Brigade of Gurkhas Sounding Retreat and Dinner Night
Guests arrived at the Queen Victoria Statue before being treated to a glass of champagne and tipan tapan as Gurkha Officer and Warrant Officers from across the Brigade took the opportunity to catch up with old friends.
The principal guests were escorted by the Colonel Commandant and introduced to various personalities from across all six Gurkha capbadges.
After all the guests had arrived the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and Pipes and Drums from across the Brigade performed a musical marching display of the highest standard. At the end of the terrific musical display the musicians performed Sunset as soldiers from Gurkha Company (Sittang) lowered the Union flag, Nepalese flag and the Brigade of Gurkhas flag. This was followed by the National Anthems of the United Kingdom and Nepal. The Band Bugle Major then asked The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP permission to march the musicians off parade before then leaving the square to a round of well deserved applause.
After a couple of formal photographs those in attendance moved to the Old College Dining Hall for the Brigade Dinner. Before everyone started to tuck into their bhat Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw, (Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas) spoke about the successes of the Brigade over the last 12 months and the opportunities of the future ahead. He then thanked the two keynote speakers, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Johnny Fenn and Hari Budha Magar, for their insightful, engaging, and inspiring presentations from earlier in the day.
The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, then gave a short speech thanking the Brigade for their dedication, professionalism, and hard work as part of the British Army and the importance of the special relationship between Nepal and UK. She went on to thank the Gurkha Welfare Trust for their work supporting Gurkha veterans.
Post dinner there was further entertainment from the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas followed by the Regimental Marches of the Gurkha Capbadges which rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
