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The women also told us the whole village needed food, so we would divide up the rest of the money to provide rice, milk and sugar plus other essentials, like a stainless steel coconut scratcher for each family (they use the coconut milk in curries) which wouldn’t corrode in the salty sea air.

The whole operation had to be kept secret, because when aid is handed out in Sri Lanka these days, thousands of desperate people turn up.

The furniture, we knew, would take about 10 days to make and, in the meantime, we ordered as much food and provisions as we could with the rest of the money — enough for about two months for each family.

While ordering the produce and goods from shops in Aluthgama we met a Dutch woman, Roelie Kiewiet, who had been in Galle in February to help at the Somebody Home for disabled children.

She had returned intending to give further help, but found the children were receiving aid from many quarters and wanted to add her £1,000 to our kitty.

We were delighted, and immediately visited the two women in Kosgoda to find out what else would be of use.

Tables and chairs for all 52 families was the answer, so we headed off to find the best that we could.

None of this would have been possible without Siggy’s help.

He negotiated with the traders — Sinhalese is an almost impossible language for foreigners — got good discounts from most and made sure that three lorry loads of aid would arrive in Kosgoda on a given day and at a pre-determined time.

It sounds easy, but nothing in Sri Lanka is that easy and Siggy organised everything exceptionally well.

In the village, the women went round only the previous night to tell their community aid was on its way.

Each family was given a number and told to come forward when they were called.

When we arrived the following day, we were astonished.

Not only had flowers been bought for Carol and Roelie, but a sign had been made to thank us and our friends back home for our help.

On the road nearby, the people were already queueing.

Not just orderly, but dignified — genuinely grateful after receiving just 10,000 rupees from the Government (about £55) in seven months since the tsunami. Precious little other aid has filtered through.

Everyone waited patiently in the intense heat and humidity as the hand-out took place — young Nirosha Chandanee calling each family representative in turn.

Siggy and his friends — Jayalal Ananda, Chaminda Donny, Emil and Shirly — joined the main traders Shantha, Janaka and Chiruth in making sure everything ran smoothly.

The seven poorest families were left until the end and, after receiving their food parcels, they were stunned when we unloaded the beds and other furniture from the final truck.

It was a fantastic feeling to know every penny from Huddersfield was doing some good.