The Gurkhas' residency battle has made national headlines in recent weeks, especially with the public campaigning of actress Joanna Lumley.

Speaking to the News Letter, Lady Moyola revealed the personal reasons behind selecting the Gurkhas as the chosen charity for this year's open day.
"My father served with the Gurkhas and my grandfather as well. So this is a very personal, almost family issue to me. I was horrified to hear what had been happening to them. It was only when Ms Lumley became involved that I fully realised what was unfolding.

"It is an absolute disgrace that these soldiers have not been given their residency. I simply couldn't believe that soldiers who have served Britain so well could be treated like this."

Her grandfather, Colonel Godfrey Morris, commanded a battalion of Gurkhas in World War One.

"My grandfather was badly wounded in 1915 in World War One. But he was sent straight back into battle as the British had already lost so many officers who spoke the language of the Gurkhas, and he died almost immediately.

"My father, DeBurg Morris, was with a Gurkha brigade which was at sea when the atom bomb struck. They still went ahead and entered Malaya despite the continuing resistance of the Japanese.

"I first knew and met Gurkhas from the age of five. They are fantastic people. The charming thing about them is that they are so cheerful, which makes them so endearing to people.

"But they were, and are, extremely tough in battle – you don't take them on lightly."

She added: "Having known the Gurkhas and the type of people they are, it makes me ashamed to be called British over the way they have been treated. 

"Hopefully this will get sorted but I just feel so ashamed that they should be put through this.

"When I was out in India at the end of the war, I was at a parade in which five Victoria Crosses were presented to Gurkha soldiers. Two, if not three, of the Victoria Crosses were posthumous and their widows accepted the medals on their behalf, so it was a very emotional parade which I can remember vividly."

Lady Moyola is now planning to visit the grave of her grandfather. 

"It's terrible that none of the family have ever visited my grandfather's grave. But my son and I are planning to travel over in August to visit his grave – you can look up where each grave is on the internet."

Lady Moyola said that last Sunday's event had witnessed marvellous weather and large numbers of people who "all donated very generously to this very worthy cause".