An Official Visit from the British Ambassador to Thailand
HE Mark Gooding, British Ambassador to Thailand signing the STEF Veterinary Centre visitor book
2025 represents the 170th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the United Kingdom, and we are absolutely thrilled that our team in Thailand got to welcome the British Ambassador to Thailand, HE Mark Gooding, and his delegation to the STEF Veterinary Centre on 29th April (2025). It was an official visit to observe the Centres operations and witness the care and treatment we provide the endangered elephants of Southern Thailand.
Whilst visiting, we were honoured that HE Mark Gooding and his team accepted our invitation to plant a Royal Tree (Cassius Fistula), which is the national tree of Thailand, as a symbol of the relationship between the United Kingdom and Thailand and our shared vision and passion for the environment and animal welfare. We also had the honour to witness Mark unveiling the ‘donor recognition plaque’, which lists key supporters of the STEF Veterinary Centre.
Other local VIP guests included the Vice General of Phang Nga Province and District Chief of Takua Thung. STEF Chair, Merry Smith, was there to greet the visiting party, along with our founding Trustee, Jake (Jakrapob Thaotad), and of course all the staff at the STEF Veterinary Centre.
Of this official visit our Chair Merry says “it was a real privilege for STEF to be part of the UK Ambassador’s tour of Southern Thailand during April! His Excellency, Mark Gooding was deeply interested in our work and we look forward to welcoming guests of the Embassy to STEF in the future. Rickie Jennings, regional agriculture attache was instrumental in organising the tour and gave us some valuable insight into the role the embassy team play in supporting agricultural industries in Southern Thailand, and their relations with the UK.”
On the left is the logo designed for the 170th Anniversary, which was created in a jointly organised logo design competition by the Royal Thai Embassy in London and the British Embassy in Bangkok. This winning logo is titled ‘The Unity of Elephant and Lion Relations’ and integrates the elephant and lion – national symbols of Thailand and the United Kingdom.
