London: Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and several British Ministers attended a function hosted by Lord Swraj Paul, leading NRI industrialist, at the London Zoo on July 13 evening to remember his four and a half year-old daughter Ambika who passed away here 35 years ago.

Others present on the occasion included Sarah Brown, wife of Chancellor Gordon Brown, Michael Foot, veteran labour leader and Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Lord Navnit Dholakia.

Baroness Scotland, Baroness Jay, Baroness Blackstone, Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Belgium Ambassador, J S Sangar, Vice Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and British TV star of Indian origin Meera Syal were also present.

Lord Paul made special mention to the presence of Michael Foot who will be turning 90 on July 23 and Cherie Blair, a "tremendous personality" in her own right.

Speaking on the occasion, Paul Boateng described the occasion as a "landmark event" in everyone's diary as "This is the day we spend with our loved ones".

He complimented Lord Paul for his many charitable works not only in the UK but also in India.

Lord Paul donated one million Pounds to the London Zoo in the early nineties to prevent it from being closed. The Zoo authorities came up with a proposal for a new Children's Zoo that could survive on its own to make it the best children's Zoo in the world.

Lord Paul says his only connection to the zoo was in the sixties when Ambika was ill and he would take her there to enjoy the animals.

"The thought occurred to me, if I can do something, let me save it. I wrote to them offering my help. They came up with a proposition for a new Children's Zoo that could survive on its own even if they may have to close the rest of the zoo.

"I said, okay, I will give you a million Pounds. You make the best children's zoo in the world, most up-to- date," Lord Paul wrote in a recent publication 'Past Caring' brought out by writer Audrey Jenkinson.

"With hindsight, I see this girl came because she wanted to change my life completely. She brought me here to Britain. I would never have dreamt I would ever live in England. But this country has been very hospitable to me. My wife and I have had a good life here, with our family and grandchildren. After Ambika died, we were blessed with another child, a boy. I am a lucky man."

PTI