We were on a mission - delighted and proud to represent the golden heart of the UK kite community.
We visited Kenny Knight's home just outside Castle Cary, to present him with a handsome cheque, accumulated by your generosity via cash donations and the amazing auction at the Southsea 2000 Festival.
We found him well, and coping with his current situation with a smile, as we would only expect of Kenny. He has now abandoned all thought of reconstructing his workshop, as it is well beyond repair, and would just be a waste of money.
He is now in the process of converting another trailer unit on his site into a workshop - as well as completing his living accommodation.
He was suitably gobsmacked when we presented him with a cheque for £2,435.46p and said that the first thing he was going to buy was a new mattress for his bed, as we all know "a good knight's kip" works wonders.
On behalf of Kenny we would once again like to thank you all for your generous donations, and for your support at the auction. We would also like to thank John Ogden for initiating the idea of the fund.
To give you some idea of the ferocity of the fire, the photo on the right shows the inside
of the shell of his workshop building.
The walls and steel ceiling beams look OK, but the asbestos roof needs professional removal
(very nasty stuff) and simply everything was cremated - every tool in every drawer of every
steel cupboard.
And here is one of the happy lad (slightly shocked, methinks)
flanked by Pat & Ron Dell outside the door of his new abode.
Words cannot express how happy & proud we were to be there on behalf of all those wonderful, kind & generous people who did not hesitate to give from the heart.
If we were to start naming names and good deeds, we would be here for a VERY long time. You know who you are and what you did. Golden hearts, the lot of you.
Pat and Ron Dell have a list of names, and a full acount of all monies received and spent (mains wiring, switches & sockets had to be bought urgently).
We all hope Kenny will be able to take some time from his difficult and long-term building works, to come to some of next season's kite festivals. If anybody feels like lending a hand, we are sure he will be delighted to see you - just be sure to get good directions first!
God Bless You One And All - See you in the New Year - Pat & Ron Dell, Dicky & Harry