The Freedom of Kent for the Brigade of Gurkhas

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Special Council meeting on 17th September in favour of the presentation of the Freedom of Kent to the Brigade of Gurkhas. 

Given that since 2001 the Royal Gurkha Rifles have been based at Shorncliffe, with HQ at the Sir John Moore Barracks, Sandgate, this marks 25 years of being based at Shorncliffe in Kent and is thus well timed.

It's an honour they massively deserve, for their work for our country and our allies over not just recent years and world wars, but dating back over 200 years of work with the British Army,

I'm proud not only that they are at home in my division during their time in the service, but that so many then go on to make Sandgate and Cheriton their home on leaving the Gurkha's.

With this award, Kent are following an honourable tradition. Folkestone Charter Trustees awarded the Brigade the Freedom of Folkestone in 2004. Sandgate Parish Council awarded the freedom of Sandgate in 2008.

Shorncliffe is not just the home to one battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, but two. Every three years we see a rotation of the 1st and 2nd battalion between Shorncliffe and Brunei. That's both a privilege and challenge, and for the first few rotations there were challenges in that. However its a huge testament to the support organisation behind the Rifles and the school admission team in Kent amongst others that there is now a well oiled machine that can enable that to happen, not just for the troops, but their families. The work of local authorities in Kent, and a special shout out to the Kent School Admissions Team here, supports that rotation and makes it possible.

I was delighted to work from 2008 on the Gurkha Justice Campaign around fair settlement and pension rights for the soldiers that served our country and their families, and then to be involved in seeing that service recognised through the erection of the Gurkha Memorial Statue in Folkestone Memorial Gardens in 2015. Today's award of the Freedom of Kent adds another absolutely justified honour and recognition to our friends and neighbours, the Brigade of Gurkhas.

The vote to award the Freedom of Kent was passed by 69 votes to 2 abstensions.