Aunt’s gift to a boy of 11 become force for good

Fred added: “People would give us food to eat in return and some money to buy basic needs. I used to dig from morning to evening with my brother without eating anything, since we couldn’t afford to get food to eat twice a day.”

Denise was so touched by the boys’ plight that she organised collections and raffles back in the UK. The cash was used to build Fred and Emmanuelle’s thatched hut – where the brothers still live.

They also bought a goat and grew bananas and vegetables to sell to locals.

And they were able to go back into education. Denise continued to write to the boys over the years and World Vision’s Paula Cummings said helping them was “a massive part of her life”. Fred was eventually granted a further education bursary and went on to graduate with a degree in development studies from top university Makerere, in Ugandan capital Kampala. He set up the Denise Foundation in 2016 as a means of repaying her kindness.

The charity helps 112 orphans and vulnerable kids with education and health costs, predominantly those whose families survive off less than a 75p a day.

Fred explained: “We operate in hardto-reach areas of Rakai, where communities and villages were devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“There is no access to quality education, no access to quality health services and people are more vulnerable to famine, absolute poverty.”

The charity’s website hails Denise as Fred’s “beloved sponsor”, adding that she “became the mother and guardian angel during the early days and tough times”.

World Vision staff in Britain last saw Fred when he was 11 and only knew of his efforts when he connected with them on internet network LinkedIn weeks ago.

Paula added: “It’s the story that never left me – it will always stay with me. You’ll never forget these two little boys.”

The legacy of Denise – who dealt with 200,000 letters from viewers seeking advice – is often mentioned on TV. Last year Ruth Langsford praised Denise’s “courage, determination and wonderful humour”, while Richard Madeley remembered her as “warm-hearted and wise”.