Twenty-five years ago a group of students and staff at John Kyrle High School visited a high school in Kisiki, Uganda. This began what has become a unique partnership between, not just two schools but two communities.

Today there are links between nursery schools, many churches and groups and, thanks to Councillor Jane Roberts, the Town Councils of Ross-on-Wye and Namatumba.

A very special evening to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the school’s twinning with Kisiki College took place on Saturday, June 9th.

Dozens of students, former and serving members of staff who have visited Uganda met up to meet the current visitors, Irene and Hope, Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher from Kisiki College, along with former Deputy Headteacher, James.

James was involved in the original setting up of the partnership and is well known to the 300 or so JKHS students who have travelled to Uganda with their teachers over the last 25 years. James attended a teacher training college near to Kisiki and when Councillor Roberts’ daughter visited Uganda, as part of the John Kyrle High School link, Cllr Roberts was inspired to set up a link between the Gloucester college where she worked and the Ugandan college. Since then she has visited about eight times, and each time has also visited Kisiki. She told the Ross Gazette that she was determined to have the link with Namatumba ratified by the Town Council when she was elected in 2007.

See the full story and more photos in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here