Below is the recording of the presentation:
For the Tuesday, August 20 UWC Monthly Luncheon, we are pleased to be meeting at the Círculo de Gendarmería, Paraguay 970. Those who wish to participate on Zoom are also welcome.
About the speaker, Richard Cowley
Richard Cowley was born and educated in England. His wife, Elizabeth, is also British, and their three children were born in Venezuela, England and Uruguay. After completing a B.A. at Birmingham in Spanish and French, with a distinction in Spoken Spanish, he qualified as a teacher, and then wrote an M.A. thesis on literature and politics in Argentina in the 19th century. Richard taught initially in England and Venezuela, and then took up the position of Director-General of the Anglo-Uruguayan Cultural Institute, the largest English-language and cultural centre in Uruguay with 5 branches, 13 franchises, 35 affiliated institutes around the country, and a full curriculum bi-lingual school. He held this position for 25 years.
Amongst his other responsibilities, he has been President of the British Society in Uruguay for four periods, President of the Board of the British Schools in Uruguay, and President of the Association of Latin-American/British Cultural Institutes. He was the representative in Uruguay of the University of Cambridge from 1978 - 2006, and he was also invited to serve as Honorary Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy in Montevideo for a period of seven years. Richard was especially privileged to have escorted four members of the Royal Family – HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Princess Anne, HRH The Prince Andrew and HRH The Prince Edward – during their visits to Montevideo.
In 1982, Richard was decorated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and received a further decoration as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2004. His wife, Elizabeth, was also decorated by the Queen with an MBE in the 2005 New Year’s Honours List.
Richard Cowley has naturally developed a great affection for and knowledge of the River Plate area, but he has also travelled widely in the rest of South America and Mexico, including a visit to the Falkland Islands in 2002 as a guest of the governor. In the last 15 years, he has travelled as a destination lecturer on about 50 cruises around the Caribbean, South and Central America-
For eight years he was a Brand Ambassador for Johnnie Walker whiskies.
Abstract — Secrets, Mysteries and Lies - The Drama of the Battle of the River Plate
The German pocket battleship Graf Spee was caught in battle with a Royal Navy squadron at the mouth of the River Plate at the end of 1939, and had to take refuge in Montevideo. After a lot of diplomacy, duplicity and good, old-fashioned chicanery, the captain had to scuttle the pride of the German fleet, just outside the Uruguayan port.
This is a story of intrigue and espionage, of chivalry and honour during perhaps the most famous naval battle of the Second World War.
To RSVPTo RSVP for the luncheon please click on the following live link — August Luncheon RSVP Form . RSVP by August 18. Cash only, please.
After filling out the form in the link, click on the blue SUBMIT (ENVIAR) button at the bottom left. A new window will open confirming your reservation. You will receive further confirmation of your reservation via email.
The fee for in-person attendance will be AR$ 25000 for Members and AR$ 28000 for Guests. Payment in cash, please.
Those attending virtually will receive the link to join the Zoom presentation the day before the luncheon. Please note that the Hybrid meeting will start at 13:30.
In order to participate in the Zoom interactive videoconference, download the Zoom app and review the etiquette as outlined on the UWC Zoom page. We will send all confirmed attendees the Zoom link needed to attend in advance of the event.