That’s what Lord Carrington said when we met in London last week. I must hang round with 94 year olds more often. It’s been a long time since anyone’s called me a boy. But to the former Foreign Secretary who is my most distinguished predecessor, and who arrived in Canberra as High Commissioner in the 1950s before I was born, I suppose that’s how it must seem.
We were both speaking at the annual dinner of the Australia Britain Society in the historic surroundings of the medieval Charterhouse, one of London’s oldest buildings. His speech was amusing and thoughtful.
It was a salutary reminder of the transience of one’s tenure of the post of High Commissioner, in the great sweep of bilateral relations between countries. I suspect many of my colleagues who were back in London last week for the annual Ambassadors’ conference share that sensation. Every year there are new faces around the table, some are friends you’ve known for a quarter of a century or more, others more recent arrivals, as the FCO top team looks ever more diverse.
Every year there is a combination of change and continuity. Some ongoing foreign policy challenges and some more recent ones like Ukraine. Consular crises cropping up in diverse locations – British tourists were evacuated from Kenya whilst we were in London. And the continued priority of using our network to promote business.
One thing that looks unlikely to change is the pressure on our budgets as the UK public sector shrinks. But it’s been pleasing on recent visits to see the UK economy looking in better shape each time. We were privileged at the conference to have guest appearances from the Prince of Wales, who has had a lifetime of contact with international affairs, and US Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as the usual raft of senior British cabinet ministers joining William Hague.
I think we all return to our posts after these meetings with a renewed sense of purpose and energy, with an updated perspective on policy and administrative issues, and some new ideas for innovative practical actions like exploiting digital media. For us here, with Australia holding the G20 Presidency, it’s going to be a particularly busy few months ahead with planned visits by the Trade Minister, Chancellor and Prime Minister.