New Years day, 2005, John Casson calls an expat in Galle, Sri Lanka. ‘I see from the news that relief has reached you’ he says, ‘no’ came the answer, ‘nothing at all, the area is in chaos’.

Acting quickly, only 24 hours later John Casson, with help from his Securewest International offices in India and Nepal had four teams of six former Gurkhas and Indian armed forces personnel on their way to Sri Lanka.

During the two months that followed these team’s organised delivery of aid to coastal areas beyond Galle and the Tamil held area of northwest Sri Lanka. Their task was to help provide life support, getting people back into their homes.

Old and young, fit and infirm all received food and aid in an orderly and disciplined way. They did not panic because they had confidence that the Securewest International personnel would be fair and look after them.

Meanwhile back in the UK John Casson organised a fundraising campaign. A total of £52,000 was raised to help the effort. Unlike other aid organisations, all the money raised went directly to the relief effort.