This story will be told as it happened, sorry about spelling or punctuation, gee thanks to spell check.

Well, the story continues, 24 Hr Traveling and we hit the ground running.

Three fire engines to kit out and get rolling to three towns.

Two arrived the day before us, the second still at the docks in Mombasa.

First challenge get the third released from the docks, not what you know but who and its on its way.

We spilt into three teams, Kisumu, Chucka and Meru these are towns north of Nairobi.

The plan was for each team, a mixture of Paramedics, firefighters, fire safety advisors, IT technicians and mechanical technicians all volunteers to head off to these three towns.

Kit shared out and off we go.

I was in the Meru team the starting point for all teams.

Well, apart from the kit on the appliances that had arrived, some kit had been sitting there for years, not been started or just broken down.

The fire fighters cracked on with there training, updating the existing team and new recruits on the latest technics from UK.

Fire entry to sites, ladder rescue, and hose laying are amongst the varied training that went on.

Myself training on the maintenance of kit they where using.

There where three of us concentrating on getting anything that needed to be repaired, Fire Engines, water pumps, Ladders and generators.

We got on with what ever needed to be sorted.

We got two generators up and running ready to deliver to schools that struggle to have a constant supply of electricity.

They where delivered and connected ready for use.

We purchased with the money donated and from our own pockets, exercise books, pens, pencils, rubbers and lots more that should cover these schools for the next two/three terms.

Sad but most of these children shed a tear just because they had an exercise book to right in.

Something we take for granted.

I will continue this very humbling story tomorrow.

Well, tomorrow came and went, but here goes.

There where a lot of ups and downs, so sad to see the poverty that most of us see on TV and quickly change Chanel or moan about these adds.

Well, you guys helped big time..

I cant remember the last time i was laying in dust and up to my elbows in grease and trap but thing s where achieved.

We had to play the political bit two, the handing over of the keys to the county governors with the drums beating and the lady dancing.

We had to do displays of ladder rescue and running out the hoses, i have to say the guys and girls got it off to a tee.

A really successful trip, saving up for the next one next year..

Bedfordshire Fire Service in conjunction with Luton Worship Centre who are a registered charity helping with educational programs in Kenyan schools. They have also taken on the challenge of training new Kenyan Fire Fighters to use the fire engines and equipment donated by Bedfordshire Fire Service.

I work for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue in Technical services department ensuring the equipment carried on all our Fire appliances, are maintained and ready for the fire fighters to carry out there challenging and varied situations, which confront them on a daily basis.

I was approached by Brian Middleton Transport manager HFRS asking if I would like to help Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service in a charity based project.

With the wonderful help of a local charity based in Luton, Bedfordshire Fire Service have been able to donated fire appliances to a number of Kenyan outlying communities since 2009.

There will be volunteers from the Bedfordshire Fire Service, Bedfordshire Paramedic Services and now Hertfordshire Fire Service that will be training the Kenyan fire fighters on fire prevention, fighting fires, First Aid and Maintenance.
Some of us will be visiting schools and villages, advising them also on fire prevention and safety.

Hertfordshire Fire service have donated a variety of equipment to assist with training.

We have had donated 9 laptops and a variety of school equipment that will be given to schools that are in desperate need of this equipment.

So I am heading off on the 6th June to help this worthy cause.

If anyone wishes to donate — all monies raised will be passed on to the charity to buy more equipment for schools and help continue with this invaluable work.

Thank you

Alan