Transcript of interview: Sir John Boyd, 1999 - 2005

File

Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 60

Scope and Contents

Includes an edited version of the Anniversary lecture by Sir John Boyd on China and Japan delivered at the Annual General Meeting of The Royal Society for Asian Affairs, June 2005.

Dates

1999 - 2005

Creator

Boyd, John Dixon Iklé, Sir, 1936 - 2019 (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

Sir John Boyd was born 17 January 1936, the son of Professor James Dixon Boyd and Amélie Lowenthal. He was educated at Westminster School, Clare College, Cambridge (BA; Honorary Fellow, 1994) and Yale University (MA). In 1968 he married 1st, Gunilla Kristina Ingegerd Rönngren; one son one daughter; in 1977 he married, 2nd, Julia Daphne Raynsford; three daughters.

After joining the Foreign Service in 1962, Boyd's career included: Hong Kong, 1962-1964; Peking [China], 1965-1967; Foreign Office, 1967-1969; Washington [United States], 1969-1973; 1st Secretary, Peking, 1973-1975; secondment to HM Treasury, 1976; Counsellor: (Economic), Bonn [Germany], 1977-1981; (Economic and Social Affairs), UK Mission to UN, 1981-1984; Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1984; Political Adviser, Hong Kong, 1985-1987; Deputy Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1987-1989; Chief Clerk, FCO, 1989-1992; Ambassador to Japan, 1992-1996.

His honours include: KCMG 1992 (CMG 1985). Sir John died on 18 Oct 2019.