LOCAL hotelier John Matthews and renowned artist and jewellery maker Linda Lewin will reveal a very different side to their lives in the coming weeks with illustrated talks that reveal their deep relationships with two fascinating, and often complex, parts of the world.

Each winter, John takes time out from running Windlestraw, an award-winning luxury hotel in Walkerburn, to visit Nepal where his charity, Children of the Mountain, continues to make a huge difference to the lives of school-age children in a remote part of the country.

It’s a journey that began just over a decade ago when John found himself on a remote hillside, some 150km northwest of Kathmandu. Standing outside a small, seemingly derelict animal shed he was unaware that his life was about to change. The building was in fact a classroom, and full of schoolchildren.

Determined to provide the children with better facilities, John decided to build a classroom – a move that led to the founding of Children of the Mountain.

Today, the charity has built a high school, 14 new primary schools, plus opened a further 50 kindergartens and creative grade classrooms. Some 5,000 children now attend the schools each day, while a further 1,000 children receive a creative education in the pre-schools.

In his talk on February 21, John will provide a personal insight into the world of aid work following a 'decade of battling dangerous roads, monsoon floods, revolting Maoists, petty politicians and happy hippies to build schools and educate children'.

Later, on March 13, Stobo-based artist Linda Lewin will use her own childhood background to add depth to her illustrated talk on life in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Her talk opens in Burma in the 1920s when Linda’s father, a young boy named Bo Lay, was his own hero in a world of adventures populated by Karen people, the Burmans, Chinese merchants, Indian coolies, French nuns, English and Italian priests and Scottish nurses.

Bo Lay’s story is rich in detail about the Burma he was forced to flee in 1942 when he was just 11 years old and his country was about to be devastated by war.

His story powers forward to today and Linda’s account of Angels with Broken Wings: the ordinary people of Myanmar; the artists determined to tell the truth about their country; the young people desperate for education; parents who want better lives for their children; and the religious leaders who provide material and spiritual support for their communities.

Linda is a regular visitor to Myanmar where she uses art to teach English, working with a charity that supports young people in education in the Irrawaddy Delta area.

She explained: “They have all welcomed me as a family member and I wait with them for peace, prosperity and democracy to take root within the borders of Myanmar."

John Matthews will speak in Children of the Mountain, 7pm, Friday, February 21, while Linda Lewin will speak in Angels with Broken Wings at 7.30pm on Friday, March 13.

Both talks are free, but it's advisable to still book through the Eastgate Theatre Box Office on 01721 725777, or online.