THE daughter of an ex-Gurkha soldier has described Colchester is her “home from home”, after she and her sister fought to stay in the UK.

Priyasma Gauchan’s father Navin Kumar Gauchan served in the Army and was based at Colchester Garrison.

Priyasma spent most of her childhood in Colchester and is pleased to be back in the town after years of being away for university.

She qualified as dentist in 2016 from University of Liverpool and now works as a junior dentist at Ipswich Hospital.

However, her situation has not always been easy.

Priyasma, 29, said: “Colchester is a special place which is very close to my heart.

“I grew up here from the age of eight until 19. When my father retired from the Army at 1998, we had little choice but to return home to Nepal.

“My younger sister and I were devastated when we heard this news, we had made so many friends and attachments here. Colchester became our home.

“My brave father, who always wanted the best for us, promised he would do the best he could to change the UK law to allow Gurkha families to remain in the UK.”

From 1998 until 2007, the family lived on tenterhooks.

She said: “We used to turn off the lights off at home with the fear the immigration police were going to take us away.

“After many years of restless nights and visits to the solicitors, my dad was pleased things were moving in the right direction.

“We were so pleased the Colchester community was so supportive of us and we finally received our Nepalese passport from the Home Office, after seven years of little correspondence.

“We were then able to apply for our right to remain the UK and carry on living fear-free lives.”

In 2008, the actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served in the 6th Gurkha Rifles, became the public face of the Gurkha Justice Campaign which asked for all Gurkha veterans who served in the British Army before 1997 to have the right to settle in Britain.

Those serving after 1997 had already been granted permission but the Government has not extended the offer to all Gurkhas, who are natives of Nepal.

In April 2009, a Liberal Democrat motion was passed allowing all Gurkhas to be offered an equal right of residence.

Even though Colchester is where Priyasma feels most at home, she does not forget about Nepal.

She said: “I am thankful for my current job but I am always looking for opportunities to help other people.”

This year she will join group of volunteers with a charity called Smiles Across Nepal.

For two weeks they will provide dental aid and education to remote regions.

To raise funds for the trip, she is hosting a charity gala dinner on April 1, at the Marks Tey Hotel from 6.30pm. Tickets are £45, to buy them call 07859 887247.