David Clay, the British consul general to New England, has been in Boston for about a year and a half. His job includes maintaining diplomatic relations — and this year, that role looks a little different.
“I’ve become something of a professional loser,” Clay said on GBH’s Morning Edition.
“Over the last year, I’ve been showing up at commemorations of things like Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill to play the part of the good loser,” he added. “But it’s been a great experience to share in the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the [American] Revolution.”
Though he’s taken a few historical jabs on behalf of his homeland, Clay said he appreciates the lasting connections between New England and the United Kingdom. You can find shared city names, like Londonderry in both New Hampshire and Northern Ireland, and strong sister cities like Belfast and Boston.
The consulate has also seen increased interest in dual citizenship. He said one of the most enjoyable parts of his job is conducting citizenship ceremonies.
“Every couple of months I welcome a new group of U.K. citizens from Boston and across New England,” Clay said. “Some of them have heritage from Northern Ireland, others from elsewhere in the U.K.”
He said it’s always interesting to see the different ways people approach what can be a deeply emotional experience.
“At the last citizenship ceremony, someone brought a photo of their mother who had passed away a few years ago and placed it in front of them while they were swearing their pledge of allegiance to the king,” he said.
Clay also says there’s no doubt that Boston’s “cousins” across the Atlantic in the Republic of Ireland enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day just as much as people do here.
“I think they love drinking Guinness, they love a party,” Clay says. “So I fully expect them to be having a fantastic time for St. Patrick’s Day.”
