John gets back in the saddle to help Indian school

Cllr John Dagg (Con, St Johns) has not ridden a bicycle since he left school but, eager for a challenge, he has decided now is the perfect time to start cycling again.

The 28-year-old will take part in the annual Buwan Kothi International Trust fundraising event, in which more than 20 people will ride the 33-mile route on Sunday July 17 at 10am.

This is the fifth year the event has taken place and the participants hope to raise £5,000 between them.

Cllr Dagg said: “I heard about the work being done for Buwan Kothi from one of the charity’s trustees who I work with.

“I thought it sounded like a really worthwhile thing to raise money for and I was looking for a challenge, so thought the cycle would be ideal for me.”

Buwan Kothi International Trust was founded in December 2005 by the late race equality campaigner Gilly Mundy, who grew up in Leamington, to raise money for the community of the remote northern Indian village and establish a school.

When Mr Mundy died of a brain haemorrhage aged 36, his work was taken on by his family, including his father, Leamington town councillor Mota Singh.