An 80-year-old Moray man who served alongside the Gurkhas while he was a member of the British Army is raising funds for casualties of the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
Padraig Glendinning, from Burghead, completed a trek in Nepal while serving overseas in 1959 and says he has always had a “special affinity” for the country and its soldiers.
When the disaster struck Nepal’s Gorkha district on Saturday, April 25, killing at least 7,000 people and injuring twice that number, Mr Glendinning felt moved to help the shattered nation.
He said: “I was commissioned into the 7th Gurkha Rifles whilst serving with the British Army in 1955, and I ended up with them for four years.
“There were no better or more loyal soldiers in the world than the Gurkhas, and they served the British for 200 years.
“They were wonderful men, and they were all from Nepal. I’ve had a special affinity for the place ever since.
“My best friend from the regiment was there visiting old soldiers just days before the earthquake struck, so he’s lucky to be alive.
“I wanted to raise some money to help the Nepalese people, and I can’t afford that much myself, so the minister of our church in Burghead kindly said I could hold a coffee morning there.”
Mr Glendinning will host the fundraiser, with live music, at the Church of Scotland in Burghead, from 10am until noon on Saturday, May 16.
All donations will go to help those affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.