| Izah Azahari |
THE venue was decorated with plants and bushes to create a forest environment and as guests entered the ballroom, they walked through a jungle canopy created by the British Forces Brunei (BFB) showcasing the strong defence relationship between Brunei and the United Kingdom (UK) through the work that BFB does with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
The atmosphere was colourful and elegant as the British High Commission in Brunei Darussalam celebrated Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 91st birthday last night at the Indera Kayangan Ballroom of The Empire Hotel & Country Club.
The theme for Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday party reception this year was focussed on the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) initiative and the strong defence ties between the British Armed Forces (BRF) and RBAF.
Present as the guests of honour at the event were Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, the Minister of Development, and his spouse Pengiran Datin Hajah Noorsiah binti Pengiran Hamdan.
In a speech, the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam David Campbell welcoming the guests to the special occasion, explained to them the theme of the celebration which was inspired by the QCC initiative as well as highlighted the importance of Brunei’s pristine rainforest.
He also took the opportunity to thank Ben Foods for sponsoring the event.
The high commissioner noted that Brunei has agreed to commit three separate forest reserves to the QCC and they comprise the Berakas Forest Recreation Park, Berakas Forest Reserve; the Ulu Temburong National Park, Batu Apoi Forest Reserve; and the Pulau Selirong Forest Recreational Park, Pulau Selirong Forest Reserve.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development and spouse along with British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, David Campbell during the cake cutting ceremony
British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, David Campbell presenting a gift to Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development at the ceremony
The Minister of Development and British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam at the ceremony
The British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam speaking at the ceremony
Guests at the ceremony. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
“The Brunei rainforest has been an important area of study for British scientists working alongside Bruneian scientists, over many decades, to research this country’s rich biodiversity. We congratulate schools and other local organisations for the work they do in encouraging young people in Brunei to understand and value their pristine forest,” said the high commissioner.
As a gift, Campbell presented the minister with an award winning book of tree portraits, ‘Meeting the Remarkable Trees’, by British author Thomas Pakenham, while the minister’s spouse received flowers and a China item from the Royal Collection.
To add glitter to the celebration, a compilation of videos and images were played on screens by the entrance and inside the venue which included themes of the QCC; His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s visit to the Garrison in Seria last month; and the Regional Jungle Warfare Symposium organised in March by the RBAF and BFB which was aimed at developing Brunei as a centre for excellence in jungle warfare.
There was also a large banner showing members of the Royal British Household Cavalry hidden in the Brunei jungle and guests were prompted to find them and visit the British High Commission Facebook page to check where they were hidden.
Guests also viewed the QCC display of images of the three forest reserves that Brunei has committed to the QCC, provided by noted photographers Bud Chapman, Stephen Hogg and Dilshan Mahdi Hussainmiya.
The QCC is a project designed to create a network of forest conservation initiatives throughout the 52 nations of the Commonwealth to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s service as Head of the Commonwealth.
Two paintings of the Brunei jungle were also displayed to commemorate the present and the past – one by contemporary British artist Jake Grewal on Ulu Temburong Forest Reserve which won the ‘Art for the Underground’ competition held in the UK last year. The other painting, done by artists Fionnuala Boyd and Les Evans in 1991, provides a retrospective view of Brunei’s jungles and was loaned by HSBC Brunei for the event.
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