SERVING Gurkha soldiers held an audience captivated with tales of their heroics in the battlefield during a visit to north Kent police headquarters.

The event which took place on October 24 at north Kent police headquarters in Thames Way, Northfleet, was attended by more than 100 hundred people and was part of the Black History Month celebrations.

People invited to the event included Deputy Lieutenant of Kent Colonel Godfrey Linnett, High Sheriff of Kent Richard Oldfield, and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Wardlaw of The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers.

Chief Superintendent and area commander for north Kent Paul Brandon said: “Hundreds of serving and former Gurkhas, recruited from Nepal, live in Kent with their families and this event was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution they make to society.”

There was also a presentation from PC Santosh Ghale, the first ex-Gurkha soldier to be employed by Kent Police as a serving police officer.

PC Ghale, 44, from Ashford, joined the Gurkhas in February 1882 and served for 24 years in locations including Brunei, Hong Kong and Sierre Leone.