Simons Archive
In this section of the website, you can find out about recent news revolving around Simon and Simons friends and family and the fundraising efforts helping towards the Projects in West Africa that Simon was interested in. For more information about these, see Simons Projects.
Simon's Projects Update 2009
Simon’s father David has recently returned from a two month and 5000 mile road trip around all And Albert Foundation’s project villages, including the furthest one North, Pougyango, where Simon and subsequently his friends visited in 2005/06. Simon’s fund has completed the first clean water well in the centre of this village last year and very recently another pump and well alongside the school as often the children went without water all day.
The reason AAF is focusing on this village is to achieve it’s sustainable development in the future. After the clean water we are beginning a fruit tree nursery this year and building an eco-tourist guest house using local traditional methods.
right: Mango tree nursery in Logshegu, Ghana
To do this, we need mud bicks which are made here. Our director Jonas will increase the brick making project, thus at the same time creating a village fish pond! But there is an even more important spin-off for Simon’s vocational focus. This is for the poorest kids, often orphaned who cannot go to school, who live and sleep rough and eat only scraps once a day, to have a future, otherwise they would be condemned to scratch a living from the meanest of tasks for no income. Here is mussah, under developed physically (he is 15 years old!) with all the signs of malnutrition, digging the mud for the bricks in order to find a place in village life. He wandered here after losing his family to disease and starvation further north.
Simon would want Moussa and the approximately 100 others like him in this village and its surroundings to have a real chance of a life. This is our intention this year and we already have the backing of the Chief and his people asking us to work with them to achieve this. Our proposal is to set up an extra fund for what we are doing in And Albert as a “Simon vocational workshop fund”, so Moussa and other marginalised children get a chance to develop their resources.
left: digging mud bricks near Pougyango, Burkina Faso
The Simon Murden Cup - September 2008
A local independent company, Board Patrol, is hosting and presenting a Skate Competition at North Ferriby Skate Park on Sunday 7th September 2008. The competition is split into three different age categories and is open to anyone who wishes to participate at any level of skating ability. As well as the category winners, Board Patrol has announced a very special award named The Simon Murden Cup.
This award is in honour of the late Simon Murden, who was a local talented skateboarder before his tragic death. His parents, Dot and Dave Murden, will be attending to present the cup to the competitor the judges think is most creative and enthusiastic and who embodies the spirit of the sport.
This is just one of several skate events and competitions held by Board Patrol across the region. Paul Marshall from Board Patrol of Savile Street, Hull city centre is hoping that these competitions promote the healthy and positive benefits of skating as a sport. “Skateboarding does get associated with anti-social behaviour and that is an image we would like to change. Skating is a diverse urban sport that demands discipline, skill and determination”.
All are welcome at the North Ferriby Skate Park, off Church Street (Sunday 7th Sept) from 12noon onwards to enjoy an exciting day, whether it be to compete or to watch and enjoy a fun day out!
Board Patrol Hull City Centre (01482) 581800 | www.boardpatrol.co.uk | Official flyer below:
Footprints4Simon - July 2006
On Saturday 3rd July 2006, "Simon’s projects" group held an evening to raise money and awareness for people in West Africa. Simon was passionate about making a difference to people's lives in Ghana and Burkina Faso and we want to continue the work he was involved with. Why "Footprints"? When we visited Africa, we were told that in Ghana a footprint refers to someones legacy, that when we die, some of us leave a "footprint" on this earth that inspires others and will continue through time, long after they have gone. It seemed very appropriate that this evening should be called "Footprints4Simon".
The evening comprised of bbq, games, raffles film and photos, all with an African theme. Our aim was to have as much fun as possible (and for some of us as much beer as possible) and not just to raise money, but to raise awareness as well, so that people could understand the difficulties that people face in Africa, and hopefully see them as more than just a face in a picture or a statistic.
The night was a great success, the pub was packed and the money was flowing in. people, complete strangers, were very supportive and were really interested in what we were doing and what Simon had been involved with in Africa.
All in all we raised £1500!! Much beyond our expectations! This money has now been used to complete two wells in a village called Puyango in Burkina Faso. A big THANKYOU, to all who came and to all who contributed to the evening. And finally, a big thanks you to Steve and Janine, landlord and landlady of the Light Horseman, for their generosity and allowing us to use the pub. Thanks!
View the pictures shown on the night from Simon’s friends trip to West Africa
West Africa - March 2006
At the end of February 2006, seventeen of Simon’s friends and family travelled to Africa to see what And Albert has been doing there over the past 15yrs, and some of the projects that touched Simon, and what he was so passionate about on his return from Ghana last year.
So 17 of us in total, in 2 vehicles, travelling over many miles, in temperatures over 45°C, camping out and staying in mud huts, with zero mod cons may not be every ones idea of fun, but I'm sure that all who went, would agree that the pluses out weighed the minuses, ten fold!
Our objectives were to visit different villages in Ghana and Burkina Faso where the money raised through Simon's projects (Skate4Simon and Sing 4Simon) has helped to bring clean water to people. It was amazing to see the well in Zagtouli completed only a few weeks before our arrival. Last time I was there, in November last year, it was dry, and to be pulling buckets of water out of it this time was fantastic!
We also painted a school in a village called Logshegu. To see the transformation, in a day, was great. A brighter, colourful school really seemed to encourage the kids to use it more. Their smiles said it all!
It is so important to meet the people in Africa who are struck with poverty, to understand their wants, needs and way of life. To build a relationship of trust, friendship and respect, so that together we can help to put an end to poverty, is as important, if not more than, the money raised. This "education" was one of the main objectives of this trip for me, which I felt was achieved throughout the group.
