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Transcript of interview: Lord Wright of Richmond, 2000

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 48

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

The programme comprises transcripts of interviews with senior diplomats.

Dates

  • 2000

Creator

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

Patrick Wright was born 28 June 1931, the son of the late Herbert H. S. Wright and of Rachel Wright (née Green), Haslemere, Surrey; he was educated at Marlborough and Merton College (Postmaster), Oxford (MA; Honorary Fellow, 1987). In 1958 he married Virginia Anne Gaffney.

After serving in the Royal Artillery, 1950-51, Wright joined the Diplomatic Service in 1955. His career included: Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies, 1956-57; Third Secretary, British Embassy, Beirut [Lebanon], 1958-60; Private Secretary to Ambassador and later First Secretary, British Embassy, Washington [United States], 1960-65; Private Secretary to Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign Office, 1965-67; First Secretary and Head of Chancery, Cairo [Egypt], 1967-70; Deputy Political Resident, Bahrain, 1971-72; Head of Middle East Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1972-74; Private Secretary (Overseas Affairs) to Prime Minister, 1974-77; Ambassador to: Luxembourg, 1977-79; Syria, 1979-81; Deputy Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1982-84; Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, 1984-86; Permanent Under-Secretary of State and Head of Diplomatic Service, 1986-91. Member, Security Commission, 1993-2002. He died on 6 March 2020.

Wright was created a life-peer in 1994. His other honours include: GCMG 1989 (KCMG 1984; CMG 1978).

Extent

1 file(s)

Language of Materials

English