The Chairman

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

It is a complete understatement to say that 2020 has been a different and extraordinary year. As a country we have probably not gone through such a pandemic since the so called “Spanish Flu” of 1918–1922. To members that have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 flu, our sincere sympathies and to those who have lost family or friends, our heartfelt condolences; it has been a most difficult year.

Very sadly, all our Association’s planned activities, such as the much anticipated presentations on Slim as a Gurkha Officer, were gradually cancelled as the year wore on, each time hoping that the situation would be good enough to allow something, but in the end having to be cancelled. The first effect of the pandemic for me was my Chairman’s visit to our Nepal Branch at the end of March, something that I was particularly looking forward to; hoping to catch up with very many old friends. The second was our much anticipated visit to Medicina to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of the town on 16 April. We had a group of 26 from the Association, in conjunction with many from the Kings Royal Hussars Association (formerly 14/20th Kings Hussars) and a party from the Royal Gurkha Rifles. It promised to be a wonderful trip. Having paid for flights and accommodation, we put off cancelling until as late as possible; how little we realised then what Europe and the rest of the world would go through.

The pandemic did lead to some interesting advances; with our committee meeting and the Trustees meeting being held on Zoom, plus I am sure that all our Members must have made use of this amazing type of technology to keep in contact with family and friends.

On a personal note, Ria and I were due to return to UK in March 2020, but Emirates cancelled all flights three days before at no notice and so we decided to stay in New Zealand and wait and see. Plans for a June return were shelved when our daughter told us she was expecting her first baby in December and we are still here. New Zealand has been essentially Covid-19 free in the community since May, except for a brief period in September when one person was infected working on the docks which led to over 220 infections and eight deaths. It was fascinating though, to see the way this was dealt with and the detail that the authorities were able to go into with each individual case, tracing who had caught it and from whom. All this while other countries were desperately dealing with thousands of new cases each day. This led to some interesting experiences; neighbours in our remote bay set up a Facebook Closed Group and we were amazed at the imagination and spirit of camaraderie among our friends. We were able to experience Anzac Day on 25 April, observed here much more strongly than Remembrance Sunday and in the Group competition to commemorate the day I was able to relate the Gallipoli experiences of our Regiment which surprised everyone as most people here see Gallipoli as just an Australian and New Zealand experience.

One really worthwhile initiative that the Association did complete was the professional copying of the portrait of Field Marshal Slim which used to hang in the 6 GR Officers Mess. A full copy is soon to be presented to the Gurkha Museum, something that should have happened long ago, with a head and shoulders copy to be presented by the Regimental Association to the newly formed 3 RGR. I was amazed at the complexity of the process and the huge amount of work done by our President, ably assisted by John Mackinlay.

As many will be aware; 2020 saw important changes at the Gurkha Museum. Gavin Edgerley-Harris retired after 27 years service; the latter seven years as Director. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the outstanding way that he developed the Museum as one of the four Pillars of the Brigade. He was awarded a most well deserved OBE in the New Year’s Honours list. The Association gave him a

The Association Bay of Islands New Zealand Chapter – Duncan Briggs with Edward (Ted) Wilkie

small presentation to show our appreciation. We also welcome the new Director; Daren Bowyer, a former Royal Engineers officer, who will I am sure maintain the tradition of excellent Directors that we have had since the Museum was properly set up in Winchester. I would also like to record the sterling service to the Museum by John Anderson, our President, who retired in 2020 after 10 years as a Trustee.

A further initiative this last year was assisting the BBC in the production of their programme commemorating 75 years since the victory over Japan in 1945. We arranged for Honorary Captain Kulbahadur Gurung MM to take part in the programme and for many he was the star of the show. Many Members will remember him presenting the British Officers with their badges at the 200 year Commemoration in Pokhara in 2017.

Our efforts to chase up subscriptions has continued this year and I am extremely grateful to those who have now set up a standing order to the correct account and to those who felt able to make a one off donation to cover lost years. Your help is very much appreciated and will help to fund activities such as the current Journal. Our Lapsed Members Roll will take effect from early 2021 for those Full and Associate Members who have failed to set up annual payments to the Association. We were delighted to welcome a number of new members to the Association in 2020, it is lovely to have you aboard.

A most important change during the year was that of Honorary Secretary of the Association. Manikumar has stepped down after five years of the most wonderful and dedicated service to us all over an extremely busy period including the celebrations for our 200th year Anniversary. We are extremely grateful to him for all his hard work. His departure was marked by a small presentation from the Association. I also wish to congratulate Mani on his appointment as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, a well deserved honour reflecting his huge contribution to the county.