2nd December 2013 Havana, Cuba
As I travel around Cuba talking to people about the United Kingdom, I am constantly surprised by how little many Cubans really know about my country. This blog is an attempt to put that right. Here are nine things you probably don’t know about the UK: 1. There is free education in the UK. The large […]
19th August 2013
A holiday always provides a useful opportunity for a diplomat to look at his posting from a different perspective. My leave away from Rome this August has been no exception. While Pope Francis has been working hard in Rome and Brazil, I have been in Slovakia, and on 15 August I visited the Slovak pilgrimage […]
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11th June 2013 Havana, Cuba
Last week in Havana we saw a fantastic celebration of British culture. Once a year, as in many other countries in the world, the Embassy organises a BritWeek when we put on a variety of events. In Havana our cinema programme included the Cuban-British film, The Day of the Flowers. Obra Blue/Orange, put on by British director […]
21st March 2013 Washington DC, USA
The following is a guest blog by musician Paul Williams who plays cornet in the Band of the Scots Guards. Paul is currently taking part in the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards 2013 US tour. The Band of the Scots Guards and the Pipes, Drums […]
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25th February 2013 Washington DC, USA
The following is a guest blog by Major Andrew Halliday from the Black Watch. Major Halliday is currently taking part in the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards 2013 US tour. This is his second post as they head towards the Carolinas and Texas. The Black […]
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21st February 2013 Washington DC, USA
Watching the BRIT awards (the British Music industry awards) last night, I realised there was something different about them this year, something different… and yet very familiar. Then it dawned on me, just before the American musician Frank Ocean (who won best International Solo Male) said: ‘And thanks to Damien Hirst for the Polka Dots!’ […]
11th February 2013 Washington DC, USA
Throughout the telecast of last night’s GRAMMY’s show, viewers saw an exciting showcase of British music – the show included big British names performing and taking home top prizes, making the night a reminder of what makes British music GREAT. Beyond great music was a little taste of another one of my favourite topics to […]
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5th February 2013 Washington DC, USA
The following is a guest blog by Lance Corporal Rob Howe from the Band of the Scots Guard. Lance Corporal Howe is currently taking part in the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards 2013 US tour. One of the many wonderful aspects of life in The […]
30th January 2013 Washington DC, USA
The following is a guest blog by Major Andrew Halliday from the Black Watch. Major Halliday is currently taking part in the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch and the Military Band of the Scots Guards 2013 US tour. This is his first post as they roll into Philadelphia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. […]
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16th January 2013 Calgary, Canada
Music is GREAT. I challenge you to debate that point. And in my obviously biased opinion, British music is the greatest. I grew up listening to the tunes of The Clash, Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, Duffy, The Spice Girls, The Who, and Elton John. I still do (Spice Girls at Christmas and birthdays only). The […]