Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley wins Oldie of the Year award
By ANIWednesday, January 27, 2010
LONDON - British actress Joanna Lumley has won the Oldie of the Year award for her persistent campaign for Gurkhas’ rights.
Humorous monthly magazine, The Oldie, confers this award each year to older individuals for a range of efforts.
Presenting Lumley with her prize, veteran broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan said: “We would like to award her for her for her relentless efforts and continuing campaigning for Gurkhas’ rights and the Gurkha Justice Campaign.”
Inspired by her soldier father, who served for 30 years as an officer with the 6th Gurkha Rifles, the 63-year-old actress led a successful high-profile battle to win rights for retired Gurkhas to live in Britain, the Telegraph reports.
After a series of marches, speeches and lobbying, the Government changed the immigration rules last May to allow all Gurkhas with four years’ service to settle in the UK.
Lumley has earlier won the Age Cannot Wither Her award in 2003.
Sir Terry, who has handed out the awards for a decade, found himself at the receiving end of a prize this year for Retirer of the Year.
The 71-year-old presented his final Radio 2 breakfast show last month before Chris Evans took over the slot.
Lumley and Sir Terry also won a cruise with award sponsor Swan Hellenic.
Categories for the awards, founded in 1992, change every year - apart from the Oldie of the Year award, whose previous winners include Sir David Attenborough (2005), Tony Blackburn (2003) and Dame Thora Hird (1998). (ANI)
