Jax Comyn awarded MBE in the King's Birthday Honours

Congratulations go to Jax Comyn née Batcup (Nugent 1979-81), who has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for 'services to Education in Kenya'.

Jax is the co-founder, with her mother Ann, of Bushbells, a clothing company which aims to support the community where the garments are made: Watamu, Kenya. The social enterprise gives secure, ongoing employment to a team of four tailors, and provides the necessary revenue for the building of schools and to support various educational projects and a breakfast club.

Bushbells school was completed in 2015 and its sister primary school, Bluebells, followed shortly after. Bluebells now has 150 children and eight members of staff.

The company is on a mission to get people to buy less and buy better, and to consider what a product represents in terms of its social and environmental price. Jax has visited the College to spread the work about Bushbells and to sell its colouful kikoy clothing. She is pictured here on a recent visit earlier this year. The school supported the charity last year and raised over £5000 which contributed amongst other things to the building of a new office block, and a much needed latrine pit.  Emma Garrett, Development Director, Eastbourne College said "We are keen to continue our association with Jax and her wonderful schools in Kenya. I have been to visit them and they really are extraodinary places full of joy, love and laughter - this MBE is very well-deserved indeed and we as a community are extremely proud of Jax and all she has achieved".