THE BRITAIN-NEPAL SOCIETY Journal Number 16 1992 Expedition leader in the Hinku Valley see article 'Exercise Hinku Heaven' page 18 THE BRITAIN-NEPAL SOCIETY JOURNAL Number 16 1992 CONTENTS 5 Editorial 7 The Society'S News by Joanna Thomas Best Wishes for a Very Successful Year 9 Kadoorie Aid in Nepal by Alastair Langlands 13 Summer Outing by Iris Perowne Bolton 15 Annual Nepali Supper by Mayura Brown 16 Return to the Valley 18 Exercise Hinku Heaven by Tony Rudall 24 The Coinage of Nepal by Nicholas Rhodes 28 Forty Years After - Proposed trek to the Base Camp of Everest 29 This Year's Good Causes 31 GAP in Nepal- A Progress Report by Christine Russell 32 Obituary 35 Book Reviews 38 The Gurkha Museum 39 Notes on the Britain-Nepal Society 2 3 EDITORIAL Finn Friends in a Troubled World BINNIE&PARTNERS CONSULTING - ENGINEERS That we live in a very troubled world is pursue the subject should obtain Ni­ plain enough and the true worth of friend­ cholas's book which is published by the WORKING IN NEPAL SINCE 1971 ship is seen most clearly when trouble Royal Numismatic Society. They could seems almost to be overwhelming. But also look it up at Appendix 25 to the More than 100 years' experience of friendship comes out in innumerable second volume of Perceval Langdon's improving the life of people throughout the world small ways and some of these are reflected great book on Nepal. in the contents of this the sixteenth issue The Society'S 'Summer Outing' to of our Journal. The chief object of our Stowe School in Buckingham is the sub­ • Rural & Urban Development • Water Resources Society, the promotion and fostering of ject of a remarkable contribution by Iris good relations between the peoples of the Perowne Bolton who, herself an architect, • Institutional Strengthening • Water Supply United Kingdom and the Kingdom of has given our readers architectural and • Hydropower • Sanitation Nepal, is never lost sight of while carrying historical information which only some­ • Irrigation • Training out busy social and cultural programmes. one with her experience and qualifications Our first duty must be to welcome the could have done. new chainnan of the Anglo-NepalesePar­ Major Tony Rudall's enterprising and Uead OffICe: Grosvenor House· (f) London Road· Redhill • Surrey RHl lLQ • UK liamentary Group, the Rt. Hon. Sir John carefully planned journey with his Joint Stanley MP, whom we look forward to Services team from Bovington Garrison seeing at some of our gatherings when his to Luklain East Nepal and on to the Hinku duties allow of it. Our hearty congratula­ Valley and Mera Peak below Everest was tions to his predecessor, Sir Neil Thorne, the subject of a long and detailed report. who has done so much to foster good His article, taken from it, tells of the ad­ relations, on both his Knighthood and his miration felt by the team and its leader for Gurkha Dakshina Bahu. the people they encountered and concern Articles based on talks given in London for the marvellous scenery through which to members of the Society, and usually by the expedition took them. members of the Society, will be found in One of the outstanding events of the The First Restaurant to Introduce this as in previous issues of the Journal. Society'S year has always been the Nepali Nepalese Food to London Burlington House has provided a conveni­ Supper. Those who attended in February ent and interesting venue for these talks. will not have forgotten Brian Blessed's We now offer our readers Colonel Lan­ rousing and indeed most dramatic account OPlEN DAILY 12 to 3 & 6 to 12 glands on 'Kadoorie Aid in Nepal' and of his adventures in the Himalayas where 93 Charlotte Street Nicholas Rhodes, a former Honorary he achieved a lifetime's ambition. Treasurer of the Society, on 'The Coinage The Society continues its enthusiastic LONDON WIP lLB of Nepal'. The reviewer of Nicholas support for the King Mahendra U.K. Trust Rhodes's book on this subject, in Journal for Nature Conservation and looks for­ Telephone: 071-6370050 or 071-6364995 No.14, told us that the author's interest in ward to the possibility of a talk from Major coins had begun when he was eight years Dudley Spain, a Trustee, who was in For reservations contact ISHWAR MANANDHAR old and his collection rivalled that of the Nepal for nine weeks this year on an ex­ British Museum! Members wishing to tensive tour. He was kept very busy but 5 4 had time to discover that the avocado trees THE GURKHA he had planted ten years ago were doing THE SOCIETY'S NEWS WELFARE TRUSTS well! It remains only to refer readers to the Archway North 'good causes' mentioned in the Journal This was another successful year in