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Robin Barnett

Robin Barnett

Former Ambassador to Ireland, Dublin

Part of UK in Poland

3rd February 2015 Dublin, Ireland

A small ceremony to present Professor Limon with the badge of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Last September, Her Majesty The Queen appointed Professor Jerzy Limon to be an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in recognition of his valuable services to British-Polish cultural relations. On 29 January, I had the pleasure and honour to present Professor Limon with the badge of the Order at a small ceremony. Professor Limon has played an important part in developing cultural relations through his organisation of many cultural events, often with a close British connection. His love of British culture and plays is well known.

Jerzy Limon’s story is a remarkable one. In 1990, he set up the Thetraum Gedanese Foundation with the aim of building the Gdansk Shakespeare Theatre, as a centre of cultural and artistic excellence. Many of us thought it a wonderful idea but were unsure whether it could be implemented given the many challenges it faced. One of those who believed in the project was HRH the Prince of Wales, who granted the Foundation his patronage. In September 2014, the professor’s passion, determination and commitment bore fruit as the impressive new Theatre was formally opened. It will now become the centre for the annual Gdansk Shakespeare Festival.

This is truly an occasion for Anglo-Polish celebration and I am very much looking forward to visiting the theatre again soon.

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About Robin Barnett

Robin Barnett was British Ambassador to Ireland from 2016 to 2020. Between 2011 - 2016 he held the post of British Ambassador to Poland and his career has previously concentrated…

Robin Barnett was British Ambassador to Ireland from 2016 to 2020. Between 2011 - 2016 he held the post of British Ambassador to Poland and his career has previously concentrated on Central and Eastern Europe and multi-lateral diplomacy.

Robin began his career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1980 as Desk Officer for Indonesia and the Philippines. In addition to Ireland, he has been posted to Vienna, New York and Bucharest, where he was Ambassador. He has also served as Director of UK Visas and Managing Director of the Business Group in UK Trade and Investment

Robin studied Law at Birmingham University. He has a son and a stepson and is a great admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson and a supporter of Manchester United.

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