British Ambassador praises Vice-Consul Gillian Brion for her service to our community

SIMON Manley, the British Ambassador, has thanked Gillian Brion, Vice-Consul to the Balearics, on her retirement after 25 years of service to British residents and visitors across the islands.

Gillian, who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list, retires at the end of March. She worked at the Consulate in Palma de Mallorca between 1980 and 1991 and has again from 2002, becoming Vice-Consul in 2007, thus spreading her quarter century of service over a period of 36 years. 

Mr Manley said:

“I thank Gillian for her dedication and great contribution. She has selflessly given more than we could probably expect of her and more than we probably realise. The award of an MBE is a great way to mark the transition as she begins a new, exciting phase in her professional and personal life.

“She has dealt with her fair share of difficult consular cases and she has built great working relationships with the local authorities who are our valued partners. She has also assisted some special British visitors to the Balearics – helping ensure the Prime Minister enjoyed a relaxing private break, and even meeting The Queen on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. 

Gillian Brion said:

“Before I go, I want to recognise my colleagues and our partners, all of whom have contributed towards making my consular journey such a great and memorable experience. It has been a pleasure to work with such a good team and such good contacts who make possible our work of assisting British nationals.”

Gillian will be presented with her MBE at Buckingham Palace in May. Her replacement as Vice Consul in Mallorca will be announced in due course. 

The British Consulates in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, and the Honorary Consul in Menorca, together provide an assistance service to four million tourists who visit the Balearics each year and 30,000 residents who have made the islands their home.