Speech

For a new future

Speech by Ambassador Fiona Clouder on the occasion of the graduation ceremony for UCBC (University of British Chilean Culture).

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government
Embajadora Fiona Clouder

Welcome to the Residence. Congratulations to all of you on your graduation. Your hard work, and your training at UCBC will stand you in good stead for the future. And I wish you all the very best for that future.

A special aspect of UK Chile relations in the last year was the visit of His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex last September. This included visiting UCBC, and I know many of you had the chance to meet him. During his visit, The Prince also promoted The Duke of Edinburgh바카라 사이트s International Award Foundation. As you may have seen in the press, yesterday, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh completed his last engagement of his public programme, although His Royal Highness may still attend events alongside Her Majesty, The Queen, from time to time. He is retiring, at the age of 96, after 70 years of public service. An inspiration to us all.

The Duke of Edinburgh바카라 사이트s International Award is the world바카라 사이트s leading youth achievement award. I have just received a copy of a book, published in aid of the Foundation. This is 바카라 사이트Advice for School Leavers바카라 사이트, compiled by Will Jones, and with a foreword by HRH Prince Edward. It seems equally applicable for those of you leaving UCBC. As Prince Edward says 바카라 사이트it includes advice from people from many walks of life, on choosing the right job, having the right approach to life in the business environment and getting the most out of both바카라 사이트It is down to you to make the most of 바카라 사이트advice, your experiences 바카라 사이트and to take on the world.바카라 사이트

There are many different perspectives in the book, but I would like to quote some of the words of John May, Secretary General, of The Duke of Edinburgh바카라 사이트s International Award. He suggests eight 바카라 사이트touchstones바카라 사이트 to guide his decisions and actions.

  • 바카라 사이트Respect for others 바카라 사이트do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
  • Equity 바카라 사이트 fairness and honesty in all dealings.
  • To do my best 바카라 사이트 if a thing바카라 사이트s worth doing it is worth doing properly.
  • Integrity 바카라 사이트 keeping promises.바카라 사이트

I know many of you have been studying Shakespeare and he quotes Polonius바카라 사이트s exhortation to his son in Hamlet 바카라 사이트 바카라 사이트This above all: to thine own self be true.바카라 사이트 Something my university tutor instilled in me.

  • 바카라 사이트Carpe diem - or seize the day.
  • Self confidence 바카라 사이트 but a self awareness that mitigates against self importance.
  • A youthful, playful, joyful, perpetual curiosity.
  • Balance 바카라 사이트 trying not to be too intense or too earnest or over-demanding of others.바카라 사이트

Good principles, which we can all think about, and learn from, including me.

As you go to start your new lives, I hope you will reflect on your time at UCBC, the inspiration of your teachers and training, and seize the day and the future ahead of you. And in doing so, that you will draw on your unique experiences of the links between British and Chilean cultures, and also be Ambassadors for shared relations between UK and Chile.

Updates to this page

Published 7 August 2017