Gurkha soldiers will join this year’s Remembrance Day procession for the first time thanks to an unprecedented move by the Mayor of Peterborough.
Cllr Paula Thacker heard that around 50 Gurkhas living in the city were planning their own parade on Remembrance Sunday, November 13, and invited them to combine it with the city’s traditional veterans’ procession.
The Gurkhas will now join in the ceremonial march to remember those who lost their lives in conflict.
She said: “The Gurkhas are renowned as some of the bravest soldiers in the world.
“But many people, particularly younger generations, may not be fully aware of them.
“I thought this would be the perfect way to give them the recognition they deserve.
“They are such a humble group of people and if it wasn’t for them and the soldiers who fought in the World Wars we wouldn’t be here.”
The parade starts outside the Town Hall and moves through Peterborough Cathedral gardens before entering the building for the Remembrance Service.
Cllr Thacker added: “Many mayors across the country lead remembrance parades, but in my opinion I’m not as important as the soldiers and feel they should go first.
“My message to the people of Peterborough is come along and show your support.”
Many Gurkhas have served in the British Army since India gained independence in 1947.
They hail from the hill-town region of Gorkha, in modern Nepal, and currently make up around 3,500 members of the British Army.
There are approximately 50 Gurkhas living in Peterborough.
The announcement about the parade yesterday came on the day Cllr Thacker officially launched the Royal British Legion Peterborough branch’s Poppy Appeal 2011 by selling the first poppy outside the Town Hall.
She joined George Bennett, the organiser of the city’s Poppy Appeal, at the appeal caravan in Bridge Street yesterday.
She then continued by collecting for the appeal in Queensgate Shopping Centre, where bosses have given the Legion permission to sell poppies and collect donations throughout the course of the next two weeks.
Cllr Thacker said: “I think it is really important to support the RBL and the Poppy Appeal in whatever ways possible.
“I asked if there was any way I could help this year. If the Mayor selling the first poppy helps raise the profile at all, then I would be absolutely delighted.”
George Bennett said they were hoping to break the branch’s fundraising record. He added: “We had a record breaking year in 2010, but we always like to set the bar higher and this year will be no different.”
90th appeal £90,000 aim
AMBITIOUS fundraisers have set a target of £90,000 for Peterborough’s 90th Poppy Appeal.
Appeal organiser George Bennett will surpervise the campaign for the next two weeks. Last year, they raised £87,497.62 – up a whopping £17,000 from the total raised in 2009.
George said: “We will be collecting from 9am until 3.30pm for the next two weeks.
“We have a team of 50 volunteers who are helping out, but if anyone wants to get involved they should just come along.
“If it’s just for an hour or a day, any help will be greatly appreciated.”
There are more than 1,000 Poppy Appeal tins all over Peterborough to raise money for this year’s appeal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: 3RD NOVEMBER SOURCE: PETERBOROUGHTODAY.CO.UK
Gurkha pride at leading parade
GURKHA soldiers from the Peterborough area say they feel “immensely proud” to be leading this year’s Remembrance Day procession.
The Evening Telegraph reported earlier this week how the unprecedented move had been set up by the Mayor of Peterborough, Paula Thacker.
Cllr Thacker heard that around 50 Gurkhas living in the city were planning their own parade on Remembrance Sunday, November 13, and invited them to combine it with the city’s traditional veterans’ procession.
The Gurkhas, who serve the British Army, will now lead the ceremonial march to remember those who lost their lives in conflict.
Budhathoki Dal, general secretary of the Gurkha Nepalese Community Peterborough (GNCP), said: “Everyone in our community feels immensely proud and honoured to be leading the parade.
“It is the first time that this has happened so it feels very unique and we are all looking forward to the procession.
“Many people in Peterborough may not know who the Gurkhas are. Or they might know the name but not understand our history and alliance with the British Army.
“Obviously many people from the local community turn out every year to respect this event and we hope they will do the same for us.”
Gurkhas hail from the hill-town region of Gorkha, in modern Nepal.
They are best known for their history in the Indian Army’s Gorkha regiments and for serving the British Army in conflicts around the world.
Their allegiance with the British goes back to almost 200 years ago, when troops in support of the British East India Company invaded Nepal.
They suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the Gurkhas, but were extremely impressed with the bravery shown by the Gurkha soldiers.
The British signed a hasty peace deal and offered to pay the Gurkhas to join their army.
Many Gurkhas have served in the British Army since India gained independence in 1947 and currently make up around 3,500 members of the British Army.
There are approximately 50 Gurkhas living in Peterborough.
Rai Aruna, vice president of the GNCP, said: “We have a long history with the British that goes back two centuries.
“Many of our soldiers who live here in Peterborough have served in conflicts all over the world.
“These include the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Iraq conflict and before that battles in Belize, Kenya, Korea and Malaysia.
“So we have a long and diverse history of which we are very proud.
“Because we have fought for the British Army we are legally allowed to live here - that’s why many of us have settled in the UK.” Cllr Thacker added: “The Gurkhas are renowned as some of the bravest soldiers in the world.
“But many people, particularly younger generations, may not be fully aware of them.
“I thought this would be the perfect way to give them the recognition they deserve.
“They are such a humble group of people and if it wasn’t for them and the soldiers who fought in the World Wars we wouldn’t be here.”
The parade starts outside the Town Hall and moves through Peterborough Cathedral gardens before entering the cathedral for the Remembrance Service.
Cllr Thacker said that the decision to let the Gurkhas lead the parade was an easy one to make.
She added: “Many mayors across the country lead remembrance parades. But in my opinion I’m not as important as the soldiers and feel they should go first.
“My message to the people of Peterborough is come along and show your support.”
Help appeal to hit £90,000 bid
THERE is still plenty of time to donate to Peterborough’s 90th Poppy Appeal.
The appeal, which hopes to raise £90,000 was launched on Monday and runs for a fortnight.
There are more than 1,000 tins in the city collecting cash for this year’s appeal.
Collections will also be made between 9am and 3.30pm in the city centre