James Stevens, the founder of Udayan, together with his wife Lallita, and in the company of the trustee of his UK based charity, the author and biographer Kathryn Spink, visited St Joan’s today, Friday 10 September 2004. The party was taken to the Sixth Form Common Room and James introduced to the eight students and two teachers who are going to work at Udayan in February. He met members of staff as well as other students interested in Udayan. He then gave a short talk to the Sixth Form about his work with the slum children, explaining that these children’s lives are as damaged by the stigma of leprosy, as are their parents? lives destroyed by the disease itself. James thanked the students very much for all their fundraising activities and support, and ended with his blessing. Everyone listened very closely to what James said, and many were clearly moved by his gentleness and sincerity. A number approached him afterwards and chatted.

Tony Sumner, the Head of St Joan’s, Louisa Sutton and Chris Ridley, head girl and head boy, jointly presented James with a cheque for £5,000 which had been raised by the Sixth Form over the last few months. James was delighted and said the money would go towards building a new medical unit for the children. Tony Sumner then took the party on a tour of the school and ended with saying he hoped the link between St Joan of Arc and Udayan could be so well established that it would still be thriving in 20 years time. The visit was attended by a reporter and photographer of the Watford Observer.