Arthur Maddocks was born 20 May 1922, son of Frederick William Maddocks and Celia Elizabeth Maddocks (née Beardwell). He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, and in 1945 married Margaret Jean Crawford Holt, having two sons and one daughter.

After serving in the Army, 1942-46, Maddocks joined the Foreign (later Diplomatic) Service in 1946 and during his diplomatic career served in the following posts: Washington [United States], 1946-48; Foreign Office, 1949-51; Bonn [Germany], 1951-55; Bangkok [Thailand], 1955-58; UK Delegation to OEEC [Organisation for European Economic Cooperation], 1958-60; FO, 1960-64; UK Delegation to European Communities, Brussels [Belgium], 1964-68; Political Adviser, Hong Kong, 1968-72; Deputy High Commissioner and Minister (Commercial), Ottawa [Canada], 1972-76; Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative to OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development], Paris [France], 1977-82; Member, OECD Appeals Tribunal, 1984-89. Arthur Maddocks died on 22 November 2020.