Transcript of interview: Sir Anthony Parsons, 1996

File

Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 10

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

The programme comprises transcripts of interviews with senior diplomats.

Dates

1996

Creator

Parsons, Anthony Derrick, Sir, 1922 - 1996 (Knight, diplomat) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Material in this collection is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue.

Biographical / Historical

Anthony Parsons was born 9 September 1922, the son of the late Colonel H. A. J. Parsons, MC. He was educated at King’s School, Canterbury and Balliol College, Oxford (Hon. Fellow 1984); he married Sheila Emily Baird in 1948.

After serving in the forces, 1940-54, Parsons's career included: Assistant Military Attaché, Baghdad [Iraq], 1952-54; Foreign Office, 1954-55; HM Embassy: Ankara [Turkey], 1955-59; Amman [Jordan], 1959-60; Cairo [Egypt], 1960-61; FO, 1961-64; HM Embassy, Khartoum [Sudan], 1964-65; Political Agent, Bahrain, 1965-69; Counsellor, UK Mission to UN, New York [United States], 1969-71; Under-Secretary, FCO, 1971-74; Ambassador to Iran, 1974-79; FCO, 1979; UK Permanent Representative to UN, 1979-82; Special Adviser to Prime Minister on foreign affairs, 1982-83. He died in 1996.

He was awarded the GCMG 1982 (KCMG 1975; CMG 1969); LVO 1965; MC 1945.