Here's the conclusion to an ongoing entertainment related story. British actress Joanna Lumley - a Brit sex symbol during the 70, but best known as Jennifer Saunder's sidekick - washed up boozed out model Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, has taken on the cause of the British Gurkhas. The Gurkhas are foreign members of the British Military. So years they were denied the right to settle in Britain unless they were an officer (and their officers were usually Brits anyway) or had served 20 years. Since Gurkhas were discharged after 15 years, they didn't get to take advantage of that clause. So after serving as amongst the most respected members of the British Army, once their time was up that was it.Joanna Lumley took up their cause with a real passion. She was frequently seen on the news advocating in their cause, and raising awareness about heir situation. Well word has come down from the Brit gov via minister Jacqui Smith, that Gurkhas servicing with the British Army prior to 1997 will now be allowed the right to settle in Britain.
Just in case you think that Lumley is some over the hill actress looking for publicity, she's involved in a range of causes: including The Druk White Lotus School (in Kashmir), The Born Free Foundation, Mind (the UK mental health charity), Sight Savers, The Friends of Kadzinuni and many others. She has an interest in and concern about environmental matters, and sponsors the Joanna Lumley Fellowship in Environmental Science at the University of Oxford.
Her connection to the Gurkhas goes way back. Her father was Major James Rutherford Lumley, with the Gurkha regiment. Lumley herself was born 'on location' in Srinagar, Kashmir, while her father was serving. That's not her only far east connection - she has also produced a documentary about her godparents in Bhutan called In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon. More on the Gurkha justice movement @ Gurkhajustice.org.
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