In October, many Gurkha veterans, staff and their families celebrate the Hindu Festival of Dashain, the largest cultural and religious festival in Nepal, and Simon Hicks, Amey’s Site Manager at Dalton Barracks, was delighted to be invited to the celebration from the Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Requirement (QOGLR) Soldiers of 60 Close-Support Squadron of 4 Regiment Royal Logistics Corp.
The spectacular event was held in Dalton Barrack’s F Hangar which is a large, post WW2 Hangar built in 1959 and designed to house the Blackburn Beverley transport planes of the RAF when the site was previously known at RAF Abingdon. A suitable festival area within this tired and aged hangar space was beautifully created and Amey supported by making sure the hangar heating was all working and switched on for the evening’s activities.
The evening was a fantastic night of traditional dancing and singing and included the fearsome and spectacular ‘Khukuri Dance’ by the Gurkha soldiers brandishing their infamous curved Khukuri knives. There was also a superb three course meal of traditional Nepalese curries and dishes that everyone enjoyed.
Simon said: “The Amey site team have a good relationship with all stakeholders at Dalton Barracks and we are really proud to support the military units on site. It’s been a challenging time with Brexit and the emergence of the pandemic but I’m delighted that I was given the opportunity to represent Amey alongside others from site such as the Commanding Officer and 2IC of 4 Regiment, Squadron Officer Commanding and the Station Staff Officer, as well as all the Nepalese families and children. It was an honour to be asked to take part in their celebrations and to demonstrate Amey’s commitment to support the communities in which we work.”
