On 8 September 2025, we met with the Great Faith team in London, to explore a creative partnership that brings their powerful portrait exhibition into conversation with the Freedom Fountain Memorial in Cambridge. Around the table were Nizam Uddin and Maria Mays from Great Faith, artist Arabella Dorman, as well as the majority of the Freedom Fountain project team.
How Great Faith connects
Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution is Arabella Dorman’s landmark portrait series honouring Muslim servicemen and women who served Britain — work that “completes the picture” of shared wartime service and sacrifice. Arabella has kindly allowed us to link to the exhibition and to her website. Great Faith and the Freedom Fountain remain distinct artistic projects that support each other where appropriate—each retaining its integrity while serving a shared purpose of remembrance.
This collaboration was catalysed by Rev. Lord (Dr) Russell Rook OBE, who introduced us to Arabella and indicated his willingness to help host a Parliamentary event — a generous offer we’re taking forward. In parallel, Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has been invited to co-host a Westminster reception, with the Speaker’s involvement, to showcase both Great Faith and the Freedom Fountain.
Events Collaboration
We aligned on showcasing Great Faith alongside the Freedom Fountain at upcoming events (a Westminster reception in mid-January 2026; a gala in February 2026), with both artist Arabella Dorman and sculptor Colleen McLaughlin Barlow to speak about the work and the people behind it.
Great Faith Portraits
We are publishing a few of Arabella Dorman’s portraits from Great Faith to bring readers face-to-face with the people whose service anchors this history.
Art by Arabella Dorman. Copyright Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution. You can explore the full collection at: https://greatfaith.co.uk/portraits/.
Voices of those who served
Captain (Ret.) Yavar Abbas, a 105-year-old United British Indian Army veteran and war photographer, has offered his wholehearted support for the Freedom Fountain. His life story — featured by the Royal British Legion — beautifully complements the portrait narratives in Great Faith, reinforcing why placing Arabella Dorman’s work alongside the memorial matters. We’re honoured to carry his words into this partnership and will continue to reference his archive as part of our public storytelling.
With gratitude
Our thanks to Nizam Uddin, Maria Mays, the Great Faith team and Arabella Dorman for their openness, generosity, and commitment to telling a fuller story of service and sacrifice; to Lord Rook for his encouragement and convening; and to Daniel Zeichner MP for his continued support of a Cambridge memorial that speaks to our city’s multicultural heart.
Explore Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution online at https://greatfaith.co.uk/portraits/.