Last Saturday, Pere A. Serra, honorary president of the Grup Serra, the publisher of the Majorca Daily Bulletin, and Illustrious Son of Soller, received the insignia, medal and diploma which accredit him with being a member of the prestigious Royal Society of St. George. This is in recognition of his commitment to the promotion of Anglo-Spanish relations, especially through the communications media of Grup Serra.
This accreditation was given to him at his home by Captain Frederick Price MBE, former British Defence Attache to Spain and current president of the Madrid branch of the society, which is incorporated by Royal Charter that was presented by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963: the Queen is its patron.
Pere A. Serra’s entry into the society adds to the many distinctions that he has received, among which are the Gran Cruz de la Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio (awarded to honour those for their achievements in culture, education and science), the Gold Medals of Palma City Council and of the Balearic Government, and the medal of Honor i Gratitud de Consell de Mallorca (the chief honour awarded by the Council of Majorca). This latest British recognition is added to the MBE that was awarded to Don Pedro in 2013 on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
The Royal Society of St. George was formed as a patriotic society in 1894. Among its most famous presidents have been King Edward VIII, when he was the Duke of Windsor, Field Marshal and later Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, and Rudyard Kipling, while one-time vice-presidents have included Sir Winston Churchill and Baroness Thatcher.
The Madrid branch of the society focuses its efforts on engendering positive relations between Spain and England and in raising donations such as for the Queen Sofia Foundation, the planting of trees in the Tramuntana mountains and for cultural exchanges between the two countries.