The Gurkhas and their families have formed a remarkable bond with the people of Brecon since they first arrived at the Infantry Battle School in 1974.

An exciting new project at y Gaer will build on that relationship to celebrate the Nepalese community’s wide and highly valued contributions to Brecon. y Gaer is seeking your help to gather stories and objects to increase representation of the Nepalese community in the museum’s collection and displays.

“We’re running a three-month project organised by Assistant Curator (Community) Leliza Pakhrin,” explained Senior Curator Kate Riddington.

“Leliza is developing her existing links with the Nepalese community in Brecon, and the next step is to gather information from Brecon residents about their memories of the Gurkhas, especially when they arrived in 1974 and as they settled in the area.

“y Gaer is here to serve the whole community, and this project will help us gather information and objects so we can properly celebrate the lives of Nepalese people in Brecon and their relationship with the town.”

“So many of us have so many memories of the Gurkhas,” added Jacquie Morgan (Collections Assistant at y Gaer).

“The Annual Gurkha Freedom Parade which fills the town with colour and music is always well supported by hundreds of people lining the streets. Brecon is twinned with Dhampus in the Kaski District Nepal. The Gurkha Walk near the Promenade is a Nepalese community project to express thanks to the people of Brecon for their generosity after Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2015. The Nepalese community was involved in placing a bench in Brecon’s Peace Garden to mark the centenary of the end of World War One. These are just two examples of Nepalese involvement in the Brecon community.”

There is great respect for the Gurkhas, and a very close relationship between the Gurkhas and the town.

“The Gurkhas are held in high regard; former soldiers and their families live and work in Brecon, and local schools have strong Nepalese representation,” said Leliza.

y Gaer would like to talk to people who could share stories of the Gurkhas and Nepalese community in Brecon. Or maybe you have photos that you might lend to copy, or objects that help y Gaer tell the stories of the involvement of the Nepalese community in so many aspects of Brecon life. They’d love to hear from you.

Please contact them on 01874 624121 or at [email protected] (FAO Leliza Pakhrin).