As a result of a holiday in 1997 the Glynn family established a unique charity in The Gambia – Gambia Tourist Support.  The simple aim was to create much needed employment and training opportunities for Gambian people, thus affording them the dignity of supporting their families.

Eventually, working with a local community, GTS was able to actually build a school, staff it with Gambian teachers and arrange the support of visiting volunteers,

Over time it became obvious that a second charity was needed whose aim would be to raise, manage and maintain funds for current and future educational projects by building a supportive membership.  Gambia Education and Teaching Support (GETS) was registered as a UK charity in 2004.  Since then we have supported the education of over 500 students by individual sponsorships, run a Nursery School in Bakoteh, administered projects on behalf of other charities working in Gambia and more recently, taken over the administration of an Education Centre in Bakoteh.

Francis Glynn, our founder, died in December 2011.  The trustees are committed to carrying on the work which he started.

GETS Trustees

Tony Nelson – Chairman and Sunrise Project Director

My background is as a senior manager with National UK Telecoms, Broadcasting and Radio Communications groups, but I have now retired after more than 30 years of service, working in network operations, infrastructure deployment projects and company change programmes. I’ve enjoyed a varied career and feel that it’s now time to put something back by helping those less fortunate. I am married (to Sue) with 3 grown-up children and 8 grandchildren, living in the Southampton area of England.

Following an invitation from my sister Rosie, one of the GETS advisors, I’ve enjoyed several holidays to The Gambia during the last couple of years. With my retirement, I now have available time and practical experience that I hope to lend to the charity with its various project challenges.

Paul Webster – Treasurer

I live in Wales with my wife, Dawn.  After gaining a Bsc.Econ at the London School of Economics I trained as an accountant, I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. As one of my hobbies, is bird-watching, I am in my element when visiting The Gambia.

Sue Nelson - Secretary

I am a mother of two sons and a daughter with eight grandchildren and another on the way! I was born in Brockham, Surrey and have lived also in Hampshire, Hereford, Cornwall, Oxford, Scotland, South Wales and finally back in Hampshire. I have been married to Tony for 35 years. Having worked for several years as a classroom assistant and special needs assistant in primary schools I gave up work to go and be a (very) mature student. I gained a BA and an MA in archaeology at the University of Southampton and now work for Wessex Archaeology based in Salisbury as supervisor of the Finds Department. My hobbies include reading, walking, bird-watching and spending time chatting to friends on Facebook. I am a committed Christian.

Dawn Webster – Sponsorship Secretary

I am a retired teacher and live in Wales with my husband, Paul. After coming to live in Wales, I learnt Welsh then helped in a school where all the teaching is done in Welsh. As the majority of the children at the school came from non-Welsh speaking backgrounds this has helped me relate to the problems that Gambian children have receiving their education in English, both from the point of view of the student and the teacher.