Rugeley campaigner's work is remembered as school in Nepal honours her name

The memory of a dedicated Gurkha campaigner will live on forever halfway across the world.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust has decided to name a new school building in the Chitwan district in Nepal in memory of Margaret Cross.

Margaret, who lived in Rugeley, died aged 75 in August last year, leaving behind a legacy of 20 years of working to support former Gurkha soldiers and their families alongside her husband Rob.

The couple had helped to raise nearly £110,000 for the trust and Mr Cross was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list, but said he always felt the award should have been in both their names.

Margaret Cross dedicated her to supporting Gurkha soldiers and their families

He said: “I’ve always dedicated it to Margaret as I believe it was a joint effort and I think it should have Mr and Mrs on it.

“It won’t in this case, but this is a nice compensation, if you like, for everything she has done for Gurkhas, Nepal and the Nepalese community.

“I was very pleased to get the letter that said they were going to do this as it came out of the blue.”

The buildings housed three classrooms before the 2015 earthquake (Photo by The Gurkha Welfare Trust)

The three classroom block will form part of the Shree Nawadurga Basic School in Gaidakot, which was severely damaged by the 2015 earthquake, and is set to be completed in four months time.

Mr Cross said it was another notable moment in the association with Nepal.

Mr and Mrs Cross had lived in the country for three years between 1991 and 1994. He said Margaret had learned Nepali and, as a trained horse rider, had also trained the cavalry of the King for three years in the capital Kathmandu.

The work has begun on building the new classrooms at the school (Photo by The Gurkha Welfare Trust)

Mr Cross said his wife would have been very proud of the naming of the building, but also wondered what all the fuss was about.

He added: “She’d have been really pleased with it, but also most likely have said that she didn’t ask for it or need it.

The earthquake caused substantial damage to the school (Photo by The Gurkha Welfare Trust)

“It goes without saying, of course, that it’s nice to have recognition without blowing your own trumpet.

“But I know she would have been pleased with this.

Foundations have been laid and the work goes on (Photo by The Gurkha Welfare Trust)

“If I am in a fit state, and it’s safe to do so, I would like to fly over with my daughters to see the new building and maybe even see some tigers, as that region is famous for them.

“Above all, I am so proud of all of Margaret’s achievements throughout our 55 years of marriage.”