Жители Брекона собрали 3000 фунтов стерлингов на помощь жертвам наводнения в Непале

THE mayor of Brecon admits she “can’t imagine” the town without its “special” and “hard-working” Nepalese community. Brecon’s association with Nepal goes back more than half a century, with more than 60 Nepali families today calling the town home, after the first Gurkha soldiers arrived here in 1974. The local community began rallying round last week, after news broke of the devastating flash floods which completely destroyed the Gyirong checkpoint on the China–Nepal border and struck dozens of settlements along the Trishuli River in Nepal on August 26. At least 1,200 people have since been confirmed dead, while thousands more remain unaccounted for. Brecon Rotary Club said it was “absolutely overwhelmed” by the generosity of Brecon residents, after £3,000 was raised by collectors in town last weekend, with funds to be sent to the Nepal Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund. Other fundraising initiatives are being organised for later this month. Mayor Sian Drinan says she cannot picture Brecon without the Gurkhas and their families. “I went to university before the first families came here, but it was something I’ve been aware of since being back. Both of my children grew up with many Nepalese friends,” said Councillor Drinan, who grew up in Brecon and came back around 28 years ago. “I can’t now image Brecon without the Nepalese community. We wouldn’t be the same town without the Gurkha soldiers and their families. They help make the town what it is. “They have a strong sense of community, which matches with the Welsh sense of community. “They contribute so much and a lot of it you don’t see, like the Gurkha path by the river which they cleared and made accessible for people. They just got on with it. “They contributed this year to the opening of the Brecon Jazz festival, with dancers part of the opening ceremony. “The annual freedom parade was my first official engagement, which was very moving, and it is always a very special event.” According to the Brecon Dhampus Twinning Association, about 60 families currently live in Brecon. “Where the floods hit, it is not the region of Nepal our families hail from, they’re from further up in the mountains,” added Cllr Drinan. “Dhampus is the town we have links to, where the families originate from. “Brecon Rotary Club and the twinning association raised about £3,000 last weekend. “We’re also hoping to do this again over the next few weekends. There are also some charity evenings being organised. Read more Man pleads guilty to supplying cocaine, ketamine and cannabis in Powys town Beauty spot visitors slammed for fly tipping and leaving human excrement Huge hill fire destroyed area the size of 290 football pitches, fire service confirms “We had a town council busking session last weekend, with more to come. We usually ask buskers to donate to the Brecon Mayor’s charity, but this year we’re asking them to donate to the Nepalese rescue mission. “As a council we’re currently having discussions as to what we can do in terms of raising more money for the relief appeal. “It will be an ongoing effort, as once the rescue effort is finished there’s the rebuilding and support that will be required.” A fundraising curry night is being held at the Zeera Indian restaurant on Tuesday, September 15, while The Foundry will host a quiz on Monday, September 28. On December 12, 1980, a dedicated unit was formally established as the Gurkha Demonstration Company (GDC). They are based with their British Army counterparts at the Infantry Battle School in Dering Lines on the outskirts of Brecon. Since then, the Gurkhas have become an integral part of the community. In November 1985, Brecon Town Council recognised this deep connection by granting honorary citizenship to the company. The following May, the inaugural Gurkha Brecon Freedom Parade was held, with the 41st instalment celebrated this past June. In 2019, Brecon became the first UK town to be officially twinned with a Nepali village, Dhampus, about 150 miles west of Kathmandu, with many locals now making the pilgrimage there annually.