HE IS just an ordinary man, married and with two young children. An ordinary man similar to most of the others in the village where he lives.

But his life has been shattered. His village has been destroyed; he has no job and therefore no means to look after his wife and the children.

He doesn’t know what to do. But he has heard from others in the village that there are countries where they might find work and is able to bring help to their families – perhaps to make a new life!

Dare he try to go to an unknown place, taking his wife and family with him? Will they speak his language, will he be welcome?

But desperation has set in – he and his wife decide that to go is the only way out from trying to live here where there is nothing.

They manage to find money from elderly relations who are too tired to find a new home in an unknown land, and they pay for places on a small boat that will take them across the sea to hope and even happiness.

We don’t know how his story ends. Do they find hope in a new country? Do they even arrive safely on another shore, or does the boat capsize?

Is he a scrounger? My dictionary reads for scrounge – obtain illicitly or by cadging.

Yes, we are a relatively small country and there is much to moan and complain about. But do we need such venom to refer to these people as scroungers who are willing to take a chance to find hope elsewhere?

J LEO Badgers Brook, Wroughton