Friends

Defence Transport & Movements Agency (DTMA), Andover

Following a 24 hour delay due to technical difficulties, on 13 Feb our team of four boarded a Royal Air Force, 216 Squadron Tristar aircraft and departed for Nairobi, Kenya. After many long hours airborne the brand new RAFLO Nairobi, Flight Lieutenant Gus Hamilton welcomed us warmly then effortlessly ushered us through the arrival procedure. He enquired as to our onward movements and when informed that we would be spending the night in the Haille Sillase region of Nairobi he asked if we were armed. A taxi took us to our accommodation in one of the more dubious quarters of down town Nairobi, the Flora Catholic Guest House. Project Albert Teams had stayed here before, but this time one of our team was proving to be more significant than the rest of us. Not surprisingly the presence of a Monsignor generated more than a little excitement amongst the nuns who run the place, each of whom fluttered about him like clucking hens. The following day began with Father John celebrating Mass in the Hostel, quickly followed by the arrival of our bridge guru Harmon Parker. He looked good; well tanned and lean with a full head of grey hair, his brilliant smile and whacky humour instantly made the guys feel right at home. The plan was confirmed, one bridge, some repair work for another and two school constructions in some picturesque but remote regions of northern Kenya. With warm smiles and far too much enthusiasm, my three colleagues and me lobbed our gear into the back of Harmon’s 4x4 and cruised off to his house to load up. Driving through Nairobi streets was a different experience since my last visit. There was an insistence that all doors were locked and any arms dangling from windows were not adorned with either watches or jewellery. We came to learn that the number of car robberies had escalated markedly. There were horror stories of severed limbs, all for a Timex? Harmon’s place was a hive of activity. The dogs crazily greeted everyone, Harmon’s wife Teri chatted incessantly, eagerly wanting to get to know her new visitors. Hardly time to blink and the trailer was loaded, then off to Sam’s house. Twenty minutes to go less than as many kilometres. Driving in Nairobi is like nowhere else. Brits readily acknowledge that Italy and France are mad places to tackle from behind a steering wheel, but African driving is something unique. Road rage doesn’t happen often, you have neither the time nor attention to detract from what requires 100% concentration. It’s actually quite fun once you understand that simple philosophy that if there is an inch of space available you must have it. You need a bit of bottle, but the reward is that you get to your destination sometimes a full minute in advance of any would be adversary. The great bear Sam Harrell smiled broadly as we rolled in through his gateway. Formidably sized with an engaging look, this dedicated Missionary’s capacity for work is only outshone by his sensitivity to the needs of others. His unsurpassed knowledge of everything African blends well with an immense sense of humour accompanied by an equally immense smile. Sam’s crazy dogs jockeyed for attention and his wife Melanie tried in vain to chat and glean whatever she could from the newcomers, but we were now against the clock. The lost day would have to be recovered, more loading of Sam’s vehicle and trailer, big smiles and waves, we were off to deliver this year’s Project Albert.