the II1II The Annual Nepali Supper at the Old Admirality Building and to invite support for them and for our history of the Society. The year's activities Kensington Town Hall on Tuesday 17th Spring Gardens advertisers, but not forgetting to thank His were well supported as interest in the So­ February. More people were able to attend London SWIA 2BE Excellency the Nepalese Ambassador and ciety grows. The only change in the com­ than last year. Our guest of honour was Madame Simha for all the help and en­ mittee was the retirement of John Brian Blessed, whose enthusiasm for Tel: 071-2184395 couragement enjoyed by the Society dur­ Ackroyd, David Jeffordjoined as our new Nepal and Everest was extremely infec­ ing what our Honorary Secretary rightly committee member. There will, however, tious. A report of the evening is elsewhere describes in her report ('The Society'S be a number of changes in the next few in the Journal. News') as 'another successful year'. years as five year terms of office come to an end. II1II The Summer Outing jointly organised The 1991/92 winter meetings were as with the Yeti Association - we plan to do follows: this on alternate years. We visited Stowe School, by kind invitation of the Head­ II1II Tuesday 29th October - Across Tibet master, J eremy Nicholas. We had lunch in by Bicycle by Cecilia Nevill who, in the school dining room and then had a the tradition of the Victorian lady travel­ choice of cultural or sports activities dur­ lers, cycled East to West across Tibet. ing the afternoon. About 180 people came; a report appears elsewhere in the Journal. II1II Tuesday 14th January - Coins of Nepal by Nicholas Rhodes. Following II1II The Annual General Meeting Last WITH COMPLIMENTS the publication of his book 'Coins of year's AGM was held on 21st November Nepal' reviewed in the 1990 Journal, 1991, at the Embassy, by kind permission Nicholas opened the door to the import­ of His Excellency Major General Bharat ance and role of coins in identifying the Kesher Simha. We were extremely lucky history and developments in a country. that the date coincided with the visit of Prince Gyanendra our Patron who at­ BRITORION LIMITED II1II Tuesday 17th March - Himalayan tended and met members after the meet­ .ALEX.ANDER HOUSE Wilderness. Roger Mear talked about ing. To allow more circulation space, the STATION ROAD the many wildernesses, including the Ambassador very kindly made available ALDERSHOT Himalayan ones which he had visited, the Embassy's Reception Rooms. HAMPSHIRE GUll his concern about their preservation and the formation of the Wilderness Trust. This year, as members know, we laun­ Tel: 344454 ched an appeal to help the Gap Organisa­ Fax: 23417 II1II Tuesday 5th May - Kadoorie Aid in tion Teacher Exchange, as well as the Nepal by Lt. Col. Alastair Langlands Lakshmi Thapa School. We feel it is im­ who described the work undertaken in portant to keep close links with Nepal and Nepal through the generous funding of make specific contributions from time to the Kadoorie brothers who live in Hong time. Kong. 6 7 Changes to next year's programme are Field Marshal and Pe!:er Duffell on his the January lecture, where three travel Also of course to Neii KADOORIE AID IN NEPAL companies wiU talk about the Thome on his Gurkha Dakshina Bahu and by Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Langlands they arrange. The supper win take place at his St. Columba's Church, Pont Street. Their The philanthropic activities of Lord Ka­ Horace agreed and in October 1973 I overheads are low, which means the cost doorie and his brother Sir Horace Ka­ found myself in Hong Kong as his guest for the supper can be lower. 1993 is the doorie, are well known. But what is not so on the Kadoorie Farm. Here, surrounded fortieth anniversary of the of well known is how they came to help the by beautiful flowers, Horace or his Mount Everest and the Foundation has Gurkhas. Chinese staff showed me how they reared planned a number of events. It all started in 1968 in Hong Kong, improved breeds of pigs, poultry and Once again I would like to thank Colo­ Dear Colonel Evans, where Horace Kadoorie was a close friend ducks. They also showed how they dis­ nel Jimmy Evans for his support, as well This to let you know how much of the Commander of 48 Gurkha Infantry tributed livestock and fruit trees to farmers as all the members of the committee. we all enjoyed the combined outing of Brigade, Brigadier (later Major General) in need, through the Kadoorie Agricultu­ The Society and The Yeti 'Bunny'Burnett. The Brigadiedlsked Ho­ ral Aid Association (KAAA) , which is Joanna Thomas Association on 7th June at Stowe School.