My Pelican Sovereign 1000 Triple B Pen.

I bought the pen in the year 2000 as gift to myself. Before that I used Montblanc but did not like at all as it did not write smoothly and I did not like the nib width. I did my own research and bought Pelican as a result. At this time, I knew no other Pelican pen users so was relying on my own research and intuition.

Bought it in the Oxford pen shop opposite Christchurch College though being a Cambridge I have it had the shop been in Cambridge. 

In the same year I came across Niche pens in Newport, Gwent as they were the best company in UK for provision, servicing and maintenance of Pelicans. All your subsequent spares were purchased by Niche and they always provided me with the triple B nib which was my favourite (Sovereign 1,000 triple B). Sadly, doesn’t exist anymore, it was thick and prefect for signing books.

I always wrote with dark chocolate brown ink because I enjoyed the more natural antique look and it seemed quite literary and historic in its appearance. 

The big colour change:

The Iraqi government had green ink as its official political colour. The prime minister used red and senior people in circles used green and permission had to be given from the prime minister. I was authorised in 2004, my documents, I had the highest expat profile being one of the very few people was dialoguing with political leaders several years prior to the 2003 war.

Both signing and official documentation such as coalitional provisional authority documents and official signing of the US embassy chapel documents. I was chaplain to the US embassy chapel and the pen was used in many embassy meetings and in White House roundtables where I was needed to be present in discussions. 

On 5th November 2006, a memorable day for us Brits Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death. (and executed on 30th December).

On the morning of November 5th I received a visit from the Iraqi governing council and they said to me Abouna (which means ‘Father’ in Arabic), you have the best pen in Iraq and the Prime Minister Noorir al Malaki has asked if he could borrow it today.

I knew it was important and that I could not say no but I had no idea what for. I also thought that I would be probably need to allow him to keep it as the custom in the Middle East is to let people of significance keep hold of things that they borrow. That is to say, the custom is to give it as a gift. I had my spare black Pelican Pen but this green and gold one was my favourite and I really did not wish to part with it.

When I finally realised what my pen was being used for I did not hesitate to ask for it back and gave my black one to the Prime Minister.

Why did I want my pen back so urgently. 

I saw it on the news that night in the hand of the Prime Minister signing the death sentence of Saddam. I immediately though I need that back.

For me it is a sign of the overcoming of evil and the fight for justice and peace in the face of tyranny.

Twelve years later my green and gold pen still travels with me all over the globe in churches, universities and parliamentary gatherings. It is the object of my affection, a symbol of victory and still the best pen that I have ever had. It only ever writes with green ink and I am very grateful to my welsh friends at Niche Pens for maintaining and restoring it to its fine original quality.