The beloved King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away yesterday. The whole nation mourns.
Yesterday evening the national TV of Thailand announced officially at 15.52hrs that the King Bhumiphol Adulyadej (88) passed away. The ailing Thai King has been ill for sometime.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on the 5th December 1927. He was also known as Rama IX, the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he was the world’s longest-serving head of state and was the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, serving for over 70 years.
Since 2006, King Bhumibol has suffered declining health and has spent extended periods at Siriraj Hospital. King Bhumibol was highly revered by the people in Thailand, his heir is Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Prior to the announcement Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn returned to Thailand on Wednesday amid growing concerns about the health of his father, King Bhumibol. Earlier yesterday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha cancelled all appointments and official visits prompting a surge in social media comments concerning the health of the King.
The government has set a mourning period of one year and all public offices and educational institutes will fly flags at half mast for 30 days starting from today October 14, 2016.
Andrew J Wood was born in Yorkshire England, he is a former hotelier, Skalleague and travel writer. Andrew has 48 years of hospitality and travel experience. Educated at Batley Grammar School and a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh. Andrew started his career in London, working with various hotels. His first posting overseas was with Hilton International, in Paris, and he later arrived in Asia in 1991 on Bangkok with his appointment as Director of Marketing at the Shangri-La Hotel and has remained in Thailand ever since. Andrew has also worked with the Royal Garden Resort Group now Anantara (Vice President) and the Landmark Group of Hotels (Vice President of Sales and Marketing). Latterly he has been the General Manager at the Royal Cliff Group of Hotels in Pattaya and the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok & Resorts.
A past board member and Director of Skål International (SI), a former National President with SI Thailand and a two time past President of the Bangkok Club. Andrew is the former President of Skål Asia. In 2019, Andrew was awarded SKÅL’s highest award the distinction of Membre D’Honneur.
He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Asia.
