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

Creation: 1996

Creator

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

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

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.