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.
Transcript of interview: Sir Rob Young
Reference Code:
DOHP 178
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Stuart Laing
Reference Code:
DOHP 179
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir Anthony Goodenough
Reference Code:
DOHP 180
Date:
2016-2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


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


Transcript of interview: Sir Thomas Richardson
Reference Code:
DOHP 182
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir John Goulden
Reference Code:
DOHP 183
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Martin Lamport
Reference Code:
DOHP 184
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir Vincent Fean
Reference Code:
DOHP 185
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Thomas Macan
Reference Code:
DOHP 186
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Gill Bennett
Reference Code:
DOHP 187
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Reference Code:
DOHP 188
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Richard Fyjis-Walker
Reference Code:
DOHP 189
Date:
2013-2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir Stephen Lamport
Reference Code:
DOHP 190
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Merrick Baker-Bates
Reference Code:
DOHP 191
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Dame Judith Macgregor
Reference Code:
DOHP 192
Date:
2019-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: John Macgregor
Reference Code:
DOHP 193
Date:
2019-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Memoir: Warwick Morris
Reference Code:
DOHP 194
Date:
2009-2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Christopher Long
Reference Code:
DOHP 195
Date:
2018 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Tim Dowse
Reference Code:
DOHP 196
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir Adrian Beamish
Reference Code:
DOHP 197
Date:
2019 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


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


Transcript of interview: Lord McDonald of Salford
Reference Code:
DOHP 199
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Sir David Warren
Reference Code:
DOHP 200
Date:
2020 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


Transcript of interview: Edward Chaplin
Reference Code:
DOHP 201
Date:
2021 (creation)
Collection:
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme


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