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Dan hits high road for India’s slum dwellers
ITS engine had conked out and it
was in danger of rusting away in
the middle of a field.
But a student worker at the City Life Church in
Southampton worked a miracle by bringing the
1961 Hillman Minx roaring back to life.
And 30 year-old Dan Pooley, who lives in
Bassett, will soon be hitting the high road in a
1,500-mile fundraising trip to help people living
in the slums of India.
On August 2, Dan will set off on a two-week
journey from Southampton to Scotland and
back.
The Hillman has been off the road for more
than a quarter of a century and Dan said:
"Because of the age of the car I will only be driving
four hours a day''
Accompanying him on the sponsored drive
will be his 28 year-old wife, Mel Pooley.
Dan said the challenge began in June 2007
when he bought the car, which had more than
83,000 miles on the clock.
He said: "The engine was seized solid and
none of the electrics worked. I am not a
mechanic and have never worked on a car
before in my life.
"I remember it arriving on the back of a trailer
and thinking I may have bitten off more than I
can chew. It is a good job I like a challenge.''
But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual
and with some expert advice from a friend his
challenge is now set to get into top gear.
He said: "The first stage of getting the car roadworthy
has at least been cleared as the 1961
Hillman Minx passed its MOT recently.
"After some final tweaking and tuning it
should be all go for stage two - the drive itself.
"I am probably more nervous about the drive
than anything so far - other than the MOT
which gave me a few butterflies.
"Having got the car on the road the trip is definitely
going ahead. There is no backing out
now.''
It was seven years ago that Dan first went to
India and he was immediately struck by the levels
of poverty while he was working alongside
Asha, a local healthcare and development project.
The Southampton church worker has been
back to India on a regular basis and now takes
teams of people twice a year to work in the
slums.
Dan said: "Every time I go back to work alongside
Asha I am struck not only by the poverty
but the immense generosity and thankfulness of
those who have so little.
"The hope that these people carry in situations
that often seem so hopeless is extraordinary and
I cannot help but be motivated to try and do
something about their situation.''
The aim of Dan's trip is to raise £3,000 to pay
for English classes to run in the Jeevan Nagar
colony which he visits every year.
There are around 6,000 people living in Jeevan
Nagar on the equivalent of 20p per day.
Asha's associate director, Freddy Martin says:
"Education is one of the things desperately lacking
in the slums. Learning to speak, read, write
and type in English removes huge barriers to
employment and will have a big impact on the
community as a whole empowering and
encouraging people to be able to work their way
out of poverty to a better life.''
In India a little money goes a long way and can
make a big difference.
Dan is hoping that his little old car will also go
a long way and make a big difference through
the money it raises for the people living in those
Indian slums.
● To donate or for more information on the
fundraising challenge log onto
justgiving.com/asha-india.
7:19am Sunday 20th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: hulla, baloo on 7:57am Sun 20 Jul 08
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...''
Poured what over the pages?
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...''
Poured what over the pages?
Posted by: Fred on 8:15am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...'' Poured what over the pages?[/quote] Duncan Eaton certainly didn't go to the best school.
hulla wrote:
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...'' Poured what over the pages?
Duncan Eaton certainly didn't go to the best school.
Posted by: Fred on 8:17am Sun 20 Jul 08
"to help people living in the slums of India"
Now don't get me wrong but India is a booming economy, taking millions of jobs from the US and EU economies. Surely they can clear up their own slums. There are other Countries where we should be helping - many in Africa.
"to help people living in the slums of India"
Now don't get me wrong but India is a booming economy, taking millions of jobs from the US and EU economies. Surely they can clear up their own slums. There are other Countries where we should be helping - many in Africa.
Posted by: hmm on 8:22am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...'' Poured what over the pages?[/quote] "Learning to speak, read, write and type in English"
Perhaps the Echo could send its staff there to learn too?
hulla wrote:
'' But Dan poured over the pages of a car manual...'' Poured what over the pages?
"Learning to speak, read, write and type in English"
Perhaps the Echo could send its staff there to learn too?
