One of Britain’s biggest potato farmers has closed a Russian honorary consulate in Norwich as war rages following the invasion of Ukraine. As Simon Parkin reports for Eastern Daily Press, potato king Ronnie Bartlett, who runs fruit and veg firm Albert Bartlett, has also stood down as Russian honorary consul with responsibility for Norfolk, a position he had held since January 2020.
The honorary consulate, based in Cavell House, an anonymous looking office block on St Crispins Road, is still included on the UK Russian Embassy website. Its functions are listed as including the “registration of Russian nationals living in Norfolk and protection of their rights and interests”.
Tim Hammond, Albert Bartlett’s international development director, said: “The present situation in Ukraine is terrible. “We cannot endorse any sort of action by any country whether it is Russia or anyone else. It’s a very bad situation.”
Mr Hammond said the Norfolk honorary consulate had been established as a way to explore agricultural links between Russia and the UK.
Source: Eastern Daily Press, Read the full story here
Photo: The official Russian honorary consulate in Norwich was based in Cavell House. Credit: Simon Parkin
