Dear Roland, I read your piece on Bel Remedios with great interest since I first met Bel as a young lad who, with his sister, Iris, used to come home to Kisii during the school vacation. I was later to meet Bel here in London when he and Lena visited us at our Sutton homestead. Kisii brings back so many memories - it was with Bel's Dad that stayed when I first arrived on posting to Kisii from the Northern Frontier, and it was here at Kisii that I was to meet that gregarious and heart-and-soul-of-the party, Bel's larger than life Mum, Lena. Oh, how I recall those endless sing-songs we always had whenever Lena appeared. She was a great singer and I loved joining her whenever she sang some of those old "un-adulterated" Goan folk songs. There was no stopping us while the beer also flowed! I was delighted to read of Bel's many achievements and his involvement with the Goan community - surely a case of like mother, like son? A great credit to the Goan community, and well done, Bel. Kisii was noted for its bananas and pineapples and, during my time there, it was coffee that was grown and marketed through the local co-operative. Kisii will always remain in our hearts as it is at Nyabururu in the Kisii district that our infant son Conrad lies in a missionary's graveyard. Thanks for the memories, Roland.
Mervyn Maciel
