Customers of Pocklington chemist Brian Slater would never guess at his behind-the-scenes commitment to the children of Vietnam.

Brian, 55, who lives in York but has been a chemist in Pocklington for 20 years, raised £10,000 for a new wing to an orphanage in the town of Kontom, in the central highlands of Vietnam.

His fascination with the country began in 1967 when he travelled across the USA on Greyhound coaches speaking to young soldiers off to fight in the Vietnam War.

He said: "They were scared because they'd heard stories, had friends who'd died or been maimed and they were travelling with fear in their hearts."

He first visited the country three years ago with his son, Matthew, and was so impressed by the generosity of the people that he vowed to go back and help them. The following year he visited Kontom for the first time with his son, Philip.

He said: "I took penicillin tablets and showed them how to grind it up and using sugar make it into medicine for children. It's crude but it works."

He also treated the badly-infected leg of a young boy he knew as Mr Blum. The boy has now made a full recovery.

Mr Slater also covered an open drain and installed a water tank on the roof of the orphanage, which is home to 200 children who were sharing cramped conditions with up to three of them sleeping on a wooden bed base.

When Brian returned home he raised £10,000 for a new wing. One pound translates to £20 in Vietnam.

He donated £1,000 of his own money to the project, received £3,000 from his company, Selles, and also got £3,000 from a collection which was held on the last night show of Miss Saigon when it closed in the West End.

The rest came from money the orphanage had managed to save for the purpose.

Mr Slater is in the process of setting up a registered charity to create an official appeal fund for an identical wing for the boys to live in.

The Evening Press contacted Father Jos Lien, who lives in the town, by email. He said his community was very grateful for Mr Slater's help.

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