British Diplomatic Oral History Programme

The British Diplomatic Oral History Programme records the recollections of former diplomats. Through these oral histories, which are conserved at the Churchill Archives Centre, the Programme aims to go behind the official documents to explore how diplomats experienced significant events as well as providing valuable insights into the daily workings of diplomacy. Highlighted here are the transcripts of oral history recordings with former diplomats.

Showing 1 - 100 of 248 Records

Title (A-Z) Title (Z-A) Year (ascending) Year (descending) Reference Code (A-Z) Reference Code (Z-A)
25 50 100
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Geoffrey Cowling
Transcript of interview: Geoffrey Cowling
Reference Code:
DOHP 246
Date:
2025 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Andrew McHallam
Transcript of interview: Andrew McHallam
Reference Code:
DOHP 243
Date:
2025 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Charles Humfrey
Transcript of interview: Charles Humfrey
Reference Code:
DOHP 235
Date:
2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir William Patey
Transcript of interview: Sir William Patey
Reference Code:
DOHP 242
Date:
2024-2025 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: George Fergusson
Transcript of interview: George Fergusson
Reference Code:
DOHP 236
Date:
2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of "Dangerous Diplomacy"
"Dangerous Diplomacy"
Reference Code:
DOHP 244
Date:
2024-2025 (creation)
Description:
Memoir by Sir Allan Ramsay.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Christopher Segar
Transcript of interview: Christopher Segar
Reference Code:
DOHP 241
Date:
2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Nicholas Archer
Transcript of interview: Nicholas Archer
Reference Code:
DOHP 245
Date:
2024-2025 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Rankin
Transcript of interview: John Rankin
Reference Code:
DOHP 234
Date:
2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Robert Culshaw
Transcript of interview: Robert Culshaw
Reference Code:
DOHP 239
Date:
2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Heather Thomsett
Transcript of interview: Heather Thomsett
Reference Code:
DOHP 240
Date:
2024 (creation)
Description:
Interview with Heather Thomsett (née Auchterlonie), on her work in the Foreign Secretary's Private Office from 1943 to 1947, on subjects including: the Foreign Office during wartime; working with [Robert] Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary [later 1st Lord Avon] and others such as Sir Alexander Cadogan [Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs], 1st Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, British Ambassador to the United States] and Ernest Bevin, Foreign Secretary; the Yalta Conference, 1945; the San Francisco Conference [on the United Nations], 1945.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Gavin Hewitt
Transcript of interview: Gavin Hewitt
Reference Code:
DOHP 231
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Geoffrey Adams
Transcript of interview: Sir Geoffrey Adams
Reference Code:
DOHP 228
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Laurence Bristow
Transcript of interview: Sir Laurence Bristow
Reference Code:
DOHP 237
Date:
2023-2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Derek Marsh
Transcript of interview: Derek Marsh
Reference Code:
DOHP 229
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Michael Arthur
Transcript of interview: Sir Michael Arthur
Reference Code:
DOHP 233
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Alison Rose
Transcript of interview: Alison Rose
Reference Code:
DOHP 227
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Gomersall
Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Gomersall
Reference Code:
DOHP 222
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Levy
Transcript of interview: Lord Levy
Reference Code:
DOHP 224
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Christopher Hum
Transcript of interview: Sir Christopher Hum
Reference Code:
DOHP 238
Date:
2023-2024 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Ian Whitting
Transcript of interview: Ian Whitting
Reference Code:
DOHP 221
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Vivien Life
Transcript of interview: Vivien Life
Reference Code:
DOHP 230
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Brown
Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Brown
Reference Code:
DOHP 226
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Denis Keefe
Transcript of interview: Denis Keefe
Reference Code:
DOHP 223
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Barrie
Transcript of interview: David Barrie
Reference Code:
DOHP 220
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Peter Collecott
Transcript of interview: Peter Collecott
Reference Code:
DOHP 232
Date:
2023 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir David Reddaway
Transcript of interview: Sir David Reddaway
Reference Code:
DOHP 213
Date:
2022 (creation)
Description:
David Reddaway was born 26 April 1953, the son of George Frank Norman Reddaway, CBE and Jean Reddaway, OBE (née Brett). He was educated at Oundle School (Scholar.) and Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge (Exhibitioner; MA History). In 1981 he married (1st), Roshan Taliyeh Firouz (marriage dissolved 2019), having two sons and one daughter; and (2nd), 2020, Gabrielle O’Driscoll. Reddaway joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1975 and his diplomatic career included: language student, SOAS, 1976 and Iran, 1977; Tehran: Third Secretary, later Second Secretary (Commercial), 1977–78; Second Secretary. later First Secretary (Chancery), 1978–80; First Secretary: (Chancery), Madrid [Spain], 1980–84; FCO, 1985–86; Private Secretary to Minister of State, 1986–88; (Chancery), New Delhi [India], 1988–90; Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran, 1990–93 (Counsellor, 1991); Minister, Buenos Aires [Argentina], 1993–97; Head, Southern European Department, FCO, 1997–99; Director, Public Services, FCO, 1999–2001; UK Special Representative for Afghanistan, 2002; Visiting Fellow, Harvard University, 2002–03; High Commissioner, Canada, 2003–06; Ambassador: to Ireland, 2006–09; to Turkey, 2009–14.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Thorhilda Abbott-Watt
