We recently visited Castelluccio Valmaggiore — the birthplace of our colleague Piero D’Angelico, Commander of the Order of St George — for a ceremony celebrating international friendship and shared remembrance. Our trip deepened cultural ties between Italy and the UK and set out our vision for the Freedom Fountain Initiative, which we — Abdul-Kayum Arain, Piero D’Angelico, and Mihail Stoyanov — are proud to lead. Our visit was also covered by the Cambridge Independent: "Cambridge delegation bolsters Italian ties as Freedom Fountain initiative discussed".
Our delegation
We travelled alongside Cllr Baiju Thittala, Mayor of Cambridge, and Robert Dryden, Grand Master of the Order of St George, with us—Abdul-Kayum Arain (Chair of Cambridge Muslim Trust and Chaplain at Anglia Ruskin University), Piero D’Angelico (Founder of the Cambridge Gateway from India and Commander of the Order of St George), and Mihail Stoyanov (Chair of Little Bulgaria UK charity and Knight of the Order of St George).
We were warmly welcomed by Sir Pasquale Marchese, Mayor of Castelluccio Valmaggiore, who conferred honorary Italian citizenship on Mayor Thittala, Robert Dryden, and Abdul-Kayum Arain, recognising their cultural and charitable work, including the Cambridge Gateway from India, a restored heritage landmark celebrating our city’s multicultural story.
What we’re building: the Freedom Fountain
We presented our plan to create a memorial in Cambridge honouring the 1.5 million soldiers of the British Indian Army who served in the First World War and the 2.5 million who served in the Second—the largest volunteer force in military history. More than 50,000 Indian troops fought in Italy during WWII; 5,782 made the ultimate sacrifice.
Shared remembrance, shared purpose
Mayor Pasquale Marchese endorsed our vision and pledged support for a parallel memorial in Italy to honour the Indian soldiers who helped liberate his country. Addressing 29 Italian mayors, military leaders, and more than 200 guests, Mayor Baiju Thittala echoed our conviction that remembrance must live not only in books but in our civic spaces.
A solemn tribute followed, as members of the Italian Armed Forces laid flowers for the United British Indian Army alongside Italy’s fallen—a potent reminder of our common humanity.
Where we go next
We held constructive meetings with the mayors of Andria, Barletta, Trani, Margherita di Savoia, and Bari. Each expressed enthusiasm to work with us so this story of service and solidarity can be told across Italy. We are grateful for the warmth and partnership shown by our Italian friends. Our journey from Cambridge to Castelluccio Valmaggiore reaffirmed a simple truth: remembrance can bridge nations. Through the Freedom Fountain—and the relationships it inspires—we will help ensure the legacy of the United British Indian Army is honoured in Cambridge, in Italy, and in the shared conscience of a grateful world.
