Today was an historic, if not sad day at the British Consulate in Palma as the community, British and foreign, bade farewell to the British Vice Consul Gillian Brion who, after over two decades of serving the Foreign and Commonwealth office in the Balearics, is retiring.
The British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, the seventh ambassador under whom Gillian has served, presided over a special cocktail party, accompanied by the newly appointed Consul General, Lloyd Milen, the eighth Consul General Gillian has worked for.
The Ambassador, on behalf of the Foreign Office, the British community and the local Balearic authorities, thanked and praised Gillian for the dedicated and hard work she has carried out over the years and for the many challenging situations she has overcome and resolved to help British nationals who found themselves in need of consular help in the region. Gillian, who in turn thanked the local authorities for all their help and support over the years, is now heading back to the UK to spend some “quality time” with her new grandchild. She will also be awarded the MBE by the Queen.