BEING a number two isn’t always seen as a good thing, but a pair of publicans are proud to accept the accolade.
The licencees at the Firkin Alley micro-pub, Jamie Kidd and Nicola Taylor, are proud that their toilet is the second toilet in Barnard Castle to be twinned with one in Africa.
Mr Kidd said: “There will be a fair few jokes but we are proud to support such a good cause.”
Barnard Castle resident, Ian Blake, who arranged the first twinning of St Mary’s Church toilet with one in Sierra Leone, said: “One in three people in the world don’t have a loo. Having a safe loo to use brings security and it provides hygiene.”
Regulars at The Firkin Alley have raised the £60 to put a toilet in Kabindi, North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the 11,714th toilet to be twinned under the scheme.
Tearfund, a charity which runs the scheme, supports projects in poor communities so families can build a basic toilet, gain access to clean water and learn about hygiene – a combination that saves lives.
Mr Blake was on hand to present a certificate to the Firkin Alley to hang in its loo complete with a photograph and the twinned toilet in Congo and GPS co-ordinates so that anyone inquisitive enough can look it up.
Mr Blake said he would like Barnard Castle to twin five toilets by the end of the year.
Further information is available at www.toilettwinning.org
