Transcript of interview: Sir Archie Lamb, 2000 - 2003

File

Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 59

Scope and Contents

Also includes a copy of Lamb's memoirs, "A Long Way from Swansea" (2003).

Dates

Creation: 2000 - 2003

Creator

Lamb, Albert Thomas, Sir, 1921-2021 (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

Albert, or 'Archie' Lamb was born 23 October 1921, the son of R. S. Lamb and Violet Lamb (née Haynes); he was educated at Swansea Grammar School, and in 1944 married Christina Betty Wilkinson, having one son and two daughters.

Lamb first joined the Foreign Office in 1938, but joined up with the Royal Air Force in 1941, serving until 1946. He then rejoined the Foreign Office, and his diplomatic career included: Embassy, Rome [Italy], 1947-50; Consulate-General, Genoa, 1950; Embassy, Bucharest [Romania], 1950-53; Foreign Office 1953-55; Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies, 1955-57; Political Residency, Bahrain, 1957-61; Foreign Office 1961-65; Embassy, Kuwait, 1965; Political Agent in Abu Dhabi, 1965-68; Inspector, 1968-70, Senior Inspector, 1970-73, Assistant Under-Secretary of State and Chief Inspector, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1973-74; Ambassador to Kuwait, 1974-77; Ambassador to Norway, 1978-80.

Lamb's honours include: KBE 1979 (MBE 1953); CMG 1974; DFC 1945. He died on 19 October 2021.