Bill Gosney's light hearted look at the history of sanitation attracted dozens of people to his talk in March and raised about ?150 for Buriton's sister community of Dominase in rural Ghana, West Africa.
The talk provided a fascinating insight into the history of something that we all now take for granted - and a world tour of toilets including the Orkney Islands, Rome, Northumberland, Africa, Japan and Burma.
There were explanations of the 'first flushes' of sanitary developments by the Babylonians thousands of years ago, through the 'Sewer Maxima' of Roman times to the Royal Flushes of the Stewarts in Britain, the industrial revolution and the cholera epidemics which killed thousands of people in the nineteenth century.
The talk exposed the myth of Thomas Crapper (he did not invent anything to do with toilets at all - but was a good marketing man!) and highlighted the significant part that the British have played in the development of vitally important sanitary systems.
As well as enthusiasm, wit, interest and a wide array of knowledge, Mr Gosney provided a thought-provoking edge to his subject matter by asking why, even today, is 40% of the world's population without even basic sanitation, what progress is being made to remedy the situation and will the limits on water supplies mean that new, sustainable forms of sanitation have to be found in the relatively near future?
Mr Gosney concluded his talk by highlighting the excellent work being undertaken by Buriton's 'Village-to-Village' Charity and by stressing that every penny raised was spent on practical projects on the ground in Ghana which improve the life-chances of young children. He encouraged everyone to give generously to such a good cause.
If you would like to help Dominase by making a small donation every month, please click on the leaflet below and simply return the Standing Order form at the end.
