Shropshire couple's school desk donation pays tribute to Cilla
The name on their new desk will mean little to the children of Mbweka Primary School in Kenya. But to the Shropshire couple who donated it, the name of Cilla Black means a great deal.
Bill and Lynn Morris, from Ellesmere, have spent several years running The Kenyan Schools Project, helping youngsters to get a better education.
For £20 people can donate a desk so children have a proper place to work during lessons rather than sitting on the floor.
So far their charity has donated nearly 3,000 items to help 6,000 children in schools. But when their favourite singer died earlier this month, Mr and Mrs Morris decided to donate a desk themselves in her memory.
"We felt that this would be a loving memorial for her family and a fitting tribute to someone who did so much to help other people," said Mr Morris.
"Both of us, being children of the sixties, grew up with Cilla's singing and television presenting.
"The sponsored school desk is being used now along with other desks which have been sponsored by people from Shropshire and all across the UK."
Mr Morris said he had put pictures of the new desk on Facebook and Twitter in the hope that Cilla's family would find out about it. "It would be nice if Cilla's sons saw it," said Mr Morris. "We thought it would be a nice tribute from us. The desk will be there for years."
Mr Morris said many of the desks which have already been sent to the school have been donated in memory of loved ones.
"The desks really do make a wonderful present or a lovely memorial for someone you have loved and lost," he said. "And there is the satisfaction of knowing you have done something to help someone else as well."
For further information about the charity visit www.kenyanschoolsproject.co.uk
