Friday, April 29, 2011
Royal bash with British splendour in Buenos Aires
British Ambassador Shan Morgan delivering a speech before the Royal Wedding Fundraising Lunch.
By Carolina Barros, Herald Staff
The British Embassy in Buenos Aires was also part of the festivities for the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. And in three stages. On the eve of the wedding British Ambassador Shan Morgan held a reception in her Gelly y Obes Street residence for some 200 guests in the same generation as the bridal couple — young businessmen working in various subsidiaries, former Chevening scholars from the Foreign Office programme, aspiring young politicians and other “youthful promises” to share live transmission from the Embassy of the radio programme UltraBrit, deejayed by Gustavo Giorgi. One way of giving the newly-weds a stag night.
Yesterday at noon Ambassador Morgan hosted a benefit lunch for Impulsar foundation, an NGO which has been helping to train and financially sponsor young entrepreneurs for 11 years now. Impulsar is an Argentine NGO linked to the Prince’s Trust headed by the groom’s father Prince Charles, who sent a congratulatory letter to the NGO’s president Jorge Fillol Casas, which was read out by the Ambassador to all present.
“William and Kate have asked not to be given any presents but rather have donations made on their behalf to good causes,” the Ambassador told the Herald, “that’s why the Embassy has organized this fund-raising lunch for this NGO. And that way we also celebrate the (85th) birthday of the Queen.”
The Ambassador also announced a unique double for next year — the Diamond Jubilee (the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign) and the London Olympics and Paraolimpics.
After bagpipers had opened up the way to the dining-tables, the 90 guests enjoyed an exquisite menu prepared by the Embassy chef Gabriel. These guests included fellow-Ambassadors Vilma Martínez (United States), Tony Leon (South Africa), John Richardson (Australia) and Robert Zischg (Austria). Along with the photographer Aldo Sessa, writer Federico Andahazi, businessmen Carlos Pulenta, Arturo Acevedo, Eric Grassi (Royal Sun Alliance), Martín Etchevere (Danone), together with Nicholas Davies Gilbert, Fernando Nelly, Daniela Baro Catena, Peggy Vissers (from the Dutch Embassy), Alan Arnsten, Peter Edward, Brian Gibson, Mike Seal, Pablo Cattoni and Francis Fernie, chairman of the Brtish Hospital.
While lunching the guests could watch scenes from the wedding as retransmitted by the BBC. The toast was obviously to the health of the newly-weds.
But the third event to celebrate the Royal Wedding was the most important of all according to Shan Morgan. It was the visit which the Ambassador paid to the BABS (British and American Benevolent Society) old people’s home in Villa Devoto. The Ambassador brought with her a replica of the three-tier wedding cake of Wills and Kate, decorated with thistles, shamrocks, roses and daffodils (the national flowers of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales respectively). In BABS, Morgan was welcomed with immense affection by the residents, many of whom she greeted by name. Before cutting the cake the Ambassador organized a quiz game with six multiple-choice questions, all related to the lives of Kate and Wills, won by Elaine Brant-Weimer, followed by Helena Carr Rollit and Susie Anderson. Followed (why not?) by another champagne toast to the health of the royal newly-weds.
The British Embassy in Buenos Aires was also part of the festivities for the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. And in three stages. On the eve of the wedding British Ambassador Shan Morgan held a reception in her Gelly y Obes Street residence for some 200 guests in the same generation as the bridal couple — young businessmen working in various subsidiaries, former Chevening scholars from the Foreign Office programme, aspiring young politicians and other “youthful promises” to share live transmission from the Embassy of the radio programme UltraBrit, deejayed by Gustavo Giorgi. One way of giving the newly-weds a stag night.
Yesterday at noon Ambassador Morgan hosted a benefit lunch for Impulsar foundation, an NGO which has been helping to train and financially sponsor young entrepreneurs for 11 years now. Impulsar is an Argentine NGO linked to the Prince’s Trust headed by the groom’s father Prince Charles, who sent a congratulatory letter to the NGO’s president Jorge Fillol Casas, which was read out by the Ambassador to all present.
“William and Kate have asked not to be given any presents but rather have donations made on their behalf to good causes,” the Ambassador told the Herald, “that’s why the Embassy has organized this fund-raising lunch for this NGO. And that way we also celebrate the (85th) birthday of the Queen.”
The Ambassador also announced a unique double for next year — the Diamond Jubilee (the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign) and the London Olympics and Paraolimpics.
After bagpipers had opened up the way to the dining-tables, the 90 guests enjoyed an exquisite menu prepared by the Embassy chef Gabriel. These guests included fellow-Ambassadors Vilma Martínez (United States), Tony Leon (South Africa), John Richardson (Australia) and Robert Zischg (Austria). Along with the photographer Aldo Sessa, writer Federico Andahazi, businessmen Carlos Pulenta, Arturo Acevedo, Eric Grassi (Royal Sun Alliance), Martín Etchevere (Danone), together with Nicholas Davies Gilbert, Fernando Nelly, Daniela Baro Catena, Peggy Vissers (from the Dutch Embassy), Alan Arnsten, Peter Edward, Brian Gibson, Mike Seal, Pablo Cattoni and Francis Fernie, chairman of the Brtish Hospital.
While lunching the guests could watch scenes from the wedding as retransmitted by the BBC. The toast was obviously to the health of the newly-weds.
But the third event to celebrate the Royal Wedding was the most important of all according to Shan Morgan. It was the visit which the Ambassador paid to the BABS (British and American Benevolent Society) old people’s home in Villa Devoto. The Ambassador brought with her a replica of the three-tier wedding cake of Wills and Kate, decorated with thistles, shamrocks, roses and daffodils (the national flowers of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales respectively). In BABS, Morgan was welcomed with immense affection by the residents, many of whom she greeted by name. Before cutting the cake the Ambassador organized a quiz game with six multiple-choice questions, all related to the lives of Kate and Wills, won by Elaine Brant-Weimer, followed by Helena Carr Rollit and Susie Anderson. Followed (why not?) by another champagne toast to the health of the royal newly-weds.
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