A FORMER pupil from Rivington and Blackrod High School has helped out the Kenyan Government with a spot of handiwork.

Corporal Stephen Thorne, 28, who hails from Adlington, spent three months in Africa working on projects to help children.

Along with 135 colleagues from the Wiltshire regiment, he helped to pipe water to a school and local ranch. He also built dormitories and kitchens to enable children to stay at school during the week instead of risking a dangerous trek home through the bush.

The soldiers had to face horrendous weather conditions with an amazing 40 inches of rain in what was supposed to be the dry season. Shortly after they arrived, torrential rains swept away a main bridge cutting off hundreds of villages.

Members of the Royal Engineers, known as 'Sappers', were given just four weeks to repair the bridge before returning to their renovation work at the school.

Stephen said:" It was hard work, but fun. We had to cope with temperatures of 43 degrees, thousands of mosquitoes and all sorts of insects and animals.

"The food has been good, but the local food was a bit ropey. I don't think that I will be eating maize porridge again."

Stephen had more hard work waiting for him at home.

"My wife, June, gave birth to our second son, Ryan, in December, just five days before I came out, but I was sent lots of photographs," he said.

The finished results at the school won the headmaster's seal of approval and the local workforce gained many practical skills.

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