Premier Bennett, Ministers, Commissioner-General, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is getting on for two hundred years since Britain first came to Vancouver.
Then it was one small ship: HMS DISCOVERY.
This time we have returned in force.
Here at EXPO and in your shops and stores you will find plenty of evidence of [end p1] Britain, British achievements and British goods.
And we got here by Concorde in seven hours, rather than the seven months it took Captain George Vancouver all those years ago.
We all remember the advice: “Go West young man” .
But as my Denis Thatcherhusband pointed out: “they didn't mean just for the weekend, dear” . [end p2]
We are here
— to remind you of all that Britain has to offer:
— to encourage you to buy from us;
— but above all to demonstrate our affection and friendship for British Columbia and for Canada.
I hope you all shared my sense of history and my emotion as the Union Jack and the Canadian [end p3] flag were hoisted to flutter proudly together over Vancouver.
It brought back memories.
Memories of two World Wars in which we fought as comrades in arms.
Memories of Britain's particular connection with this beautiful city and this province, where so many people of British origin live.
Memories of the generosity of the people [end p4] of British Columbia, who helped to rebuild after the last War St. Peter's Church in Petersham, where Captain Vancouver lies at rest under a simple headstone.
Indeed its rather like being back home, since in the audience today are the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh—which is twinned with your city—and of Glasgow as well as representatives of Captain George [end p5] Vancouver 's home town of King's Lynn.
We mustn't dwell just on the past, glorious as it is.
EXPO 86 is a magnificent achievement.
It has more participating nations than any EXPO in the past.
May I remind you that Britain was the first of the fifty-four countries to sign up. [end p6] That shows how strong is our confidence in you.
It reflects the originality and vitality of Vancouver and of British Columbia.
And it looks to the future.
Particularly the future of transport and communications. [end p7]
Well, we in Britain believe that our record in that field is a pretty exceptional one.
Let's just recall a few of our famous firsts:
— the first steam engine;
— the first direct transatlantic flight;
— the first jet engine;
— the first commercial jet airliner;
— the first supersonic commercial aircraft. [end p8]
With a record like that, you should be encouraged to look to us for your future needs.
In the last few years the dismal image of a Britain in genteel decline has been swept away.
It's only inflation, strikes and taxes which are down.
Growth, productivity and exports are all [end p9] up.
The sense of enterprise and adventure which brought Captain George Vancouver across half a world to this shore has been rediscovered.
That is why we are here at EXPO 86.
That is why we are running our store promotion campaign.
That is why we are bringing you the best [end p10] of our music, our theatre and our ballet.
It was Britain's good fortune to put Vancouver on the map two hundred years ago.
Now we are putting Britain back on your map.
Britain as a source of ideas, a centre of new technology, a reliable trading partner and—what matters most—as an active and interested friend. [end p11]
I am very grateful to you Premier Bennett, to you Commissioner-General and to you Mayor Harcourt for giving us this opportunity to hold this British Day.
Thank you, too, for your hospitality to me.
It is tremendous to be here.
I wish it could be longer.
But it's already a day—a British day—to remember.