It was also a very emotional trip, as we were visiting a lot of the same places and meeting the same people that Simon had met almost exactly a year ago shortly before he was killed. A lot of us felt a very close connection to Simon at Kintampo Waterfalls, where Simon had been last year, a beautiful place to reflect, and remember him.
To see so many of Simon’s friends, and especially Johnny and Tina, in Ghana was very moving and Simon would have been proud of every one of us. To go to Africa, to raise money, to talk about Simon, to sing 4 Simon, to skate 4 Simon, to pray for Simon, to support Simon's Projects, to tell people about this web site, all goes to show people what Simon was REALLY like and how proud we were to have him as our friend. - Max March 2006
View school painting pics | View trip pictures
Sing4Simon - December 2005
Just before Christmas last year, a number of Simon's family and friends organised the Sing4Simon event which was held at York's railway station on the 23rd December. The idea of the day was to raise money for our Water Projects currently going on in Northen Ghana and Burina Faso, in particularly the completion of the well project at Singha Village.
There was a heavy emphasis on the Little Britain theme for the fancy dress, with special mentions going to Max and Eddie who went as Lou and Andy, giving a hilarious performance all day and raising the most 
out of all of us. Special thanks as well to the kids who joined in and helped, and to those who travelled up from the South to be there. Through our non too harmonious renditions of popular carols, and our constant badgering of the general public we managed to raise £950 on the day with a further £300 being raised through sponsors and donations, giving a grand total of £1250.
Singha village is in remote North Ghana, about 30 miles from Tamale (if you look on a map) on the other side of the White Volta river. It is the last village on the old slave track that comes down from Mali, Burkina Faso and 
Niger. The village is isolated in the bushland, with nothing around it for miles. The water supply that the villagers have is in essence, deadly, full of guinea worm parasite and various diseases which can eat people away from the inside. Although some drink the water through filters, these are not renewed often enough and quickly become worn and contaminated. Infant mortality rate is high and not many reach old age. Simon visited this village in February 2005 and prioritised the place as one he wanted and needed to help the most. Through the money raised we can now provide a naturally clean water source and help to give the population of Singha a healthier future.
Singa4Simon - 2005
On February 3rd 2005 Simon and his friends were "Crossing the River" with mixtures of fear, excitement and expectation. Two hundred years ago for the slaves forced to travel this route there would only be fear.There would be no going back across this final frontier. They would never see their homes and families again. For Simon's dad, seven years before and now for Simon he would never be the same again. The poverty and desperate need of a people surviving "on the edge" for hundreds of years but still being neglected, convinced him this is what his life was about: to try and help solve some of their problems in the most practical ways possible. Once we have crossed the many "rivers of difficulties" in Africa or in our own lives, for that matter, many more problems are on the other side for us all to share!
School Uniforms - Summer 2005
Julie and Sarah in Hertfordshire, who travelled to Ghana with Simon in 2005, are now actively involved in raising funds for one of our projects making school uniforms for the kids who can't afford them, thus stopping their chance for an education, as a uniform is compulsory so without one you can't go to school! Recently they have collected over £500 already which allows our workshops to produce over 250 school uniforms. Thank you ladies!
Gettin thru the Winter - 2005
"Gettin thru the Winter" the Hull Scene Skate DVD is now on sale, with a limited number availale. To order your copy please call (01482) 871251 or write to the address at the bottom of the page. DVD's are £8 each and proceeds go toward Simon's Projects in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger. Copies are selling out fast, so don't miss your chance. Buy one today! To find out more about it, please see Simons Crew. Click the picture above to see Simon's session from Gettin thru the winter.
Simon honoured in Logshegu - September 2005
David, Simon's father, visited Ghana in September 2005 to organise the David Bellamy film of the projects in November. It included a visit to one of our main villages in the North of Ghana, Logshegu, where the Chief, Elders, Imam and the whole of the village held a Muslim funeral service for Simon, as a son of the village. Simon visited and stayed with us in the village for a couple of days during his visit in January. We were able to see the richness of the community, despite it’s apparent poverty. We observed the women making their pots, went on walks thru the bush learning about the local medical uses of the plants and played football with the kids in the evening. The funeral was of course, very moving, as was the memorial held for him in Kumasi with some of his Ashanti friends.
Jonny and Tina got married - September 2005
Simon's brother Jonathan married Tina Geogehan on 17th September 2005. During the service at Beverley Minster, a candle was lit by Simon's parents in remembrance of him. Simon was due to have been Best Man at the wedding along with Maxwell, who performed his duties admirably and gave a rather funny speech. All weddings are good, but this one was fantastic. After the Minster the wedding party and guests returned to the Murden family home for a slap up Thai meal and a reception that went well on into the following day and evening. Simon's bar (purpose built in the garden) raised over £500 for the overseas projects that he had supported. The wedding also made the front of our local Newspaper which featured an interview with Jonathan.
Click here to see some of the wedding pics
Skate4Simon was a resounding success - August 2005
The Skate4Simon event at Beresford Park, Hull on the 28th August was a resounding success. Thanks to everybody who contributed and took part. Footballers, skaters, breakdancers, stallholders and to all friends and supporters of Simon’s Projects. Our objective was to raise £2000 to send Simon's container to West Africa…and we acheived it. For the last several months we have been collecting computers, sewing machines, bicycles, radios and other such items deemed old and useless by us but invaluable in a place such as Ghana or Burkina Faso. We now have enough to make up a container and thanks to everybody at the skate4simon event who conributed we now have the funds to send this container. For more information see Simons Crew page.
If you would like to find out more about the Projects in Africa that Simon was passionate about, visit the And Albert website or simply send us an email to davidmurden@africalandstrust.org.