A year ago we heard 17 young refugees were being brought to the village, all were seeking asylum in France. Malc and I went to meet and greet them as you would any new neighbour. They had come from Calais, from Aghanistan, Sudan, Pakistan, Kurdistan and were all suffering with various health issues and many unable to sleep because of vivid nightmares.
Over the months we grew to know them and all were polite, caring, intelligent young men. I am pleased to say to date 7 have asylum, 10 are still waiting and as yet no one has been defintively refused.
A few weeks ago we heard more refugees were coming, but youngsters between the ages of 14 and 17. Young people who have close family in the UK, some Oxford and London, many Brirmingham and Bradford. They arrived in the middle of the night as the Calais Jungle was being dismantled, frightened and confused. Sadly lacking in warm clothes and shoes. Their applications are being processed at the moment and we hope this will speed up and the youngsters can get to family in the UK before Christmas. I mentioned this to our daughter and her Henley friends and after an appeal, enough money was raised from TAG readers and the Henley group to buy clothes and shoes for the boys.
One picture shows us being silly with gloves as the boys arrived some with scabies, one of the many problems of the camps. The second photo with some of the young men whilst shopping. The lady in blue being the cashier of the shop who joined in the fun and I am in both photos in the stripey top again.
an article written for the Henley Standard.
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