Posted by: Hilman Minx Owner on 8:23am Sun 20 Jul 08
I wanna learn how to be pious and patronising and feel all warm and fuzzy towards everyone
I wanna learn how to be pious and patronising and feel all warm and fuzzy towards everyone
Posted by: Finlay, Des Moines, Iowa on 9:23am Sun 20 Jul 08
Hmmmmmm! four hours a day motoring huh? Hillman Minx when new was insured against Viking raids - top speed of around 65mph, cruises at around 45mph - So it gonna take him around six days to get to Scotland and back so he should zoom to India in about 4 years and about a ship load of gas.
Minxs' were notorious for gearbox failures and ceizing up cos the oil pumps kept failing but I guess he could just pop in to gas stations along the way, they are bound to have 1961 Hillman Minx parts on the shelf and get another part and be on his jolly way.
Methinks we have another victim of over exposure to radiation here and are seeing the consequences of a baked brain.
Put your bible down Jack cos it aint gonna happen - Faith, miracles, the power of the lord .... its a sad story cobbled together by attention seekers 2000 years ago - This is the real world now.
Hmmmmmm! four hours a day motoring huh? Hillman Minx when new was insured against Viking raids - top speed of around 65mph, cruises at around 45mph - So it gonna take him around six days to get to Scotland and back so he should zoom to India in about 4 years and about a ship load of gas.
Minxs' were notorious for gearbox failures and ceizing up cos the oil pumps kept failing but I guess he could just pop in to gas stations along the way, they are bound to have 1961 Hillman Minx parts on the shelf and get another part and be on his jolly way.
Methinks we have another victim of over exposure to radiation here and are seeing the consequences of a baked brain.
Put your bible down Jack cos it aint gonna happen - Faith, miracles, the power of the lord .... its a sad story cobbled together by attention seekers 2000 years ago - This is the real world now.
Posted by: paul b on 11:17am Sun 20 Jul 08
I find it bemusing that the only people who post on the 'religious' stories on this site are atheists who are determined to ridicule faith.
Does it really bother them that much?
I wish I could feel as superior on the Internet as you guys.
I find it bemusing that the only people who post on the 'religious' stories on this site are atheists who are determined to ridicule faith.
Does it really bother them that much?
I wish I could feel as superior on the Internet as you guys.
Posted by: Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton on 11:28am Sun 20 Jul 08
Also mentioned in this story: Man does nice thing!
Good luck on your journey, Dan.
Also mentioned in this story: Man does nice thing!
Good luck on your journey, Dan.
Posted by: Jon McFarlane, Wellow on 12:51pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Hilman Minx Owner[/bold] wrote:
I wanna learn how to be pious and patronising and feel all warm and fuzzy towards everyone[/quote] HMO - you are absolutely spot-on.
Another sanctimonious waster who is trying to score points in life by being [bold]SEEN[/bold] to be concerned about others.
The £5K (approx) and hundreds of hours he allegedly spent getting this old car on the road would have been MUCH better spent by:-
1. Sending the £5K cash to the needy
2. Working overtime to earn even more to send.
Keep your token gesture stories for St Peter and see if he is impressed.
In the meantime, if you really [bold]do[/bold] want to help people, don't go driving up and down the UK in your worthless project, go and do a proper job of restructuring the economic,social and political outlook of the world.
Hilman Minx Owner wrote:
I wanna learn how to be pious and patronising and feel all warm and fuzzy towards everyone
HMO - you are absolutely spot-on.
Another sanctimonious waster who is trying to score points in life by being
SEEN to be concerned about others.
The £5K (approx) and hundreds of hours he allegedly spent getting this old car on the road would have been MUCH better spent by:-
1. Sending the £5K cash to the needy
2. Working overtime to earn even more to send.
Keep your token gesture stories for St Peter and see if he is impressed.
In the meantime, if you really
do want to help people, don't go driving up and down the UK in your worthless project, go and do a proper job of restructuring the economic,social and political outlook of the world.
Posted by: (Please to be), former Minx owner on 1:00pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Why would you spend time and money polishing a turd? It'll still be a turd.
Why would you spend time and money polishing a turd? It'll still be a turd.
Posted by: Minnie, soton on 1:08pm Sun 20 Jul 08
What do you call the shock absorbers in a Minx - passengers !
What do you call the shock absorbers in a Minx - passengers !
Posted by: Jeff McLean, Chandlers Ford on 1:12pm Sun 20 Jul 08
What a non story
The [quote]Bob Geldof Syndrome[/quote] worked only once, and many were conned by it at the time. Since then most of us have realised that he who would pretend to help others, but who actually does not spend anything himself, is simply a conman.
Run this joker out of town
What a non story
The
Bob Geldof Syndrome
worked only once, and many were conned by it at the time. Since then most of us have realised that he who would pretend to help others, but who actually does not spend anything himself, is simply a conman.
Run this joker out of town
Posted by: Religious Person, Soton on 1:26pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]paul b[/bold] wrote:
I find it bemusing that the only people who post on the 'religious' stories on this site are atheists who are determined to ridicule faith. Does it really bother them that much? I wish I could feel as superior on the Internet as you guys.[/quote] Paul b
This is not a religious story. It is another embarrasing attempt by someone with a bit of spare time and cash to get church-hall praise.
I and some friends DO give money and time to the needy, but we will never demand public praise for our efforts, because we know that we don't do enough.
paul b wrote:
I find it bemusing that the only people who post on the 'religious' stories on this site are atheists who are determined to ridicule faith. Does it really bother them that much? I wish I could feel as superior on the Internet as you guys.
Paul b
This is not a religious story. It is another embarrasing attempt by someone with a bit of spare time and cash to get church-hall praise.
I and some friends DO give money and time to the needy, but we will never demand public praise for our efforts, because we know that we don't do enough.
Posted by: southy, redbridge on 1:35pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Fred[/bold] wrote:
\"to help people living in the slums of India\"
Now don\'t get me wrong but India is a booming economy, taking millions of jobs from the US and EU economies. Surely they can clear up their own slums. There are other Countries where we should be helping - many in Africa.[/quote] the problem is fred its a capitalist state,like any other capitalist state it will not help the poor,capitalist need them poor so thay can use them for cheap labour.
Fred wrote:
\"to help people living in the slums of India\"
Now don\'t get me wrong but India is a booming economy, taking millions of jobs from the US and EU economies. Surely they can clear up their own slums. There are other Countries where we should be helping - many in Africa.
the problem is fred its a capitalist state,like any other capitalist state it will not help the poor,capitalist need them poor so thay can use them for cheap labour.
Posted by: Korma, soton on 2:10pm Sun 20 Jul 08
And which country that embraced socialism has been a success ? Even China is gradually moving away from it. Socialists are envious, to idle to get off their butts and expect everyone else to keep them, not going to happen ! Old theory that never worked in practice.
And which country that embraced socialism has been a success ? Even China is gradually moving away from it. Socialists are envious, to idle to get off their butts and expect everyone else to keep them, not going to happen ! Old theory that never worked in practice.
Posted by: southy, redbridge on 2:30pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Korma[/bold] wrote:
And which country that embraced socialism has been a success ? Even China is gradually moving away from it. Socialists are envious, to idle to get off their butts and expect everyone else to keep them, not going to happen ! Old theory that never worked in practice.[/quote] Socialists in china is live and well,they are using the money side to there advantage,they work less hours than any where else in the world and get paid more to rate of cost of living,there products are turning out better than they use to, and if there some thing wrong with the product you can return it and tell them the problem and they will sort it out unlike uk mangerment they just say another moaning customer how many companys do you see now willing to put a 5 to 10 year warranty on there luxury goods, and it not the socialist that are idle, the saying is the idle rich
Korma wrote:
And which country that embraced socialism has been a success ? Even China is gradually moving away from it. Socialists are envious, to idle to get off their butts and expect everyone else to keep them, not going to happen ! Old theory that never worked in practice.
Socialists in china is live and well,they are using the money side to there advantage,they work less hours than any where else in the world and get paid more to rate of cost of living,there products are turning out better than they use to, and if there some thing wrong with the product you can return it and tell them the problem and they will sort it out unlike uk mangerment they just say another moaning customer how many companys do you see now willing to put a 5 to 10 year warranty on there luxury goods, and it not the socialist that are idle, the saying is the idle rich
Posted by: paul b on 3:05pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Has he purchased carbon credits from mother nature?
