L to R: Luke Roberts, Annette, Roger Burgess (Retiring President Woodbridge Rotary), David Houchell (New President)

The Studio's own Annette Roberts and youngest son Luke Roberts – a BBC Holby City actor – have joined forces with Woodbridge Rotary Club to provide new hospital beds for a small town Hospital in Sierra Leone.

Annette's brother is a mining engineer in that country, currently redeveloping previously abandoned iron ore mines near Lunsar, a couple of hours drive from the capital Freetown.

During a short stay with him in May 2010, one of the places Annette visited was the Health Centre in Lunsar, which has been rehabilitated as part of the redevelopment program.

At the hospital in Lunsar, Annette saw that while they have doctors and medicine, the facilities, and particularly the beds, were in desparate need of renewal.

Upon returning to England, she determined to raise the money to achieve this. And so Operation Beds for Sierra Leone was born.

August 31^st 2010

Ten beds plus mattresses, six drip stands and twenty-six blankets have now been purchased, and have begun their long journey to Lunsar in Sierra Leone.

They should be Blackpool on September 1st for loading into a container. On the 3rd September the container should be loaded on to a ship in Liverpool, sailing early the week following. The shipping time is about 28 days, so the beds will be there at the beginning of October!

A huge Thank You to all who have contributed. Not all the funds are used up. The residue is with Rotary and will be used again as new requirements come to light.

July 12^th - 17^th 2010

Exhibition and sale of photographs that Annette took while visiting Sierra Leone. This weeklong exhibition, online contributions, and ongoing sales of prints and photographs raises the total to £3,574 by the middle of August.

July 10^th 2010

Luke Roberts (left in the picture) has kick-started the fund with £1,000 donation from his charity work, which he presented at the launch evening of Operation Beds for Sierra Leone, held at Top Floor Studio on Saturday the 10th July. Next to him is Didi Longe, Cultural Attaché to the Sierra Leone High Commission, Annette Roberts and David Houchell, President of the Rotary Club of Woodbridge.

We are delighted to report that the evening was an outstanding success, raising an additional £1,200 from the most generous donations of our guests together with sales of photographs and prints.

To contribute to a really practical project that's focussed on reducing infection and directly saving lives please click on Beds for Sierra Leone