The University of Leeds is a large and prestigious
institution that attracts a variety of high profile visitors; quite recently we’ve
hosted the Leader of the Labour Party, Ed Milliband and the High Sheriff of
West Yorkshire, A E Grant Esq OBE.
Sometimes though, when your work and focus is on the
operational side of events, the content can pass you by.
You say Morris dancing, I say risk assessment?
You say swan ice sculpture, our survey says; will it fit in
the lift?
Professor Garner holds the Cowdry Chair in the Department of
Spanish & Portuguese and has recently written a book about his positions
namesake, Lord Cowdry, who in the early 1900s became one of the wealthiest men
in Britain, not least because the centre of his oil and engineering empire, was
focused in Mexico.
Professor Garner celebrated his book launch with a week long
exhibition of rare Mexican photographs in one of our venues, Parkinson Court, and
a VIP reception which attracted the likes of the Vice-Chancellor of the
University, the Lord Mayor and the Mexican Ambassador (on his first ever visit to Leeds).
The Court was transformed into a Mexican wonderland with
palm trees, cacti, and tequila. And the brightest star of the night: none other than our
very own University catering. In little more than 72 hours, we had created a Mexican oasis
in the middle of Leeds and received high praise in two different languages!
On top of all this I have also managed to tick off three
things I didn’t even know were on my ‘to do before I’m 30 list’:
So what did you do today?
- held a meeting about cacti with the British Cactus & Succulent Society (yes, they do exist – Google it!)
- ordered 70 shot glasses for non-personal use
- said ‘Hello;’ in Spanish to the Mexican Ambassador
So what did you do today?
