The County fan doing fantastic work in Uganda
Keith Mills chats to us about his charity, and how you can support the superb work they’re doing in Africa
Friday 25 August 2023
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Friday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
We’ve got an amazing fanbase, we really have. Yeah, there’s the odd muppet who chucks a flare onto the pitch from time to time, and the odd deviant who scrans egg butties on the Fingerpost Flyer, but generally speaking we’re a good bunch.
Enter Keith Mills, a County fan who’s spent the last couple of decades making a huge improvement to the lives of underprivileged children in Uganda. Keith chats to us about the charity today, and there’s also a link to support their latest project. Please chuck a few quid into the pot if you can.
Today’s edition of The Scarf My Father Wore is sponsored by BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Ben. If you’re thinking of having any decorating work done over the coming weeks or months, please see below for further details.
Enjoy today’s issue.
Des Junior
Give us a brief history of the charity.
Jeanette and I were teachers in Uganda in the 1970s. We returned 21 years ago to celebrate our 60th birthdays. On that holiday, we met some amazing people who were dedicating their lives to helping village children who could not afford to go to school.
We were living in France at the time and immediately founded Les Amis d’Ouganda to support their work. Before we returned to live in Stockport almost six years ago, we needed register in the UK. We thus became Forever Friends of Uganda.
As a County fan for some 75 years, many of the people around me are also County fans – half of our trustees for example – as well as those who sponsor children’s education and other members or donors. They have made a considerable difference to what we can achieve.
How often do you travel to Uganda? And what have been your best moments from your travels?
We visit on charity business just about every other year; that is in addition of course to the four years that we worked there.
We taught in a remote village called Koboko (Idi Amin’s birthplace) on the Congo/Sudan border. We were 200 miles from the nearest tarred road, 30 miles (on dirt roads) from the nearest shops and petrol pump. It’s the most remote secondary school in the country. But we loved it. It was a real highlight of our teaching careers.
As far as football was concerned, the top moment was when I refereed an inter-county cup final with President Idi Amin in the crowd. After the final whistle, he sent a message summoning Mr Referee. Oh heck, I thought, is this the end? But in his simplistic way, he just wanted to say thank you. What a relief that was.
During the charity years, there are really too many great moments to mention. But top of the list must be the joy on the children’s faces whenever we visit. They have nothing in their homes: no internet, no television, indeed no electricity. Many of them sleep on the dirt floor of their homes. And yet their faces often radiate happiness.
How can County fans help support the charity?
Immediately? Sponsor Andy in the half marathon.
In the long term? Give a child an education through sponsorship. Become an associate member – this income goes to support disadvantaged children. Or… just spread the word. The more people who sign up to our blog for example, the wider our reach.
What’s Fraser Horsfall’s role and how did you get him involved?
We are delighted to welcome Fraser on board as our player ambassador. He’s volunteered to do all he can to give us a higher visibility and to emphasise our connection to County. It’s something very new both to him and to us. It’s going to be fascinating watching how the role develops. Steve Bellis has been great over the past few years supporting a range of initiatives and it is through him that we made this connection.
What’s your latest project with the charity?
There are two immediate developments. We have recently funded the construction of a skills centre in support of schoolgirls, young women who can’t go to school and other women in the community. The Let Yourself Trust has given us a generous grant to get this moving. We then need to make sure that it can continue successfully.
Our next target is to raise funds for a well at the school. In the dry season our colleagues on the spot have to pay motorcycle taxi riders (boda bodas) to bring cans of water to the school.
What are the kids in Uganda like to work with? Are they massively into their football?
The kids are a a joy to teach. Education is so important to them. It is a pleasure to help them to have the possibility of a meaningful life. Our sponsorship scheme has already produced a lawyer, a doctor, a radio presenter, business people and artisans – all of them from very poor backgrounds.
Football? They love it. For the past 15 years Forever Friends of Uganda has supported the Maganjo Wisdom Academy with donations of kit and tracksuits received from County, the fans and the Community Trust. Long may it continue.
Click here to read the Forever Friends of Uganda blog.
Today’s sponsor: BGM Decorators
Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.
BGM Decorators is a family business that has been in the trade since 1988. They’ve been built on hard work, honesty, and a high quality service that has consistently enhanced their reputation. They provide a painting and decorating service on a domestic and commercial basis across Stockport, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as well as offering tenant turnover services and working alongside estate agencies and private landlords.
Click here for contact details.
Today in SK
🎶 DJ
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.
🍟 Food and drink
Lite bite meal deal at The Friary (SK3). Cod or haddock, served with chips, and a side of peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.95. 11.30am - 7.30pm.
Friday Fiesta at TRUNK (SK7). Live music from Leon Meya starting at 7.30pm. Great company, tasty tapas and flowing drinks – what more could you want? Call 0161 222 9260 to book a table, and mention “The Scarf My Father Wore” to receive a 15% discount off the normal tapas menu.
🎸 Live music
The Select Committee at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 8pm.
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