Kistiah Ramaya

Kistiah Ramaya came to the UK to study because of the aparthied regime in South Africa. A clever man and Indian by birth he had no chance to excell if he stayed in his mother country. In London he was able to study and acheive a professional qualification graduating as a podiatrist from the Chelsea School of Chiropody in 1972.

The same year he married a girl from Wales and 2 children were born in 1975 and 1977. They all moved to Wales in 1979.

He immediately became involved in the local community, joining Rotary, the Town Council and running the local tennis club. As a town councillor he has served the town as Mayor on 3 occasions and is currently deputy Mayor and will be in this position when the torchbearer relay will take place.

As a Rotarian he has been responsible for building homes for the destitute in Mozambique and has recently visited India to vacinate the under 5's with polio drops. His impoverished background has definitely had a huge impact on the way he wants to help the under privileged.

Lampeter had very poor sport facilities in 1979 and he was at the forefront of getting a sports hall in the town and acquiring new tennis courts with the help of a Lottery grant. Since then he has organised coaching sessions for young children at the club every year.

He is also the Chair of the Music Club and League of Friends at the local residential home. All these appointments are voluntary and he gives of his time selflessly.

He goes about his way in a very quiet and unassuming fashion and I am sure he would deem it an honour to be selected as a torch bearer. It would also be public recognition for all the good work he has done and continues to do. CR