The winners of the 2013 awards, for making a significant contribution to Saudi–British relations, were The Rt. Hon. Lord Denman (awarded posthumously) and Mr. Peter Harrigan. The awards were presented, on 7th February 2013.
In the absence of Mr. Abdulaziz al Turki, Mr. Osman Ibrahim presented prizes to Lord Denman, who received it on behalf of his late father, and to Mr. Peter Harrigan.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Denman: Sir Sherard Cowper–Coles gave a moving tribute to the work the late Lord Denman made in promoting Saudi–British relations, among many other good works undertaken during his long life, and to Dr. Fawaz al-Dakheel, who, with his brother-in-law Mr. Abdulaziz al Turki, initiated the Rawabi prizes.
The new Lord Denman spoke about his father’s close association with Medical Aid for Palestinians, a charity to which he would donate his father’s prize.
Mr. Harrigan then gave a talk about his long friendship with the Kingdom and the exciting new developments that were taking place there, in many of which he had played a part.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Denman was Chairman of the Saudi–British Society for many years and for longer than that he has worked tirelessly to promote Saudi–British relations, especially in the field of sports cooperation between young people of both nations. He was a great supporter of events which celebrate the cultural and other links between Saudi Arabia and Britain, and in particular he liked to encourage young people. The Committee felt it was time they honoured his long contribution to Saudi–British relations.
Mr Peter Harrigan is a great friend and advocate of the Kingdom, which he has been visiting regularly for over 30 years. His writings for Aramco World have included topics involving British links with Saudi Arabia. As a publisher he has promoted books on Saudi–British topics, such as biographies of Gertrude Bell and Lady Anne Blunt and, more recently, the magisterial history of Saudi Arabia by Sultan Ghalib al Quai’ti. With Exeter University he has been advising the Saudi Commission for Tourism on the forthcoming Red Sea Conference to be held in Jeddah in 2013 and he also advises the British Natural History Museum in their work for Saudi Aramco’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Cultures.
For Mr Harrigan’s speech, click here.