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 250 Records

Title (A-Z) Title (Z-A) Year (ascending) Year (descending) Reference Code (A-Z) Reference Code (Z-A)
25 50 100
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 Edited memoir: Sir Herbert Keeble
Edited memoir: Sir Herbert Keeble
Reference Code:
DOHP 51
Date:
2001 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Extract from memoirs: Sir Donald Logan
Extract from memoirs: Sir Donald Logan
Reference Code:
DOHP 62
Date:
2002 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Memoir (in place of interview): Sir Colin Imray
Memoir (in place of interview): Sir Colin Imray
Reference Code:
DOHP 54
Date:
2002 (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 Memoir: Warwick Morris
Memoir: Warwick Morris
Reference Code:
DOHP 194
Date:
2009-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Published and unpublished articles on Roy Dean's diplomatic career.
Published and unpublished articles on Roy Dean's diplomatic career.
Reference Code:
DOHP 66
Date:
2002-2003 (creation)
Description:
Subjects include: reaction in Nigeria to the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Rhodesia [later Zimbabwe and Zambia]; relations with India and meeting Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India; winning the propaganda war on arms control; meeting Jerry Rawlings, Head of State, Ghana; the difficulties in building a new British High Commission office in Ghana, 1984.

Also includes: accompanying correspondence.
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: Adrian Sindall
Transcript of interview: Adrian Sindall
Reference Code:
DOHP 120
Date:
2008 (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: 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: Andrew Bache
Transcript of interview: Andrew Bache
Reference Code:
DOHP 41
Date:
2000 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Andrew Carter
Transcript of interview: Andrew Carter
Reference Code:
DOHP 112
Date:
2006 (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: Andrew Stuart
Transcript of interview: Andrew Stuart
Reference Code:
DOHP 70
Date:
2002 (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: 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: Basil Eastwood
Transcript of interview: Basil Eastwood
Reference Code:
DOHP 107
Date:
2005 (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: Bill Murray
Transcript of interview: Bill Murray
Reference Code:
DOHP 249
Date:
2025 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Brian Donaldson
Transcript of interview: Brian Donaldson
Reference Code:
DOHP 106
Date:
2007 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Charles Crawford
Transcript of interview: Charles Crawford
Reference Code:
DOHP 117
Date:
2008 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Charles Cullimore
Transcript of interview: Charles Cullimore
Reference Code:
DOHP 119
Date:
2009 (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: 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: 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: Colin Munro
Transcript of interview: Colin Munro
Reference Code:
DOHP 122
Date:
2009 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Colin Munro
Transcript of interview: Colin Munro
Reference Code:
DOHP 122
Date:
2009 (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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Dame Veronica Sutherland
Transcript of interview: Dame Veronica Sutherland
Reference Code:
DOHP 94
Date:
2005 (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: David Burns
Transcript of interview: David Burns
Reference Code:
DOHP 104
Date:
1999 (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 Gladstone
Transcript of interview: David Gladstone
Reference Code:
DOHP 145
Date:
2015 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Snoxell
Transcript of interview: David Snoxell
Reference Code:
DOHP 111
Date:
2007 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: David Summerhayes
Transcript of interview: David Summerhayes
Reference Code:
DOHP 78
Date:
2003 (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: Denis Doble
Transcript of interview: Denis Doble
Reference Code:
DOHP 84
Date:
2004 (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: Dennis Amy
Transcript of interview: Dennis Amy
Reference Code:
DOHP 45
Date:
1998 (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: Derek Tonkin
Transcript of interview: Derek Tonkin
Reference Code:
DOHP 72
Date:
2000 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Desmond Higgins
Transcript of interview: Desmond Higgins
Reference Code:
DOHP 124
Date:
2010 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Donald Cape
Transcript of interview: Donald Cape
Reference Code:
DOHP 42
Date:
2001 (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: 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: Elisabeth Young
Transcript of interview: Elisabeth Young
Reference Code:
DOHP 130
Date:
2011 (creation)
Description:
Interview on the work done by diplomatic wives.
