The charity, Making Things Happen in Sierra Leone, is making excellent progress with the renovations at the Thomas Peters School in Freetown.

Dobbs combined personal and charitable commitments in a long-overdue visit to Sierra Leone in June. During a whirlwind trip, she was introduced to both schools and meet staff and pupils by Doreen Fergusson, our project coordinator. Visiting the schools gave her an 'up, close and personal' perspective on why the Charity needs to do the work it does.

The 2011 Family Fun Day at Lewisham Methodist Church went off well, despite occasional showers.

There has been a wonderful response to our appeal and we have received toys, cuddly bears and even kitchen items. Keep them coming and thank you so much to our generous supporters. If you would like to try your luck, rafffle tickets are available from the trustees and you can contact us by email or phone

We are delighted to share the wonderful news that a new toilet block has been completed at Regent Rural Education Community Primary School.

Progress of work rebuilding the school toilets, currently at roof level.

The pictures show the beginning of the rebuilding of Regent Rural Education Community Primary School toilets. Present at the site on Friday 11th February were the Head Teacher, Mr Leigh, Project Co-ordinator, Doreen Fergusson, Contractor, Sylvester Gouldson and some of his workmen. Prior to the start of the building work, the Sierra Leone tradition"pouring libation", a tradition inherited from our ancestors.

There was music so the children were able to dance and really enjoy themselves. The photographs show how much fun the children had on the day The headmaster was also able to arrange for the front of the school to be painted in the school colours with the balance of the donation.

Sunday 5th December 2010, The Lottie Betts-Priddy Education Trust held its Carol Service at St. Alban the Martyr Church, 1 Whitehorse Lane, South Norwood, London, SE25 6RD. The service was conducted by Father Russell Lawson and included musical performances from Sedgehill School Brass Band and a clarinet recital by Josephine Hazeley-Jones. Readings from the Bible were read by Ayoni Williams and Ransford Davies-King.

Vida Scannell, our second gap year volunteer has returned from three weeks in Sierra Leone. She had a wonderful experience and the children in both Regent School and Thomas Peters Schools were very excited to participate.

Johnny Sow spent three weeks assisting, Mr. Kanu, the senior maths teacher with the top class. Conditions were difficult but he has found it a rewarding experience.

In celebration of the Day of the African Child (June 16th); we held a Family Fun Day on July 18th at the Lewisham Methodist Church, Albion Way, Lewisham.

Regent Rural Education Community Primary School is one of two schools the Trust is currently focussing on. These pictures were taken during Isa Davies' recent trip to Sierra Leone.

The Thomas Peters Primary School is one of the schools the Trust is proposing to support. Located right in the centre of Freetown, it is named after one of the City's founders.

Day of the African Child Celebrity Auction held at Silk and Spice Restaurant, Temple Court, 11 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4N 4UJ.

Family Fun Day at Lewisham College, Breakspears Building, London, SE4 1UT. The venue was donated by our Patron, Ruth Silver, Principal of Lewisham College.

In 2002, we celebrated with a dinner-dance in Crystal Palace. Baroness Howells, our patron, spoke before dinner. The event was well attended with many guests wearing their most elegant African outfits.

Lottie went to the Lome Peace Conference in Togo in June/July 1999 as a Civil Society representative.

Lottie celebrated her 49th birthday with pupils at the RonSab School, a private primary school owned by her family in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was the proprietress and taught there for several years up to her death.