Beryl Thyer Memorial Africa Trust (BTMAT)

Dr Ellionora Orpelli is something else again! Elli was a friend of my wife Jenny; a live wire, a bundle of fun, and a highly respected locum doctor at Jenny’s practice. Elli has always declared an interest in the work of BTMAT, and BTMAT has cherished its link with Elli, in the hope that one…

CCLGPODC sounds like a Welsh village, but in fact is the ‘Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group; Paediatric Oncology in Developing Countries’. This is an organisation of doctors working for the NHS in the UK, all of whom are specialists in child cancer, and have a particular interest in child cancer in developing countries. Their aim…

After spending the last days of October and the first days of November at the 43rd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Auckland New Zealand, I am full of admiration for what the organisers achieved; a balance of scientific advances in the developed world and down-to-earth simple issues directed at developing…

Dr Paul Wharin, a retired family doctor in Kettering, and a neighbour of Peter, is a solid Christian in the Baptist tradition, and an active and highly respected Trustee of BTMAT. When Paul first visited Banso Baptist Hospital in Cameroon in 2007, he met and had a long conversation with Rev. Moses Tanni, Chaplain and…

The enthusiasm of Dr Peter McCormick’s ‘Caring for Children with Cancer in Africa’ event at Thorpe Malsor Church was fantastic. It was an excellent night – we do have some talent in Northamptonshire. Mark Pescott played well and Lewis Mobbs and the Spectrum Choir were excellent. Faryl Smith, BTMAT’s patron, has a lovely voice, and…

The Anglican clergy in Northamptonshire north, have been burdened regarding their Healing Ministry. They planned a Synod, and looked for a speaker; my name came out of the clerical hat. So it was that I addressed a notable company of men of God, and their sundry supporters, at their meeting in All Saints Church, Kettering,…

I have recently discovered a new hymn; heard it twice on Radio 4, (act of worship; 9.45am; LW only). Subsequently found in the Anglican Hymn book; liked the combination of humanitarian and Christian ethics in it. Thought it would go well on the organ, and so wrote out 5 variations for it, for the pipe…

‘Livewires’ is the name given to a young people’s group at the Baptist Church in Kettering; the home town of BTMAT. Kettering Baptists have helped the Trust greatly in recent years. The Livewires had a further plan; ‘let’s take the number of miles from Kettering to Banso; a sea route, taking in the Canary islands…

Sadly, not every story from Africa has a happy ending; especially in dealing with child cancer. The following events happened earlier in 2011. Trustee Dr Paul Wharin received an email whilst he was in Cameroon, from colleagues at a small mission hospital in Tchad – to the north of Cameroon. They had received a child…

The Rector and Churchwardens of Thorpe Malsor C of E Church, Northamptonshire, invited us to arrange a musical concert in the Church. This took place on A…