Transcript of interview: Sir Richard Parsons, 2005

File

Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 101

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

The programme comprises transcripts of interviews with senior diplomats.

Dates

Creation: 2005

Creator

Parsons, Richard Edmund Clement Fownes, Sir, 1928-2016 (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

Richard Parsons was born on 14 March 1928, son of Dr R. A. Parsons. He was educated at Bembridge School before studying history at Brasenose College, University of Oxford and in 1960 married Jenifer Jane Mathews (she died in 1981); they had three sons.

After his National Service in the Army (1949-51), Parsons joined the Foreign (subsequently Diplomatic) Service in 1951. His diplomatic career included the following postings: Foreign Office, (1951-53); 3rd Secretary, Washington [United States], (1953-56); 2nd Secretary, Vientiane [Laos], (1956-58); FO, (1958-60); 1st Secretary, Buenos Aires [Argentina], (1960-63); FO, (1963-65); 1st Secretary, Ankara [Turkey], (1965-67); FO, (1967-69); Counsellor, Lagos [Nigeria], (1969-72); Head of Personnel Operations Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (1972-76); Ambassador to Hungary, (1976-79); Ambassador to Spain, (1980-84); Ambassador to Sweden, (1984-87). Parsons died on 23 April 2016.