A WEYMOUTH teacher who has been to Calais with a van load of supplies to help refugees is urging others to do the same.

Kitty Forrester set off from her home in the Bride Valley taking her seven-month-old son Lars with her on the trip.

Kitty, who teaches at All Saints School in Weymouth, filled her father’s camper van up with supplies and headed for the ferry.

She met with other good Samaritans and together they headed for ‘The Jungle’ to distribute their booty.

Kitty said: “We headed for The Jungle in the hope that we could drop off all of the belongings at a central, organised depot.”

They soon discovered there was no such thing.
She added: “We drove round Calais in an increasingly desperate hunt before finally giving up and co-opting a couple of fresh-faced young things into helping us hand out our wares.

“We were unwilling to do this initially because we felt it might end up a rather undignified affair for all involved. However, it went very well indeed.

“We met wonderful people as they gathered things they needed. I weirdly became a sort of fashionista, matching people to clothes: ‘Sir, you look absolutely divine in red. You really own this scarf. I simply will not let you leave without it’.

“I have no idea what came over me but I felt I’d found my calling. However, If I go back, it will be with the bags that they were constantly asking for, rather than clothes.

“After handing out everything and seeing it all go to good use, we closed the car doors, waved our new friends goodbye.”

She added: “Contrary to popular belief, I left home a confirmed unbeliever of any persuasion and I duly returned as one. No-one even attempted to convert me to Islamic fundamentalism. No-one tried to rob me (and I left my wallet, passport and phone out for anyone to take), or hide in my car in an attempt to stowaway.

“It was reassuring to learn that whatever the conditions, people will always make a go of it. The desire to learn, build, bounce babies, chat, create art and have a laugh was never more apparent than among these people we call refugees.

“I urge you to go for yourselves and meet these people, talk to them, hear their stories, record their experiences and keep them visible. They are as real and human as the rest of us and in need of our attention.

“Thanks from everyone in The Jungle for all the donations. But an especial thank you to All Saints School who, at the drop of a disorganised hat, filled my dad’s camper van to over-flowing.”