Farewell to the Foreign Office

I retire at the end of February, after 32 years in the Foreign Office, and 40 years in public service in total. Just another civil servant moving on from a job. But to me it feels a poignant moment. When I left university in 1980 I wasn’t seeking fame or fortune, which was perhaps just as well, but simply an opportunity to serve my country. I think I’ve had a chance to do so.

Lots of people serve Britain in different ways, from the military to the health service. Mine has been by promoting our interests with overseas countries, particularly in the Indo Pacific, where I’ve been Ambassador in Japan, and High Commissioner in Australia and Singapore. I also served at the Embassy in Washington.

I’ve worked closely with business, promoting UK exports and inward investment, supporting economic growth and jobs – often in the parts of the UK that need them most. I’ve supported our political and security cooperation with partners and allies. I’ve been a climate change negotiator and led the FCO’s public diplomacy work. Perhaps the most rewarding element has been helping individual British citizens, from victims of the Bali bombing to passengers on a COVID-struck cruise ship. Diplomacy is a team game, so you never really know how much difference you’ve made personally, you just try your best.

It was not at all the career I’d expected, growing up in a small town in Devon. I was 21 before I first flew on an aeroplane.  In some ways diplomacy is a funny old life, spending 2/3 of your time overseas, separated from friends and family, including at times your own children, though staying in touch has got easier over the years in the digital age. But the upsides – the variety of experiences, the friends in many different countries , the sense of doing something useful – are great too.

As I leave, I’m pleased to see that the next generation of young diplomats is full of smart, dedicated people from a diverse range of backgrounds, curious about the world, and keen to serve their country.