A founder of Lochaber charity Kirsty’s Kids has gone on hunger strike in protest against a Network Rail yard next door, which has driven them to close its respite centre for sick children and their families and drawn hundreds of signatures on a petition so far.
Former policeman John Bryden, who is chairman of the charity at Craiglea, Lochailort, with his wife Jan, said: “My wife and I have given our lives to helping the children.
“Nearly 13 years people have been coming here. Hundreds of children in dire need and dire despair have got the benefit from coming here.
“All I can give to resolve this, in protest, is to give my life.”
Jan, the charity’s treasurer, added: “We’ve tried everything else. We’ve tried talking. We’ve tried asking them. No-one will listen. We’ve got nothing left to try.”
Kirsty’s Kids was founded in the name of the couple’s 19-year-old daughter Kirsty, who lost her life in a car accident. She loved children and had already spent time caring for sick young people in Mozambique and at home.
Following Kirsty’s death, John, a former policeman, set off around the world on his daughter’s motorcycle, raising £100,000 to get the charity started.
From there, Kirsty’s Kids grew into an organisation offering free respite care to vulnerable children and their families. Jan and John even moved into their converted garage so their house could be given over to visiting families.
An online petition, ‘Children’s respite home closed by Network Rail’s heartless action’, says: “In 2021, John and Jan Bryden’s property, home to Kirsty’s Kids, faced devastating flooding from Network Rail land, resulting in significant damage.
“Shockingly, despite no planned rail maintenance near Kirsty’s Kids, Network Rail has opted to further demolish the adjacent meadow, creating a new industrial yard feet from the charity grounds. The work included massive lorries, industrial machinery working 24/7.
“Consequently, a family with autistic children had to depart immediately. Autistic children cannot adapt to unexpected, incessant, noise and lights. The whole experience caused significant trauma to the family.
“The Brydens have endured excruciating anguish which has had severe health repercussions. In a desperate move, John has resorted to a hunger strike as his final attempt for resolution.
“To facilitate the re-opening of Kirsty’s Kids, the following actions are imperative: immediate removal and cessation of the ramp and rail-related repair or upgrade items; stop using a recently converted ditch, which is feet away from the charity, as a railside yard; relocation of all heavy machinery to the designated sites where children’s charities or private dwellings will not be impacted.”
The online petition had reached almost 800 signatures by the time we went to press on Tuesday.
“We can no longer cope,” wrote Sally Gardner Cochran, administrator of Kirsty’s Kids, on November 6, calling for support to their roadside protest. “No-one could continue to live in these dreadful conditions. If you see Jan or John standing at the roadside please give them a smile and a wave of support.”
Kirsty’s Kids gave updates on John’s hunger strike, which started on November 1. “John is getting weaker,” it said on day seven. “Temperatures plummeting below freezing, John’s rapid weight loss is alarming,” it added on day nine. “After cold nightshift with Sally, John rested and resumed vigil,” it updated on day 10.
“With no rest overnight due to the work continuing, he is increasingly declining,” it said on Monday November 13. “All John and Jan want is to re-open and have families in, visiting the tranquil and beautiful surroundings they offer at Trust House.”
In a video posted on November 9, John added: “The children that come here are children who are so ill. They come from hospitals with life limiting illnesses, often coming to end of life.
“We have parents coming to end of life, with young children coming to have peace and tranquility, and they’re being denied that. The craft shed lies next to the fence.
“Last week they came in with dozens of lorries and massive earth movers and created a huge roadway ramp within feet of the house. Ornaments and pictures were crashing on the floor.
“We’ve put everything we have into pleading with the massive, huge corporation Network Rail to stop destroying our lives and to live [in] peace here.
“I won’t eat until they’ve moved this massive, huge industrial yard away. We can’t live here any more. If I can’t live here, I’m going to die trying.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The charity has raised its concerns with us and we’re working with them to minimise disruption where we can.
“The work we are carrying out on the track is vital to keeping the railway safe for colleagues and passengers.”
Network Rail, the owner and manager of most of the UK’s rail network, said a temporary compound was set-up near where the charity is located to carry out maintenance on a section of track three miles away. This was set-up with the agreement of the landowner, who neighbours the charity.
The project will run between Saturdays and Wednesdays until December 13. Work takes place at night which is the safest time for its staff and contractors to work on the railway.
Alternative compounds were explored during the planning stage of the project, but none were suitable because of the amount of space required for welfare facilities and to store our materials.