John Craw spent January in the south-east state of Andhra Pradesh, whose coastal communities are still battling to recover from the havoc caused by the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.

The 61-year-old was appalled to learn of the devastation and the ongoing struggle endured by many villagers to make ends meet.

His interest in doing something to help was sparked by his involvement in the faith group Good News Ministries, which employs pastors in the area.

Mr Craw went on to raise over £10,000 to provide hands-on aid and went out to oversee its distribution to an area where hundreds perished in the wake of the disaster.

The bulk of the support has gone to help replace a few of the thousands of fishing boats that were wrecked in the wake of the giant tidal wave.

Before setting off, Mr Craw had arranged for 20 to be built – but, in the course of his visit, placed orders for 30 more.

Mr Craw was delighted to see the 20 new craft – some which bear Caithness names – launched into the Bay of Bengal.

He set off from his home in Latheronwheel at the start of January with local fisherman David Scadding and his wife's 20-year-old niece Paula Mulreany, a trainee nurse from Dundee.

During their four-week trip they were based in the city of Vijayawada, though they spent most of their time in local fishing villages.

They travelled extensively by car, motorbike, boat and train and had the services of a translator to help at community meetings.

Mr Craw said: "We visited many villages, holding evangelising meetings, handing out rice in poor areas and, of course, distributing boats.

"Through the generosity of the people of Caithness and other places, we are able to purchase a total of 50 boats for fishermen who had lost everything during the tsunami. We have given 20 boats and nets and paid for a further 30 to be built and distributed as soon as possible."

Much of the money was raised by a sponsored cycle undertaken by Mr Craw from his home in Latheronwheel to Inverness.

He and his travelling companions were touched by the impact their donations had.

He said: "Handing over the boats was a very pleasant but humbling task as the look of joy not only on the man of the house but his family, and indeed all the villagers, was something to behold."

These pictures taken by John Craw show some of the boats bought for fishermen in India as a result of the Caithness fundraising campaign.

A 16ft long open wooden rowing boat, together with a net, costs £165.

Mr Craw acknowledges that many will find it odd that so many fishers have been unable to replace their vessel more than three years after the tsunami.

"It may not seem a lot of money over here, but some of the fishermen I spoke to said that they would never have been able to afford a boat," he said.

The origin of the gifts is reflected in the name given to a number of the vessels.

They include Highland Hope, named by staff of Caithness General Hospital who ran a Christmas fundraising drive in aid of the mission.

Others include Wick Rotarian and Avalon, the latter named after a fishing boat lost off Canisbay and purchased on the back of donations from the local Church of Scotland congregation.

One called Deacon Blue was paid for and named by Lybster schoolchildren from the proceeds of a sponsored walk they did before Christmas.

Mr Craw said: "All the congregations in the area responded very generously, as did members of the public. We were getting people phoning out of the blue or coming up to me on the street saying they wanted to help pay for a boat."

As well as the new boats, the fund was used to provide bicycles for nine of the Good News Ministries pastors and school uniforms, toys, sweets and three gas lamps for an orphanage which the organisation runs. It also provided a PA system and locker for a school.

A further £1500 was put up to hold a three-day conference, during the course of which 4500 meals were served up to local people.

Mr Craw, who returned home last week, is keen to make a return visit to get an update on the impact the Caithness aid has made.

He recounted how his trip had gone at Tuesday evening's meeting of Caithness Church of Scotland Presbytery. He then acknowledged the time off he had been given and indicated his willingness to give talks on the mission to any interested organisation.

iain-grant@ukf.net

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