On the 26th June 2008 it will be précisely one year since we lost our 

friend, sister and colleague, Hélène Lembanaka.  The void her death has 

left is compounded by the fact that sadly George Kouma, companion and 

colleague of Hélène, has been missing since October 2007.  The Lambeth 

Missing Persons section of The police has been liaising with a core 

group of individuals who knew him (mainly through his connections with 

Hélène) but so far there is no news of his whereabouts.  We just 

continue to pray that he is alive.  There is likely be press coverage 

about this in the near future and I will keep you all informed.

In the meantime time I have been in contact with some good friends of 

Hélène to establish what we could do, low profile and informally, to 

mark the anniversary of her death. The suggestion so far has been to 

gather in the local park (at the top of the Chiswick end of Acton Lane) 

nearest to where Hélène (and George lived) and have some kind of 

picnic. This seems like a great idea so long as the whether holds out. 

The earlier weekend I could do is Sunday 29th June, but later Saturdays 

or Sundays are also possible.  Of course it will be hard to please 

everyone but it would be good to see how you all feel about the 

proposed gathering or perhaps you have other suggestions? I have myself 

continue to keep my own memories of Hélène, for example, through using 

her Book, Tales From Gabon for storytelling/ Drama workshops such as at 

Drayton Manor High School in Hanwell and Church Hill Nursery Centre, 

Walthamstow, recently.