Diplomat
14th August 2011
My day at the Sziget Festival started with participating in a press conference together with the Deputy Police Chief of Budapest. Our two British police officers, together with Netherlands, German and Polish counterparts, were present. I spoke about our long-standing bilateral police cooperation, going back to the early 1990’s. There was media interest in what […]
13th August 2011
The Sziget Festival crowd are starting to look tired after several days here, but by tonight the adrenalin rush will have them partying again. On the Main stage today are Hadouken!, Kate Nash and the Kaiser Chiefs (we won’t worry about the non-British bands). While tomorrow we look forward to white Lies and some traditional […]
13th August 2011
This morning the British Embassy swimming team all successfully completed a 1500 metre crossing of Lake Velence (the third largest in Hungary) to promote the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games. Colleagues Andy, Kata, Melinda, Anna and Geory were joined by 2 Hungarian international paralympic swimmers, Tamas Toth and Judit Tarjanyi. Dani drove and took […]
12th August 2011
British Sea Power are on stage with some fir trees – not sure where they fit in, but that’s probably my ignorance. Earlier on we visited the Head of the new Tom Lantos Institute in Budapest (he was a Holocaust survivor and US Congressman and the Institute was launched by his family a few weeks […]
12th August 2011
Following on from my latest blog last night, today this blog is guesting Simon Ingram-Hill, Director of the British Council in Budapest who writes the following on Pilot night: “ Well, starting before midnight the hugs were there, and we set to work with our mobile British post box – where we catch our interviewees’ […]
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12th August 2011
I’ve just spoken at a press conference organised by Vodafone. The UK is one of the biggest foreign direct investors in Hungary and Vodafone are one of the most visible and sizeable British companies here. They are also a major sponsor of the Sziget Festival and many fans here are using their products. There’s a […]
12th August 2011
At the European Meeting Point we meet the Ambassador from Kosovo, who is talking to a group of foreign affairs enthusiasts linked to Corvinus Univesity and the International Centre for Democratic Transition. We (my colleague Levi and I) complete a quiz based on Europe’s newest country – which he wins by one point…. Then off […]
12th August 2011
Just arrived at the the Sziget Festival today and right away we bumped into our two British bobbies, Ross and Adrian, who are patrolling in uniform (and are therefore in high demand with fans who want to be photographed with them). This is the 4th year British police with Glastonbury Festival experience have come here […]
12th August 2011
And it’s another year when British bands dominate the Pop-Rock Main Stage at Hungary’s Sziget Festival – 14 out of a total of 25 acts this week are from the UK. All evidence of the continuing strength of our creative industries. Last band up tonight is Pulp. And for those of you still going strong […]
12th August 2011
I’ve just helped open the Budapest Eurogames tent at Sziget. The LGBT Eurogames take place here in 2012 and should be a good earner for the city. The organisers have kindly asked me to be patron of the Eurogames 2012 and are displaying the British Embassy’s publcity materials for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. […]