BOOK LAUNCH AT THETFORD MUSEUM

Thetford was the venue for the regional Norfolk launch of Peter Bance’s latest book on Maharajah Duleep Singh, titled ‘Sovereign, Squire & Rebel’. The event was held at the historic 15^th Century Ancient House, which was converted into a Museum by Maharajah Duleep Singh’s son in 1924.

The launch was held in association with the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, with the chief guest being the new Mayor of Thetford, this being the new Mayors first official engagement, with guests including, Councillor Robert Khybird,  Professor Bedi, and writer and journalist Christy Campbell who took time away from him his latest book which is he writing with Joanna Lumley.

The event began with speeches by the Museum’s curator, Oliver Bone, followed by the author Peter Bance, and then Christy Campbell who talked extensively about Peter’s role as a Sikh historian and his years of work on the Maharajah. The new Mayor, Pam Spencer congratulated and thanked Peter Bance and the Director of ASHT Harbinder Singh Rana who had organised the event, followed by a closing speech by the author’s father.

Sovereign, Squire & Rebel is Bance’s fourth book, and traces the Maharajah and his family’s life in over 250 superbly presented images, many in full colour. The book has taken Bance over 13 years to research and was launched last March in Chandigarh where he was also honoured by the Punjab Police Academy at Maharajah Ranjit Singh’s Fort at Phillaur, and was met by the Maharani of Patiala Parneet Kaur at Moti Bagh.

Among those present at Thetford Museum, Professor Mohinder Singh Bedi added, how wonderful that the launch is held in a ancient house which is over 500 years old and was around at the time of Guru Nanak.

‘Sovereign, Squire & Rebel: Maharajah Duleep Singh & the Heirs of a Lost Kingdom’ is available at all major bookshops and is priced at £29.99

Read the review by Jerome Taylor in The Independent

To purchase a copy of this exciting new book from us click here