For two decades the relationship between the people of Nepal and the town of Folkestone has deepened thanks to the posting of First Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles to the town.

Now years of hard work to secure permanent facilities to serve the Nepalese community has been rewarded with the opening of a new community centre, as Rhys Griffiths reports.

"I've been ambushed here, in typical Gurkha fashion," joked Lt Col Edd Oldfield as he addressed the gathered crowd under overcast skies in Folkestone.

As commanding officer of First Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1RGR), based a short distance away at Sir John Moore Barracks, he had been invited to reflect on the long-awaited opening of a permanent home for the town's hundreds-strong Nepalese community.

"I haven't prepared anything, and there is a danger in giving a British Army officer a stage and then not giving him the warning that he's going to talk.

"So, I almost feel like a fraud stood in front of you as the commanding officer of 1RGR, because this community centre and where it has come to be opened today is really through the hard work of not the resident infantry battalion, which I am responsible for, but through the partnership that the Gurkha community has in Folkestone with the people and community of Folkestone that have existed here for longer.

"Of course, the relationship between Folkestone and the Royal Gurkha Rifles started way back in 2000.

"That is some 21 years ago, which represents pretty much all of my service in the British Army, and over the course of that time the community that has existed here in Folkestone has grown, and it is an absolute delight and I am exceptionally proud of the people who have served in the British Army who now are indeed pillars of the community here in Folkestone.

"I am deeply impressed to see how well you are integrated, and more than that, perhaps on behalf of all Gurkhas who are serving in Folkestone or who have served in Folkestone, I'm very grateful to the people of Folkestone for the way you have hosted us and supported us and become our friends."

Thursday's official opening of the new Folkestone Nepalese Community Centre, located in the ground floor of Cheriton's library building, represents another milestone in the story of the town's links with the people of this far off Himalayan land.

For many years community leaders have lobbied for a dedicated facility to help support members of the Nepalese diaspora who have made Kent their home since the Gurkhas first came to the county two decades ago.

Now, with support from local government and Kent Coast Volunteering (KCV), the charity Folkestone Nepalese Community (FHC) has been able to make the dream a reality.

Mayor of Folkestone speaks at community centre opening

Capt (Retd) Ram Pun, who is a trustee of the FNC and lead the community centre project, said: "Today we not only celebrate the establishment of a valuable new facility for the community, but also the huge community effort which drove this important project to its successful conclusion.

"There is no doubt that this centre will be an incredible benefit not only to the members of the Folkestone Nepalese community, but also to the other local communities and users as it will provide a hub for the members of the community that will give people the opportunity to socialise, learn, and access key public services using digital facilities."

For some members of the community, especially older veterans and those with limited English, isolation has been a long-standing issue.

The new centre will include a welfare support office and computer facilities, supporting by staff, to ensure all members of the community can access the services they need.

There will also be space for meetings and other social events.

The project has been supported by a number of organisations, including Folkestone and Hythe District Council and Kent County Council, and the centre itself will be managed in partnership between the FNC and KCV.

Kerry Smith, KCV chief executive, said: "We were delighted to be invited to partner with FNC on this project.

"Thanks to funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust ‘Tackling Loneliness’ and ‘Force for Change’ programmes and funding from The National Lottery, KCV will play a key role, working alongside FNC to develop and establish a thriving community centre, helping to combat loneliness and through our Digital Champions programme, and better connect Nepalese elders to services and activities in their community."

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone