7 days with swing!
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...
View ArticleLearning about the Holy See from outside: Resilience and the Power of Music
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...
View ArticleActually, that’s not quite right…
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...
View ArticleDIVA DIPLOMACY – ‘ONE LEBANON: UNITED FOR TOMORROW’
Last Saturday, twenty Lebanese stars performed together in a powerful rejection of divisive politics and sectarianism. Pop idols, divas, comedians, sportsmen, rappers and actors put on the best...
View ArticleA musical journey, from the UK to Cuba and back again!
My thanks to UK singer Holly Holden for this guest blog on making music in Cuba and how a chance meeting in Havana led to her touring Europe’s top festivals with UK dub-step pioneer DJ Mala. When I was...
View ArticleBritain through Cuban eyes
I’m still smiling. We’ve just come to the end of ten very successful days of British culture in Havana; ten days of British music, history, theatre, science, film and dance. There were events...
View ArticleFestive 50: From “Every Little Bit Hurts" To "Stay With Me"
It’s a delicate business judging how much personal stuff to put in a blog. In the past I’ve written official blogs with a rich mix of personal and work entries. Then Twitter came along and much...
View ArticleBBC Proms: The Special Relationship Never Sounded Better
Family Guy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the BBC Proms. This annual festival, which started in London on July 17 and runs through to September 12, is the 76-course...
View ArticleDiplomatic Notes and Instruments: Blog for St Cecilia’s Day
A colleague in the Balkans recently said “tell me about music and diplomacy”. Sitting in Vienna on a cold, grey Sunday that is the day of St Cecilia patron saint of music, seems as good a time as any....
View ArticleMy Festive 50 favourite songs: From “Suzanne” to “Bra Timing”
As 2015 comes to an end, it’s time to get personal again. Let’s talk about… music. My 2014 blog, “Festive 50: From “Every Little Bit Hurts” to “Stay with Me” told how a friend said “you like music –...
View ArticleDiscovering the British beat in Canadian music
Elton John composed his first five albums on a trusty old piano. And where is that piano now (must be worth a bit)? It is actually to be found in Canada's new National Music Centre .
View ArticleBBC Proms: The Special Relationship Never Sounded Better
Family Guy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the BBC Proms. This annual festival, which started in London on July 17 and runs through to September 12, is the 76-course...
View ArticleDiplomatic Notes and Instruments: Blog for St Cecilia’s Day
A colleague in the Balkans recently said “tell me about music and diplomacy”. Sitting in Vienna on a cold, grey Sunday that is the day of St Cecilia patron saint of music, seems as good a time as any....
View ArticleMy Festive 50 favourite songs: From “Suzanne” to “Bra Timing”
As 2015 comes to an end, it’s time to get personal again. Let’s talk about… music. My 2014 blog, “Festive 50: From “Every Little Bit Hurts” to “Stay with Me” told how a friend said “you like music –...
View ArticleDiscovering the British beat in Canadian music
Elton John composed his first five albums on a trusty old piano. And where is that piano now (must be worth a bit)? It is actually to be found in Canada's new National Music Centre .
View ArticleAlmost a year, almost 70 years
We now have the ability to surround ourselves with images that we record on our mobile phones. But the best images remain in your head. The monsoon rains have arrived in Kolkata. I was in my official...
View ArticleSir Neville Marriner Memorial Concert, 14 November 2017
One year ago, I attended with my mother a concert in Vienna by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. It was a sombre occasion. The concert had been due to be conducted by the founder of the...
View ArticleBBC Proms: The Special Relationship Never Sounded Better
Family Guy probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the BBC Proms. This annual festival, which started in London on July 17 and runs through to September 12, is the 76-course...
View ArticleDiplomatic Notes and Instruments: Blog for St Cecilia’s Day
A colleague in the Balkans recently said “tell me about music and diplomacy”. Sitting in Vienna on a cold, grey Sunday that is the day of St Cecilia patron saint of music, seems as good a time as any....
View ArticleMy Festive 50 favourite songs: From “Suzanne” to “Bra Timing”
As 2015 comes to an end, it’s time to get personal again. Let’s talk about… music. My 2014 blog, “Festive 50: From “Every Little Bit Hurts” to “Stay with Me” told how a friend said “you like music –...
View Article