The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, presided over the proceedings along with Dr. Rami Ranger, Chairman of the British Sikh Association, who took the salute. The Chief of the General Staff addressed the guests and praised the contribution of Sikh soldiers in both of the great wars. He said they had distinguished themselves and had left a permanent legacy of their bravery in British history.

Major General Paul Nanson CBE, Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, welcomed the guests and said he was pleased to have the members of the Sikh community at Sandhurst. He mentioned the first ever Sikh soldier who passed out from the Academy was Maharaja Duleep Singh who was an exceptionally good cadet.

Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman of the the British Sikh Association said - “It is an honour and privilege for me to be speaking from the Indian Army Memorial Room at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. A place from where illustrious soldiers are trained to defend our way of life at any cost to themselves”. Dr Virander Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India said that to speak at the dinner where British Sikhs and the wider British Indian armed forces personnel were present was a brilliant example of the friendship India has with the United Kingdom. The Guest of Honour, the Rt. Hon. the Earl Howe PC, Minister of State for Defence spoke about the rich history of the Sikhs in the British armed forces.