Born in Uganda in 1956, Siddharth Patel fled the country as a teenager during Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians in the early 1970s.

His family was processed through refugee camps before settling in Swindon. Life changed dramatically from comfort in Kampala to shared army housing in the UK. Despite early cultural shock and casual racism, Siddharth adapted with optimism.

He co-founded Swindon’s Hindu Samaj and has remained a key figure in community building. A humorous and humble man, he represents resilience, integration,and gratitude.