Memories and musings of a retired diplomat
A look back at over 45 years working for HMG and as a member of the Diplomatic Service from 1975 to 2026
Hello, and welcome!
Here you can find a selection of anecdotes and stories from my time working in the
Foreign Office between (and beyond).
Presentation drawing of garden (south) front of British Embassy residence from Ankara, 1935 - a place I’ve had a chance to host and be a part of many diplomatic events!
A stroll back in time...
1975 - 2021
I had the privilege of joining and then working as a member of HM Diplomatic Service for 35 years from July 1975 to March 2010. I then retired and started working as a member of the local staff of the British Embassy in Ankara in Turkey from September 2010 onwards to date.
I have been blessed in my working life with friends and colleagues across the globe, many of whom are sadly no longer with us! In part these pages are a tribute to some of the wonderful people I have met in my travels over the last 45 years - some may be gone but they are not forgotten!
I am doing this not as part of big ego trip, but as a present to my wonderful daughter, Melissa who built this site for me - canim benim - çok seviyorum! If anyone else enjoys the site then I will be absolutely overjoyed but this is for MELISSA!