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: Frances Guy
Transcript of interview: Frances Guy
Reference Code:
DOHP 251
Date:
2025-2026 (creation)
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: 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: George Fergusson
Transcript of interview: George Fergusson
Reference Code:
DOHP 236
Date:
2024 (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: Gillian Angrave
Transcript of interview: Gillian Angrave
Reference Code:
DOHP 250
Date:
2025-2026 (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: 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: Herbert Tucker
Transcript of interview: Herbert Tucker
Reference Code:
DOHP 11
Date:
1996 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Hugh Carless
Transcript of interview: Hugh Carless
Reference Code:
DOHP 55
Date:
2002 (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: 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: Ivor Lucas
Transcript of interview: Ivor Lucas
Reference Code:
DOHP 93
Date:
2005 (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: James Cross
Transcript of interview: James Cross
Reference Code:
DOHP 19
Date:
1996 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Buist
Transcript of interview: John Buist
Reference Code:
DOHP 118
Date:
2008 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Cloake
Transcript of interview: John Cloake
Reference Code:
DOHP 140
Date:
2013 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Edmonds
Transcript of interview: John Edmonds
Reference Code:
DOHP 121
Date:
2009 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Edwards
Transcript of interview: John Edwards
Reference Code:
DOHP 113
Date:
2007 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Hickman
Transcript of interview: John Hickman
Reference Code:
DOHP 1
Date:
1995 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Hutson
Transcript of interview: John Hutson
Reference Code:
DOHP 5
Date:
1996 (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: 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: John Sankey
Transcript of interview: John Sankey
Reference Code:
DOHP 134
Date:
2010 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: John Willson
Transcript of interview: John Willson
Reference Code:
DOHP 128
Date:
2005 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Juliet Campbell
Transcript of interview: Juliet Campbell
Reference Code:
DOHP 68
Date:
2003 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Laurence O'Keeffe
Transcript of interview: Laurence O'Keeffe
Reference Code:
DOHP 31
Date:
1998 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Leslie McLoughlin
Transcript of interview: Leslie McLoughlin
Reference Code:
DOHP 65
Date:
2003 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Leslie Shiers
Transcript of interview: Leslie Shiers
Reference Code:
DOHP 21
Date:
1997 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Gillmore of Thamesfield
Transcript of interview: Lord Gillmore of Thamesfield
Reference Code:
DOHP 8
Date:
1996 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Greenhill of Harrow
Transcript of interview: Lord Greenhill of Harrow
Reference Code:
DOHP 3
Date:
1996 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Hannay of Chiswick
Transcript of interview: Lord Hannay of Chiswick
Reference Code:
DOHP 38
Date:
1999 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Hurd of Westwell
Transcript of interview: Lord Hurd of Westwell
Reference Code:
DOHP 90
Date:
2005 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Jay
Transcript of interview: Lord Jay
Reference Code:
DOHP 123
Date:
2007-2016 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Transcript of interview: Lord Kerr of Kinlochard
Reference Code:
DOHP 98
Date:
2004 (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: 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: Lord Powell of Bayswater
Transcript of interview: Lord Powell of Bayswater
Reference Code:
DOHP 53
Date:
2000 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Renwick of Clifton
Transcript of interview: Lord Renwick of Clifton
Reference Code:
DOHP 33
Date:
1998 (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: Lord Wilson of Tillyorn
Transcript of interview: Lord Wilson of Tillyorn
Reference Code:
DOHP 83
Date:
2003 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Lord Wright of Richmond
Transcript of interview: Lord Wright of Richmond
Reference Code:
DOHP 48
Date:
2000 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme
Miniature of Transcript of interview: Malcolm McBain
Transcript of interview: Malcolm McBain
Reference Code:
DOHP 50
Date:
2000 (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: Mark Pellew
Transcript of interview: Mark Pellew
Reference Code:
DOHP 85
Date:
2005 (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: Martin Morland
Transcript of interview: Martin Morland
Reference Code:
DOHP 100
Date:
2006 (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