Lumley's triumphant Nepal tour ends

12 April 2012

Joanna Lumley's whistlestop tour of Nepal has come to an end.

The actress and Gurkha campaigner was hailed as a "goddess" as she travelled around the country for the first time.

She played a pivotal role in a campaign to allow those who fought for Britain to settle here.

Thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of the star and to shower her with praise during the week-long trip while the country's leaders and war veterans were among the many who paid tribute to her.

Lumley received a hero's welcome from hundreds of Gurkhas and their families as her overnight flight from London arrived in Nepal on Sunday.

The Absolutely Fabulous actress was draped in garlands and colourful scarves and presented with bouquets of flowers as she made her way through Kathmandu Airport.

People thronged the building's exit waving banners praising the actress, who issued the traditional Gurkha war cry to her waiting fans.

She told the noisy crowd: "My friends of Nepal, I am your family coming to Nepal for the first time. I want to thank you so much. I want to say in the time-honoured cry, 'Ayo Gurkhali!'."

Lumley, whose late father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, said a great injustice had been righted when the Government finally relented in May and said all Gurkha veterans with four years' service would be allowed to move to the UK.

She travelled with Gurkha Justice campaigner Peter Carroll, who described the "amazing" welcome given by the Nepalese people.

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