It's been a while since we last posted a video from the Foreign Office series See Britain through my Eyes.
Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah tells us what being a member in the British army means for him, and he also talks about the diversity in the British army and in British society in general.
The video is a good follow-up to yesterday's talking point entry on war.
Self-study activity:
The activity is suitable for intermediate 2 students, although even students at this level may find it a bit daunting at times.
Use the questions in the activity as a guideline to follow what Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah tells us. For that reason, it is best to listen to the clip through once or twice before you attempt to answer the questions.
1 Where was Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah born?
2 When did he move to the UK?
3 How many men and horses does Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah command?
4 In what state visit did he first take part in?
5 What symbols of British life style does he mention as having a high regard for?
6 Is British life more casual or more formal than it appears?
7 Why does he compare his regiment to a modern-day United Nations?
For self-correction you can read the transcript below.
I am Major Nana Twumasi-Ankrah of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. I was born in Ghana but I now live in the United Kingdom. And this is "See Britain Through My Eyes."
I moved to the United Kingdom in 1982 with my family. I was the first black officer commissioned within the Household Division and into the Household Cavalry itself. It's the most senior regiment in the British Army. I command 120 men and 120 horses here in London.
As a young child watching Her Majesty the Queen's birthday parade on the television, I would have never ever imagined that one day I would command the regiment which I had fallen in love with on that day.
We serve on operations in Afghanistan. We do that in light armored vehicles, for want of a better word, tanks. We are modern soldiers at the forefront of British operations, who have served with the most modern equipment. I think this symbolizes one of the best things about being British, the ability to have one eye on the past but also looking to the future.
My first ever venture into the state ceremonial side of our regiment was for the Ghanaian state visit. Having to escort Her Majesty the Queen and also the President of Ghana was an incredible privilege for me. Also, we had lots of Ghanaians in the crowd so there was lots of drumming, shouting and cheering.
You can't see anything like this anywhere in the world except in the UK.
Household Cavalry!
And here I was, a Ghanaian who joined the British Army who has now become part of that culture, and it's then personified by that parade, which is the highest respect we can pay to any foreign dignitary when Her Majesty receives them and allows them to travel in the carriage with her to Buckingham Palace. And it truly is an amazing day.
So that respect goes both ways. From the Commonwealth to Britain, and then in return from Britain to the Commonwealth. Those of us from Commonwealth countries generally tend to idolize a British way of life and British culture. So it's placed on a pedestal. So everything, from bowler hats and umbrellas, having afternoon tea, going to church on Sundays, is held in high regard.
Even though it's still the last bastion of standards, when you start working and living in Britain from day to day, you realize that things aren't as rigid as they appear. Life is slightly more casual than you'd expect to see it. We can't always be on show. At the end of the day, we're still normal people. A good example would be in the way that the public can mock members of Parliament or even the Royal Family. It's open season for making whatever comments you wish to make about people. And it says to people that we're comfortable in the way we live, and that is the basis of a democracy.
Simply looking around, this regiment appears to be very traditional and very British, projecting that one image. But really, you simply have to look around and you realize that it is a synthesis of different cultures. The regiment really can be compared to a modern-day United Nations. And here we have a Swedish officer, we have an Indian officer, we have myself from Ghana, we have an officer of French and Arab descent and a Zimbabwean, and officers from so many different backgrounds all mixed together as one.
From where I sit and the things I've seen in the United Kingdom, cultures really do mix and intermingle. And if I'm not a good example of that, I really don't know what is.
