A WIMBLEDON WIND-UP
Wimbledon College recently play ed host to one of the most inspiring Englishmen of modern time when Trevor Bayliss OBE came to talk to 350 pupils who were preparing For their A levels and GCSEs. Mr Bayliss gave an inspiring talk to the group who were on the verse of moving out into the wide world. Urging them to d ed icate their skills, talents and creativity to serving those most in need.
Talking about his invention of the, now famous, wind-up radio , and the impact it has had on some of the poorest communities in the world, particularly in AIDS- scarr ed Africa, Mr Bayfiss urg ed the students to follow in his Footsteps. He explain ed how a revolutionary invention, which had impact ed on the lives of millions, start ed in the humble surroundings of his ~garage. More recent inventions were also demonstrat ed , including a pair of shoes that he was wearing which were design ed to re-charge mobile phones using the energy creat ed whilst walking.
Later in his visit, Mr Bayliss met an intrepid group of 15 sixth Formers who have rais ed £l5,000 to date For a Jesuit project in Southern India working for the ‘untouchable' Dalit caste. They intend to travel there this summer to work alongside the Jesuits.
After inspecting the Design and Technology Department - where today's veneration of mad inventors are being nurtur ed - Mr Bayliss travel ed down the hill to visit the Jesuit Missions 0ffice.
Whilst he was at JM the staff show ed him a presentation on Chikuni Radio in Zambia. Thanks to readers of Jesuits and Friends there are now over 350 wind-up radio s in the Chikuni Parish receiving Chikuni Radio programmes - ed ucational health advice, new farming methods, justice and peace issues, as well as music! Mr Bayliss' invention has overcome the problem of communication in this part of Africa, and brought about a change in the way people live their lives, without any economic or environmental cost.