LEWIS: An inspector calls ... in Mali (From thisisoxfordshire)

LEWIS: An inspector calls ... in Mali

3:02pm Friday 4th September 2009

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WHEN he is not solving murders on the streets of Oxford in TV’s Lewis, actor Kevin Whately is improving the lives of children in Africa.

The TV detective, who is filming the fourth series of the Inspector Morse spin-off, has been sponsoring children in the developing world through the charity Plan UK.

The 58-year-old grandfather recently returned from a trip to Mali, where he met seven-year-old Toure, the fourth African child he has sponsored.

He also visited Mamou, 18, who he sponsored for eight years, and learned that her marriage and relocation to her husband’s village meant she was ready to leave the sponsorship programme.

On his trip, Mr Whately also visited a village school and met Mamadou Keita, Plan UK’s local representative, who explained how the school buildings, built with Plan’s help, were among the most beautiful in the village, which encouraged parents to send their children to school.

Following his visit to Kita Kourou, 115 miles west of the capital Bamako, Mr Whately told the charity’s magazine Young Futures: “After receiving a letter from Mamou, who I began sponsoring when she was 10, I decided to visit her in Mali.

“The welcome was overwhelming and Mamou was proud to act as ambassador for her village.

“It was amazing to meet Mamou and Toure, the little girl I’m now sponsoring.

“One thing I was delighted to hear was that Mamou herself was determined her own children would stay in school as long as possible.

“A short distance away from the school was a community health centre, also supported by Plan, providing a lifeline for the mums and young babies from Mamou’s village.”

The actor is often in Oxford filming scenes for Lewis in which he plays Det Insp Robbie Lewis. For many years he played the role alongside John Thaw, in the Inspector Morse series.

Last year he backed a campaign by Jericho residents to protect the former Castle Mill boatyard from being used for housing.

Sharon Goulds, Plan UK’s head of communications, said: “Kevin is a great supporter of ours and tremendous to work with.

“I travelled to Mali with him and the trip was crucial in helping us bring Plan’s work in helping some of the world’s very poorest people, to the attention of a wider audience.

“We hope the people of Oxfordshire will consider following Kevin’s example and get involved in this great cause.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk

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