British envoy lauds OBE recipients

JAPAN: British Ambassador to Indonesia Charles Humfrey has congratulated two Jakarta-based British citizens for their selection to receive OBE awards from Queen Elizabeth II, the British Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.

Ambassador Humfrey congratulated Philip Townsend, a member of the British Chambers of Commerce (BritCham) in Jakarta, and Stephen Woodhouse from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) during a reception to celebrate the Queen's Birthday held at the ambassador's residence.

The Queen's office announced on June 12 that both Townsend and Woodhouse would receive their OBEs very soon for their services in Indonesia.

"These awards went to Mr. Philip Townsend for services to British education in Indonesia and to Mr. Stephen Woodhouse for services to UNICEF," the statement, which was sent to The Jakarta Post on Thursday, said.

Humfrey said that "the awards were due recognition of the socially valuable work they had done respectively in the areas mentioned." -- JP