Fine Reception for the Colonels

Dated: 18/06/2011 

Three members of the United Kingdom Grand Priory of St. George attended a reception for the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust on Wednesday at the State Rooms of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP. Colonels Stuart Notholt KStG, and Steve Nimmons GCStG were attending as representatives of the United Kingdom Brigade of Kentucky Colonels. Chevalier Col. Stuart Notholt (a member of the Knightly Order Valiant of St George since May 2011) is incidentally the UK Brigade Commander (Kentucky Colonels) and (interim) Chief Executive Officer of HART.

The reception was hosted by Baroness Cox of Queensbury in the magnificent State Rooms of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Baroness Cox outlined the work of the Trust in particular its role as a ‘voice for the voiceless’ in repressive regions of the world such as Burma, Nigeria, Sudan, Armenia (Nagorno Karabagh) and Uganda.

Colonel Stuart Notholt KStG, Baroness Cox and Colonel Steve Nimmons GCStG 

Dr. Sasa a HART Partner working in Burma delivered an emotional speech about his work, an incredible record of achievement ‘against the odds’. Dr. Sasa runs inspirational programmes training 317 Community Health Workers who are saving lives and promoting health in over 150 villages deep inside northwest Burma. Without this important basic level of health awareness and care, many were suffering, indeed dying needlessly. 

HART is currently raising urgent concerns about the developing situation in Sudan, where a renewed humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding. They have also dispatched £10,000 in funding to partners in the Nuba Mountains in Southern Kordofan and £10,000 for victims of conflict in Abyei. HART is an important organisation and it works on the frontline providing ‘aid and advocacy’ for local partners.

Speaker of the House of Commons Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP addressed the meeting, generously giving of his time and praise for the work of Baroness Cox, the Trust and all of the Trust’s local partners and supporters.

I urge all members to please acquaint yourselves with the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, and please provide all of the support you can to this wonderful charity.

Further notes:

“The Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) supports the forgotten people of Europe, Africa and Asia: the oppressed and the persecuted, and often those who are neglected by other organisations, largely out of sight of the world’s media. Its aid is designed to relieve suffering and sow the seeds of longer-term solutions; its advocacy is designed to raise awareness of problems – and solutions – at home and abroad.” The Baroness Cox of Queensbury, HART founder. 

Baroness (Caroline) Cox was created a Life Peer in 1982 for her contributions to education and has served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1985 to 2005. Lady Cox now sits in the Lords as a crossbencher and is a frequent contributor to Lords debates on Sudan, India, Nigeria, Uganda, and Burma.