Patricia Marion Gough MBE

Marion lived in Tanzania from 1949 until 1963. In 2006, Marion returned to show family where she grew up and during that trip visited Mufindi where she met Geoff Fox MBE, founder of Foxes Community & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Geoff highlighted the needs of the area due to an increasing HIV epidemic which was causing numerous orphans and destitution for the population. Marion and family were shown around two projects Geoff had undertaken to help support the local area. At this point, September 2006, foundations of the first orphan houses were underway and the local Mdabulo Hospital, which was in dire straights and barely functional, was targeted for improvement. It was clear that to make any impact funding and equipment was needed, then, now and in the future.

When Orphans in the Wild was founded in the UK by Geoff Fox’s son, Bruce and daughter-in-law Jane, Marion became one of the four trustees. Since day one of its inception Marion has continued to enthusiastically and tirelessly volunteer to raise money and send hundreds of items, via containers, for the many projects involved in the ongoing holistic support of the Mufindi community, regularly visiting Mufindi herself. Marion was honoured in the 2014 Diplomatic Service and Overseas List.

“Mrs (Patricia) Marion GOUGH. Trustee, Orphans in the Wild. For services to the victims of AIDS, particularly children, in Tanzania”