On the 10th of November our team joined the Great Faith Initiative for an intimate lunchtime reception in the River Room, House of Lords, a setting reserved for charitable and cross-party gatherings overlooking the Thames. The reception—hosted with the support of The Rev. the Lord Russell Rook (Baron Rook) and led by Nizam Uddin OBE — centred on Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution, a portrait series by Arabella Dorman honouring servicemen and women of many faiths who fought for Britain during the World Wars and those who serve today.
A shared purpose
Speaking on behalf of the project, Abdul highlighted Freedom Fountain’s core ethos: an apolitical, areligious, all-encompassing memorial that honours service and sacrifice across communities. Artist Colleen McLaughlin Barlow briefly outlined the creative process behind the memorial concept and reflected on how little many in Britain—including herself before this work—knew about the scale and significance of the United British Indian Army’s contribution.
“Our unique strength is inclusivity.”, added Piero D’Angelico. “That’s what gives this memorial such momentum”.
Encounters that move the work forward
What made the day exceptional was the calibre of conversations—and the warmth behind them:
H.E. Ambassador Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, travelled to London for the reception and spoke about work that “connects with the heart.” After hearing about the Fountain’s progress—built thus far entirely through volunteered time—he encouraged us to stay in touch and expressed interest in a forthcoming January gathering.
We met leaders and representatives from national remembrance organisations, including the Royal British Legion, to explore alignment around remembrance symbols and educational outreach.
Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain CB—the highest-ranking officer from a minority ethnic background in the British Armed Forces—offered encouragement and support. His career, from Naval Base Commodore Portsmouth to Director (Precision Attack) and Controller of the Navy, exemplifies the very stories the reception sought to foreground.
Also a retired Air Marshal and Wing Commander, Dr Rafat Malik from the Royal Air Force to over 20 years in senior leadership roles, Dr. Rafat’s path has been nothing short of extraordinary. We’re beyond excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Rafat.
Conversations also opened with civic and community figures: Afzal Khan MP (Manchester), Chair Sir William Blackburne, and trustees Mateen Zaki and Shama Husain from World War Muslim Memorials Worldwide, who are excited by the freedom fountain project and want to engage and Bushra Nasir CBE, chair of EQUiP, who urged us to connect around challenging narratives and widening participation.
Artist Arabella Dorman reflected on the portraits at the centre of Great Faith: even when source photos were aged or torn, “the eyes were telling the story” — guiding how she painted courage, loyalty and faith. Her core message resonated with the room: Britain’s wartime armies were richly diverse — Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and others — serving shoulder-to-shoulder; too many of those stories, especially Muslim stories, remain untold.
Lord Russell Rook himself closed by saying to us, “Count me in.”
Why it matters
For Freedom Fountain, the day underlined a growing coalition committed to remembrance that unites faiths, histories and generations. We left the River Room energised—grateful to Great Faith for convening such a thoughtful gathering, and confident that the Fountain’s inclusive vision can serve as a shared focal point for partners across the UK and beyond.
What’s next
We leave the House of Lords encouraged and energised. The day affirmed Freedom Fountain’s unique positioning—inclusive by design, built in partnership, and focused on shared remembrance. With new relationships formed and invitations extended, we will follow up with partners from faith, civic, military and cultural spheres to carry this work from the River Room into communities across the country.
With gratitude to Lord Rook, Nizam Uddin OBE, Arabella Dorman, and all who welcomed us today—and to everyone who shared their time, stories and support.