BCC AD offers Condolences to Founding Member Peter Hellyer
Tributes have been paid to Peter Hellyer the author, columnist and cultural historian, who died peacefully on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
Peter Hellyer was one of the founding members of British Business Group now Britsh Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi. He was a historian and journalist who began decades-long association with Emirates in 1970s hailed as 'true friend of nation'.
Hellyer, who was 75, began a decades-long association with the UAE in the 1970s when he moved to the country to develop documentaries about the overseas visits of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He later helped establish the English-language service of Wam, the state news agency, as well as head up foreign language radio broadcasting for Abu Dhabi and served as managing editor of the Emirates News newspaper. He was a long-term information adviser to the National Media Council.
He was awarded citizenship for services to the nation and in 2013 received an Abu Dhabi Medal the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a civilian in the emirate, for his work in identifying key archaeological sites in the UAE. This included the discovery in the 1990s of a Christian monastery on Sir Bani Yas island. Hellyer's death was confirmed by his family and tributes poured in on social media and elsewhere paying tribute to his rich legacy.
Nick Cochrane-Dyet, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi, and a lifelong friend of Hellyer, said that “we have lost a good person”.
“He will be remembered very fondly for all of the amazing work and dedication to this country which he loved,” said Mr Cochrane-Dyet. “The proof of his dedication can be seen in the number of books and articles that he published over the years.”
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Condolences for Mr. Peter Hellyer will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen Baynounah Hall from Monday, 3rd July to Wednesday, 5th July 2022 at 6:00pm - 10:00pm
