The Diplomat
The British-Spanish Foundation (FHB) has presented its 2021 awards at its annual reception held at the residence of the British Ambassador Hugh Elliot, and presided over by the Infanta Margarita de Borbón, Duchess of Soria. Among the award winners was José María de Areilza Carvajal, Count of Motrico, who received the Friend of Honour Award.
Hugh Elliot told the audience that “this meeting with the friends of the Foundation is a great opportunity to highlight the excellent relationship between our countries”.
At the same time,” he said, “it is an honour to present the awards for the Literary Competition and the Friend of Honour, which are a great example of our close cultural ties and the relationship between our peoples. I would like to make a special mention of the Ignacio Echevarría Scholarship, which rewards academic talent and social commitment: the values that Ignacio embodies are an example for all to follow. Claudia, who receives the scholarship this year, is a brilliant young woman who will surely enjoy this opportunity”.
After receiving the Friend of Honour Award, José María de Areilza Carvajal, in his speech, referred to the age-old relationship between Spain and the United Kingdom and to the fact that the history of the world cannot be understood without the two countries. She also stressed that Europe is civilisation, “the oxygen we breathe”, and that, at this time, the relationship between the two countries should be more constructive than ever because of all that we share.
Pilar Gonzalez-Baylín, executive president of the FHB, took stock of the Foundation’s activity over the last year and presented the prizes for the “I Certamen Literario FHB Young Writers Prize”, a competition which aims to promote knowledge of the English language among high school students in Spanish schools and which has been held in this first edition with the theme “The Influence of Social Media.” Natalia Ortega García was the student who won the first prize and Andrea Nevado and Elena Salinas, the finalists.
Hugh Elliot also presented the Ignacio Echevarría Scholarship that the FHB awards annually in memory of the young Spaniard, known as “the skateboard hero”, who lost his life helping the victims of the 2017 London bombings for which he received the St George’s Medal, the highest distinction for “acts of courage” by citizens awarded in the United Kingdom. The Foundation commemorates his figure every year with a scholarship that bears his name for a student from King’s College to study the baccalaureate at this institution. On this occasion it has gone to Claudia Martín Hernández, thus rewarding both her academic performance and her involvement in social work.
The FHB thus resumes its face-to-face activity, which will continue in the coming months with various cultural and academic meetings.
