Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the British High Commissioner, even for a day? Would you like to be responsible for maintaining good relations between the UK and Malta, not to mention looking after the welfare of the 450,000 British nationals who visit Malta each year? That was the opportunity given to 14-year-old Vanuschka Vassallo, a student at Margaret Mortimer School, and winner of this year’s Commonwealth Day Competition.

After allowing current High Commissioner Nick Archer the ‘day off’, Vanushcka set about establishing her own credentials on the local scene. She began her day being collected in the High Commissioner’s flag car, and driven to the official residence in San Pawl Tat-Targa. While there, she attended an internal management meeting, before heading to the High Commission in Ta’ Xbiex for the first piece of official business. Being the season of commemoration, Vanuschka attended the ANZAC wreath-laying ceremony and spoke to other distinguished guests including diplomats from the Australian High Commission and US Embassy, and officers from the Royal Navy Warship HMS Echo. In the afternoon, Vanuschka attended a meeting with Dr Gavin Gulia MP, which helped give her a better understanding of the local political issues that the High Commission is focusing on, in particular the problem of illegal immigration. Vanuschka’s final meeting of the day was with Paul Docherty, director of the British Council in Rome. She spoke to him about her schooling and her ambitions to pursue her studies and become a teacher.