Going on a tour with current guide Hajer Ait Grain from Morocco, impressed them both: “Compared to what we were talking about at the time, the information she gave was like a lecture in a university, but at the same time very accessible,” says Ellen.UN Photo/Loey Felipe
High speed chase
The Guided Tour is currently conducted in 13 languages, by a team of tour guides from 17 countries. Through the decades, the guides have been clothed by leading designers, from Edith Head, Christian Dior and Benetton in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, to Elie Tahari from 2017 to the present. Ellen Anderson To celebrate the 70th Anniversary, Visitors Services, with the help of former guides, recently put together a fashion show displaying the uniforms worn during the seven decades, as well as an arrangement of traditional attire.
Close encounter
Ellen and Laurance are warmly welcomed by UN Guided Tours unit on the occasion of their 50th anniversary of marriage. They got married on 21 October 1972. Ellen ended up joining the United States global diplomacy team, and Lawrence went on to do a master’s degree in special education at New York University, and further devoted himself to helping disadvantaged children. Amid the bustle of people leaving, Lawrence asked Ellen out on a date – and Ellen said yes immediately. The rest, as they say, is history.
Golden Wedding
As Ellen and Lawrence celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Guided Tours team at UN Headquarters, is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Ellen and Laurance’s marriage in 1972 was celebrated with her UN tour guides colleagues.
Keeping it in the family
A roundtable discussion on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Guided Tours at UN Headquarters. The UN Guided Tours unit celebrates its 70th anniversary with a fashion show of different uniforms worn over seven decades, as well as traditional outfits showcasing the diverse nationalities and backgrounds. “Our multilingual tour guides have been the face and voice of the United Nations to over 42 million visitors from around the world,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. “We celebrate their 70th anniversary and honour their vital ongoing mission to enhance understanding of the essential work of the United Nations.”
‘The face and voice’ of the UN
The UN Postal Administration has also issued a special commemorative stamp for purchase at the stamp shop. Fifty years passed by in a flash, and what would be more suited for their 50th Wedding anniversary, than to come back to the United Nations for a celebratory guided tour?
One of the children, a boy called Herman, was in a motorized wheelchair, and when the elevator doors opened, he was so excited, that he set off in high speed down the corridor. After the tour, several coincidences led to a second meeting between the two. Instead of doing the last tour of the day, Ellen realized she could leave work early, and as she walked out with a colleague, who usually took another route out of the building, their paths crossed once again, outside of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
Ellen ran after him in her four-inch-high heels and this one little incident, broke the ice between Ellen and Lawrence. A round table discussion on the impact the experience of serving has had on their lives and careers was also held, with former guides from all seven decades.