An ex student of John Kyrle High School, James Robertson, has been out in Nepal, in Kathmandu following the devastating earthquake, which killed more than 7,000 people and injured more than twice as many on Saturday, April 25th.

James is originally from Lea, and his parents, Jan and Robbie Robertson, still live there. James left JKHS in 2001 and he studied for his engineering Masters Degree at Cardiff University before moving abroad to work for relief agencies in Madagascar, Pakistan, Mali, Bangladesh and more recently Myanmar (Burma) where he now lives with his wife and three young children.

James works for UNICEF (United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund) in the Burmese capital, Yangon, and is responsible for water and sanitation for the whole country which is desperately poor and underdeveloped.

James was in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu when the earthquake struck. His parents received an e-mail from their son on the day of the earthquake. It said: "[I am] In Kathmandu but I am fine. Trying to see what I can do to help. Lots of damage and death around here. Don't worry, I am in good hands."

To read more of James' story, pick up a copy of this week's Ross Gazette.