The Inspiration for “Who Gives A Dam”.  The southern Indian “Pongal” harvest festival came to Frimley Parish in January 2018.  The Tamil people had discovered the grave of a historic figure , Colonel John Pennycuick CSI revered and celebrated  in Tamil Nadu. St Peter’s Church, Frimley was the venue for that year’s celebration in the UK.  Many more people have made the pilgrimage to his grave at St Peter’s Church.

The interest of people from a particular region of Tamil Nadu in the grave of an Indian Army Engineer, Colonel John Pennycuick, encouraged the author to investigate the enduring regard of the Tamil people for his memory. 

The legacy of Colonel John Pennycuick in Tamil Nadu is evident in the landscape and culture of southern India.  This connection has since resulted in the dedication of statues of John Pennycuick in Frimley and Camberley. 

Understanding the reason that the people of Tamil Nadu identify with his legacy is the subject of the book “Who Gives A Dam” which endeavours to appreciate his contribution to society and put his engineering achievements into context.