Transcript of interview: Thorhilda Abbott-Watt
Reference Code:
DOHP 212
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Richard Stagg
Transcript of interview: Sir Richard Stagg
Reference Code:
DOHP 218
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sheila Lyall Grant
Transcript of interview: Sheila Lyall Grant
Reference Code:
DOHP 216
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Ian Hay-Campbell
Transcript of interview: Ian Hay-Campbell
Reference Code:
DOHP 217
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: James Bowden
Transcript of interview: James Bowden
Reference Code:
DOHP 219
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Pamela Gordon
Transcript of interview: Pamela Gordon
Reference Code:
DOHP 214
Date:
2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Recollections of Jeremy Varcoe CMG
Recollections of Jeremy Varcoe CMG
Reference Code:
DOHP 202
Date:
2021 (creation)
Description:
This is an edited version of a personal memoir which Jeremy Varcoe wrote for his family.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Robin Christopher
Transcript of interview: Sir Robin Christopher
Reference Code:
DOHP 215
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Memoir: Mark Elliott
Memoir: Mark Elliott
Reference Code:
DOHP 207
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir John Grant
Transcript of interview: Sir John Grant
Reference Code:
DOHP 209
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Robert Gordon
Transcript of interview: Robert Gordon
Reference Code:
DOHP 211
Date:
2021-2022 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Dame Audrey Glover
Transcript of interview: Dame Audrey Glover
Reference Code:
DOHP 204
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord McDonald of Salford
Transcript of interview: Lord McDonald of Salford
Reference Code:
DOHP 199
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Patrick Nixon
Transcript of interview: Patrick Nixon
Reference Code:
DOHP 203
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Edward Chaplin
Transcript of interview: Edward Chaplin
Reference Code:
DOHP 201
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Ann Grant
Transcript of interview: Ann Grant
Reference Code:
DOHP 205
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Alan Charlton
Transcript of interview: Alan Charlton
Reference Code:
DOHP 210
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Edward Glover
Transcript of interview: Edward Glover
Reference Code:
DOHP 208
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir David Warren
Transcript of interview: Sir David Warren
Reference Code:
DOHP 200
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Dame Denise Holt
Transcript of interview: Dame Denise Holt
Reference Code:
DOHP 198
Date:
2020 (creation)
Description:
Denise Holt was born on 1 October 1949, the daughter of William Dennis and Mary Joanna Mills; she was educated at New Hall School, Chelmsford [Essex] and the University of Bristol. In 1987 she married David Holt, having one son. She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1970 and her diplomatic career included: Research Analyst, initially on the Iberian desk, 1970–84; First Secretary, Dublin [Ireland], 1984–87; Head of Section, FCO, 1988–90; First Secretary, Brasilia [Brazil], 1991–93; Deputy Head, Eastern Department, FCO, 1993–94; Assistant Director, Personnel, 1996–98; Deputy Head of Mission, Dublin, 1998–99; Director of Personnel, FCO, 1999–2002; Ambassador to Mexico, 2002–05; Director for Migration and Overseas Territories, FCO, 2005–07; Ambassador to Spain, 2007–09.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Lamport
Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Lamport
Reference Code:
DOHP 190
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Edward Clay
Transcript of interview: Sir Edward Clay
Reference Code:
DOHP 206
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Tim Dowse
Transcript of interview: Tim Dowse
Reference Code:
DOHP 196
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Thomas Richardson
Transcript of interview: Sir Thomas Richardson
Reference Code:
DOHP 182
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Rob Young
Transcript of interview: Sir Rob Young
Reference Code:
DOHP 178
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Merrick Baker-Bates
Transcript of interview: Merrick Baker-Bates
Reference Code:
DOHP 191
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Adrian Beamish
Transcript of interview: Sir Adrian Beamish
Reference Code:
DOHP 197
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Dame Judith Macgregor
Transcript of interview: Dame Judith Macgregor
Reference Code:
DOHP 192
Date:
2019-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Gill Bennett
Transcript of interview: Gill Bennett
Reference Code:
DOHP 187
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir John Goulden
Transcript of interview: Sir John Goulden
Reference Code:
DOHP 183
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Martin Lamport
Transcript of interview: Martin Lamport
Reference Code:
DOHP 184
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Vincent Fean
Transcript of interview: Sir Vincent Fean
Reference Code:
DOHP 185
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Thomas Macan
Transcript of interview: Thomas Macan
Reference Code:
DOHP 186
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Transcript of interview: Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Reference Code:
DOHP 188
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Macgregor
Transcript of interview: John Macgregor
Reference Code:
DOHP 193
Date:
2019-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Simon Fraser
Transcript of interview: Sir Simon Fraser
Reference Code:
DOHP 172
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Arthur Maddocks
Transcript of interview: Arthur Maddocks
Reference Code:
DOHP 167
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Margaret Bryan
Transcript of interview: Margaret Bryan
Reference Code:
DOHP 225
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Christopher Long
Transcript of interview: Christopher Long
Reference Code:
DOHP 195
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir John Holmes
Transcript of interview: Sir John Holmes
Reference Code:
DOHP 175
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Dame Anne Pringle
Transcript of interview: Dame Anne Pringle
Reference Code:
DOHP 168
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Franklin Berman
Transcript of interview: Sir Franklin Berman
Reference Code:
DOHP 171
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Stuart Laing
Transcript of interview: Stuart Laing
Reference Code:
DOHP 179
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Roger Bone
Transcript of interview: Sir Roger Bone
Reference Code:
DOHP 165
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Derek Plumbly
Transcript of interview: Sir Derek Plumbly
Reference Code:
DOHP 176
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir James Hennessy
Transcript of interview: Sir James Hennessy
Reference Code:
DOHP 174
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Dame Mariot Leslie
Transcript of interview: Dame Mariot Leslie
Reference Code:
DOHP 162
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Colvin
Transcript of interview: David Colvin
Reference Code:
DOHP 177
Date:
2017-08-2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Tatham
Transcript of interview: David Tatham
Reference Code:
DOHP 161
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Brian Fall
Transcript of interview: Sir Brian Fall
Reference Code:
DOHP 157
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir David Logan
Transcript of interview: Sir David Logan
Reference Code:
DOHP 169
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Peter Marshall
Transcript of interview: Sir Peter Marshall
Reference Code:
DOHP 163
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Beryl Juchau
Transcript of interview: Beryl Juchau
Reference Code:
DOHP 160
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Brian Donnelly
Transcript of interview: Sir Brian Donnelly
Reference Code:
DOHP 170
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Peter Westmacott
Transcript of interview: Sir Peter Westmacott
Reference Code:
DOHP 166
Date:
2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Colin Budd
Transcript of interview: Sir Colin Budd
Reference Code:
DOHP 155
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Graham Fry
Transcript of interview: Sir Graham Fry
Reference Code:
DOHP 151
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Nicholas Bayne
Transcript of interview: Sir Nicholas Bayne
Reference Code:
DOHP 150
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Robin Byatt
Transcript of interview: Robin Byatt
Reference Code:
DOHP 148
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Anthony Goodenough
Transcript of interview: Sir Anthony Goodenough
Reference Code:
DOHP 180
Date:
2016-2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Ethel Cox
Transcript of interview: Ethel Cox
Reference Code:
DOHP 181
Date:
2016 (creation)
Description:
Mrs Cox's reminiscences, particularly on investigations into the leakage of information from the Embassy to German intelligence, partly by Elyesa Bazna ['Cicero'], the valet of Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, the British Ambassador to Turkey.
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Francis Richards
Transcript of interview: Sir Francis Richards
Reference Code:
DOHP 149
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir John Thomson
Transcript of interview: Sir John Thomson
Reference Code:
DOHP 154
Date:
2016-2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: William Fullerton
Transcript of interview: William Fullerton
Reference Code:
DOHP 153
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Richard Dales
Transcript of interview: Sir Richard Dales
Reference Code:
DOHP 164
Date:
2016-2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Transcript of interview: Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Reference Code:
DOHP 156
Date:
2016-2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Ricketts
Transcript of interview: Lord Ricketts
Reference Code:
DOHP 158
Date:
2016-2017 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Henry Hogger
Transcript of interview: Henry Hogger
Reference Code:
DOHP 173
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Stewart Eldon
Transcript of interview: Sir Stewart Eldon
Reference Code:
DOHP 159
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir John Graham
Transcript of interview: Sir John Graham
Reference Code:
DOHP 147
Date:
2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Roger Tomkys
Transcript of interview: Sir Roger Tomkys
Reference Code:
DOHP 152
Date:
2015 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Wright
Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Wright
Reference Code:
DOHP 146
Date:
2015 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Gladstone
Transcript of interview: David Gladstone
Reference Code:
DOHP 145
Date:
2015 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme