Chileans living in Sheffield and the north of England were recently invited to meet representatives from the Chilean UK Embassy at St. James Church on Scott Road, Pitsmoor.
The Chilean Consul, Sebastian Lorenzini Aracena, arrived at the church on 26th November, accompanied by Christian Faundez Riquelme, the London Chilean Embassy’s Chancellor. The visit was designed to let Chilean diplomats in England meet local Chileans living in England, and carry out basic diplomatic tasks for them, such as the registration of births, marriages and deaths. The diplomats were also able to meet Chilean students studying at the Sheffield Universities, and to assist them with issues such as study visas.
Normally it would be necessary for Chileans needing this sort of advice to go to the Chilean Embassy in London. Sheffield was chosen as the first city outside London to be visited by their staff, owing to historic links established between Sheffield and Chileans from the mid-1970s, following the arrival of refugees from Chile after a military coup in 1973. These days Chile has a democratically elected government again, and the Sheffield Universities are a popular destination with fee-paying Chilean students.
After spending the day meeting Sheffield-based Chileans, and one couple who had come across from Manchester, the Consul declared the day a success, and expressed a wish that it be repeated annually in future, as well as being extended to other English cities with local Chilean communities.
(Story:Graham Jones)