British Corner Celebrates Queen’s Birthday

Last week, the English language school, British Corner, invited guests and pupils to celebrate the British Queen’s birthday in its garden in Vake Park.

“The Queen, as a Princess before her coronation, was President of the English Speaking Union (ESU). And her husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was President for 60 years thereafter, a position now held by their daughter Princess Anne. This is why we celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, each year,” said Marina Tsitsishvili, MBE, President of ESU Georgia and owner of The British Corner language center.

Special guests, Ambassador of the UK to Georgia, Justin McKenzie Smith, Peter Nasmyth, author of a number of well-known books on the Caucasus and a member of the British Georgian Society, and Lieutenant Colonel David Ethell, regional UK Defense Attaché of the Royal Marines and his wife, were invited to enjoy the special presentations put on by the children of the British Corner.

A beautiful rendition of the British National Anthem, sung by a group of Georgian middle-schoolers, was followed by a song dedicated to the Ambassador- My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean. Then came a generous barbecue and buffet with a delightful birthday cake, enjoyed by all.

The ESU works principally with young people, providing opportunities for them to build skills and gain experiences in order to realize their full potential. The ESU runs a wide range of educational and cultural programs, from scholarships for school leavers to speech training and competitions involving hundreds of schools in the UK and internationally.

Katie Ruth Davies