UK talent in Thai tongue

Date: 14/03/1996

The British government is often accused of not speaking the same language as other EU member states, but it can hardly be called backward in the linguistic department.

Of the last half a dozen UK spokespersons in the British permanent respresentation to the EU, three have been Thai speakers. They include the present incumbent, Robert Court, who moves on later this year and is replaced by spokeswoman Vicky Bowman. Her speciality is Burmese. Perhaps it's all a fiendish plot to confuse the continentals...

Meanwhile, the last three spokesmen in the German representation also all have something in common - all three have presided over what the French call une famille nombreuse.

Georg Birgelen had four children, Werner Wendt had five and outgoing Friedrich Däuble also has five. Now that Däuble is leaving, all eyes are on his replacement Michael Zenner to see whether he continues the tradition...