
