Gurkha cookbook celebrates 12 years of SSAFA friendship

29 October 2026

A cookbook bringing together British and Nepali family recipes is celebrating more than a decade of friendship between the Gurkha community and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, in Reading. All proceeds from the cookbook support the welfare of the Armed Forces and their families, with the project raising funds for SSAFA and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.

From traditional Nepali momos and Sherpa Lamb Curry to Welsh cakes and family favourites, the Kukri Kitchen Cookbook brings together the flavours, memories and friendships that have grown through the SSAFA Reading Gurkha Ladies Project over the past 12 years.

Featuring a foreword by SSAFA Honorary Ambassador and Gurkha campaigner Dame Joanna Lumley, the cookbook celebrates a remarkable community initiative that has helped Gurkha wives settle into life in the UK, develop their English and build lasting friendships.

The Reading Gurkha Ladies Project was established to help the wives of retired Gurkhas feel at home in the UK, often thousands of miles from Nepal and the people, places and traditions they know. What began as a small group continues to thrive today under the leadership of Andrew Jones, supported by dedicated volunteers.

The project has become about much more than language lessons. Through shared meals, celebrations, day trips and cultural exchange, Gurkha families and volunteers have developed friendships that cross generations and cultures. Recipes have been exchanged alongside stories and traditions, inspiring a cookbook that reflects the warmth and diversity of the community.

The collection features dozens of recipes contributed by Gurkha wives, volunteers and supporters, bringing together dishes that range from traditional Nepali cooking to familiar British favourites. Among them are Amna’s Lamb Rogan Josh, Nicci’s Milk Balls with Salty Tea Pistachios and Margaret B’s Bara Brith. 

Dame Joanna Lumley, whose campaigning helped secure the right for Gurkha veterans to settle in the UK with their families, has long supported the Gurkha community. In her foreword, she pays tribute to the women involved in the project and the friendships that have flourished.

Dame Joanna Lumley says: “What makes this book of recipes so appealing is that it is a collection of favourite dishes from people whose lives and kitchens are fundamentally very different.”

Describing the Gurkha Ladies’ Project and celebrating the simplicity and accessibility of the recipes, highlighting how food can bring people together regardless of their background, she adds: “I am overwhelmed with admiration for the Gurkha Ladies, and all those who help them to speak and write in English. They never stop laughing! We all share so much: and the greatest icebreaker is food and how it is cooked.”

Clare Bain, Mentoring and Gurkha Services Manager at SSAFA, said: “The Gurkha community has a proud and longstanding connection with the British Armed Forces, but settling in the UK can bring new challenges for veterans and their families. Our Gurkha Services team provides tailored support, working alongside our dedicated Gurkha Services volunteers to help people access the information, advice and support they need.

“The Reading Gurkha Ladies Project is a great example of that support in action. It has helped women build confidence, develop their English and form friendships within their local community, and the cookbook is a wonderful reflection of the relationships that have grown through the project.”

Pam Reynolds BEM, who helped establish the project, was recognised for her outstanding commitment by receiving SSAFA’s Sir James Gildea Award. The cookbook is a lasting celebration of the project’s achievements and the relationships built between volunteers and Gurkha families over more than a decade.

At £18 per copy, plus £2.60 postage and packaging, the Kukri Kitchen Cookbook offers readers the chance to discover new dishes, celebrate the Gurkha community and support the Armed Forces community in a practical and meaningful way.