CHINESE EARTHQUAKE 2008

When a devastating earthquake hit the Sichuan province of south west China I decided not to cancel the holiday which I had already booked but to go and take some much-needed supplies to some of those affected. The story was picked up by a local newspaper back in England and by the local BBC radio and television station in Oxford. This page is a record of that trip for friends and relatives in England, Scotland, Ireland and Australia who gave generous donations and helped in many other ways. My thanks to you all and also to all my Chinese friends who helped and encouraged the venture.
-- John Henshall

BBC Television Oxford News 17 July 2008

If you have a problem playing the video try this which will open it in a new window.
It should download and play immediately.

A very nice web feature complete with a gallery of nineteen of pictures and an audio recording of a live radio interview with Jo Thoenes on BBC Radio Oxford on 17 July 2008 is available on the BBC website.
Thank you BBC Oxford!

A full recording (17 minutes) of the live radio interview with Jo Thoenes is also available here.

For a couple of days we were the lead story on the BBC England homepage. Unbelievable. Screengrab here.

All the above was because of articles in the local Oxford Mail and Wantage & Grove Herald newspapers.
Click the above links to download clippings of these articles.
This is a link to the online version of the article in the
Oxford Mail (but this has fewer photos).

I had a very nice letter from my Member of Parliament, Ed Vaizey.

ALL THIS IS THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS:
Graham Armitage, Tony and Valerie Briselden, Norman Childs, Ruth and Daniel Chester, Despo Christie, Tony and Hazel Eatough, Lorraine and Peter Fitzgerald, Margaret and Malcolm Gregory, Wilf Healy, Peter and Fran Hodges, Celia and Jim Holgate, William Lowe, Ruaridh and Ann McLeod, Helen Meade, Jay Myrdal, Dave and Margot Pattison, Turlough and Nuala Rafferty, Pat Shirreff-Thomas, Andrew Stickley and alphabetically last -- but by no means least -- Ron Taylor.
THANKS ALSO TO
Wang YuYing (Angie Wong) who arranged everything in China.
THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN.

If you are thinking of visiting the Sichuan area of China, or want permits for - and travel to - Tibet, or like Pandas, contact Angie and mention me.
One tourist from Spain
says online, "the only competant travel agency in all China"! Well she is very good!

Home