Fellowship Evening

Kathrine Mitchell, a nursing student from Queensferry who has recently returned from a month in Thailand as a volunteer with Challenges Abroad, was the speaker at the fellowship evening. Now in her third year at Glasgow Caledonian University, Kathrine, who specialises in children's nursing, was one of a party of twenty-one who lived with the local people in remote hill villages near the Burmese border, promoting healthy hygienic practices such as brushing teeth and teaching first aid to both school children and adults. In a fascinating and sometimes emotional presentation she explained how surprised she had been at the condition of many children's teeth due to the sugary western food to which they now have access. Access to hospitals, on the other hand, is very difficult owing to the remoteness of the location and lack of transport. In such a situation, knowledge of first aid can be a life-saver. Kathrine's talk included amusing observations on Thai tribal life and customs, not least the food. She had not eaten snake, but said scorpion was remarkably salty but rather tasteless. 

Kathrine's interesting talk prompted many questions from the floor. She was introduced by Stewart Hutchison and the vote of thanks was proposed by Graham Clarkson.