My host is hosting Prince Edward this weekend as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. Which in South Africa is called the President’s Award. To make it less colonial.
Wander around Sandton whilst WAMC has a meeting with Prince Edward this morning. Majority of international businesses migrated from central Johannesburg and are now based in the Sandton area. Which is why central Johannesburg is now vacant. Gleaming new buildings. Similar to the Docklands.
Meet Royal Protection Officer who has to do a recce of WAMC’s home to check the security arrangements for tomorrow’s family BBQ with Prince Edward and the Countess.
Feel very honoured to be invited to the weekend’s events.
Today. A Gold Award ceremony and then evening reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Pretoria.
Tomorrow. Family BBQ at WAMC’s home. Though pass on this as need to be in Pretoria.
Only because I’m travelling on the Blue Train on Monday do I have a jacket and tie in my rucksack. No great adventurer should be without a jacket and tie in their rucksack. You never know where you’ll be invited.
Leisurely lunch until we realise we need to be at the venue half an hour earlier than first thought. Quick change. It’s amazing how much my jacket has shrunk in my rucksack. Ahem. Bordering on smart casual rather than the required business attire. Rustle up dark blue jeans Quaysides, plain blue shirt, linen jacket and tie. It’s all I have. Just about pass muster. Suppose it’s business attire for a teacher. But not really for a Chartered Surveyor. Who is about to meet HRH. What would the RICS say.
Gold Award ceremony at a local school in Pretoria. Hot. Very hot. In a hall with no AC. Nor ventilation. Plenty of people melting. Very entertaining group of boys singing a capella to kick start proceedings.
Earl & Countess of Wessex present the award to about 100 children. Treated to a few speeches by past Gold Award recipients. One being a 17 year old black lad who has been in a children’s home since the age of 7. Doing the Gold Award gave him the confidence to stand before us all and tell his story. Very impressed. He has the loudest round of applause.
Arrive at British High Commissioner’s residence in Pretoria for the evening reception. A box of Ferrero Rocher under my arm. Invite states, “Firearms are not allowed on the property.”. Jolly good.
Drinks and nibbles served in the canopy covered garden. A few speeches.
And then.
Introduced to Prince Edward.
Met him before. Obviously. In 1986. After a service in Westminster Abbey to celebrate 30 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Which I completed various stages of during my teenage years. He won’t remember me. Sniff.
Protocol dictates a small bow of the head. Nearly headbutt him. He’s on good form and comes across as very amiable. Have a quick chat about the Cape to Cape trip I’m doing. He leaves asking how I’m getting back and jokes about doing it all again to get home. Yeah. That’ll be a right old hoot.
Also meet the Countess of Wessex. And Natalie de Toit. And Lord Boateng. Natalie de Toit being the South African Paralymic Gold medallist. She’s just been awarded the MBE. Miss meeting the American Ambassador though.
Very interesting and enjoyable evening.
A great experience.