A DAWN OF A NEW BRIGHT ERA

By Jason Moore
THE new British Consul, Paul Abrey, visited the Bulletin offices yesterday and spoke to staff about his ideas for the future. He will also be writing a column once every two weeks in the Bulletin starting soon. The new Consul, who took up his post just last month, has been holding a series of meetings with members of the British community.
As a direct result he announced yesterday that for the first time in almost 15 years the Consulate would be organising an official Queen's birthday party for this coming June. “At the moment we are searching for a venue and drawing up the guest list which will be about 300 people,” he said yesterday. This party, which will be a yearly event, is expected to become one of the highlights of the social calendar in Majorca. Mr Abrey, who has plenty of ideas for the near and distant future, has also announced plans to revive the so-called social diary. This was an idea which was first put forward 15 years ago and its basic aim is to stop “double-booking.” If anyone is planning to organise any sort of function then they can check with the Consulate and establish whether or not another event is taking place on the same day. Over recent years there have been cases where events, such as bazaars, have clashed, and as a direct result takings have fallen. The social diary should put an end to this state of affairs. Paul Abrey wants the Consulate to play a greater role in local affairs and once again he underlined the fact yesterday that his door was always open to members of the British community and visiting tourists. He is even planning to hold a series of informal gatherings at the Consulate and will also be holding a series of lunches with the business community. Apart from being the first Consul in the Balearics who is not a career diplomat (his background is in banking), he is also the youngest. His enthusiasm for his new job is blatantly clear and his plans for the future are both ambitious and will be of great benefit. The Consul would like to reach as many members of the British community on the island as possible and for this reason he will be writing a regular column in the Bulletin. This feature will include an update on developments at the Consulate and also a question and answer section. If you have any questions for the new Consul they can be emailed to editorialUmajorcadailybulletin.es, faxed on 971 788409 or posted to our offices in the Paseo Mallorca in Palma.