Trust

New Patron joins Randell Cottage

New Patron joins Randell Cottage

Posted on by Jane
The Randell Cottage Writers Trust is delighted to announce that H.E. François Decoster, newly arrived French Ambassador to New Zealand, has agreed to become a Trust Patron. He joins our much-respected founding trustee, Dame Fiona Kidman and takes the place of his predecessor, Mme Laurence Beau.
Ambassador Decoster met with Trustees and colleagues from the French Embassy at a welcome function, where he expressed his appreciation of the invitation to take on the role of Patron.
The Trust and Friends of Randell Cottage look forward to a very productive connection with the Embassy as we prepare for our Open Day on 25 October and our twenty-fifth anniversary year in 2027.
Ambassador Decoster addresses Trustees at their welcome gathering.
Adieu, Mme Beau et bienvenu, M. Decoster

Adieu, Mme Beau et bienvenu, M. Decoster

Posted on by Jane

We say a sad farewell and thanks to Her Excellency Mme Laurence Beau, French Ambassador and Trust Patron, on her return to Paris.

During her four year posting in Wellington, Mme Beau ensured the Embassy kept a warm and collaborative relationship with Randell Cottage as we hosted successive French residents in our heritage cottage. To mark our 20th anniversary, Mme Beau launched the bilingual collection ‘Room to Write’ which showcased works by both French and New Zealand Randell Cottage alumni.

We appreciated her personal love of literature, which she demonstrated in a special farewell lunch featuring joint Patron Dame Fiona Kidman and literary luminary and Randell Cottage alumnus Witi Ihimaera Smiler, together with Trust Chair Christine Hurley and others from the world of books.

Cherie Jacobson (Katherine Mansfield H&G), Christine Hurley (RCWT), Witi Ihimaera Smiler, Laurence Beau, Dame Fiona Kidman, Jennifer Parker (Te Matapihi WCC), Alison Mcintyre (National Library), François Bockel (French Embassy)
We now welcome and look forward to working with the new Ambassador, His Excellency M. François Decoster, who presented his credentials to the Governor-General on 9 September.
HE Mr François Decoster, Ambassador of the French Republic, meets Dame Cindy Kiro
François Decoster comes to Wellington after having served as Mayor of the city of Saint-Omer for the past twelve years. He has had a distinguished career at local and regional level for over 28 years, while also serving in senior political roles as a Ministerial adviser and chief of staff to successive government ministers.
He is president of the National Orchestra of Lille.  He has taught at the College of Europe in Bruges, the Political Affairs Institutes in Paris and Lille, the University of Paris-Assas and the Higher Institute of Business in Beirut.
M. Decoster is a Knight of the Légion d’honneur and Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.