Skip to main content

Transcript of interview: John Edmonds, 2009

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/DOHP 121

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

The programme comprises transcripts of interviews with senior diplomats.

Dates

  • 2009

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

John Edmonds was born 23 June 1921, son of Captain A. C. M. Edmonds, OBE, RN. He was educated at Kelly College; he married (1st), in 1948, Elena Tornow, having two sons (marriage dissolved, 1965); then (2nd) in 1966, Armine Williams (she died in 2005).

Edmonds entered the Royal Navy in 1939, becoming a Commander in 1957. He served on the staff of the NATO Defence College, Paris [France], 1953-55, then on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, 1956-57, and the Chief of Defence Staff, 1958-59. He entered the Diplomatic Service in 1959 and his diplomatic career included the following: Foreign Office, Arabian Department, 1959-60; 1st Secretary (Commercial), Tokyo [Japan], 1960-62; Foreign Office, Information Research Department, 1963-67; 1st Secretary and Head of Chancery, Ankara [Turkey], 1967-68; Counsellor: Ankara, 1968-71; Paris (Aviation and Defence), 1972-74; Head of Arms Control and Disarmament Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1974-77; Leader, UK Delegation to Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Negotiations, Geneva, with personal rank of Ambassador, 1978-81. Chairman, Joint SDP-Liberal Alliance Commission on Defence and Disarmament, 1984-86. Edmonds died on 17 August 2015.

Extent

1 file(s)

Language of Materials

English

Originator(s)

Edmonds, John Christopher, b 1921, diplomat

Finding aid date

2010-01-22 13:36:01.853000+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository

Contact:
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087