Meet our Trustees
Rory’s Well would not be where it is today without the community that has evolved from its beginning in 2014. Community spirit and trusted relationships are at the core of what we believe and as a result of this, we want you all to have a better understanding of who is at the core of the decision making in Rory's Well.
Co-founder: Karen Binns
Hello Lovely Rory’s Well Supporters… I think most of you know me, but for the record I’m Karen Binns... Rory’s mum, a Trustee and founder of Rory’s Well with my husband Tony Evans.
I’ve been on the journey since March 2014 when we dedicated the first 3 wells in Rory’s name in Taninahun, which has become our second home. Those we work with have allowed us into their community and together we have built a primary school for 200, a community-run guest house, training centre, and trialled all of our initiatives including rice swamps, women’s farms, bee farming, Inga agroforestry and a solar well.
When Ebola hit, I took the opportunity to go back to Bath Uni and do my Masters in International Development and pick up a bit of theory. I’m very much about being hands on and building relationships on the ground at all levels in the UK and Sierra Leone, thus making a positive sustainable impact for everyone involved in Rory's Well.
On our frequent visits to Sierra Leone I love talking to the women about their lives, and hopes and dreams, and it’s a great privilege to be welcomed among them, and it does mean they often ask me to hold their babies whilst we walk together ...
It focuses our mind on the responsibility and need for sustainability in our work, and that is our my main focus, which is the overview of everything and has allowed us to work within our values and towards supporting the communities we work with to help them create a hopeful and sustainable future.
I’ve been on the journey since March 2014 when we dedicated the first 3 wells in Rory’s name in Taninahun, which has become our second home. Those we work with have allowed us into their community and together we have built a primary school for 200, a community-run guest house, training centre, and trialled all of our initiatives including rice swamps, women’s farms, bee farming, Inga agroforestry and a solar well.
When Ebola hit, I took the opportunity to go back to Bath Uni and do my Masters in International Development and pick up a bit of theory. I’m very much about being hands on and building relationships on the ground at all levels in the UK and Sierra Leone, thus making a positive sustainable impact for everyone involved in Rory's Well.
On our frequent visits to Sierra Leone I love talking to the women about their lives, and hopes and dreams, and it’s a great privilege to be welcomed among them, and it does mean they often ask me to hold their babies whilst we walk together ...
It focuses our mind on the responsibility and need for sustainability in our work, and that is our my main focus, which is the overview of everything and has allowed us to work within our values and towards supporting the communities we work with to help them create a hopeful and sustainable future.
Co-founder: Tony Evans
Our round up of Trustees would not be complete without mention of Tony Evans who we sadly lost to cancer in September 2020. The below words have been written by Tony's loving wife and co-founder of Rory's Well, Karen.
Tony was Rory's dad, co-founder and driving force behind Rory’s Well, a true visionary and a much missed Trustee. Tony was well known in the Barri Chiefdom as he spent so much time out in Sierra Leone and was always offered the Chief’s chair in every village, a huge mark of respect (the picture is of a chief’s chair!).
Tony’s passion, engineering background and unwavering dedication to improving the lot of “his” people in a sustainable way shaped much of our village regenerative programme.
He poured his strength and energy into Rory’s Well for 7 years and changed thousands of lives for the better and left a huge legacy for himself and Rory.
He always wanted to get to the root of every issue to make real lasting change for the people and the planet and would not let anything get in the way until he had a solution in place.
This was never more evident than in the introduction of the Inga Tree to Sierra Leone - Inga was Tony’s baby. Tony passionately believed agroforestry techniques, using Inga, would be a game changer for regenerating land, capturing carbon, reducing “slash and burn” farming techniques and improving yields and livelihoods.
The locals thought so too, as did donors and it is fantastic that this amazing innovation is living on and being championed by Kath as part of her overall farming remit and as the locals say, ‘Tony lives on in the Inga”.
Tony was Rory's dad, co-founder and driving force behind Rory’s Well, a true visionary and a much missed Trustee. Tony was well known in the Barri Chiefdom as he spent so much time out in Sierra Leone and was always offered the Chief’s chair in every village, a huge mark of respect (the picture is of a chief’s chair!).
Tony’s passion, engineering background and unwavering dedication to improving the lot of “his” people in a sustainable way shaped much of our village regenerative programme.
He poured his strength and energy into Rory’s Well for 7 years and changed thousands of lives for the better and left a huge legacy for himself and Rory.
He always wanted to get to the root of every issue to make real lasting change for the people and the planet and would not let anything get in the way until he had a solution in place.
This was never more evident than in the introduction of the Inga Tree to Sierra Leone - Inga was Tony’s baby. Tony passionately believed agroforestry techniques, using Inga, would be a game changer for regenerating land, capturing carbon, reducing “slash and burn” farming techniques and improving yields and livelihoods.
The locals thought so too, as did donors and it is fantastic that this amazing innovation is living on and being championed by Kath as part of her overall farming remit and as the locals say, ‘Tony lives on in the Inga”.
