mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk

The County Town is set to come to a standstill for another military parade, this time to unveil a Gurkha statue.

This week the £15,000 target to create a bronze statue has been reached.

But people can still donate as extra money will be donated to the British Gurkha Welfare Fund.

The statue, showing a Gurkha engineer sergeant in dress uniform will be in the courtyard of Maidstone Museum.

Sculptor Mary Cox has been commissioned to design the statue and the final version is now at the foundry.

The parade will take place through Maidstone on October 2, just days after the 60th anniversary of the raising of the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers on September 28.

Lt Col Richard Wardlaw, commanding officer of 36 Engineers who led their homecoming parade in March, said: “There will be about 100-150 soldiers on the route, accompanied by the band of the brigade of Gurkhas.

“I think the statue is a wonderful way of celebrating the birthday.”

Maidstone’s links to the Gurkhas go back to 1994 when 69 Gurkha Field Squadron moved into Invicta Barracks to join 36 Engineer Regiment.

Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), who co-ordinates the campaign for The Maidstone Trust, said: “This is an eight-year dream come true. The statue will be unique and the success of the campaign is down to the generosity of everyone, from the big spenders to those who spared loose change.”