By K. I. de Silva,
Chairman, Wester Seaton
Cheshire Home,
Negombo.

"A mission of love and care
In the darkness of despair"

Half a century of Cheshire Homes and the Cheshire Movement was celebrated in more than fifty countries where more than 280 Homes exist. In London , the Home of the Leonard Cheshire International, a week of events was arranged for the many delegates converging there from Homes across the world. Sri Lanka was represented by Captain Denis Cooray, Chairman, Sir James and Lady Pieris Cheshire Home at Mount Lavinia.

The opening ceremony was enriched by addresses from Baroness Ryder of Warsaw (widow of Lord Cheshire) President of Leonard Cheshire, Chief Anyaoki Commonwealth Secretary-General and Sir Patrick Walker, Chairman, Leonard Cheshire International Committee.

During the week the Prince of Wales hosted an evening reception at St. James' Palace. Rt. Hon. Frank Dobson P.C. MP Secretary of State for Health also hosted a reception, while the presence of Sir David Goodall, Chairman Leonard Cheshire International, encouraged all delegates.

Leonard Cheshire learnt to fly in the University Air Squadron, while reading law at Oxford. Inevitably, he joined the Royal Air Force and in a short time, became a legend. He was the youngest ever Group Captain in the Royal Air Force, in World War II; he even dropped a rank to take command of the legendary 617 squadron (The Dambusters). He flew more than 100 missions, always bringing his aircraft back, sometimes in a tattered state, savaged by anti air craft fire.

Group Captain Leonard Cheshire was the most decorated airman in World War 11. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (with three bars) and the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his incredible daring, resource-fulness, resolute leadership initiative, and command. And, in September 1944 Leonard Cheshire was awarded the Victoria Cross, the supreme accolade for gallantry, not for a single act of courage but for years of sustained valour of an extradordinary order. In 1981 the Queen conferred on him the prestigious Order of Merit and in 1991 he accepted a life peerage to become Baron Cheshire of Woodhall.

His final assignment in World War II was a historic one. Mr. Winston Churchill (as he then was) selected the Group Captain to be the official British observer in the American plane that dropped the atom bombs on Nagasaki. The last act of a legendary War Hero.

In 1945 he left the Royal Air Force and soon after was the first act that commenced the labour of a life time - dedicating himself to those less fortunate. An ex-serviceman, Arthur Dykes, dying of cancer, having no home and nowhere to go. Leonard Cheshire took him in, responding to that unmet need, personally caring for and nursing him till the man died in his arms.

The Cheshire Homes
Then others came. He took them in, all of them - the incurably sick, the disabled, the helpless, although he had no funds, and did not know from where the funds would come but the funds came, the word spread, and soon others were offering homes for the cause. And so, an organisation developed and spread to over 50 countries.

Each home is totally indigenous. It is the responsibility of the caring local people to identify a building, to generate funds, recruit staff and attract volunteers, to manage, to administer, to cope.

Each home is not just a refuge. It is a place which is home, the residents constituting the family, each helping the other and all helping their Home, the laughter of one is the happiness of all, the tears of one are shared by all. Residents are encouraged to find fulfilment in whatever tasks they are able to perform, to the extent of their disability.

Cheshire Homes cater to all, with no barriers of sex, race, caste, creed, age, social position. Residents are encouraged to pursue their own faith, with provision for them to worship in their own way. The Homes, being local in character, bring to the daily living the habits and culture of the area. The residents are also encouraged and assisted to sharpen and exploit their talents, usually dormant when they arrive and to become useful members.

In Sri Lanka
There are two Homes in Sri Lanka. The Sir James and Lady Pieris Cheshire Home at Siripala Road, Mount Lavinia and the Wester Seaten Cheshire Home at Demanhandiya, Negombo.

Each Home has approximately 30 residents and a Matron, Attendants (male and female) Domestic Staff and cleaners. They are dependent for funding on the generosity of the more fortunate members of Society - the magnitude of the financial commitment is, indeed, awesome.

The writer takes this opportunity to invite you to visit our home and carry with you the visual experience of the transparent joy and happiness when you meet our disabled friends. Those who care receive as much upliftment as those who are cared for.

Lord Cheshire has been properly called the greatest humanitarian of the twentieth century, notwithstanding Mother Teresa, who was his noble friend, for his ideals, his vision that has spread through a world wide network of Homes. Group Captain Leonard Cheshire in 1959 married Sue Ryder, who was herself a fearless crusader to bring relief to survivors of Nazi concentration camps - the sick, the homeless, and those in need. From the combined work of the Sue Ryder Foundation and the Cheshire Foundation was born the Mission for the Relief of Suffering, of which Mother Theresa was a Founder Member.

Eventually Lord Cheshire himself was confined to a wheelchair with motor neurone disease. Finally, he was not leading the disabled but was one with them. The candle was extinguished on 12th September 1992. The legend lives on.

The fruit of Silence is Prayer
The fruit of Prayer is Faith
The fruit of Faith is love
The fruit of love is service
The fruit of service is Peace

(Grateful acknowledgements to Cheshire Smile and the commemmoration volume of Cheshire Homes, Eastern Region).

The Leonard Cheshire Charter
Our mission is to assist disabled people throughout the world, regardless of their colour, race or creed, by providing the conditions necessary for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

We believe that each person, whatever his or her disability, is a uniquely valuable individual and that people with disabilities should have the personal freedom to pursue their aspirations and take their own place in the world.

Our aim is to offer to those with disabilities:

* Unquestioning recognition of their full human rights

* Standards of excellence in all aspects of care from both staff and volunteers

* The support of a forward-looking and responsive organisation, aware of their needs and those of their carers

* The opportunity to take an effective part at every level in running our services.

* Partnership in a continuing endeavour to help others, wherever the need may be in the field of disability.

The trustees of the Cheshire Home Foundation are Dr. P. R. Anthonis (Chairman), Mr. Mallory Wijesinghe, Mr. Dennis Cooray, Mr. K. I. de Silva, Ms. Perin Captain, Ms. Sybil Kanagasundram, Ms. Jennifer Blackler, Ms. Pali Gunatilake and Dr. Cecil Jayamaha.