Farming Queen: Kath Curtis-Hayward
Hi everyone, my name is Kath, I am a retired GP, who in my spare time loves to keep bees with my husband Neil (he is also a Rory's Well trustee).
I have been involved with the bee farming initiative of Rory's Well since 2017, and I have been out to Sierra Leone many times to help with the training and implementation of this initiative.
I really enjoy talking with people and understanding what they want and need … so for the last two years I have been involved in research out in Sierra Leone for Rory’s Well into what is important to the people we work with in these rural communities. This has involved speaking with them about our potential initiatives, any changes they have seen and the reasons behind them.
I am also passionate about trees and the environment which is why I am also part of the Wotton Area Climate Action Network (CAN) group, and recently gave a talk on the benefits of Inga Alley Cropping. Although I will still help with the Bee Farming Initiative where I am needed, I am now looking after the Inga and Regenerative agriculture project which I find very exciting. I cannot wait to get out to Sierra Leone again and see how our young Inga Plants are doing.
The picture shows me with Matthew Manna, my interpreter during an informative village focus group discussion.
I have been involved with the bee farming initiative of Rory's Well since 2017, and I have been out to Sierra Leone many times to help with the training and implementation of this initiative.
I really enjoy talking with people and understanding what they want and need … so for the last two years I have been involved in research out in Sierra Leone for Rory’s Well into what is important to the people we work with in these rural communities. This has involved speaking with them about our potential initiatives, any changes they have seen and the reasons behind them.
I am also passionate about trees and the environment which is why I am also part of the Wotton Area Climate Action Network (CAN) group, and recently gave a talk on the benefits of Inga Alley Cropping. Although I will still help with the Bee Farming Initiative where I am needed, I am now looking after the Inga and Regenerative agriculture project which I find very exciting. I cannot wait to get out to Sierra Leone again and see how our young Inga Plants are doing.
The picture shows me with Matthew Manna, my interpreter during an informative village focus group discussion.
Bee Expert: Neil Brent
Hello everyone, I’m Neil and I retired from my work as a business analyst with the NHS in 2016 after 37 years. I am a qualified accountant – I studied BSc Mathematics at Southampton, graduating in 1978 and in 2001 I completed an MSc in Health Policy and Health Economics at Birmingham.
I am a keen beekeeper, keeping bees with my wife Kath who is also a Trustee. We are both involved in the Rory’s Well bee keeping initiative in Sierra Leone. Bees are one of our most important species, they are critical pollinators - without them there would be drastic impacts all the way up the food chain and the global human population of 7 billion could struggle to sustain itself! I really hope that others can see how interconnected all life is and realise how important bees are for life on this planet.
Rory’s Well has provided a platform to demonstrate to some of the poorest communities on Earth that working with bees in a way that causes minimal damage to the environment can support livelihoods and enhance the forest. More bees = more pollination = more fruit = more new forest growth = wildlife supported as well.
Although during 2020 we have not been able to visit Sierra Leone to provide support in person to the bee keeping initiative, the various projects have continued. Updates on these to follow soon!
I am a keen beekeeper, keeping bees with my wife Kath who is also a Trustee. We are both involved in the Rory’s Well bee keeping initiative in Sierra Leone. Bees are one of our most important species, they are critical pollinators - without them there would be drastic impacts all the way up the food chain and the global human population of 7 billion could struggle to sustain itself! I really hope that others can see how interconnected all life is and realise how important bees are for life on this planet.
Rory’s Well has provided a platform to demonstrate to some of the poorest communities on Earth that working with bees in a way that causes minimal damage to the environment can support livelihoods and enhance the forest. More bees = more pollination = more fruit = more new forest growth = wildlife supported as well.
Although during 2020 we have not been able to visit Sierra Leone to provide support in person to the bee keeping initiative, the various projects have continued. Updates on these to follow soon!
Well Expert: Hal Macfie
Hi everyone my name is Hal, I started to visit Sierra Leone in 2012 as a Trustee for another charity that also improved access to clean water. I was project manager for the charity for 5 years, installing about 10 wells per year. However, Rory’s Well has offered the villagers clean water and a way out of poverty through bee-keeping and agriculture so I was honoured to join the charity as a Trustee in 2018. I still try to go out once a year to monitor developments and meet up with friends in the villages. Together with Sean Mills, I am providing support to the well maintenance program.
I am also a Christmas Tree Grower and am pleased to support Rory’s Well by supplying Christmas Trees on a sale or return basis.
I also have a family connection with Pip Rush-Jansen who is a co-creator of Arcadia Spectacular and has promoted Rory’s Well at Glastonbury Festival.
This photo is from my trip to Sierra Leone in 2017. I am checking the water flow on an India Mark 2.
I am also a Christmas Tree Grower and am pleased to support Rory’s Well by supplying Christmas Trees on a sale or return basis.
I also have a family connection with Pip Rush-Jansen who is a co-creator of Arcadia Spectacular and has promoted Rory’s Well at Glastonbury Festival.
This photo is from my trip to Sierra Leone in 2017. I am checking the water flow on an India Mark 2.
