Committee Members 2019/2020
Mr Andrew Sparkes
Chairman
Andy Sparkes CMG was educated at King Edward’s School Birmingham, The Manchester Grammar School and Trinity Hall Cambridge. His main career was as a British diplomat, and he did three postings as HM Ambassador: to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the Republic of Kosovo and most recently to the Republic of Nepal (2013 to 2015). Since retiring from the FCO Andy has been pursuing a second career as a full time teacher of humanities, politics and current affairs at Winchester College, the oldest school in the UK. He has been active in the Britain Nepal Society since coming back from his Ambassadorial posting to Kathmandu, and became our Chairman on 1 August 2018. Andy also sits on the Council of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, and is a Trustee of the educational NGO StayAtSchool Nepal.
Mr Kirtijai Pahari
Chairman of Younger Members Committee
Kirtijai Pahari was born in Nepal and comes from a patriotic family with strong ties to the UK. He was raised in Nepal and the UK and was educated at St John’s College, Cardiff, the University of Sussex (BA) and The London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc). He is passionate about his roots and, with a background in development, had returned to Nepal from 2015-2017 following the earthquake to work with the United Nations in a national disaster response operation. Kirtijai is keen on promoting relations between younger British and Nepalese nationals and is working on further expanding the BNS membership.
Mrs MJ Streather
Honorary Secretary
After 35 years as a Marketer in the food industry MJ joined the Britain Nepal society as Honorary Secretary in 2015. The daughter of an ex 4th Gurkha and ex GTR Officer – Peter Attack, and the daughter in law of an ex 6th Gurkha and Himalayan Mountaineer Tony Streather, it seemed appropriate to continue her interest and love of Nepal and the Gurkhas.
Mr Ashley Adams
Vice-Chairman
Ashley Adams spent his career in MOD working in Whitehall and military establishments at home and overseas.Ashley first paid duty visits to Nepal in the 1970s leading Gurkha pay reviews and later as Command Secretary to British Forces Far East. He joined the Society on return to UK and has regularly supported charities in Nepal.Elected to the Society Committee in 2012 he has taken a special interest in fostering links between schools in Britain and Nepal.
Colonel Rupert Litherland
Honorary Treasurer
Over a thirty year career as a 10th Gurkha, Rupert carried out several duty assignments in Nepal and has visited since leaving the Army to trek and visit old comrades. On retirement from the Army he was the Bursar at Stowe, so when the Chairman who had taught there, tapped him on the shoulder he answered the call in an effort to try to put something back into the special relationship between Britain and Nepal. He has been the Hon Treasurer and Membership Secretary since 2013.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Birch
Journal editor
Gerry joined the Society in 1964 following a tour of duty as Signals Officer in Dharan, the Gurkha recruiting depot. The Gurkhas and Nepal featured throughout the rest of his military career in Queen’s Gurkha Signals. His final tour of duty was as Military Attaché in Kathmandu. He was chairman of the Society 2003 to 2012. He has been editor of the journal since 1998.
Full list of committee members 2019/2020
| President: | His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO |
| Patron: | His Excellency The Ambassador of Nepal Dr Durga Bahadur Subedi |
| Vice-Presidents |
Mrs Celia Brown Sir Neil Thorne OBE, TD, DL Mrs Pat Mellor Sylvia Countess of Limerick CBE Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Birch Mrs Jenifer Evans Field Marshal Sir John Chapple GCB, CBE, DL Mr Roger Potter MBE Mr Mahanta Shrestha |
| Committee (2019/20) | Mr Andrew Sparkes CMG Chairman Mr Ashley Adams Vice-Chairman Mrs MJ Streather Honorary Secretary Col Rupert Litherland Hon Treasurer & Hon Membership Secretary Mrs Minu Chhibber Mrs Annie Page MBE Mr Gavin Edgerley-Harris Mr Balmakund Joshi Mrs Sneha Rana Mrs Maggie Solon Ms Alison Marston Dr Mark Watson Mrs Arati Shrestha Colonel Peter Sharland CBE Mr Mahanta Shrestha Col David Thomas |
| Mr Kirtijai Pahari Chairman of Younger Members Committee Mr Sharad Raj Aran (Deputy Chief of Missions), the Nepalese Embassy Mr Will Kennaway rep. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office Major MK Rai MBE rep. HQ BDE Gurkhas Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Birch Journal editor |
