1 RIFLES are due to fly off on exercise to Kenya this week.

Traditionally, when the regiment goes on exercise they do some charity work for local schools or orphanages in the town of Nanuki where the administration department is based.

However, this year, 1 Rifles, prompted by Capt Rachel Webster, are helping a previously unaided school right next to the training grounds at Archer's Post.

Capt Webster said, "Archer's Post is in the middle of nowhere and this school has had no aid since it was built by missionaries in the 60s."

"Rather than simply providing a week of practical help such as painting and ground clearance, which is what troops normally do, we have done a lot of fundraising before the excersise and are donating around £25,000 to enable the whole place to be renovated, new staff to be employed and projects to be planned years into the future."

"The Rifles want to leave a lasting legacy in Kenya."

St John's on the Hill school in Chepstow came to hear about the Rifles charity drive through one of their mothers, wife of Capt Leo Sayer, who is leaving for Kenya on Saturday.

"I knew the school had just changed their school uniform so there were a lot of old uniforms going spare. I thought that the school in Kenya might like them," said Sammy Sayer.

For full story see Beacon 12/09/12