Matara Guardian: Geoffrey Higgins
Hi all my name is Geoffrey... If some of you have ever been to a wedding or event at Matara you may have seen me floating around as I am the guardian of the centre, having set it up 25 years ago. For those who have never been to Matara, it is a unique Cotswold wedding venue based at Kingscote which inspires calm and tranquillity and encourages people to connect with their communities. I knew Rory from his time working at Matara and I have been on the journey with Rory’s Well from the very beginning, becoming a Trustee in 2016 when we were registered as a regulated charity. Before moving to The Keepers in Wotton, Matara was the spiritual home of Rory’s Well.
One of the seminal books I have read was Small is Beautiful by Franz Schumacher. The book champions small and appropriate change to empower people and I feel this reflects the ethos of Rory’s Well.
I first visited Sierra Leone in 2016 and it was a life changing experience. I saw a community rich in spirit, despite their material poverty and this gave me a lot to reflect on about how we in the western world currently live our lives, our dwindling culture and how I want to make a positive impact going forward. The rich heritage I observed of storytelling, song and dance with such laughter and cheerfulness was humbling and showed such strength and resilience.
My primary project with Rory’s Well thus far has been to provide a green belt around the villages we work with, by addressing slash and burn farming and trying to regenerate the land through sustainable agriculture. Matara has also sponsored a number of villages in Liamba.
Working with Karen and Tony, and all the other Trustees and people involved in Rory’s Well has been truly life changing. I look forward to continuing this hard work with those in Sierra Leone to help bring about positive change.
One of the seminal books I have read was Small is Beautiful by Franz Schumacher. The book champions small and appropriate change to empower people and I feel this reflects the ethos of Rory’s Well.
I first visited Sierra Leone in 2016 and it was a life changing experience. I saw a community rich in spirit, despite their material poverty and this gave me a lot to reflect on about how we in the western world currently live our lives, our dwindling culture and how I want to make a positive impact going forward. The rich heritage I observed of storytelling, song and dance with such laughter and cheerfulness was humbling and showed such strength and resilience.
My primary project with Rory’s Well thus far has been to provide a green belt around the villages we work with, by addressing slash and burn farming and trying to regenerate the land through sustainable agriculture. Matara has also sponsored a number of villages in Liamba.
Working with Karen and Tony, and all the other Trustees and people involved in Rory’s Well has been truly life changing. I look forward to continuing this hard work with those in Sierra Leone to help bring about positive change.
Water Warrior: Sean Mills
Hello everyone, my name is Sean, I am retired from a career in trade exhibitions and, more recently, in garden design. All of which means I'm now free to follow my passions amongst which ceramics and Rory’s Well head the list (along with family, grandchildren and my garden). In the 70s and 80s I lived in South Africa and now, through Rory’s Well, I have the opportunity to give something back to this great continent.
My role with Rory’s Well is to look after the team who repair and maintain the wells in Pujehun District in Sierra Leone. Inevitably this involves fundraising; while we are indebted to many individual sponsors, from my side I make pots which I sell in aid of Rory’s Well. You can see what this is all about by visiting www.clearwaterceramics.co.uk and if you buy a pot, you too will be helping our efforts to keep the clean water running.
Every year for the past 4 years, I have travelled out to Sierra Leone to hopefully encourage my team of three guys, Abdul, Safa and Steven in their work on the wells. The ethos at Rory’s Well is very much to maintain involvement in the communities we serve and by spending time with our guys on the ground we can allocate resources effectively and make plans for the future. In spite of Covid-19, as soon as restrictions allow, I will be heading to Sierra Leone again this coming year.
We now have 124 wells which we look after. Our territory for well maintenance goes far beyond the villages where Rory’s Well has four sustainable lifestyle projects at present. Water really is the building block for life, and we are totally committed to making sure that the 17,000 people who rely on the wells we maintain can continue to draw fresh, clean water daily. I aim to be doing this job for Rory’s Well for at least another 5 years.
My role with Rory’s Well is to look after the team who repair and maintain the wells in Pujehun District in Sierra Leone. Inevitably this involves fundraising; while we are indebted to many individual sponsors, from my side I make pots which I sell in aid of Rory’s Well. You can see what this is all about by visiting www.clearwaterceramics.co.uk and if you buy a pot, you too will be helping our efforts to keep the clean water running.
Every year for the past 4 years, I have travelled out to Sierra Leone to hopefully encourage my team of three guys, Abdul, Safa and Steven in their work on the wells. The ethos at Rory’s Well is very much to maintain involvement in the communities we serve and by spending time with our guys on the ground we can allocate resources effectively and make plans for the future. In spite of Covid-19, as soon as restrictions allow, I will be heading to Sierra Leone again this coming year.
We now have 124 wells which we look after. Our territory for well maintenance goes far beyond the villages where Rory’s Well has four sustainable lifestyle projects at present. Water really is the building block for life, and we are totally committed to making sure that the 17,000 people who rely on the wells we maintain can continue to draw fresh, clean water daily. I aim to be doing this job for Rory’s Well for at least another 5 years.