In 1987 a group of volunteers left the dark banality of Thatchers Britain to pick coffee in Nicaragua. We were a mixed bunch the youngest of us was 19 the oldest was 76 but we all were there for the same reason - to offer support and solidarity to the people of Nicaragua and their revolution.

Our brigade was called La Pasionaria and we worked on an UPE (state owned farm) in the majestic hills of Matagalpa. We picked coffee, ate beans rice and tortilla 3 times a day, we all lived in the same hut, we laughed together, did a bit of singing and dancing, drank a bit of rum and some of us got very, very ill with dysentery.

Sixteen years later we decided to organise a reunion. We met up in the The Lucas Arms for an evening of beans rice and tortilla, rum, reminiscence and laughter.