Joanna Lumley accepts Jeremy France brooch to celebrate Gurkha anniversary

Jeremy France Jewellers has presented actress Joanna Lumley with a bespoke brooch to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United Kingdom’s Brigade of Gurkhas. 

Staff from the store, including owner Jeremy France, attended a black tie evening at Her Majesty’s Palace and Fortress of London where France presented the brooch to Lumley – which was designed on behalf of the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (QOGLR).

Lumley – whose late father served in the 6th Gurkha Rifles and is a well-recognised ambassador for the Gurkhas and advocate of their right to settle in Britain – accepted the brooch which represented a “small token” of the trusts gratitude for her work.

Designed and manufactured by Jeremy France’s in-house designers, the brooch is inspired by the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment cap badge.

Bearing the notorious Gurkha kukri knives, the Royal Cypher and the circular laurel wreath, the brooch is mounted in solid silver and 9ct yellow gold and encrusted with 0.50ct of dazzling diamonds.

France, who has a connection to the project having lived in Nepal throughout his teenage years, said that he and his team will continue to give support to the Gurkhas, particularly in response to the Nepal Earthquake Response Fund which the company has supported.

The fundraising event was just one of many throughout the year to celebrate 200 years of service by the Gurkhas to the armed forced of the United Kingdom, with the proceeds going to the Gurkha Welfare Trust which supports retired servicemen, their dependents and the wider Nepalese community.