04/11/2025
I knew Nathan Yates, aka The Purbeck Thatcher, was doing special work.
Thatches are part of the iconic identity of Dorset. They look amazing and fit so well into our already beautiful landscape.
To replace, repair and patch thatches is a traditional craft with skills that takes many years to master and one of the oldest building crafts in our British Isles.
Being a Master Thatcher is already inspiring. What makes Nathan awe inspiring is the humanitarian work he has been doing supplying aid to Ukraine 🇺🇦
I have to say, I was truly taken aback and lost for words when I met with Nathan to present his Superstar Award 🥇
He has undertaken 9 humanitarian missions to Ukraine. There are more volunteers here in Dorset, who have made an incredible 31 humanitarian missions to Ukraine. Nathan has helped with the loading of all of these.
These missions are not just to the border. They go to all the major cities, including Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odessa. Into towns and villages, very close to the front line.
To put the effort and commitment involved in these missions into perspective, one way from Dorset to Dnipro is 1,940 miles. Over 35 hours.
Nathan works closely with New Forest for Ukraine (NFFU), who have sent 59 HGV truckloads. They aim to send one truck each month.
Huge recognition and thanks also goes out to other volunteers locally in Poole, Wareham and Weymouth, who all support each other closely. They fund most of the travel costs out of their own pockets, so more of the aid can get to the people who need it.
The senseless war, where Ukraine is battling for its own borders, has been raging for nearly 4 years. We are in another Winter. The bombings and conditions are brutal. Wave after wave of drone strikes at night.
A Ukrainian flag 🇺🇦 is hoisted and flown for every citizen, who has tragically lost their life. Their spirit and unity is awe inspiring.
The Ukrainian people are incredibly grateful for all the aid they receive. The stories are heartwarming and heartbreaking. They desperately need more and more medical supplies.
Nathan and NFFU have delivered wheelchairs, generators as well as all the generous donations of clothing and bedding.
Cash donations are also needed to fund more humanitarian aid trips to help the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦 in this terrible war.
Nathan is an incredible man with a huge heart. He does deserve recognition. He is someone in our village Puddletown, who is doing something extraordinary. As are all those involved, who are providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and elsewhere in the world.
I know from my conversations with Nathan, this is much more about maintaining the awareness of the war in and for more humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine 🇺🇦
Thank you, Nathan. Thank you to all the volunteers in Dorset.
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