A fantastic result – all done with just one week’s notice. Many thanks for your enthusiastic response, your support in the planning and arranging of the project, and the time people were able to give up on Saturday. I think we all had an excellent day of fellowship and fun going towards a good cause.

For those of us who met some of the people responding to our appeal it was an inspiring and sometimes humbling day. I spoke to a couple who gave up a precious eiderdown they had as a wedding present 44 years ago; there was a young mother (who clearly didn’t have a lot of spare cash) who spent £24 on a brand new duvet for us; a frail old man of 78 who had struggled into his loft and then driven to ASDA with a load of bedding; and one elderly lady who came in specially on the bus to give us her three spare blankets.

I’m sure there are lots of similar stories.

Oh, and we also received £119-13 in spontaneous cash donations!

There are still Rotarians and members of the public who have bedding they would like to donate – I’ll be seeing if we can do a collection tour if possible some time during this week so it can be added to the stock. But our priority now must be to move the load for dispatch to Pakistan ASAP.

So now we’re ready for Stage 2 – getting the stuff to Birmingham. I shall get on with arranging the detail tomorrow and will keep you informed.

Meanwhile, I think we can all be proud of the people of Barnsley and what we’ve allowed them to do for the earthquake victims.