The reception was opened by Ambassador Libor Sečka, together with the Mayor of Camden, Cllr. Richard Cotton, and the Rector of Charles University in Prague, Tomáš Zima. Their speeches were followed by the Czech and British national anthems performed in an original way by the music band Sam Glaser Trio.

After the anthems, the Ambassador Libor Sečka presented awards to ten personalities who have contributed significantly to the development of Czech-British relations. Among the award-winners, who received an honorary diploma and the Silver Jan Masaryk Honorary Medal, were: Mrs. Ludmila Stáně and Mr. Antonín Stáně (Velehrad London), Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines (patron), Mr. Karel Janovický (music composer), Mr. William Nagel (jeweller), Mr. Ladislav Horňan (Chairman of the Czech British Chamber of Commerce), Mrs. Eva Ross (Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Manchester), Mr. Karel Jelínek (benefactor and sponsor), Mr. Alexander Sádlo (artist) and Mr. Milan Mládek (Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Belfast).

Among the guests at the reception were other Ambassadors, mostly from the partner EU states, other members of the diplomatic corps, prominent Czechs living in the UK, heads of the expatriate organisations and the Czech agencies in London, business partners, sponsors and others.

The weather was warm and pleasant, light autumnal, and the guests, besides eating the traditional Czech dishes, drinking Moravian wines and Pilsner beer, enjoyed the rare sun rays while strolling in the garden.

A major attraction were the two historic Škoda Auto cars that were exhibited in the garden: the Škoda 110 OHC Spider Racing Car from 1958 (there are only two remaining in the world) and the Škoda 1201 from 1958. Before entering the residence, the visitors admired the latest Škoda model, the Kodiaq. We would like to thank to Škoda Auto a.s. for displaying these vehicles at the residence.

All the beautiful photos from the reception, taken by the photographer Jolly Thompson, are available to view on this link: https://jollythompson.dphoto.com/#/album/37dfco