Minivdo: Interview - Nigel Willgrass, Husband Of Louise, Who Died In The Tsunami 2004;

[NBT TV Phuket]

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216592

Our interview is with Nigel Willgrass, husband of Louise, who died in the tsunami of 2004, plus their four children, and Mike and Jane Cornwell, parents of Louise, all from UK. After the tsunami, Nigel & his 4 children Emily, Ben, Michael & Katie, were housed by a Thai couple at a hut in Patong & taken by them to Bangkok. In return of gratitude, they have raised nearly 800,000 British pounds or about 56 million baht so far in support for Thai school students. They made their 1st donation of 1.6m baht & visit on Friday to Ban Ao Por School, government run, near the east coast of Phuket, First Nigel tells us more about their tragic tsunami experience; ……. www.LouiseWillgrassTsunamiFund.co.uk

Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Monday 31 March 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th or http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish

[Tatler]

Amazing people!! nothing else to say about them.

[NBT TV Phuket]

VDO: Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund charity donate to BanAoPor School Phuket

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=720

Special Report for Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, Tuesday 23 September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/

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Local children in Ban Ao Por school, in Thalang district, northern Phuket, were all excited last Friday as they now have a brand new classroom building, the building that they had been seeking funds for, over 15 years. After they were allocated the budget in 2007, it was insufficient resulting in debts. That’s when the Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund charity stepped in. The two storey building is partly sponsored by the UK charity, formed after the 2004 Tsunami by Nigel Willgrass, in remembrance of his wife Louise, who sadly perished in the catastrophe. He set up the charity for which his family of four children, and many friends in UK, have raised, so far, about 800,000 British pounds or about 50 million baht. They donated an initial amount of over 2.2 million baht to add a facility in the ground floor, adding 10 toilet units and a water supply system. It also helped pay off some debts the school has for the construction. Together with advice from local residents Cindy Ratcliffe and Eam Thavornvongwong, Nigel also has future plans to help more schools in Phuket. Nigel recalled the emotional moment when his wife was killed by the tsunami in Patong and how he and their children were well looked after by a Thai family who even drove them up to Bangkok to fly back home. They have returned several times to visit and thank the Thai family and now the Phuket community. He told us that his wife Louise was involved in teaching, so giving something towards education is an appropriate way to return their gratitude. He hopes that the new facility will help improve the quality of local children’s education:

One of the Thai students who is now in Pratom or primary grade 6, aged 12, thanked the charity. She told us that the new and good facility helps inspire her and motivates her to study: The school of Ban Ao Por is located in Paklok of Thalang district, developing quickly with a growing population. It currently has 274 students enrolled, with 40 recently added. It offers kindergarten to primary levels of education to Grade 6. At the official opening ceremony of the new building, the school children also had a chance to show their gratitude in their own style.