Amy Mullins with the Fox and Hounds desk in Tanzania
Amy Mullins with the Fox and Hounds desk in Tanzania

The Fox and Hounds in Shenstone, near Lichfield, has made an appearance of sorts in Tanzania.

When 19-year old Lichfield teenager, Amy Mullins, went to an impoverished region of Tanzania in Africa to teach English she adorned one of the desks with the name of the Shenstone pub. Amy made it to Africa with the help of customers from the pub who’s donations help pay for travel costs and equipment for the school which runs without electricity, running water or an indoors toilet.

Amy quickly got the first desk set up and painted “Fox and Hounds” across the front in big bright letters. Amy said,

“The children were thrilled. They have so little equipment that the arrival of new desks is a really big thing for them. They loved the “Fox and Hounds” especially when I explained how it was the name of a pub back in my home village – they thought that was very funny.

“When I was collecting for the trip my dad was working behind the bar at the Fox and Hounds and he did a few collections for me. I couldn’t believe how generous everyone was and naming the desk after the pub was just a way of saying thank you.”

Amy Mullins
Amy Mullins

And Amy’s efforts have inspired. Her dad Barry, a project manager at Total UK is now planning to make a similar trip to help build a well in South Africa after seeing what Amy had achieved. He explained that he’d always wanted to do some overseas volunteer work.

“So it looks like I’ll be shaking the collection cup under the noses of Fox and Hounds regulars yet again,” he said. “I’m not worried though, they’re a generous lot and I’m sure they will dig deep for such a good cause.”

Ken Gardner, the landlord at the Fox and Hounds was delighted and proud that the pub is now known in Tanzania;

“We always try our best to help charities and our customers always seem willing to come up with the cash. Who knows, perhaps Barry will set up another branch of the Fox and Hounds when he goes to South Africa.”