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| Anthony Packer (Image: Wales Online) |
Tributes
have been paid to a long-standing Plaid Cymru member, who was the
Honorary Consul for Lithuania in Wales.
Anthony
Packer, of Salisbury Avenue, Penarth, died at the age of 74 after
battling prostate cancer at the Cardiff and Vale Marie Curie Hospice.
A
man of many academic achievements, a loving family man and an
entertaining raconteur, he had a host of friends and touched many
lives. He was gregarious, happy to engage anyone in conversation and
happy to argue that ‘black was blue’ - with a mischievous twinkle
in his eye.
One
of his major achievements was to build links between Wales and
Lithuania, helping to create an international identity for Wales in
Europe.
He
believed he could advance the cause of Wales by pursuing recognition
of the nation, its language, culture and qualities and as a place in which
to do business at an international level.
In
particular, he sought to develop close links between Wales and the
Baltic States, and he was one of the founding members of the Baltic
Society in Wales in 1991.
Six
weeks before Lithuania’s unilateral declaration of independence, he
led a delegation to the country (repeated in 1993) to help the
authorities de-Sovietise the country’s education system and other
institutions.
Though
the country was still under the control of Moscow, he visited the
headquarters of Sajudis, the movement for an independent Lithuania,
with a message of support from Plaid Cymru. It was a simple note of
democratic regard and support for the movement’s objectives, and
was the first such message to come from any British political party.
It
was this act of disobedience that led to his initial acquaintance and
subsequent friendship with Vytautas Landsbergis, the first President
of an independent Lithuania.
During
his time as Honorary Consul, he forged strong links between
universities in Wales and Lithuania as well as organising the visit
of Vytautas Landsbergis, the first post-Soviet President of
independent Lithuania, to Wales.
He
persuaded Landsbergis to publish his memoirs, helping to translate,
edit and publish them, and was recently presented with the Order of the Diplomatic Star, the
highest distinction in the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service, in
recognition of his work.
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| Presentation of the Order of the Diplomatic Star in January (Image: Penarth Times) |
Anthony
Packer was born in Caerleon in 1939 and raised in Hengoed. He was
educated at grammar schools in Pengam and Barry and studied at the
University of Wales College, Cardiff (History), Cuddesdon College,
Oxford (Theology), the London School of Economics (Social
Administration) and the University of Liverpool (Psychiatric Social
Work).
He
began his career in London as a teacher before beginning work as a
psychiatric social worker in local hospitals.
He
later became the Chief Administrator for the Family Welfare
Association and Chief Trainer for child counselling at the world
renowned Tavistock Clinic in London.
Wanting
to return to Wales with his wife, Ann, and his three children (later
to become four), he took up a lectureship at Cardiff University. He
initially split his time between the Department of Social Work and
the Department of Education before moving on a full-time basis to the
Department of Education from 1984 through to his retirement in 2001.
He
taught himself Welsh and helped to advance its use in education and
social work throughout Wales.
He
was for four years the joint editor of the academic periodical, The
Welsh Journal of Education, and for two years the chairman of the
Department of Economics and Sociology of the Welsh Guild of
Graduates.
Anthony
served as the Treasurer of the International Round Table for the
Advancement of Counselling (IAC-IRTAC) from 1983 to 1992.
He
was also a trustee of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs and
the Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the United Nations Association
in Wales.
He
also represented the Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff on the steering
committee of the UK 3 Faiths Forum.
As President of the Consular Association for Wales and its Secretary
for six years, he presided over its significant expansion and the
advancement of its aims towards the active promotion of business and
cultural links between Wales and the countries represented by its 29
members.
Anthony
Packer is survived by his wife Ann, his mother, Gleeda, children
Rhiannon, David, Cerian and Tomos, daughters-in-law Frida and Sasha,
sons-in-law Tony and Geraint, and grandchildren Kajsa, Oliver, Tomos,
Elis, Alys, Annest, William and Steffan.
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