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ALUMNI NEWSBob Peirce (1973, Modern History)The Consulate General includes representatives of severaldifferent agencies, promoting trade and investment,scientific exchanges, British university education, tourismto the UK, movie-making in the UK, and British foreignpolicyobjectives, as well as issuing visas, looking afterBritish citizens in difficulties or doing public relations.Bob and his wife Sharon with Judi Dench, LA MayorAntonio Villaraigosa and Nigel Lythgoe (producer ofPop Idol and American Idol)Three years ago, and nearly thirty years aftergraduating from Catz, I arrived in Los Angeles as BritishConsul General. I had always wanted to live here and Isavour every moment of this job.A Consul General is basically an Ambassador for aregion in a large country. We have several ConsulsGeneral in the United States. My area encompassesSouthern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Hawaii,three of the ten largest cities in the US (Los Angeles,Phoenix and San Diego) and an economy about thesame size as that of France. Not surprisingly we havemajor British interests here. Britain is the largestforeign investor in this region, with BP the largestcompany. There are hundreds of thousands of Britishnationals living and working here.Photograph © Rex GelertIt is very much like a full-service Embassy.My own work here is busy, varied and fascinating.The Los Angeles area is diverse in every sense of thatword. Demographically and culturally it is more diversethan any other part of the United States. Economicallyit may be best known internationally for the filmbusiness, but the biggest business of all here is theport (40% of all US container traffic) and other majorindustries include biopharma and medical instruments,financial services, defence and aerospace, energyand renewable energy technology, communicationstechnologies, music, television and videogames.All of these are tremendously important to the UK.You have to be social in this job and Sharon – my wife –and I are. We entertain around 5000 people a year. Mostof these guests come to garden receptions at the eightyyearold house that has been the official Residence ofthe British Consul General since 1958. April 2008 markedthe fiftieth anniversary and this was the trigger for aprogramme of events – BritWeek 2008 – all over town inlate April and early May. (See www.britweek.org fordetails of BritWeek 2009. The site also gives the flavourof the amazing range of British activities in Los Angeles).In October 2008, Bobkindly hosted an eveningreception for Catz alumni(plus alumni from othercolleges living in the LAarea). Pictured above areBob and the Master inthe grounds of theOfficial ResidenceMy own workhere is busy,varied andfascinating.36/BOB PEIRCE