A very special anniversary (From Stroud News and Journal)

A very special anniversary

A ROMANTIC weekend away in luxurious surrounds is usually on the menu for couples celebrating a landmark wedding anniversary.

But not for selfless couple Amberley Ridge Special School headteacher David Macdonald, 50, and wife Kathrin, 42, who celebrated their 20th anniversary with an extraordinary trip during October half term.

"I was planning to have a romantic weekend with my wife for our 20th wedding anniversary," said David, "but then I said to her 'Well, darling, how would you like to go somewhere different."

Somewhere different was a special school for orphans of drug and alcohol-abuse victims in Klaipeda, a town on the Lithuanian shores of the Baltic Sea.

David had visited the country with other special school headteachers in September to establish links with Lithuanian schools.

"I was really taken by the circumstances there," he said. "It's very sad. I just felt I wanted to do something for these orphans."

His wife agreed and the couple loaded up the car with electronic goods and black sacks full of clothes, shoes and toys and set off on their cross-continental aid odyssey, 800 miles to Germany and then a 21-hour ferry across the Baltic to Lithuania.

There they spent four days, mostly at the school, and were feted by the mayor and education officials.

Now back in Amberley David is planning another trip next Easter in a continuing bid to improve the lot of orphans living in a country which, with its entry into the European Union this year, is emerging from years of Russian oppression.

He plans to take a team of people with different skills to share with the Lithuanian special school. "We need to help them come up to speed," he said. In addition the Macdonalds will be raising money for the school from the sale of amber jewellery that they brought back with them from Lithuania.

David would also like the school's headteacher and drama teacher to come to the Stroud Valleys for a visit.

"For me it was a life-changing experience going there," he said. "I'm not saying that lightly. I was deeply moved by what was going on there and I just had to do something more.

"Sometimes things just hit you, don't they." Anyone who would like to make a donation should call the school on 01453 872536.

A fundraising Lithuanian evening has been arranged at Minchinhampton Baptist Church on Thursday, December 9 featuring a slide show, national food and amber jewellery for sale. Further details from the number above.