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Marianne Young

Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Part of UK in Namibia

27th January 2012 Windhoek, Namibia

CT World Cup Rally comes to Windhoek: from Big Ben south to the bottom of Africa

HE Mrs Marianne Young with the organisers of the CT World Cup Rally

I met up with members of the CT World Cup Rally Team at the Kalahari Sands Hotel last night for a drink as they passed through Namibia on their epic ‘3 continent/14 countries/in 27 driving days’ journey down the African continent.

The Rally marks the first ever timed driving event from Europe to the bottom of Africa. The trip, which started from Big Ben in Westminster, will end at the Clock Tower at the Waterfront in Cape Town on 29 January. 44 cars are competing on the 14,000 km route that took them diagonally across Europe, on a ferry from Greece to Egypt, across to Saudi Arabia and south down via Tanzania and Ethiopia amongst other countries: see entire route.

The 99-strong Rally team members were in celebratory spirits last night as they rested in Windhoek having travelled down from Tsumeb yesterday. Several members enthused that the Namibian scenery was the most spectacular of the entire trip. They have three days here before heading for their ultimate destination in South Africa’s Mother City.

Chief Rally organiser, Philip Young (no relative), Chairman of the Endurance Rally Association, confessed that he was both excited and relieved to have got so far and with few mishaps. The Rally has lost only three vehicles along the way: a Triumph crashed before they got to Dover, a Morgan bent its chassis beyond repair in Italy and a Porsche caught fire in Kenya.

I am delighted to say that there are still a number of good British vehicles, including a Land Rover and 1600 cc MG in the race. Brit Andrew Actman driving a Toyota Hilux is currently in pole position. The oldest car is a 1924 4 litre Vauxhall that has been one of the most reliable vehicles. (Something to bear in mind when doing self-drive holidays around these parts!)

Young said one of the highlights of the trip was the fact that the scenery was completely different each day; a bonus from travelling progressively south down the globe rather than heading longitudinally across.

More than half the Rally participants are British and the rest are made up of an international medley, including Dutch, French, German and Swizz adventurers. I wish them all well as they head off south to cross over into South Africa via the Cederberg Mountains and Clanwilliam. There is plenty of stunning scenery to come and a big party looming in Cape Town on 29 January.

So keep a look out if you are on the roads leading down that way. There may be plenty of Brits (and others) heading your way in a hurry!

About Marianne Young

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of…

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the
Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented
her credentials to the President of the Republic of Namibia on 3rd
August.
Mrs Young joined the FCO in 2001 following a career in international
journalism, including time spent running an Asian maritime press office
in Singapore and a traineeship on the UK’s Times newspaper.
Her first role in the FCO was as a Press Officer in News Department,
after which she went on to be Head of the Great Lakes Section in Africa
Directorate and then Head of the East Africa & Horn Section.
In 2005, she became the first Head of Communications for the Engaging with the Islamic World Group.
She moved to the British High Commission in Pretoria in February 2007
and served as the Head of the External Political Section and Deputy
High Commissioner to the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland.
Mrs Young moved across to the British High Commission in Windhoek in
June 2011, and presented her credentials to the President of the
Republic of Namibia on 3rd August 2011.
On her appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia, Mrs Young said:
“I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Her Majesty’s High
Commissioner to Namibia. I look forward to working to strengthen the
many commercial, political and cultural ties between our two countries,
and to help the many British nationals who holiday there. My family and I
are particularly thrilled to be remaining in southern Africa – and to
have the opportunity to explore this beautiful country further and
discover more about its people and culture.”
Curriculum vitae

Full name:
Marianne Young

Married to:
Barry Young

Children:
Two daughters and one son

 
June 2011
Windhoek, British High Commissioner

2007 – 2011
 
Pretoria, Head of External Political Section and DHC for the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland

2005 – 2006
FCO, Head of Communications, Engaging with the Islamic World Group

2004 – 2005
FCO, Head of East Africa & Horn Section, Africa Directorate

3/2003 – 8/2003
FCO, Head of Great Lakes Section, Africa Directorate

2002 – 2003
FCO, Press Officer, Press Office

2001 – 2002
FCO, Departmental Report Editor, Press Office

2001
Joined FCO

2000-2001
Senior Correspondent, Fairplay Group, UK

1995-2000
Staff Editor and then Asia Editor, Fairplay Group Singapore

1994-1995
Graduate Trainee at The Times newspaper, UK

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