Has he purchased carbon credits from mother nature?
Posted by: Ragtt Brummer, Merstigitte - EU on 5:47pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote]ITS engine had conked out and it was in danger of rusting away in the middle of a field[/quote] .
I agree with all the negative grumbles about this story.
[italic]There is a lot of misleading information here - fields / engines / expert advice from a friend / asha / Scotland / English classes[/italic]
What a lotof nonsense
ITS engine had conked out and it was in danger of rusting away in the middle of a field
.
I agree with all the negative grumbles about this story.
There is a lot of misleading information here - fields / engines / expert advice from a friend / asha / Scotland / English classes
What a lotof nonsense
Posted by: Bambi on 6:43pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Why put the wear and tear on his car? If he wanted to take 2 weeks to travel from Southampton to Scotland, it would be much easier to just take the train
Why put the wear and tear on his car? If he wanted to take 2 weeks to travel from Southampton to Scotland, it would be much easier to just take the train
Posted by: Big Boy, Hythe on 5:07am Mon 21 Jul 08
India decided to manufacture an atomic bomb rather than assist their citizens. It is a massively corrupt country (you have to bribe the librarian to get a library ticket). India still has communists in government. Why help them if they will not help themselves? China is a communist country in name only. Chinese goods are still shoddy. They are capable of producing well made stuff, but prefer not to. I have never heard to anyone getting their money back or getting an exchange. Are we talking about the same China?
India decided to manufacture an atomic bomb rather than assist their citizens. It is a massively corrupt country (you have to bribe the librarian to get a library ticket). India still has communists in government. Why help them if they will not help themselves? China is a communist country in name only. Chinese goods are still shoddy. They are capable of producing well made stuff, but prefer not to. I have never heard to anyone getting their money back or getting an exchange. Are we talking about the same China?
Posted by: Korma, soton on 6:58am Mon 21 Jul 08
Big Boy, Southy is an old fashioned socialist, socialism - good everything else bad. The facts don't play any part in his thinking. China and India are on the road to becoming the new powerhouses of the world, and socialism will play no part in that. Any country wishing to embrace socialism will as in the past be left behind. We cannot change the global economy it is here a fact of life.
Big Boy, Southy is an old fashioned socialist, socialism - good everything else bad. The facts don't play any part in his thinking. China and India are on the road to becoming the new powerhouses of the world, and socialism will play no part in that. Any country wishing to embrace socialism will as in the past be left behind. We cannot change the global economy it is here a fact of life.
Posted by: Big Boy, Hythe on 7:21am Mon 21 Jul 08
On the ground, China & especially India have improved tremendously. I sincerely hope that it continues as the people in both countries deserve a better standard of living.
On the ground, China & especially India have improved tremendously. I sincerely hope that it continues as the people in both countries deserve a better standard of living.
Posted by: southy, redbridge on 4:57pm Mon 21 Jul 08
big boy said"India decided to manufacture an atomic bomb rather than assist their citizens. It is a massively corrupt country (you have to bribe the librarian to get a library ticket). India still has communists in government."you cant tell the diffrence between commist and captist,india never had a commist goverment or members to get into indian goverment you got to have money,even gandi had money he was not the poor guy of the streets like so many belive,and chineze goods are shody then why do firms all round the world deal with them.the truth is there goods are much better than most other places,there mangerment is a lot better than any where else to and dont rip of the buyers,
big boy said"India decided to manufacture an atomic bomb rather than assist their citizens. It is a massively corrupt country (you have to bribe the librarian to get a library ticket). India still has communists in government."you cant tell the diffrence between commist and captist,india never had a commist goverment or members to get into indian goverment you got to have money,even gandi had money he was not the poor guy of the streets like so many belive,and chineze goods are shody then why do firms all round the world deal with them.the truth is there goods are much better than most other places,there mangerment is a lot better than any where else to and dont rip of the buyers,
Posted by: southy, redbridge on 5:02pm Mon 21 Jul 08
people standard of living in china is better than it is here
people standard of living in china is better than it is here
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