In 2002 Charles Begley (SEA 77-82) sold his London business and set off with his partner Rachel Jones to trek across Thailand – on elephants. After a two week conservation course with Thai elephant conservationist Sangduen Chailert, the pair spent a few months working with the Elephant sanctuary before returning to London to form EleAid – a UK based trust aimed at helping all Asian Elephants. They now live in Thailand continuing the work of the trust and Charles has set up a new restaurant - ‘Tuskers’.

After graduating from the London School of Economics in 1988 Charles began a career in restaurant and pub management. In 1994 he opened his first pub in London – the Malthouse – which he ran until 2002 when he sold it in preparation for his trek across Thailand.

Charles and Rachel decided to use the trek to raise awareness of the plight of elephants in Asia especially those forced to work on the streets of Bangkok. They spent six weeks in Bangkok studying the street elephants, buying three, one of which was driven to Sangduen by truck for care of a broken leg. The other two were trekked through the back roads of Thailand to their home at the park, gaining international publicity.

On their return to London in 2003 they established EleAid to help all Asian elephants which they continue to manage, promote and build – another UWCSEA graduate, Sue Grossey, has since joined the Trustee Board.

In 2005, Charles and Rachel returned to Thailand to oversee the building of an elephant medical centre, and in 2006 decided to make a permanent move to Chiang Mai. Charles is now combining his elephant conservation work with his former vocation, by opening a pub/restaurant in Chiang Mai, called Tuskers.

For further information on EleAid, visit the website at www.eleaid.com.