Dominic Meiklejohn

Part of UK in USA [New York]

3rd June 2011 New York, USA

Charity doesn’t always start at home

Guest blog by Niall Gordon, UK Trade & Investment. As panic sets in and the two month football (that’s soccer for our American friends) drought begins, we discover there are plenty of sporting events to keep you going over the next few weeks – many with a British and charitable twist.

On Saturday, 4 June, the British Consulate-General New York will participate in the McGarahan Trophy, a football tournament organised by the British Garden at Hanover Square.  The Trophy honours the memory of Frank McGarahan, a former New York based Barclays banker.  After 9/11 McGarahan organised football matches between the NYPD and FDNY to benefit the children of the victims. 
 
The Consulate is always delighted to lend its support to the British Garden at Hanover Square, which was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last July.  Money raised for the British Garden at Hanover Square supports its aims of honouring the British victims of the World Trade Center attack and celebrating the historic ties of friendship and unity between the UK and the US.
 
This is the fifth year of the tournament, which involves several corporate sponsors including previous winners Bloomberg and Barclays Capital taking part alongside newcomers like the Mountbatten Internship Programme. Don’t be fooled by the friendships off the pitch; this is no holds barred stuff as the ‘special relationship’ is tested to the limit!  For those interested, the tournament kicks off at 3pm on Saturday at the Field House at Chelsea Piers.

If egg chasing is more of your thing, why not join the five bus loads of students, coaches and teachers travelling from New York to PPL Park in Philadelphia with Play Rugby USA to watch the Collegiate Rugby 7’s Championships. Play Rugby USA is a youth development organisation that builds character, community and commitment in young people in urban areas of America through rugby.
 
Next up is David Gower’s Sports Quiz on July 13th, another exciting Captain’s Knock event organised by George/ St George’s Society.  Former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence and Olympic gold medal winners Denise Lewis and Sir Matthew Pinsent will join former England cricket captain David Gower on a panel of esteemed guests.  As July marks one year to the London 2012 Olympics, British Consul-General Sir Alan Collins will open the quiz with a look forward to 2012. For more information and to order tickets click here.
 
On July 27th, the MLS All Stars take on Manchester United at Red Bull Arena in a rematch of last year’s 5-2 win for the EPL Champions.  While the spotlight is on the richest club in the world, a little further upstate, the somewhat lesser known Bedlington Terriers will also be on tour. A more modest concern their US tour is being supported by none other than Lord Bedlington (aka Bob Rich) the owner of Buffalo based Rich Products Corporation. The Terriers, from the lower leagues of northern English football, take on the Erie Admirals and FC Buffalo at the inaugural Lord Bedlington Cup.
 
In amongst all of this, the Consulate softball team continues to play and after a few heavy defeats, we continue improving. I’ve been told that, like England ever since the ‘66 World Cup, they have had some key players missing…
 
So, there is no rest for the wicked as the Consulate, much like Rob Green, spreads its charitable wings and gets involved in the local community. By the time all that has taken place, you’ll be back on your sofa ready for the new football season to begin again. Panic over.

*The views of this blog are not those of the British Consulate but represent the personal views of a Scottish member of staff!

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About Dominic Meiklejohn

I was born in Woking, outside London, in 1967 and attended Merton College, Oxford University, graduating in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. After university, I worked for HM Customs and Excise…

I was born in Woking, outside London, in 1967 and attended Merton College, Oxford University, graduating in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

After university, I worked for HM Customs and Excise before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1990. After working for the European Community Department, I learned Polish and began a posting at the British Embassy Warsaw, where I headed the British Know How Fund for Poland (1993-96). In 1997, I worked for the OSCE Mission in Albania, before heading up the India team in the South Asian Department of the FCO. In 2000, I was posted as First Secretary to the British Embassy Warsaw, with a particular focus on European Union issues in the run-up to Poland’s accession to the EU. In 2003, I returned to the UK as Deputy Head of the Environment Policy Department. From 2004-2005, I led the FCO’s Knowledge Management Programme. During this period, I led two deployments of the FCO’s Consular Rapid Deployment Team– to Sri Lanka, after the tsunami in 2004 and to Pakistan, after the earthquake in 2005. From 2006-2007, I served as Deputy Consul-General, Basra, Iraq. From June 2007 I worked with the FCO’s Change Unit.

I took up my current appointment on 22 January 2008. My wife Joanne and I are the proud parents of Olivia. Outside of the office, I cycle around Manhattan, play soccer (football) and, when parenting duties allow, enjoy the cultural riches offered by New York. I try hard to understand baseball.

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2012 british consulate david denise gower lewis london matthew mcgarahan new pinsent sir trophy york