Press Releases

Global Heritage Fund (GHF) and British Ambassador Andrew Mace to host His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO At Prasat Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia

June 24, 2010

Contact details:
James Hooper
Global Heritage Fund – UK Manager
+44 (0)7970 034 535
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London 24th June 2010

GHF UK Manager, James Hooper(left) and GHF Asia and Pacific Programs Director, John Sanday(center), greet HRH the Duke of Gloucester(right).

The British Embassy in Cambodian and the Global Heritage Fund (GHF) today announced that HRH The Duke of Gloucester will visit GHF’s flagship project at Prasat Banteay Chhmar, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia. The Duke last visited Cambodia in October 1969. His own professional qualifications in architecture and his long-lasting relationship with heritage and conservation, evidenced by his Patronage of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) -UK are leading factors in his deep and personal interest in the work of organisations such as GHF.

James Hooper, UK Manager of GHF, expressed the importance of the Royal visit, “This visit by a member of the British Royal Family is a true reflection of the huge importance of Prasat Banteay Chhmar and all the great Angkorian temples. This admiration is something we can all share with the people of Cambodia and GHF is honoured to be conserving this temple and working towards a better future for the region.”

James Hooper and John Sanday, talk to HRH the Duke of Gloucester about the project at Banteay Chhmar.

The Duke will tour the Global Heritage Fund’s project at Banteay Chhmar on 27th June with a press photo opportunity at 13:30hrs.

Read about his visit in the News

About HRH The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Gloucester is a grandson of George V and a first cousin to The Queen.

Prince Richard had planned a full-time career in architecture but, on the death of his elder brother, he became his father’s heir and took on increased royal duties and the responsibility for the family estate at Barnwell, in Northamptonshire; he therefore resigned his partnership.

Some of The Duke’s public duties relate to architecture and conservation, in which he is still keenly interested. He was elected a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1972 and he is President of the Society of the Architect-Artists. His fellowships include those of the Institute of Clerks of Works for Great Britain Incorporated, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. The Duke is also President of several architectural preservation societies, including the Pevsner Memorial Trust and the Victorian Society. He is Patron of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UK National Committee.

The Duke has also produced three books of architectural photographs: On Public View (1970) which illustrated London statues, The Face of London (1973) and Oxford and Cambridge (1980).

About Global Heritage Fund
GHF is an international heritage conservancy dedicated to preserving endangered world heritage sites in developing regions and thereby improving lives of local people. GHF enables successful, long-term preservation of the developing world’s most important archaeological sites and monuments and creates new opportunities for economic growth. To achieve this, Global Heritage Fund deploys a “Preservation by Design” approach, which consists of: 1) comprehensive master planning, 2) sustained preservation through local community involvement, 3) excellence in scientific conservation, and 4) partnerships for matched funding.
http://www.globalheritagefund.org

About Banteay Chhmar Conservation and Training Project
Since 2008, GHF have worked with the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on the Banteay Chhmar Conservation and Training Project. This collaboration is producing essential management planning and architectural conservation work on the temple of Banteay Chhmar and its immediate surroundings. As a catalyst for private and public sector involvement and support for major Cambodian heritage sites, GHF has been able to invite NGO partnerships including the South Asian Conservation and Restoration Agency, Friends of Khmer Culture International and Heritage Watch International.
Learn more about Banteay Chhmar